You may already know of my love of Letterpress and that I occasionally like to add to my collection with a print from Jacqui who created our things{we}make logo.
Last week I happily spent a day in Jacqui’s new studio learning a little more about the process.
From choosing the antique wood block letters and thick oil based inks that have been salvaged from old printworks, to setting the leading, with actual strips of lead. It’s a hands-on process that’s a world away from how most people create text today and it creates a finished product with texture and depth.
The Print for Love of Wood studio was originally an engineering works servicing the textile trade and then a slipper factory where Jacqui’s Mum once worked. It’s now a treasure trove of printing equipment and vintage finds and it has a lovely feel to it.
I hope I have managed to capture some of that in these images.
Thank you to Jax for welcoming me into her studio, for taking me round some fab junk shops…and for buying lunch!
If you feel the need for your own bit of letterpress here’s a link to Print for Love.
Things we make 
IshitaUnblogged
October 17, 2012
Claire, do you know that I have a fascination for print blocks and these chests which are used to hold the blocks? I myself have collected lot of print blocks over the years and I’ve a chest of drawers and an entire tray of blocks – courtesy my friend whose husband used to have oa printing press in Dubai. Though I started using a Mac for my designs from the very first day of work, my ex-boss used to lament the use of Mac and continuously tell us how she used to typeset each letter manually.
I am keeping this post for keeps – and this is going to be one of my favourites from your blog. Nothing to do with food, that’s true. But there’s lot of wood and a subject that feeds my imagination. Beautifullllllllll photographs, beautiful post:)
thingswemake.co.uk
October 19, 2012
Thanks Ishita, glad you have found Jacqui now too!
egg me on
October 18, 2012
Letterpress is amazing. Always has been, always will be. Makes me wish signs / ads / brochures / everything had the texture and depth of classic letterpress. It’s great places like Print for Love help keep this type of art alive.
thingswemake.co.uk
October 19, 2012
Too true x
phildarb
October 23, 2012
No, you can’t beat the character of letterpress and your photos made me feel like was there. I even felt cold looking at the shot of the room with single glazing and the plaster falling off he wall!
Ellise
November 26, 2012
Great photos! !
Dagmar
December 8, 2012
perfect. i love it!!