Sleepy Letterpress, Detroit - video

[Dave Hughes]

Here's a nice introductory video from Sleepy Letterpress giving the history of this print shop, which I'm presuming is still located in Detroit, USA.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mNrsDZfE-E

[Dave Hughes]

I'm really enjoying these "Sleepy Letterpress" videos, even the music's great!

On this one Andy produces a letterpress sign for the bathroom.

A great introduction to the craft for a beginner.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDA_EQ-l4Wc

In this video, Andy produces a sign for the bathroom!? That sounds weird...watch to see the sign take shape. The design involves more than half-a-century old Wood Fonts and then is printed on Eleanor, the print shop's 120 year-old 10x12 Chandler & Price.

[Mechanic]

My brother was a printer compositor. I would often watch him running a platen press. Once he put the impression on. He didn't stop. I find it hard to believe that there was not enough ink being put on the type with a single pass. I suspect that this printer didn't want to get his hand printed on. There was an old saying, "You are not a printer until you have had your hand caught in a platen press."

[Dave Hughes]

Another great video from Sleepy Letterpress, with a little lino-cutting involved.

See if you can spot the subliminal message!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmR74Gb5zvI

[Dave Hughes]

We're back at Sleepy Letterpress for another great video.

This week Andy produces a two colour birthday card on a tiny press.

He forgot to tell us how he modified the press to stop the ink disk rotating though!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD3UMNYPrSo

[john center]

you can use a brayer on this kind of press,   just take off the brayer on the press   (needs make ready not sure if kelsy has enough pressure for wood type, I would use a 'lower case 's' but great video).

[john center]

I'm really enjoying these "Sleepy Letterpress" videos, even the music's great!

On this one Andy produces a letterpress sign for the bathroom.

A great introduction to the craft for a beginner.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDA_EQ-l4Wc

In this video, Andy produces a sign for the bathroom!? That sounds weird...watch to see the sign take shape. The design involves more than half-a-century old Wood Fonts and then is printed on Eleanor, the print shop's 120 year-old 10x12 Chandler & Price.

A little make ready on the I - wood shrinks as it ages.

[Dave Hughes]

We're back at Sleepy Letterpress, and Andy introduces us to the work of Amos Kennedy, whose mantra is "Preservation through Production."

Get ready on the "pause" button while watching this one!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1xYSy9pgR0

Andy introduces you to Amos Kennedy and proudly shares his prized Amos Kennedy Prints. Next to his Grandfather's items in the print shop, Amos Kennedy's prints are some of Andy's favorite printed possessions. It is the Amos Kennedy motto of PRESERVATION THROUGH PRODUCTION that fuels the work of Sleepy Letterpress. Enjoy a small glimpse into the inspiration that is Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.

[Dave Hughes]

On this video Andy answers a question that I posed in post #4 of this thread, namely how did he stop the inking disc rotating on the small Kelsey press to make the two colour card.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeAAPsooGFQ

In this video, a blended two-color birthday card comes to life.  Produced on the shop's Vandercook #1 Press in PMS 021 & PMS 484 - this card reminds us all that "Cool things were created in the 1970's". Watch as the fun 70's themed print takes shape.

[Dave Hughes]

Andy seems to be taking inspiration from Amos Kennedy to produce this poster which our elected leaders could take advice from (no matter where in the world you live)!

With a clever twist, he manages to create two distinct posters in a single printing session.

I think if I had been producing this poster I would have started with the galley the other way up, i.e. the top of the poster nearest to me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8rKW4-xD_Y

Listening More, Printing More & Talking Less. Watch as one poster turns into two with one adjustment.  Produced on the shop's Vandercook #1 Press in PMS 328 - this print is a reminder that for understanding to take place, listening is required. Watch as both prints take shape.

[Dave Hughes]

Here Andy makes a clever Golf-themed poster using green ink.

Can you spot the rather large typo he made before the forme "exploded?"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoU2shXiBBc

The Hole in One is one shot most golfers never experience. This week's poster has some fun with the MANY golfers excited about the rounds of golf to be played and (mostly) enjoyment to be had.  The project was one of the more involved lock-ups Andy has filmed - and everything was going well...until the form blew up!  So...Andy got to lock up today's poster again before getting it on Miss. Vandercook. In the end it turned out great and Andy even got to produce an additional and personal poster.

[Dave Hughes]

We're back to Sleepy Letterpress and Andy is creating a letterpress poster as a wedding anniversary gift for his wife (not sure how impressed she'll be!).

Printing on his 1902 Chandler and Price press he encounters some problems with the paper sticking to the type. It seems to be a combination of sticky ink and lack of a frisket arm on the press.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtrFbjVuu6Q

This week we move production over to Eleanor, the shop's 120 year-old press, to produce a keepsake print to mark a very important date. The print is put together with decades old wood type and a linoleum heart graphic hand-carved about 1 year ago. Andy uses a new ink he has never used before which looks AMAZING but it took A LOT of work to keep paper from falling into the press. In the end, the prints look GREAT...but as is always the case at Sleepy Letterpress, it's the journey to get to the best print that is the fun of it all.

In this print shop we are not Pretentious Printers (we aren't that good) but we "freeze moments in time" through the Printed Practice of "Preservation Through Production" as we find new treasures in Andy's Grandfather's Letterpress cabinet weekly to print. Watch as this week's print takes shape.

[Dave Hughes]

Here Andy takes on a nice 2-colour job, with polymer plate illustrations. Can you spot ALL the typos in his first proof?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5l80C8omCE

Therapy is great...And so is Gardening! Join Andy in the print shop as he pulls off his most ambitious print yet! This 2-color project combining Polymer (plastic), Metal Type and Wood Type gives Andy a run for his money. After resolving a few struggles during production, the finished project is as satisfying as winning the best tomato award at the county fair (if that is a thing).

At Sleepy Letterpress - We are Ink Slinging Printers "freezing moments in time" through the traditional and Printed Practice of "Preservation Through Production". We love finding treasures in Andy's Grandfather's Letterpress cabinet weekly to print. Watch as this week's print takes shape.

Project: 8.5 x 11
Press: Chandler & Price 8 x 12
Ink: Pantone 032 & 354
Lock-up: Polymer, Metal & Wood Type

[Dave Hughes]

Another great video from Andy, using three colours to give us his interpretation of "A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l458QNAjzAk

They say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush... but what about a whole flock crammed onto one print? 🐦🎨 With 3 colors, "registration" (not really), and maybe me flipping a bird (or two) along the way, this print is proof that sometimes the chaos is half the fun. Watch as this print evolved along the way and ended up with an appearance of "movement" caused by the offsetting colors.

And for the record: My grandfather printed for a Bird Seed Company not a Bird shop.

Sleepy Letterpress is where the Past meets the Present in a Print Shop. Ink Slinging Letterpress Printing - "freezing moments in time" through the traditional and printed practice of "Preservation Through Production".  Join Andy "Sleepy" Harrison as he finds treasures in his grandfather's Letterpress cabinet weekly to print. Watch as this week's print takes shape!

Project: 5 x 8 1/2 Print
Press: 8 x 12 Chandler & Price - aka Eleanor
Ink: Rhodamine Red, Pantone 388 (green) and Black
Lock-up: Bird Graphics and Metal Type

[Caren]

Right now the letterpress community is having to do some serious soul searching & deep anti-racism work as a result of what is happening at Hamilton Wood Type Print Museum.

For this page to focus on a creator who chose to do an episode memorializing the death of a White Christian National is short-sighted and problematic.

As a community we need to do better.