The Most Horrible, Adorable Cards Around!

I moved to Portland in early 2008 and found myself working at Oblation Papers & Press. Although I had a BFA in Printmaking, I knew virtually nothing about letterpress printing -- and I hated greeting cards and didn't believe in marriage! This would all change in the years to come. Well, I'm still suspicious about the institution of marriage. But I discovered a world of stationery beyond the awful Hallmark and Carlton Cards I'd known, and an old-fashioned way of making it by hand that delighted me.

In 2009, my aunt sold me her motorized 1907 Chandler & Price 7x11 letterpress. Nancy Riley had printed for a Mendocino company called Studio Z for a number of years, then for her own company, Riley Creek Press, in Fort Bragg. She finally decided she was done printing, and wanted to travel more and free up the space in her home. I traveled down Highway 101 and adopted my first antique letterpress, Hamilton type cabinet, and Challenge paper cutter.

Over the years, I've learned about typography and graphic design by watching friends and co-workers and challenged myself to print increasingly large or complex designs. I greatly expanded my equipment collection in late 2014 by purchasing a treadle-powered 1907 Chandler & Price 10x15 press and type cabinet from my then-studio-mate, Gabe Weiss. I've made smaller but still substantial additions to my type collection in late 2014 when I purchased a galley full of gorgeous fonts, including families of Old English and Gallia, from local collector Doug Haning, and in late 2015 when I purchased an extensive family of Stymie from local artist Keegan Onefoot as he dissolved his much-admired printing business, KeeganMeegan & Co.

I'm currently settling in to a different, larger studio space in my building. Most of my time is going to painting and other renovations, as well as organizing the space and equipment. I'm looking forward to finishing this huge project and getting back to developing and printing more of my thousand ideas!