First Adventures in Letterpress [product]

So, after all that, I ended up with 5 different types of card. Again, WAY too much to do in one day.

There's the penguin card, which I showed yesterday, along with its matching envelope (oooh fancy!):








There's Merry Christmas, and Merry Chrismukkah:









There's the santa card, which is my absolute favourite:





And finally, the weirdness (done in metallic silver ink):

First Adventures in Letterpress [process]

Which is way more fun than babysitting!

It was a day fraught with peril. Or at very least, forgetfulness and dorkishness. I forgot to bring varsol and rags, so had to buy some. I planned to print cards that said "Merry Christmakwanzakah", but failed to bring a "z". The lower-case m was actually a w. Etc, etc, etc.

Despite my shortcomings, it was a great day! (let me say, 3 colours in one day is waaaaay too much)

So, inking up the press. I decided to start with green, because green is awesome. So, I don't have a handy dandy roller, so those are wee dabs of ink all the way around.




Then you push the handle, like making a print, repeatedly until the ink evenly covers the disc.



Then, after getting your stuff set properly, you can put it into the press and get it inked up. (there are proper words for this. And it should be done before inking, and was!)



Then, once it's snapped in place, you can take a print! (by pushing the handle down. yes!)




So, my first choice was very easy. Just one large image plate. I then decided to move on to Merry Christmas in 40pt Old English, and it took about 45 min to accomplish what you see here (due to lack of materials and expertise... in addition, the upper-case M was damaged, and I had to add packing to make it at all presentable. Geeeez, I will be more careful the next time I borrow type!!!)

Life is good

I had an awesome weekend. And a generally awesome week. It's been two weeks at my new job, and I'm still adjusting, but I'm happy. It's rare that a job ends up being better than what was agreed to, but that's what happened. I sort of wonder, what have I done to deserve such awesomeness?

I visited my old work on Wednesday before my last yoga class, and oh! It was fun. I miss them all so much. So much fun. We were laughing so much, we were annoying the library patrons. Ha.

So. This weekend. I totally gave in, bit the bullet, whatever... And got a printing press! I'm now the very proud owner of a wee Adana 5x8. It will be wonderful - I can't wait to get started!





I'm also the proud owner of some new boots for work. I've always wanted Fluevogs, and now I have a pair!





Needless to say, it was an expensive weekend. And, I must say - being off on Monday is so wonderful. I'm sitting around in my jamas, drinking tea, not at work. I miss this.

The first week and delicious food

Well, I made it through my first week! I think things will be good as far as work goes. Socially, I'm not sure. I know one week is nowhere near enough time to know, but... I think any displays of my true sense of humour would cause me to be chased out with torches and pitchforks. This makes me feel concerned. But, all is well!

My mom made me food while I was working today, because she is awesome. I found this recipe on a blog I read regularly, and thought it sounded good. My mom said it was dead easy, and it is like restaurant delicious. A small note, she significantly reduced the onion and curry powder. Unless we actually use highly potent curry, I feel the stated amount would be WAY too much. But I'm already plotting some changes. I think it would be outstanding with some diced pineapple, panfried tofu, and extra veggies. In fact... Yum! Maybe I'll get another bowl :)

First Impressions of my first days

Well, it's hard to tell how a job will be based on the first two days. I think my overall impression is that my job will be pleasant. Maybe not awesome, maybe not super busy and interesting. But pleasant. The co-workers seem nice, though I'm a terrible judge of character... Not like the co-workers I've left behind, I'm quite sure.

The building itself is lovely, and I am smitten. I now work in a library with comfy leather chairs and a FIREPLACE! For serious. A fireplace.

too many goodbyes

This was a bit of a melancholy weekend. I had my last day at my old job, and I was mostly okay. I think everyone knew it needed to be light-hearted and easy-going, and so it was. As part of the ongoing joke that I will be an 'important person' at my new job, and possibly have business cards, my department got me some fancy desk supplies and a business card holder. That amused me greatly.

As to the title, too many goodbyes! I know I'll see many of my old co-workers again. I have plans to see the Scott Pilgrim movie next year, plans for knitting lessons, plans for knitting night, ongoing yoga classes, etc. But not quite the same as avoiding work and talking about life and stuff.

But we also said goodbye to Toni and Patrick as they get ready to head to Australia. I'm sure we'll see them again, although it will involve terrifying horrendous awful flights to get there and back. But still. It won't be quite the same. (it will be hot! and in a different time zone! both terrifying concepts)

One weekend, and everything feels different. Do you ever think about how you spend more time with your favourite co-workers than anyone else in your life? I'm realizing just how much. And it makes me sad.

Shopping update

Well... I'm happy with what I found. It was nice, I had a whole salesperson to myself at Banana Republic. Since I don't feel like taking pics, here is what I got:
This shirt in blue and beige.
This cardigan in the brown.
These pants in the 'taupe', which actually looks kind of grey-ish taupe
These pants in the brown.

Maybe still a bit casual? But definitely a thousand times better than what I have now. And the nice bits I already have go well with what I got. If the wool pants work out, I will get a pin-striped pair as well. They fit really nicely!

To slightly combat my feelings of consumer whoredom, I found a very cool shop in Hamilton: White Elephant: Modern Design & Vintage Boutique. I bought some cards for my impending departure and a piece of art involving highly stacked baked goods. My kind of art, oh yeah! Also went to Mixed Media, but wasn't in such a shopping mood by then. I want a printing press! (their book choices though? total validation of my skills at collection development. ha)

New jobs and knitting, oh boy

Thank you for your congratulations, and advice! (Batty - thank you for the list. That's exactly what I need when I go shopping!) I'm super excited, but also terrified. I think the biggest scary part is leaving my co-workers. Some of them are just so awesome!

I've been knitting and reading when I haven't been stressing/obsessing over new jobs and well... Things will get finished one day, I'm sure :) Please note that the colours are way off, for everything!

Right now, my priority is a baby sweater. I omitted the sleeves because they fit me up to my elbows. I do not have skinny arms. The intended recipient most certainly does! So now it is a vest, with ruffly arm caps.





There is the test-knitting shawl, and I've totally dropped the ball. I made it through the tricky bits, and got distracted by life. This is Posh Esme, and I'm sad to say that I really don't like it. I've been rather disappointed that Posh seems to be branching out to all the bases that everyone else already has. I like Posh for the luxury, but slightly squeaky superwash merino? Not really what I'm looking for. Some of the new bases are quite nice, but it will be the colours that keep me buying...





This is another shawl in progress, called "Gail aka Nightsongs". It seems to be a pattern with lots of controversy and history, in the online world. I'm using a re-write because the original makes little to no sense to my newbie lace brain. But oh, it is lovely. This is using Wollmeise Sock.

Life and things

Well, I got the job! I will be starting October 26, and it will be very exciting! I'm seriously giddy, but... I think I need a new work wardrobe.

It was a busy weekend. I went home with Matt to go to Matt and Kim's wedding. It was a nice wedding. I'm glad that they're all over, but it was a nice way to wrap up the year of the weddings.

I slept for 12 hours last night, and I'm still exhausted! Unbelievable.

eeeep!

I have a meeting or follow-up interview of some sort tomorrow morning before my volunteering.

I'm askeeeeered!


(I will let y'all know what happened tomorrow! And show off some knitting too!)