My favorite author, Jonathan Safran Foer, just released his new book, “Eating Animals.” How great is it my favorite author would write about food – a topic I’m getting more passionate about. It’s the 3rd book I own by him and I’m starting to recognize a pattern in his book cover designs. They all have hand drawn type and they are all simply amazing. I researched the artist, John Gray. Here’s what Print Magazine had to say in their article Killing Your Darlings:

“East London–based designer Jon Gray of gray318 is best known for his covers—many hand-lettered—for some of fiction’s brightest lights. Gray receives commissions from both American and British publishers, and oversees the design of the U.K. editions of Jonathan Lethem, Jonathan Coe, and Ali Smith. In the U.S., how ever, it’s his covers for Jonathan Safran Foer that have become iconic. After designing the jacket of Foer’s massively successful Everything is Illuminated, Gray was given the assignment to work on the novelist’s highly anticipated 2005 follow-up, a story about a boy grappling with the aftermath of September 11…the designer’s “hand” cover [Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close] became one of the most instantly recognizable book jackets of the year.”

So I tip my hat to you Mr. Gray. I love your work. And I highly recommend anyone to pick up one of Foer’s books. Especially, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.” And here’s a podcast about Eating Animals if anyone is interested.

Guys. Guess what. During my first Holga class we all had to introduce ourselves and the teacher said, “My name is Eva. My husband and I own a little letterpress shop in Heber County (UT),”

“Sycamore Street Press??” I interrupted. So rude. But she nodded with surprise that I knew. I’m a creep and have been reading her blog. I even went back to her very first post to see how she developed such success. Her online shop is very popular in the etsy community. My favorite card of theirs is:

Eva is very inspiring to me in many ways  - she started as a photo major, just like myself. She discovered the world of printmaking and stuck to it. She got her Master’s in it at the University of Utah and now she’s making a career off of it with a Vandercook 3. Her husband, Kirk, was in my letterpress class this semester to learn how to use a Clamshell and set type. I was sure to tell her he wasn’t in class earlier that day.

Here are the top 3 photos I like from our first assignments. We had to do landscape, portrait and experiment with the Bulb setting and light.

I’m learning a lot so far. I feel like I am gaining more confidence with the Holga. Two more assignments left! More photos to come…

Today is my first class in the 4 week long workshop on Holgas. I love Lifelong Learning. This program through the University of Utah gives anyone the opportunity to take brief classes on a variety of subjects. I took Spanish as well as Beginning Harmonica through them.

Holgas, although a simple camera, really intimidate me. I don’t know why. It’s just plastic. I feel like there are tricks to learn and I don’t mind being forced to actually use it more to get assignments done. I’m excited to see what I learn out of this. Pictures to come soon.

Oh. My. God.

I own a press. The 92 lb. 8 oz. Kelsey Excelsior 6×10 is mine. All mine! And not just the press, but type. Fifteen cases of type! And 3 zinc cuts, one which happens to be of a beautiful owl. It also came with everything else I need to start shop (minus a few things I need to upgrade or replace). It belonged to a man who printed business cards and memo pads in his shop he had with his wife and her jewelry in Florida. They somehow ended up in West Valley, UT and when he passed on, the wife no longer wanted to horde everything. I could tell it was bittersweet selling it, but I assured her it is going to get a lot of love.

Before I start printing I want to take the whole thing apart and restore it. It’s about a 2 month process to strip all the paint and repaint it. It came with one brand new roller so all I need to do is order one when I can afford it. My dad and I might rebuild a more customizable cabinet so I don’t punch the wall when I do a pull. And I definitely am going to need more shelf space. I’m really antsy to start printing but I know I need to be patient and give it the time and attention it deserves!

And to all my printmaking family: Would any of you be interested in having a workshop since USU doesn’t teach letterpress? It wouldn’t be for a few months…or more. But it would be just a sweet taste into the world I have fallen in love with and an excuse to all get together again. Oh and Adrienne, even though you have exposure to letterpress already, I will buy you a meal from Hires. C’mon. I miss everyone…

COMBO a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis (2 times loop) from blu on Vimeo.