5th Annual Day of Fall Fun

There was plaid, there was fall fare, pumpkin carving and a warm fire.

Most of all, there was the delightful company of friends.

5th Annual DOFF was a success. Fall fun was had by all.

Sweet Melodies

I have an insatiable appetite for new music right now, which is, quite frankly, something I haven't felt in quite some time. These songs and artists have been soothing me with their sounds. I'm in a receiving mood here lately. "Sing me brave from your mouth."

Gregory Alan Isakov, In Tall buildings from before the winter fires on Vimeo.

My Brightest Diamond - ALL THINGS WILL UNWIND: Visuals from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

Listen to more here

Ryan Adams, Ashes and Fire

Remember You Used to Love Me from War Jacket on Vimeo. Caleb Chancey, War Jacket

You Are Here

image from here

"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status [not anything else!], defines your life." --1 Corinthians 7:17

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Four Hats On!

Check this guy out!

Below are the results of the first week of printing action in my basement studio. Rolling the cylinder back and forth in a repetitive motion gave me a chance to reflect on how faithful the Lord has been to answer prayers and get this little dream off the ground. I loved having visitors in the studio this week, and have really enjoyed having the chance to explain the process to others. There's one more print to share, and I will do so later (as it's a gift that needs first to be given). Here are the other two works:

Another wedding invite!

And business cards for a talented friend and fashion designer,

Heather Williams. Check her out here!

p.s. i love my new corner rounder!

** for the printers out there, if you're wondering why i'm doing extra inking on my way back from each revolution, it's because the inking is not quite enough with just one trip back to the feedboard. Any tips?

Let's roll!

image from rob culpepper

The press is in action. With the first color of a three color print done, I'm jazzed to know that this thing works! I can't wait to finish up this first at-home fourhatspress creation. Look out for the full story and photos later this week!

image from here

At risk of sounding dramatic, I've been waiting for this day for over two years. Ever since I started clicking around on the internet looking at pictures of printed matter, I've been head-over-heals with the process of letterpress. The trail that love has set me down has been quite unpredictable. It's lead me to many a printer, and many a friend. I've relied on their expertise for so long, and learned immeasurable lessons. I've reached a part of my journey that I must walk alone. I've got my tools, I just need to try. Today (pending the arrival of my last supply), I will troubleshoot and turn the crank on the finally-repaired-after-years-in-waiting Vandercook in my very own home studio. Oh happy day!

*stay tuned for more stories, pictures, and hopefully, if all goes as planned, prints!

A Sunday Rest

image from here

It's 10:00 in the morning, and I'm still in my pajamas. Heck, I'm still in bed, nestled under my t-shirt sheets as the mid-morning sun pours in over my shoulder. This usually doesn't happen. By this point, I've typically been awake for a couple of hours at least. Several cups of coffee down, I might be on my way to the grocery, to breakfast with friends, to run ragged around this town.

And, today, instead of succumbing to the quiet nagging whisper that prizes productivity over all else, I am here, listening to sweet fall-ish music and poems and basking in the slowness of Sunday mornings I used to know. And, I 'm recognizing that I've somehow forgotten the value of Sabbath.

In The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan suggests that busyness may be the culprit of indifference. If I'm honest, I know that I've been selfish (especially so) lately. I've been too wrapped up in my own schedule, goals, comfort, that I've not bothered to notice anyone else. Perhaps it's true that "busyness makes us stop caring about the thing we care about."

And Sabbath-- the repose that allows puts into perspective who we are in light of who God is--sets that thinking right. My prayers is that I slow long enough to hear a truth that will sustain me through a new week, and open my eyes to the buzzingly busy people with their own lives, hearts and hurts.