Zeichen Press – Page 8 – Design & Letterpress for the people.

Canada: You’re strange and wonderful.

So, I (meaning the Zeichen Press intern) pulled one of everything (x3) for our new Canadian reps

while I sat on the cold concrete floor and worried.�Andrea is learning so much from me.

Our new reps will be taking our goods to the the�CGTA�and from there I guess back to their ice palace. Canada is so different than America!

I found�a short list of shops�in Toronto that I imagine will soon be carrying some letterpress from Minnesota… but that’s for the reps to decide. I’m not some kind of control freak.

July 18, 2010
Sweat Shop

The shop has been a very sultry 90� for the past couple of days – which makes for nearly nude printing. The latest Room & Board project is half done and it’s looking frantastic – the ink loves the heat and lays down like a whipped dog – I also love the heat and yet I stand. And stand. I’d like to thank cold-press coffee from�Sisters’ Sludge�for helping me to keep it real.

July 15, 2010
Tortured (commercial) Artist

I need to get into character for the big Room and Board project… “WHAT’S MY MOTIVATION??!”

Backstory:

In a post-apocalyptic world, one breathtakingly beautiful woman finds herself wandering through the residential remains of South Minneapolis. She stumbles upon a letterpress print shop – it is impossibly intact. She drags her shopping cart of possessions inside and studies her surroundings. Type, ink, paper, a giant wrench and an autographed photograph of Kelly Clarkson. This is exactly like her dream – except without Abraham Lincoln. There isn’t much time before the�feral cats�find her… �But she finally has a method to preserve the dying language – at last! At long last…�

Whew! That was intense! Okay, enough screwing around – the clock is ticking and the cats are coming.

July 13, 2010
My New Computer

I lived in Uptown when Chino Latino was Annie’s Parlor and the threat of a good bus-stop knifing made my morning commute thrilling.

Alas, that Uptown is no more.

The filthy (come ON! You�know�it was filthy!!) Uptown Bar has been replaced by a giant, sparkly�Apple Store�and�the smelly Uptown Bar bouncer has been replaced with fresh-faced (sober) computer geeks. Did I shed a tear during the demolition of this�Minneapolis Institution?

No. I did not. Don’t send me hate mail.�

I loved the Uptown Bar – when I was 21. I also loved smoking a pack of cigarettes every day and getting my furniture from the Salvation Army.

I love the new Apple Store – all brushed metal and snowy white… Perfectly climate controlled, smelling of new electronics, buzzing with energy… A 30 foot-tall-wall of tempered glass keeps the noise and heat of Hennepin Avenue out and the Apple-Zen in. Machines are tethered to maple tables so they won’t float away and maybe to prevent shoplifting.

I bought one of those machines – my old machine was jealous but it was time for it to be replaced. Laptops shouldn’t cause 1st degree burns on a lap.�I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I’ve still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you.

What?! I know. My new computer would never say something like that.

July 6, 2010
Seriously??!

I’ve heard that some people use their kitchen table FOR EATING.

The squirrel came back again – this time looking for Fig Newtons.

Maybe if people (me) remember to shut the back door she wouldn’t think I was inviting her in for lunch. After I waved goodbye (screamed hysterically and jumped up on a chair) I had time to use the table for other things. : Project photographs for the new website!

I am tempted to leave my door open to see what other wildlife will enter my kitchen.

June 30, 2010
PR for Tanek, a pregnant cat and a squirrel in my kitchen

Something weird(er) is going on around here. First, we witnessed a large orange cat date-raping our little Siamese (cat) – and THEN there was a squirrel sitting at my kitchen table eating an avocado.

LATER, I drove myself (I did!) to the edge of downtown for a stand-up meeting with the managing editor for Minnesota Business* and the guys from�Tanek�and�Touchpoint. The meeting was in Touchpoint’s new (unfinished) space – which happens to be in�the building�that I imagine owning. So that’s a weird coincidence.

*The Managing Editor for Minnesota Business can be found�here:

June 24, 2010

Notorious B.I.G.

Madge The Intern and I wore our Burger King��crowns and spent the day printing.Does Madge look different??

So serious.

Zeichen Press was invited to join other Notorious Letterpress Printers and contribute to�The Smallest Museum In St. Paul.�Don’t pretend you’ve never thought about�turning an empty firehose cabinet into a tiny museum.Action shots:

I was pretending to be a mouse with a camera � I think Madge was scared/intrigued.

The (petite) Opening Reception is August 1, from 2-4 at�Workhouse Coffee Bar.

July 16, 2015
Gin & Tonic & Optimism

I�ve observed the greedy, groping limbs of an Octopus on television.

I SEE YOU, OCTOPUS.

I SEE YOUR SELF-INDULGENT, FLESH-LIKE, SUCTION-COVERED BOUGHS, BUMPING ALONG THE OCEAN FLOOR.Sea Creatures are on my mind because I�m back in Barnstable.�Ah, Barnstable. How is it possible for the sunsets to always fill me with awe, the hammock to always fill me with peace, and people to always fill my belly with booze on the deck overlooking the Great Salt Marsh?IT�S A TOUGH LIFE.

July 4, 2015
A Thank You Card From Fran Shea’s Cat Ranch

Oh, BOTHER!

One more kitten needs adopting.

AND how about this card?

BECAUSE ALL I EVER THINK ABOUT IS CATS.

Help. Me.

June 24, 2015
Oh, how do you say… letterpress?

Kids (like mine) graduated last week,houses were open, cards (stuffed with money) were given… And I realized, THESE KIDS NEED THANK YOU CARDS.

And always the giver, I made this:I forced my son to read�this handy blog post�about proper thank you note writing.

You’re welcome.

June 10, 2015
NEW CARDS!!!

LAUGHING THROUGH OUR TEARSWE HAVE NEW CARDS!

TWELVE OF THEM!

Meat suits,

tuna-filled mice,

hungry wolves.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Have a look!

June 3, 2015
Letterpress For The People

Tib mouthed these words while she nursed her latest brood:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death.

Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more.

It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.Do you see what I’m working with here??

She just gives and gives AND GIVES.

Ah, suckle away…

May 20, 2015
NO SOLICITORS + boing boing

But, what IS boing boing??

JUST AN AWARD-WINNING ZINE, BLOG AND DIRECTORY OF WONDERFUL THINGS.

And a�mention from them�made me almost choke to death on my pb&j.(That’s�Gareth‘s door. And peephole.)
Need your own card??�BUY HERE!!!

May 13, 2015
We want to be more than just friends with: Treehaus

Treehaus�->�3153 Glendale Blvd. LA, CA 90039

ANOTHER profile in that special series dedicated to bringing our readers biased reviews of shops that carry our goods.

AM I BIASED because Meesh (SP?!) said I was her favorite person?? TREEHAUS�IS�THE BEST SHOP EVER CREATED. There. I said it. What’s done is done. She has spoken.

I will visit you Treehaus… someday… And on that day, people’s hearts will be filled with gladness and their mouths will proclaim the goodness of all things boutique.

May 12, 2015
A SPECIAL DAY

My cards express all of the feelings for Mother’s Day.

Done.

May 10, 2015
Keep On The Sunny Side

The weather is (finally) nice and that means the shop is open!Like, LITERALLY, open.

I observed Jen scurrying about�(just like the mice we had to poison last year)�while I took photos of The New Cards.�Here’s a teaser:

April 30, 2015