Beth - Mediocre Press

I started a new day job about 6 weeks ago which should go a long way toward explaining the lack of updates. Rest assured I’m still making weird things on weekends and evenings.

I finally did it… the gorgeous Amanita border from @bowerbox.com that I’ve been sitting on for over a year was put to use last night. One of the things that made me take a bit longer was the whole mushroom murderer thing, but why should she spoil mushrooms for everyone?

How amazing are Adanas? I am impressed with what they can do. Looks like you have a solid table to work off at least- I only had a little table I got off the side of the road for my Adana. The C&P forced an upgrade to my workspace.

Until a few months ago, I had my type cases in my office/sewing room. You do what you have to do.

Two more type cases means a day of reorganisation. And maybe next week some proof printing, but for now, lots of shuffling.

Why should I write better when a machine can do it for me? Because actually no one can do it for you, because your voice is unique among all the people on earth. Siri never petted a horse's neck. Alexa has never been ghosted by the captain of the football team. But you have lived, your heart is beating, you have suffered, and you have something important to say. It's a human's job, to use words, and whatever job you give to a machine, that part of your brain goes dark. Maybe it's worth it when it comes to remembering phone numbers and directions, but when that part of your brain that uses words goes dark, that's a vast area that's very close to your soul. Don't let some internet platform convince you that what you have to say and create isn't worthwhile. Words are the echo of your soul. Honing that echo matters.

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

Although she seems to understand quite a few words, she doesn’t say much, so it’s no surprise that so far she hasn’t suggested anything.

HRH Pepper decided to grace me with her presence in the print studio today. I feel honoured.
#printdog

This is so beautiful I want to cry.

I know Murakami said this about running, but even as a non-runner, I love this.

Due to issues beyond my control, I didn’t start paid work yesterday as anticipated. Instead, I printed samples of some borders and ornaments that I’ve not had a chance to play with (also some type). There was a lovely surprise in the pinecones! Hoping to use them on a card later today.

Robbie Williams.

I can confirm the Amanita is amazing. The only problem might be that it’s TOO amazing and I never feel like the ideas I have to use it are good enough, but that’s the story of my life. Go get some!

It’s my last day in the studio before I return to actual, paid full-time work. And while I have plenty I can do, I kind of just want to sit here and look around.

Black print that says Things Always Look Better in the Morning in silver ink, in the middle of a star swirl linoleum cut image.

If I keep printing it, it’ll be true, right? New Print Club print for August. https://www.starshaped.com/printclub

Before and after restoration of my Sterling corner rounder, thanks to my amazing, skilled, and helpful husband. It was thrown into the deal I made for my 10x15 c&p earlier this year, and it had hung around the garage, seized and overlooked until 3 days ago.

Inspired by @hopeamico.com, and the understanding that my husband doesn’t always love my snarky cards, I give you another take on ‘you’re doing great’ but with wood and lead.

Who among us couldn’t use an apology card from time to time?
#letterpress #printmaking #apology

Picked up someone’s Nan’s old Singer 99k yesterday. It needed a bobbin and a friction wheel, but, it still works well enough to sew a thin notebook together. 8 sheets of paper plus a cover, so 36-page pocket-sized (folded A6) notebooks might be a thing… and maybe even with my misprints!

Another ‘end of day’ print, using new-to-me Mercury Light 36pt and a knife I’ve had for a couple years but only used once before.

Before you say anything, I couldn’t find apostrophes, so yes, they are upside down commas.
#letterpress

I’m here, and I love this poem!

Some days you just need to print the thing that makes you chuckle.

When the print run I needed to didn’t work, it was nice to have this in the wings as a backup.
#nottoday
#letterpress

Anything under 10pt, especially Old English, can go to the scrap man I reckon. To avoid the feeling of guilt, I did find a university professor who uses type pie for art pieces, so I gave my 10pt OE pie to him.

If there isn’t dissing to do, there’s always that hell box waiting for attention…

Listen to Ranger Billy!

Mornings are for dissing, setting, and experimenting.

For those who can’t read backward, I’ll hopefully have a test print of this later today. Because afternoons are for printing.

Look you just have to make the cool weird shit that excites you. You must. In this world besieged by bland, scrubbed boring, computer slop, you must. Make the thing you’re embarrassed to make, the thing that feels “too much” because otherwise we get drowned in a sea of cowardly work made by a button