Meet and Greet goodies

A quick post on some goodies provided by the Ladies of Letterpress meet and greet session.

Brace yourself for some serious hush puppy and waffle house coverage next week.

Frites!

When I wasn't busy avoiding my moist hotel, listening to lectures, and hanging out with other letterpress aficionados I was sure to be found eating as much southern food as my west coast body could handle; and even though the Admiral was the creme of the crop in my Asheville dinning experience I still had a number of other fantastic meals.

If there's a starchy thing to be desired it almost has to be crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside-french fries.

The best fries I've ever had in my entire life we're truffle infused but, these pommes frites were a close runner up.

These beautiful fries accompanied my first true Creole food experience.

Crepes filled with southern goodness, like this salmon and caper plate of glory.

Ratatouille in a crepe. Yum.

Pesto, arugula, cheese... need I say more?

After my french infused lunch I went back to bookworks to enjoy 2 demos: Getting to know your table top press and How to die cut.

The table top press demo was hosted by Kelly McMahon. She owns and operates May Day Studio.

Gauge pins for registration.

The die-cutting demo!

What is die cutting?

It's the process used to quickly and efficiently cut various shapes from all types of paper, foam, and fabric.

How does die cutting work?

It all starts with a thin piece of metal bent (by a die maker) into the abstract or geometric shape that you want. That piece of metal is then mounted on a piece of wood with foam in the center and on the outer edge of the shape to cushion the paper while cutting. The metal is type high and conveniently fits into the chase of the press. The chase is where you normally have your plate of the image you're printing.

When the edge of the metal comes together with the paper it creates a cut out of your image as seen above, and you can use the cut out as a positive or a negative.

I'm pretty pumped to do some die cutting on my Kluge. Vicktrola coasters are soon to come.

Street Rat. RiffRaff. I don't buy that.

After attending some great lectures the next day I got to roam around the city some more and I've been waiting to show you some of the street art I was able to photograph. Asheville, NC is loaded with fun stuff. There was a LOT to see so this is the abbreviated version of the paintings, tags, and throw ups I got to see!

Some of the brick work!

Check out this sweet old garage entrance.

Chewy.

Brick rocks.

Kegs.

The Diver is by a graphic/street artist friend of mine in L.A. VILHELM.

I was so pumped to screen print some shirts for him.

I printed one for myself too.

I couldn't resist.

Next week we'll check out some more Southern cookin' and a demo on die-cutting!