A Letterpress Studio
photo & video courtesy of Missive Press
Hello & happy second to last Monday of March!
I hope you’re all healthy and hanging in there.
Announcement time…
Festa Paper is officially a letterpress studio. !!!!!!!!!!!! And by officially, I mean next month when my press and studio shed (chic) arrive. FP is growing and I am both very proud and excited (read: giddy).
What is letterpress? Buckle up, baby.
From my desk, to yours.
xo,
FP
Letterpress printing is when a printing press uses a plate or movable type to create a relief on a sheet of paper. Huh? Pardon? Fear not, you’ll learn all about letterpress printing next month.
Until then, meet my press! A Heidelberg Windmill Red Ball. She was made in the ’70s which is actually quite recent given that presses are no longer manufactured, and most presses used by letterpress printers are from the early 1900s. She weighs around 2,500 pounds and has a 5 ft x 5 ft footprint (she said I’m allowed to share her physical descriptors), and is a prime example of the wonders of German engineering. She doesn’t have a name yet but, for obvious reasons, I am thinking something German. Ursula von der Leyen? Seems to roll right off the tongue.
I purchased her from a lovely couple who own a letterpress shop not far from where I live. They were gracious with their time, sharing some of the press’s quirks and nuances, as no two machines are the same. I searched for the right press for nearly 3 years, and feel very fortunate to have purchased one that was well taken care of by people who have honored the craft that is letterpress printing. My nameless press has good juju - I can feel it.
The press will be housed in a charming shed tucked behind my wonderful parents’ garage. I will be outfitting it to accommodate a gigantic press and all of my baggage (kidding, that stays in the childhood bedroom!). And I’m sure you’re all wondering, “FP, are you going to be alright with moving to the backyard?! You’ll be so far away from your first studio (childhood bedroom). Are you ready for this big life change?”. I very much appreciate your concern. I am a bit nervous about moving a few hundred yards away from everything I know to an unfamiliar place (yes, it’s my backyard but I am strict inside gal). However, I am a firm believer that you have to go outside of your comfort zone to achieve your dreams. It will be scary, and it will be cold (oh, you think it’s easy for us in California when it drops below 60? Walk a mile in my shoes, and then come talk to me), but I want to press artwork into paper on my giant machine, so, I am ready.
So what does this mean for Festa Paper? I will have a line of off-the-shelf letterpress items, offer custom letterpress stationery, I will be expanding my custom wedding and event invitation offerings, work with more clients on custom packaging for their businesses, and have a rip-roaring time saying “hot off the press” any chance I get! I feel very grateful to be able to work hard to continue to grow Festa Paper and further develop my passion and appreciation for all things design & paper. Thank you to each and every one of you who sends me an encouraging note, reaches out with custom projects, places an order, or tells a friend about Festa Paper.
I would've never had the confidence to purchase such a beast of a press without the Learn Letterpress course by Britt Rohr of Swell Press. Britt is so passionate about letterpress, generous with her knowledge & insanely creative. Thank you, Britt & everyone that worked to produce the course!
Below is a video of the press in action. She’s a work of art and engineering. Also, be sure to follow @festa.paper on Instagram to see the build-out of my letterpress studio starting next month!
Have a great week xo.
