I Did It Myself

When most jobs today consist of sitting at a desk and typing on a computer, it makes sense that people are looking for DIY projects for diversions, and I am one of those people.

By Catherine Lash

When Tanya Roberts from Snap and Tumble, a small goods stationary printing company, offered the opportunity to have a hands-on lesson working a letterpress I pulled myself away from my computer to get my hands on it.

Choosing the letters

I went to the printing session with the hope of actually learning to work the press: placing the letters, mixing the ink and pulling the press arm down. The final product was not my goal, although with each step I got more and more excited to see my creations. I was anticipating brilliance, and brilliant it was. When I saw my company’s name embedded in a piece of watercolour paper I was smitten with the outcome and couldn’t stop. Was what I actually created brilliance? No, not to say it wasn’t beautiful, but the brilliant part was that I did it myself.

In the end I created note cards for The Wedding Co. and The Crane Chandelier Project as well as printing my kids’ names on larger sheets with space for them to add their handprints – I will gift the project to my husband for our 11^th wedding anniversary this weekend.

Thank-you Tanya for opening your doors and offering me the letterpress experience, I have a new appreciation for an old practice.

Mixing the ink

Pulling down to make the impression

Checking the results

Final product

Final product