Sunday, January 27, 2019

laying foundations for a creative life

Saturday saw an unexpected delivery.

Back in December we had arranged the purchase of this type cabinet and drawers, with what we thought was maybe three or four drawers of type.

We had understood it would be delivered in February so hadn't done much planning for it. I was surprised to have a phone conversion with the deliverer guy on Saturday afternoon and learn that it would be delivered in the next hour or so!

Nonetheless we were prepared in the studio and took delivery of the cabinet, drawers and much more type than anticipated.


And so Sunday saw me trying to sort and identify the type in the drawers and began to catalogue it, ready for the printing of samplers...


The bottom of these drawers was labelled correctly - so now we have Mistral in 48pt and 72pt and also in 14pt!


It was lovely to discover 36pt Colonna - we already had 18pt Colonna, so a family is forming...


Some of the drawers had heaps of type in them.  There were three drawers of 8pt (it is tiny); three drawers of 10pt; two of 12 pt; two of 14pt and seven of 18pt - all of which are good for printing chap books and zines so that was exciting.  Also some drawers of 24pt, 30pt, 36pt, 48pt and 72pt.


I use a stamp pad to print a variety of letters that I hope will help me identify the specific typeface.  It is particularly hard with small type as my eyes aren't able to differentiate some of the very fine differences between typefaces.  So this one is tentatively called Californian, but is up for debate any time!


And then there were a few fun discoveries...here are some 36pt ornaments.  I'm not sure of the correct name, but they are about printing one block in one colour, then going back through and printing the second colour on the second block,


Holly wreaths!


All drawers in place - one was damaged so has a replacement on the bottom shelf.  There are five empty drawers, so out of 24 there was type in 19! Much more than three or four so it really did feel like a win.


 Now the job of printing more sample pages will begin; I am so glad I made those books able to be opened and re-organised.

I think of all of this background work as simply laying the foundations so that I can be creative...

14 comments:

  1. F - looks gorgeous; and well done with the type detective work. B

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    1. Thanks B - some of the tiny ones were really hard!

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  2. What a collection and I love the holly wreaths

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    1. Feeling very happy Jac - and what a bonus those wreaths are!?!?!

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  3. wow, this must feel like Christmas !!

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    1. It did a bit Annick - and given it was Barry's birthday I felt like I got gifts too!

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  4. What a wonderful score! Congratulations! ��

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  5. What a trove for Deckled Edge Press!!

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    1. A trove of treasure indeed Liz - all the more because it was unexpected. Go well.

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  6. Oh what a discovery! What a buy! congrats -- the bureau itself would've been a find, never mind with all its contents!

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    1. That's exactly right Dee - I thought I was buying the cabinet with a few strays and look! yay for luck and serendipity. Go well.

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