Learn Letterpress!

I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday, is well rested and ready to charge forth into 2010! I've never been an active participant in proclaiming New Year's resolutions but I've always felt that January is a great time for change. Rework priorities. Set new goals. Learn something new!

In keeping with that theme, the creative minds surrounding Modus Paperie & Press came up with a great idea — share our knowledge with our wide-eyed fans and offer letterpress printing workshops to all!

In our first session, we'll follow a century-old tradition and you'll make your very own valentines on our 1913 printing press! Over the course of the 2-day workshop, you'll learn to set lead type, print from plates, mix ink, select paper and, of course, operate the press! The cost is $240 (CDN) and includes all materials. Class size is limited to 4 for optimal press time so contact us today to reserve your spot... the class will fill up fast!

WHERE: Modus Paperie & Press
ADDRESS: 316 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
DATE: January 30 & 31, 2010
TIME: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (with a 1-hour lunch break)

For more information or to register, email Modus Paperie & Press or call 604 313 6954. Payment is due at time of registration. (Paypal, Canada Post Money Order or Cheque)

Portobello West Holiday Market

Just a quick reminder that Modus Paperie & Press will be participating in the Portobello West Holiday Market this weekend. We'll be sharing booth 38 with Lovably mobiles located in the center aisle to the left of the front entrance.

If you've never been to this event before, it's held at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station located on Cottrell Street just off Terminal Avenue near The Home Depot. It's a really great venue that has loads of natural light, tall ceilings and ample FREE parking.

LOCATION: Rocky Mountaineer Train Station
ADDRESS: 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver, BC
DATE: December 12 & 13
TIME: Noon to 6PM (both days)
WEBSITE: click here

Last Stop to Shop

It's hard to believe it's been two years since my first post announcing the Beaumont Studios' holiday craft event, "Last Stop to Shop." This year the event is stronger than ever with a juried selection of vendors including both Beaumont tenants and local artists.

Join us for the opening night festivities with bevys, appies and music. All of the studios will be open (including ours!), making this a perfect opportunity to check out one of the coolest artists' buildings in Vancouver.

Hope to see you there!

WHERE: The Beaumont Studios
ADDRESS: 316 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
DATE: December 18-20
TIME: Friday 7PM - Midnight, Saturday & Sunday 11AM - 7PM

Last Class of 2009

Once again, Modus Paperie & Press will be included in the curriculum for The Beaumont Studio's "School of Thought." Come on out this Thursday, December 10th for one last opportunity to pass your electives.

The final night of classes will include:

WOOD SHOP 101: Tyler Harris will guide you through a entertaining class of woodworking.

LIFE 101: Dennis Currie will inspire your spirit to live life to it's fullest.

ARTS & CRAFTS: Amber Butler will show you how to get creative and think outside the box.

LETTERPRESS PRINTING: Back by popular demand and the Dean's favourite class of the semester, come experience a little taste of what a printer's life was like back in the Industrial Revolution! The 25 minute class will cover a brief history of our letterpress, the process of relief printing, a printing demonstration and a Q&A period. AND...also by popular demand, Modus Paperie & Press will have their latest product line available for purchase during break time!

WHERE: The Beaumont Studios
ADDRESS: 316 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
DATE: Thursday, December 10th
TIME: 8PM - Midnight
COST: $5 per class (you must register for a minimum of 1 class)
CONTACT: Dean Harris

Bizzy Bee

Well, as always, my more than month-long absence is a definite sign of me being a very bizzy little bee. November was filled with a flurry of visualizing, strategizing, debating and compromising all in anticipation of our marathon of holiday shows that began on November 28th. After display planning, all remaining hours were spent at the Modus Paperie & Press studio, printing, printing, printing, and doing fussy little tasks like folding cards and packaging gift tags.

Our very first market, the Portobello West holiday season opener, happened over the last weekend of November. It was heaps of work and an enormous learning experience. Some silly decisions and omission were made – like to use bricks as display props (duh!) and to not bring a chair – but all in all, it was a valuable first-time experience that established a great foundation for our next show.

A week later, our second show – Got Craft? – was indeed, an entirely different experience. The display had been streamlined (bricks returned!) and everything was organized to fit neatly into two large totes. The show itself was spectacular. The lineup for swag bags started at 7:30 am, doors opened at 11:00 and the hall was packed until closing at 5:00. Randomly assigned, Modus Paperie & Press was one of 4 vendors located on the stage and by what I could see from up there (and from patrons' rave reviews), the Got Craft? organizers, Andrea and Robert, did a fantastic job at vendor selection. Congratulations to them both for yet another extraordinarily successful event!

Kool Kidz

Last night's inaugural School of Thought event at The Beaumont was heaps of fun! It was a great turn-out with about 80 of the coolest cool kids showing up to join in the fun.

There were 3 blocks of 4 regular curriculum classes throughout the night including: graffiti stenciling, photography lighting, enlightened finance and old skool letterpress printing. And the fun even continued at recess with a couple quick wine purchasing and sorbet making demos in the breezway.

