28.2.10

in my letterpress workshops - one of the first things students will do if they are figuring out what to do is to print their names. I always try to get them to try the blind impression before we ink up the press. A few weeks ago - it was suggested that I offer this as a service to do custom name notecards - it's standard practice that other letterpress printers are doing - I like that it's a fun and simple way to customize your notes. I came across suann's work - and like her sensibility. Also see her custom initials with wood type. I like the blind impression a lot.
down the street from us on queen street - commute home - have you ever been? - one of my favourite stores, it's a mixture of vintage and their own designs - website coming soon.

27.2.10

Pattern and Form, featuring a wall installation and mixed media works by Arounna Khounnoraj and photogravure etchings with paper clothing by Emma Nishimura; curated by Hitoko Okada. Opening eve is March 12, 2010
Shane will be our featured artist for the month of march - come and see his beautiful wares.

26.2.10

some more glimpses of the work that I just completed for my solo show - hope you a lovely and warm weekend. Next week some letterpress sets and will show you some blind impression custom note cards - that will also be available soon in the online shop.

25.2.10

the studio has been buzzing - I had a little break after the first batch of wholesale orders being sent out and finishing the work for The Print Studio, but business continues and my inbox is filled with more wholesale orders. I will be balancing that work with making work for OOAK. Davis is in today - yeah! the above image is a prototype john and I are working on for new lights - lliam playing with dino cut-outs from my fabric remnants.

24.2.10

coming soon all our products that are organic - will have one of these hang tags.
here are some installation shots from our trip to The Print Studio - the pictures are deceiving - the place was huge - housed in three stories of printing goodness - they do letterpress workshops on their Vandercook (they have two and there are trays and trays of lead type). We had a good time - had some yummy Phở close by and visited Mixed Media and the White Elephant both on the opposite corner of the gallery. We didn't explore and visit too long - we wanted to get home before rush hour traffic - both kids slept the whole way back, made for a peaceful drive.

23.2.10

one of our favourite place to get meat pies and other yummies is from Ted at Hash House. If you are in the GTA area - he's coming down early March - get your order in - you will not be disappointed. When ever we get his food we eat them each and everyday till they are all gone and twiddle our thumbs till Roisin visits us again. It sounds like Ted will be making regular delivery trips. Have a look at his wonderful website - all designed by himself - what a talent.
lovely felt vessels from grijs - I do a lot of different techniques - I don't have the patience for felting - after seeing these forms I wish I did. so after mentioning that spring might be in the air - we get a huge snow storm yesterday. I am glad today is better for the drive to Hamilton. Will download the images and post the installation later on.
lliam came up to me and said "mommy I love piper more than my cars, trucks and trains" what a sweet little lad.

22.2.10

here's a peek at a detail of one of the attachment series collages for the "pattern and form" show at the Print Studio. Will show more photos later - I am installing tomorrow. our letterpress collection will be available at Cocoon Lauceston in Australia- thanks Suzanne xx

21.2.10

pillow sale
after seeing the beautiful images of Vancouver during the Olympics - makes me want to return there for a vacation - or maybe a residency. The Malaspina Printmakers is a non-profit artist-run centre that supports the development of printmaking as a contemporary art form and promotes and preserves traditional print practice.

19.2.10

this flower image was one of the popular ones in the letterpress collection that we decided to also try it on the textile work. Some new tea towels and storage boxes. They will be posted online in the next few days. Have a nice weekend - john says he smells spring coming - hope he's right.
tea towel pile - I am thinking of having a special price for tea towel pairs on the etsy site. Will be showing you some new designs later today.

18.2.10

I will have a very nice selection of work at the leaf shop in London - So if your in the area please go and enjoy some tea and shop!
john enjoyed steak frites while piper charmed the staff at Czehoski's and lliam made sweet concoctions in his water. A beautiful hangout in our neighbourhood - this is why I like living in the city - sweet spots are just a hop skip away.
it's crunch time - busy weekend preparing for the show in Hamilton and outstanding wholesale orders - thanks to t&c for the letterpress workshop yesterday evening - both are currently industrial design students from Carlton University. I don't normally do evening classes, but the weekend classes were all booked and I made an exception since it was a Valentines gift. Above is a piece that is now complete, but here it is in progress.
happy birthday john xo

17.2.10

spotted on make something - karyn's beautiful photo of repeat fabric.
beautiful paper twine and objects made by paperphine.

16.2.10

I was included on an alumni page for the 90's on the NSCAD website- it's fun to scroll through all the different graduates. Thanks Chris it looks great.
the bird tea cosie is a popular item , but I wanted to freshen it up with chartreuse spots and changing the bird. I have also been working on other new items and prints - will show you pics when there is a bit of nice light to photograph - always my dilemma during the winter months. this image was done using wood type on a proof press and after wards sprayed with solvents. A very interesting effect.

15.2.10

today in Ontario it's a holiday - family day. we spent the day at the ROM looking at everything dinosaurs. Yesterday was such a fun day - I had three couples come to do a special valentines workshop - they all knew each other and we did both letterpress and silk-screening. It was fun to see all the couples work together - we also had some yummy snacks. It's gearing up to be quite a busy season for us so I will be scaling back on the workshops. Email me if you have any questions regarding future dates. I have been working hard finishing up work for my show in Hamilton - I install on the 23rd. This is a picture of my embroidered and textiles element spread around before I make decisions on what goes together.

14.2.10

what wonderful and lovely people you all are. How I wish I could give each of you something. the random person chosen is Gordana. Please send me an email with your shipping address - if the giveaway is not claimed - a new name will be chosen. Have a wonderful Valentine. (above image a sample from something davis made)

11.2.10

valentines giveaway

thanks to everyone for visiting - a little valentines gift. Please leave me a comment and tell me a bit about yourself - where are you from and how did you hear about bookhou at home? You have until 11pm on saturday feb.13 and the winner will be chosen on sunday feb. 14. Good luck and have a lovely weekend.
found via we love typography.

10.2.10

I don't know how I forgot to mention this - our new next door neighbour is photographer George Whiteside and his nephew Darryl Wilson's gallery called One 800. I really like the distressed look of the walls. When you come to visit bookhou - be sure to visit One 800 as well.
here is the alphabet plate printed as a blind impression - it is printed on lettra paper #220 - we are being commissioned to make note books for a company who is using them as gifts for their employees. I did several experiments for the consultation - I will post a picture of the one chosen later - I will make extra to put in the shop.

9.2.10

Nigel Peake has a wonderful sensibility.
some people like to buy shoes - I like to buy equipment. My new favourite machine - a button maker. Students are welcome to use it for their printing projects.

8.2.10

found while looking for images of Ann Hamilton's work for a lecture I am doing on curatorial practices.

The floors at The Seattle Public Library designed by Ann Hamilton . According to the library’s website: “The floor mimics the appearance of a raised bed of wooden type and is intended to immerse library visitors in the artwork much as readers are immersed in the material they read…The floor includes 556 lines of text, in reverse, in 11 languages and alphabets, and consists of the first sentences of books found in the collection.”

Article by Evey Kwong

found via kyoorius