Undeniable Enthusiasm

It's hard to believe an entire year has gone by since we offered our very first introduction to letterpress workshop. Since then, our participants have included everything from scientists just looking to get out of the lab, to die-hard letterpress fans ready to start their own business. No matter the case, every participant has shown undeniable enthusiasm. It has been a true pleasure imparting my knowledge and encouraging the revival of this otherwise dying craft.

The first workshop for 2011 is scheduled for Sunday, January 23. Please visit the Modus Paperie & Press website for information on how to register.

Last workshop of 2010!

We have one last workshop scheduled for 2010 on November 28th! Over the course of the 1-day, introduction to letterpress workshop you'll learn to set lead type, print from plates, mix ink, trim paper on an antique gillotine cutter, and of course, operate the 100-year-old press.

During the workshop you'll create a set of 12 greeting cards with your very own hand-set credit on the back. How you use them is up to you – mail them out to your friends and family or package them up into sets and give them as gifts!

These workshops have been filling up fast so to avoid disappointment, please visit the Modus website today for information on how to guarantee your spot!

Invitation Buzz

To celebrate the Hallowe'en season, our friends at Invitation Buzz out of Maine assembled a "Fabulous Lineup" of black cats and ours made the cut! Check out their blog for all things stationery.

Workshop Review from Edmonton

If you've been considering taking one of our workshops, you may want to have a peek at Melissa from Wedding Obsession's review of the September workshop. Here's a snippet: "Sure, people question why we’re turning to an ‘old’ and ‘ancient’ way of printing, but it’s so thrilling to see the final product and the steps that went into it." Click here for her full entry.

Call for Entry

The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada British Columbia Chapter and proud sponsor, Hemlock Printers, established the Jim Rimmer Community Scholarship for Design to honour Jim Rimmer, a local industry icon and pivotal influence in Canadian letterpress and private press.

The Scholarship is awarded annually to two students, or student groups, who demonstrate the use of design thinking to benefit their community and effectively communicate a message, affect action and promote change. Invited to apply are students as individuals or in groups who are currently enrolled in an accredited design program or have graduated within the past year from a post-secondary institution within British Columbia.

Deadline for application: November 8, 2010
For more information, visit the GDC/BC website.

Coffee & Letterpress

On a recent trip to Chicago, we discovered this fantastic coffee bar on our way to visit the Chicago Museum of Art. Our first clue that Intelligentsia had great coffee? No free seating at 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning! (We ended up at fabulous Caffè Baci instead.) Fitting to their urban yet down to earth brand, they chose to use letterpress – white ink on a coffee bean brown card stock – to print the tent cards on their table tops. I didn't want to impose my camera on the locals' morning ritual so that means no photos, but I'm sure you can use your imagination with this one!

Letterpress Enthusiasts from the North East

In the September workshop we hosted Melissa of Wedding Obsession and her friend Ashley who came all the way from Edmonton just to learn letterpress! They exercised great patience in hand-setting their bugs and locked up like experts in one shot. The plate printing went as smoothly as we could have hoped – registration adjustment, roller alignment, rail balancing and voilà – perfection! Now Melissa and Ashley can say they've learned the basics (and a few intricacies) of letterpress in theory and practice.


Hand-set type – Helvetica & Murray Hill – all locked up.


Perfect impression.


A cheerful cardinal.


Ashley & Melissa showing off the fruits of their efforts!

Fall Workshops

A little update on the fall 2010 workshop schedule at Modus Paperie & Press:

AUGUST: Summer Hiatus
SEP 18th: Sorry - Class Full!
OCT 16th: Now Booking

The fall sessions are filling up quickly so to avoid disappointment, please book early!

Shop Direct!

In addition to our exciting news on July 28th about our products being carried by Favourite gift boutique, we are also happy to announce, you can now make secure online purchases directly through our website. We are continually adding to our collection so please check back often for hot-off-the-press items!

Find us at Favourite!

You can now pick up all your favourite Modus greetings, gift tags and limited edition prints at Favourite gift boutique in the Lonsdale Quay! Favourite is a delicious little shop and the Lonsdale Quay Market is as vibrant as ever. If you don't live on the North Shore, don't fret, it's easy to get there! Just make your way to the Seabus terminal, enjoy the crossing... hop off on the other side, and you're there!


Favourite is located on the second level. It's just at the top of the stairs and overlooks the bustling market.

The Fun Continues...

This weekend marked the 3rd installation of our Introduction to Letterpress workshop at the Modus studio. This time around we added to our barrel full of sock monkeys and transformed our California poppies into a beautiful rich red variety with crisp black stems. Oooooh-ahhhhh. And as promised, I remembered my camera this time!


Who doesn't love printing sock monkeys!?


Monkey plate.


Printing poppies.


Locked up hand set type.



Finished product!

Some Lovin' for Sock Monkey Love

I recently discovered that back in January, our work was mentioned in a Valentine's Day feature on the popular style blog Platinum Blonde Life out of New York. See our "Sock Monkey Love" up in the top left corner? Thanks for the shout-out Platinum Blonde Life!


Image: Platinum Blonde Life

Upcoming Letterpress Workshops

I'm happy to report the March workshop was another great success! This time our solo student produced a beautiful set of 12 greeting cards. The next workshop is coming up on April 24th and this time I'm hoping to have the foresight to bring my camera and show you all what we're up to!

Success!

Yesterday we held our very first workshop at Modus Paperie & Press. When all was said and done, we sent home some beautiful turquoise business cards that were hand-set in lead type, and an adorable set of "Bee Mine" mini-broadsides perfect for spreading some Valentine's Day cheer. We certainly covered a lot of ground in a day and had loads of fun in the process but don't take my word for it, check out Lemmonism, the student's blog post on her experience with letterpress!

If you'd like to join in the fun, visit our website for more information on upcoming dates and registration.

UPDATE: Letterpress Classes Scheduled for 2010

JANUARY 31
Class size: minimum of 1, maximum of 2
Suggested Theme: Valentine's Day
Hours: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM (with a 1-hour lunch)
Cost: $240 CDN (includes all materials)
Registration Deadline: CLOSED

MARCH 6 & 7
Class size: minimum of 3, maximum of 4
Suggested Theme: Easter
Hours: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (with a 1-hour lunch)
Cost: $240 CDN (includes all materials)
Registration Deadline: February 26th

APRIL 24 & 25
Class size: minimum of 3, maximum of 4
Suggested Theme: Mother's Day
Hours: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (with a 1-hour lunch)
Cost: $240 CDN (includes all materials)
Registration Deadline: April 16th

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)

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)

Obsessive Consumption

In this season of extreme consumerism, I thought this would be the perfect time to share this amazing blog. Since 2002, Kate Bingaman-Burt has been documenting her personal consumption... in illustration. French fries, a bus ticket, some scotch tape. I love the quality of her illustrations and of course think they would look amazing printed in letterpress!


Photo: Obsessive Consumption

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