Then came a demo of printing from a linoleum cut, which, as with a photopolymer plate, is secured to a base to bring it type-high so that it will print. Interesting, but I can't imagine myself cutting either wood or linoleum blocks. One needs the right tools. And some skill. Still ... maybe ... at some point I'll give it a try.
Then finally we dug into some projects of our own devising. I had brought some quotes with me to set into type for bookmarks. Time flies, they say, when you're having fun, and it turned out I had time for only one. I chose an apt quote -- one of less wordy ones but still a few lines long on a bookmark-narrow measure -- then, having decided on an appropriate recipient, hunted up two decorative initials for the top and looked through a couple of drawerfuls of cuts for, I hoped, something bookish. After several minutes of this, I was beginning to despair of finding anything useful when I came across a lady joyfully splashing in the water in her birthday suit, deemed it appropriate to the quote, which I placed it beneath.
Inked up the press. Inked the type. Set the lever to print & walked the rollers over the chase. Three things were immediately apparent: the initials were badly off center, there was a typo in one of the words, and the type itself was not in good shape. Argh. I spent some time mucking around with the initials but still couldn't get them to center; with time (and my patience) running short, I decided it was *charmingly* off center and left it. Then I corrected the typo, replaced a really poorly-printing smashed-up "d," adjusted the spacing between sections, re-inked the type, took a deep breath, and pulled another proof.
Much improved. Not perfect at all but better and, with the clock ticking madly away, I decided it was good enough. I had brought some greenish-gold cover stock, so I switched to that and ran off a few copies. Then I found some lovely gold-colored stock that had been left over, no doubt, for someone else's project. Ran off a copy on that, loved the effect, and quickly ran off 2 more. I was running out of time.
Broke everything down, distributed the sorts (i.e., put the type back where it belonged, but why say it plain when you can use the jargon), cleaned the press, washed my grimy hands, and proudly left with my first project in my hands.
At work the next day, I ruled out the bookmarks and cut each, with razor blade and straight edge, by hand. Not exactly the professional way to do it, and again it's hardly perfect, but I think it's .... um .... charming.They will find their way -- my entire limited edition TR "She is too fond" bookmarks -- to their intended owner tonight. I rather tremble, as they are a bit on the rough side, but, hey, what are friends for if not to receive your heartfelt school projects, especially when your mother is no longer around to receive them?
