February & March '24
I can’t believe it is March already, with the pseudo spring days of February now here and past. Things are moving, and things are changing. I’ve long resisted having classes at Small Works, but here we are, with a spring full of classes scheduled. I didn’t feel like this space was the right place for teaching. Not formal enough, or not organized enough. That the right things were not here yet. Many of you have said otherwise and I also believe that there is no one ideal place to start. So there are classes, and I ask for your patience and understanding as I work on this transition. Where to start on this belated newsletter—
I was able to get a kensol foil stamping machine. I can’t tell you how much this means to me, it’s a piece of equipment I never thought I was going to be able to afford for the shop. This means we can foil stamp or foil block things. What does that mean? Well, you can put foil on things. But for bookmaking, it means I have the ability to put images and titles on the covers. I’m hoping to have the foil stamping press going in the next few months. Then I can try to plan a class around using it, or at least figure out how to give some access to the machine.
Bookmaking in general is moving along. I have two bookbinding classes now scheduled. Intro to Bookbinding walks through three methods of simple constructions: a three hole pamphlet stitch, a Chinese style stab binding, and a French sewn unsupported book block. Bookbinding 1: Case Bound Journal takes that same French sewn block and transforms it into a case bound journal. Emelyn Rutowski will be helping me with the more advanced bookbinding classes, and I am grateful for the help and for their time.
The Risograph area is losing a few drums. We’ll be getting rid of Metallic Gold, White, and Kelly Green. This is in a general effort to keep things to a minimum, and to have no drums sitting for lengths of time. This is also because of the foil stamping machine, which can stamp opaque white and gold foil.
Last, I’m hoping this month and next month I’ll have some time to work on the perfect binding machine.
Personally, I am working on:
new book forms, to prepare for making some poetry books
new notebooks, and their packaging
a major website update
getting rid of some type, to prepare for getting some new type
Shop Update: Open Studio
There is one major update for Open Studio—which is general price changes for open studio. Risograph Open Studio has a $15 deposit with 2¢ a print, Letterpress has a $20 deposit, and Bookbinding Open Studio will remain free for now.
Risograph will be on Monday, 10am–8pm, and 10am–4pm on class days
There will be an additional day, Thursday, from 10am–4pm this month.
Letterpress will be on Wednesday, 10am–8pm, and 10am–4pm on class days
Bookbinding will be on Saturday, 12–6, except class days, and second Saturdays (printers meeting day)
Shop Update: Classes
Current classes available are:
Introduction to Letterpress — Wednesday, April 10th, 5–8pm
Letterpress 1: Business Cards — Wednesday, March 27th, 5–9pm or April 24th, 5–9pm
Introduction to Risograph — Monday, April 1st, 5–8pm
Bookbinding 1: Case Bound Journal — Saturday, April 20th, 2–7pm
Intro to Bookbinding and Risograph 1: Booklet / Chap Book / Zine are both full for April, but I can make a separate class if needed and enough people are interested.