Using Metal Type - Letterpress Workshop In-Studio Class
Saturday, Oct 5, 10:30-4pm
Instructor: Carolyn Sweeney
Limit: 6 students. All participants must be 15 years or older.

Class Details

Letterpress is a form of printing characterized by its crisp, textural impression on paper. The impressed ink gives the print a unique look and feel. Carolyn Sweeney, owner of Black Dog Press, delights in teaching others this nostalgic and beautiful method of printing on her impressive, 2500 pound vintage presses. Join her for a fun day of learning how to set old-fashioned metal type by hand.

The first part of class is all about creating your design. Choose letters for the text from Carolyn’s thirty sets of fonts, then add small decorative accents from among the hundreds of printers’ ornaments in her trays of metal type. You’ll experience a bit of history as you lay out and set your own words into the heavy steel frame that holds the metal type. Once you’ve locked your design in place, Carolyn shows you how to “makeready” the press for a clear impression and then how to use it to do your own printing. What an experience!

One delightful aspect of working with Carolyn is delving into the history of typesetting. Do you know the meaning of “Mind your Ps and Qs” and “I’m out of sorts”? The sayings originated with typesetters and Carolyn knows how to decode them. Just for fun, check out this five-minute animated video that Carolyn found on the history of type.

You’ll leave this one-day class with a hands-on understanding of metal typesetting and letterpress printing. You’ll also take with you a 25-30 piece set of postcards, stationery, or note cards that you've designed – and printed – yourself.

The class is held at the instructor’s studio near Chautauqua in Boulder. The address will be sent in a pre-class email.

An email will be sent to participants the Monday before the class. Classes with homework may receive pre-class info earlier. No email? Double check the email address you entered when you registered and your SPAM folder. Due to SPAM filters and inbox settings, we cannot guarantee you will see, read, or open these emails. Two Hands Paperie assumes no responsibility for non-attendance of a class. Contact twohandsclasses@gmail.com with any class questions and see our Class Policies page for more information.

Class Materials

Please bring the following materials:

Printing clothes/apron
Bag lunch and water bottle for the short lunch break

Class materials:

All printing materials provided

Class Refund/Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting will be refunded or, at the participant's option, used to pay for another class. Two Hands Paperie will retain a $10 processing fee for EACH class cancelled by a participant. After 14 days, there is no refund or credit. In addition, the fee for a class cancelled within this 14-day timeframe by a participant cannot be transferred to pay for another class. These policies are to ensure that teachers are compensated for their investment in materials and in time spent preparing for the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class if fewer than 3 students enroll 48 hours prior to the scheduled class time. If for any reason Two Hands Paperie cancels a class, students will be called at the phone number on file and refunded the FULL class fee.

Instructor Bio

Carolyn Sweeney is the owner, designer, and print artist behind Black Dog Press, a local letterpress printing company. With an educational background in Fine Arts and Architecture, Carolyn finds pleasure in tiny and exacting creative endeavors, such as setting type to use in a 100-year-old letter press machine or creating miniature worlds in old candy tins. Check out http://www.blackdogpressonline.com.

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Using Metal Type – Letterpress Workshop In-Studio Class Oct 5