First Print

I had the press for almost a whole month before I was able to find time to put ink to paper. It was very exciting and I think I may have been a little intimidated for a while. It felt so good to get my hands a little dirty and hear the gears moving. The block I printed of the lady with her book is a vintage block my husband gave me for our anniversary. She's very proper!

Bee Bottom Designs - Logo

My husband and I came up with the name Bee Bottom in 2009 on a drive to New Hampshire. I didn't know I would be doing letterpress at the time, but I did know that I wanted to start getting into surface design and textile design. Originally I was going to have it be BeeBottomPress. But then the more I thought about it, I didn't want the name to sound limiting since I would still be doing the design. Hopefully this is the right decision. The photos below show some of the initial sketches and then the final. I love "Bee Bottom" for a number of reasons. First, it's fun to say! But also because the "bottom" or stinger can represent a sewing needle, a pen, pencil, etc. I also love Bees and how they all work together for the greater good. It's like when everyone does a little, it can make a big difference. My goal is that someday, the little items I make can at some point give back by donating a percentage of my profits to charities. That's the goal anyway!

The Press Assembled

My press is way ahead of schedule! This is it completely assembled except for the new rollers that are coming in from CA. She's beautiful!!! The delivery board is the only piece that had to be made. John took care in making sure that the piece of wood he used looked a bit beat up so that it didn't feel to new. Love it! 

So as of now, I'll probably be getting her Nov 5. Can't wait.

A Pearl of a Press-Restoration Progress

It was so exciting to see these photos. The press is so beautiful. And I love that John tries to keep as much of the original paint and surface as possible. It's all part of the charm of using one of these pieces of history. I keep thinking about all the jobs it printed so many years ago. I can't wait to hear the gentle clang of her gears as I now print my projects.  Enjoy the pics below!

I'm working on getting the space ready to start my studio. We have a 500 square foot attic, but it's not finished off. AND, we have a lot of stuff up there. Needless to say it's a ton of work and I only have a few weeks left to get an area done and set up for press. It will be a work in progress I'm sure. My husband will be helping me make one end of it into a temporary room so that I can keep an area heated in the winter and cool come summer time. Don't want the ink to get all wacky if the temp is too extreme. 

A Pearl of a Press- The Rescue

John Falstrom had found my press in a filthy, dark basement and he had to actually take the entire thing apart to get it out—he's very dedicated to his restoration. As he took it apart, he realized that pretty much all its original pieces were in tack and it seemed like a good press-at least what he could tell through the layers of grime.

The photos above are right after picking the Golding Pearl #11, circa approx 1910.  As John began the restoration process, it was clear this was a beauty of a press. I'll post the progress picks next.

Following the Bee

Once Bitten
I’ve been working in marketing and advertising for over 11 years, starting out in print and moving into online design as the market for print diminished. Over the recent years, I’ve craved a way to apply my design to something more tactile, more genuine. I was looking for something that would satisfy and stir my creative soul again. In college, I remember an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction as I pulled sheets off the press or found new uses for the bi-products of my earlier projects. For Christmas 2010, my husband got me a letterpress lesson with local Connecticut expert, John Falstrom. After that day of smelling the inks, hearing the clanging of the cogs and wheels and then holding the beautiful result in my hand was overwhelming. I knew at that moment in my heart that letterpress would be part of my future.

A New Perspective
In January 2011, my daughter arrived. She is an endless source of inspiration for me, and her birth gave me a new perspective on life. 

My daughter Hadley at around 7 months. She’s sporting some of the barrettes I’ve designed and sell on Etsy. I’m trying to get more of these up on my shop soon. 

Follow the Bee
In September of 2011, my husband surprised me with 8 drawers of vintage metal type for my birthday. I didn’t have a press yet, but he knew that this might help me take the plunge. As I looked over the dirty letters with him one night trying to see if there was enough of a particular font to spell out BeeBottomDesigns, we discovered an item tucked beneath the dirty letters. It was an old plastic stencil of a Bee!! I don’t know about you, but that’s a sign to me! After that I knew I needed to follow my heart.

A 600lb Beauty
So, in Sept of 2011, I made the decision to purchased Betty, a gorgeous 1910 Golding Pearl-#11. John rescued her from a basement and is restoring her to the original 600lb beauty she was 100 years ago. Soon she will be in tip, top shape and ready to print for another 100 years. I should have her by Christmas.