Kind of like shop and art combined into one, letterpress was definitely popular with the crowd. Only scheduled for 3 blocks, I ended up doing a 4th late-night class by popular demand, squeezing in as many people as we could into the little Modus Paperie & Press studio. I'm a little hoarse today but it was great fun being on the faculty and having the opportunity to introduce so many enthusiastic people to the art of letterpress. If you were there, it was great meeting you – and gold stars all around!

This event will be held every Thursday for the next 7 weeks. Next week all the classes will be different so if it's letterpress you're interested in, it'll likely be included again in the November 5th curriculum. Stay tuned for more details!

School of Thought

The Beaumont Studios presents School of Thought, a night of practical and fun classes with over 20 teachers and 30 subjects. The event will be held for 8 consecutive Thursdays beginning this Thursday October 22nd.

Each week there will be at least five classes to choose from. All classes will be 30 min long. You can drop in and out of class throughout the night, or skip class all together to hang out in "homeroom" (AKA: the bar). After the last class, "show-and-tell" will begin at 11PM.

This is a great way to meet new people and learn a new thing or two.

Subjects for Thursday, October 22nd include:

• Financial Warrior (Mac Daddy)
• Photography Lighting (Wayne Webb)
• Letterpress Printing at Modus Paperie & Press (Manna Wescott)
• Stenciling Graffiti (Charmaine and Steve)
• Culinary Arts (Sean Burrows)

The premier night is filling up quickly so please confirm your attendance asap!

WHERE: The Beaumont Studios
ADDRESS: 316 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC
DATE: 8 Thursdays beginning October 22nd
TIME: 8PM - Midnight
COST: $5 per class (you must register for a minimum of 1 class)
RSVP: Jude Kusnierz

Portobello West

Once again, Modus Paperie & Press is pleased to announce our participation in another local show. Portobello West Fashion + Art Market is one of the most prolific art markets in Vancouver. Inspired by the famous artisan markets of Europe, Portobello West brings together Vancouver’s talented artists and designers in an eclectic and often surprising mix. Come down and meet the designers, hear their stories and take home truly original pieces.

Since the November 28/29 show will be our first event of the year, we'll be celebrating the launch of our 2009 holiday line with a free gift with purchase for the first 50 customers! But don't worry, if you're not quite ready to face Christmas until December, we'll also be there on December 12/13, and if you quote the secret password "sunday morning" we'll have a free gift with purchase for you too. (Sorry, only while quantities last.)

LOCATION: Rocky Mountaineer Station
ADDRESS: 1755 Cottrell Street, Vancouver, BC
DATE: November 28/29 & December 12/13
TIME: Noon to 6PM
WEBSITE: click here

Video: Portobello West

Got Craft?

With a record number of vendor applications this year, Modus Paperie & Press is pleased to announce our participation in the 2009 Got Craft? Holiday Show! One of the trendiest craft shows in town, Got Craft? features over 55 local and handmade vendors ranging from clothing to jewelry to ceramics and wall art.

LOCATION: Royal Canadian Legion
2205 Commercial Drive (@ E.6th Ave), Vancouver
DATE: Sunday, December 6th, 2009
TIME: 11:00am to 5:00pm
WEBSITE: click here or on the logo below

Arrive early and if you're one of the first 30 people through the door you'll receive a FREE, handmade swag bag stuffed full of goodies from all the vendors!

The Drift: Art on Main Street

Modus Paperie & Press and The Beaumont Studios will be participating in the annual Drift event held October 3 & 4, 2009. The Drift: Art of Main Street is an art walk & open studio tour similar to the East Side Culture Crawl. Over 100 artists, 35 artists’ working studios & 80 Main Street shops, cafés & galleries team up to host this free 2-day art party! The Drift is a self-guided art tour. Visit their website to download a PDF guide & map or pick up a hard copy on Main Street from one of the many participating small shops and cafés.

The Modus studio will be open after 1:00 on Saturday afternoon only. We look forward to seeing you there!

Eye Candy

The Beaumont Gallery presents, Serious Intellectual Eye Candy. The grand opening of The Beaumont’s extended gallery and permanent rotating collection.

Opening Reception
Date: February 29th, 2008
Time: 8-11 PM
Location: 316 West 5th Avenue
Phone: 604.733.3783
Flyer: Eye Candy

Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Universal Outreach Foundation in support of relief projects in the Musema region of Burundi, Africa. To learn more about this cause please visit: www.universaloutreachfoundation.org and www.givemeaning.com

Last Stop to Shop

As promised, last night’s Christmas party at The Beaumont was brimming with merriment! Clearly, a well managed event, the building was packed with holiday shoppers happily checking items off their list. Exhibitors included tenants of The Beaumont as well as local artists from around the lower mainland. One of my faves was Irit Sorokin Designs. Her handmade jewellery was exquisitely diverse with beads, stones and metals hand selected from all corners of the globe.

Bona Fide

The search for studio space for the letterpress if finally over – hooray! It will be taking up residence on West 5th Avenue in The Beaumont Studios. A hidden gem, the two story building is home to a talented group of local artists and a small theatre. The press is still in pieces but feel free to drop by this weekend to say hello and check out the Beaumont's annual Christmas sale. Opening festivities start at 5 PM on Friday with the sale running through 6 PM on Sunday.


Above: Last Stop to Shop craft sale and Christmas party at the Beaumont Studios.