20th century Reliance proof press

This really cool old hand press sits in the lobby of our newspaper office. Unused for decades, the leather return belt has finally gone, but the rest of it still looks as complete and solid as the day it was last used.
I want to take up letter press printing for some special projects... Wonder if they would notice me up there using this beast???

:)

reviewing the snow pictures below

Just so funny to see how the weather in Indiana changes overnight and day to day... Isn't it? Funny that is???

Just kidding. I know it's not funny at all.

17 degrees and more snow

Yay snow

The view in Indiana today

Blondie3022 on Etsy

My local friend Sondra got a feature at the INcrowd blog. Yeah, Sondra!


http://indianaetsy.blogspot.com/2010/01/meet-blondie3022.html#links

A Valentine for ETSY!

I've got a valentine for you!!!

See all the details about this Color a Valentine contest at:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/etsy-news/valentines-day-card-design-contest-an-etsy-coolmompicks-co-p-6808/

Tea Box Template

In honor of all those folks who work hard and let me download their templates, here's one for you!
My deconstructed tea box template. The original tea box was a bit larger, but I wanted to have it fit on a standard letter size piece of paper.

enjoy!

Don't Eat the Paste!

This great website covers all sorts of packaging, and scrapbook type artistry. I love that she includes printable templates and art!
Thanks for all the hard work "Don't Eat the Paste"!
Visit:
http://www.donteatthepaste.com/

A heart wrenching look at the unemployment of America

You'll have to click on the link below to see the visual picture of the disease of unemployment spreading across America.
It's sad, and disturbing.
Visit:
http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

freezing fog?

I've never understood the concept of 'freezing fog' but ran into the effects of it today. On my way to Indianapolis, while taking my youngest son to yet another dentist, I saw the tops of all the trees encased in ice.... Very alice in wonderland.
The above photo was taken during the sunrise, all of the plants were covered in what can only be described as a thick frost. Would this be known as a 'hoar frost'?

Jimmy Fallon Covers 'Pants on the Ground' As Neil Young | Billboard.com

Jimmy Fallon Covers 'Pants on the Ground' As Neil Young | Billboard.com

Possibly one of the best Neil Young covers I've every heard!

SPC Bowman funeral processin in photos 2

SPC Bowman funeral procession in photo's

I've tried to make a compilation to show the enormity of the flag that was hanging over the street. After the funeral procession had passed underneath, the firefighters in there dress blues were struggling to get it down. Gusty winds billowed the flag like a parasail, making it a very difficult job.

Specialist Bowman's tribute

One of the biggest flags I've seen was unfurled over the Main Street Intersection in Downtown Crawfordsville for the funeral procession of fallen soldier Specialist Brian Bowman today. He was the first military man or woman to be lost in combat in Montgomery County since 1969 during the Vietnam War. The turn out to honor his loss was outstanding. This was taken with my phone. I'll have more pics when I get the D60 unloaded.

Design milk

An interesting look at modern design in it's many forms.
Sure, you might be thinking of abstract wierd shapes and little padding when you think about modern design... but it's more than that. It's a refreshing look at minimalism and responsible use of resources.

Have a look:
http://design-milk.com/

Making your own screenprinting devices

I've been toying with the idea of creating my own screenprints for a while now. I was a silkscreen press operator for over a year at a local industry that printed UV curable inks on plastic and vinyl substrates. I guess I kind of fell in love with the process there... but in a "I want to do it just some of the time...." kind of way.
Surfing the web, I came across this site
Instructables
Which has a very basic, but usable instruction guide to makeing your own silkscreens. I think the hardest part of the job will be to find the photosensative "GOO" that they mention- this stuff goes on screen to create a 'blocker' that doesn't allow ink to penatrate onto the item you're printing. When you put a negative image on the screen with this "GOO" on it, then expose it to light, only the image area will allow the inks to penetrate... very important unless you are printing squares.

New year adventure

Well, we've started the year off right by returning merchandise to a store. Jim bought himself a pair if shoes and decided 3 minutes after we got home that it was time to return them because they didn't fit quite like he wanted. So, off to the store we went. Fairly long lines but still friendly clerks at the Lafayette Dick's sporting goods store.