In the picture above, the top hook is the old one, and the bottom is one of the new hooks. As you can see, there is a slight bow to the old shaft and the hook is misshapen. The detail photo below shows the wear on the old hooks (on the right) much more clearly:

We used the same diameter gauge steel as the original hooks, and we measured and bent each hook to match the old ones. We used a wire bender to create the hook bend and a manual threading die to thread the top of the shaft.

I eventually want to get new springs and nuts, but for now, I am just going to use the original ones with the new hooks.

Now, all that is left is to make a base for the press and get the pressure adjusted correctly! (Although I am sure I will find something else that needs to be done before the end!)

My most recent purchase was for Moo Mini-cards. These cards are half the size of a standard business card. They are great for showing off your portfolio, your products or your business.

One of the best things about Moo is the packaging. Your purchase shows up in a cute little box that says “Your Moo Cards are Inside* (*open them quick!”). With such packaging, it is hard not to follow this command.

It feels so exciting when you finally open the box and see all your cards laid out on the table! I chose 4 images to print on the back of my cards. But the cool thing about Moo is that if I had wanted to, I could have gotten a different image on every card. It is like a mini portfolio in your pocket!

The last thing I want to mention about Moo’s cards is how hefty the paper is. They feel twice as thick as any other business card I have ever handled. It really makes a statement to hand one of these babies over.

To check out Moo and their products, go to http://us.moo.com/

She draws much of her inspiration from the art nouveau and deco periods, as can be seen in the shapes she choses to work into her designs. She began working with beads and wire years ago, but has moved on to incorporating enamel into her pieces. Her wirework can be seen in the chain in the above piece.

The set above is another of her wonderful pieces. She adds texture and three-dimensionality into the metal before she even begins working the enamel into the design. When she finally does, the enamel highlights the shape and gives the piece even more depth. This interplay of color and texture creates a movement and flow in her jewelry that is not often seen.

Gail has recently been included in her first public exhibition, The Torpedo Factory’s Art League 2012 Student/Faculty Art Show.

To see a picture of Gail’s piece in the show (and other works from the exhibition) click the link below:

http://www.theartleague.org/blog/2012/02/23/the-2012-studentfaculty-show/

I am a very lucky person to have come from such a creative and talented family!

I’m Comic Sans, Asshole from joehollier on Vimeo.

I matted and framed my poster and hung it above my press. Here’s a picture of it in its new home!

If anyone wants to buy their own Gutenberg Poster, click on the link below:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48746491/style-icon-johannes-gutenberg

I actually just finished carving this block, but here is a photo of it half completed.

The original version of this creature can be found in the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, a Flemish manuscript illuminated circa 1440. He appears in the bottom, right-hand corner of the page depicting St. Augustine (p. 245).

The original grotesque’s size is quite tiny:

1 1/8”w x 1 1/4”h

I have enlarged my little creature to 4″x4″ and given more definition. I also provided him with instruments of imprisonment.

The other little change I made was to carve him on linoleum rather than my usual resingrave. In the past I have always disliked linoleum. I find it just like carving a big eraser. There is much less control and it is much more difficult to create tiny details. The one benefit to linoleum is that it is MUCH easier to carve way large blank areas.

My experience carving this grotesque reaffirmed my dislike of linoleum, but it did take me much less time to carve than it otherwise would have.

I will post more pictures soon!

Thanks to Erin from SouthernTwistedSoaps!

My Heian Shrine print appears on page 21 of the printed version (and page 23 of the online edition). I am not sure what is going on with the pagination, but it is very exciting to be included nevertheless!

You can check out the rest of the catalog online here:

http://www.imcclains.com/documents/2012McClainsCatalog.pdf

Thanks McClain’s! You rock!

Check them out, and show them some Etsy love:

And number two:

You can pick up your very own “Zodiac” print in my Etsy Shop to commemorate the holiday!