Posted on April 10, 2014 by sproutspress

It’s been two weeks since the One of a Kind show started, and I feel I’m as rested as I’m going to be. So much awaits that I cannot sit still for long. I’m talking about things like new projects, re-vamped designs and SPRING!! (I will admit, I’ve got both my winter and spring jackets out. I’m just not quite convinced I won’t need the winter one at least once more).

I’ve got some re-vamped goodies in the works, just in time for spring: new Hayfever Hankies! Yup, they’re back and just in time, too! This batch will be available in white, pistachio, grass green and mocha. It comes in three lino cut designs, the usual suspects of hayfever; ragweed, timothy/hay and crowsfoot. Look in the ‘Handprinted Fabric Items’ section of my online Etsy shop in the next few days.

I’m also slowly but surely getting some of the brand new designs you may have seen at the One of a Kind show up in my Etsy shop. To keep up to date on this, follow my facebook or other social media feeds here.

Meanwhile, if you’re in Toronto I’ve got two shows this weekend, check out the Upcoming Shows section of my site for details!

An Old Friend

Posted on March 4, 2014 by sproutspress

Besides being a bookbinder, printmaker and general maker of paper arts, I also like to grow a vegetable garden. And, every year, I watch in wonder as my seeds sprout and grow into seedlings and eventually make the journey outside.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA I won’t go into the story of why I chose to name my artistic practice after the mighty sprout and its incredible journey. Instead, I’d like to tell how it has re-united me with an old friend. (If you like, take a look at my About section to learn why I chose the name Sprouts Press). IMG_0688_fotor

I should probably clarify a few things. When I say that I was re-united with an old friend, I’m not talking about a person, but an old love. A former romance, let’s say, with printmaking. But not just any printmaking, I’m talking about printing on a Vandercook press, in a studio, with oil-based inks. Sigh. So, when the annual Grimsby Wayzgoose Book Arts Fair call for vendors arrived in January I agreed, as usual, to submit an original print in an edition of 115 for their anthology. I thought it was time to honour my namesake in print format and decided to dedicate my print to the mighty sprout. Normally, I plan several weeks in advance and use the back of a wooden spoon to produce my 115 prints. Not this time. I’ve been teaching bookbinding workshops lately and my favourite is at a wonderful space here in Toronto, Graven Feather, where there is a Challenge Proof Press!!

After mentioning to them that I used to print on Vandercook press, and how much I loved it and how great it would be to print my 115 prints with something different than the back of a wooden spoon, it was decided that I could print on their press! So, this is how it happened, how I was re-united with printing on a press, with oil based inks, in someone else’s studio, by the mighty sprout. I drew my image, cut the lino block and printed it in a lovely leaf-green on light grey stock.

In total there are 130 prints in the edition, 115 for the Wayzgoose anthology and 15 for me! What a great day!!

Ex•Libris

Posted on November 28, 2013 by sproutspress

Ex Libris, what’s that? If this thought just went through your mind, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. As a book binder an owner of *a few* books, I started using Ex Libris book plates a long time ago. Actually, my mother used them in the books my brother and I grew up with. They had scarecrows on them and I used to think they were pretty neat. But not everyone knows about the joys of using Ex Libris book plates.

To clarify, ‘Ex Libris’ and ‘book plates’ are the same thing.

A simple online search shows that Ex Libris (latin) literally means: from the books (of). Traditionally it would have the owner’s name and/or a coat of arms printed right on it and is pasted into the front of the book.

The book plates would all be the same, as would the bindings of the entire library. (I suppose they never considered organizing their bookshelves by colour!)

I used to purchase book plates and one day wondered why I didn’t try my hand at making my own. I am, after all, an art college graduate. How hard could it be?

Not too difficult, after minimal trial and error. My first attempts were printed on simple washi paper, which would be pasted in using rice paste. I printed them in chocolate brown. Since then I’ve switched to printing on self-adhesive paper for convenience and ease of use. And I print in fun colours!

I’ve had Ex Libris book plates in my Etsy shop for a while now, but recently printed 2 more editions. One is an older lino cut, and another I created just for the end of 2013!

These are the new ones! I love the simplicity and bold lines. The line work represents rays of sunshine and the dawning of a new day, or in this case the new year. Sometimes, it might also represent staying up all night, till dawn’s first light, because you were reading a really good book. It happens.

Using Ex Libris book plates keeps your books organized, in check and it might even impress your friends. If you’re liking the sounds of this you should check out my Etsy shop and keep your eyes peeled this weekend for a fun Cyber Monday sale with free gifts, which just might be packs of Ex Libris book plates!!