Drop Caps, Not Bombs

Someday we're gonna put together a comprehensive guide to all the corny (aka awesome) graphic design themed t-shirts out there. For now, though, we'll continue running through them piecemeal. Enjoy the latest from Mental Floss, Duckpin's favorite magazine.

On the Mailboat

We're fresh back from a sublime vacation to Portland, Maine. Highlights included getting messy with some lobster, taking in a Portland Sea Dogs game (complete with post-game fireworks), and happy hour at Portland's only rooftop lounge™. Plus we endured a long day of city hiking that would rival any aboriginal's walkabout. We spotted this impressive hand lettering aboard the mail boat that ferries passengers and cargo around Casco Bay. It's reassuring to know that a fading art form is alive and well in lobsterland.

APA Preview: Blog Promo

Here's a look at what we printed up for the June APA bundle to promote this blog. We also made a half-dozen alternates using an azure ink.

Paper is Crane Lettra (110#, pearl white); type is handset lead; 3.67" x 4.25" with rounded corners

Ampersand Book

Okay, we're sorta riding the crest of ampersandness here. Student Andy Mangold created a nice one-off celebrating a history of the ampersand. He used wintergreen oil to transfer photocopied layouts onto heavy, accordion-folded stock. I've never used wintergreen oil, but am starting to wonder about pairing that transfer technique with letterpress. Anyone know of a project that employs both transfer and letterpress? We'd be happy to be a guinea pigs for such a venture. Any suggestions for a project we can test it out on?

Curling Uniforms

It's been awhile since we posted about our third favorite obsession, curling. There are multiple intersections between design and curling, as non-scientifically evidenced by the large number of architects who belong to our curling club. A hat tip goes to club member (but not architect) Joe Rockenbach, who pointed me to Uni Watch's post on some bad-ass curling sweaters.

Curling sweaters normally fall into two camps: the quaint, patternbook variety or the sleek but styleless. These lads' throwbacks sport the best of both, especially when paired with some natty trousers. Check out the great photos on the post. Finally some uniforms that match the finer design points of the curling rink.

Doilies: A Word I Never Thought Would Ever Appear on This Blog

Our Aunt Dorothy has always had a thing for doilies, so I guess it runs in the Duckpin family.

A recent posting on the wonderful website FPO details the process behind creating the poster pictured above. Big whoop, right? Well, the beauty of the poster is that it was created using store-bought paper doilies that the designer, Bennett Holzworth, Xactoed, spray glued and mounted type-high. What a unique and resourceful way to create your own printing surface. The hands-on nature of this process is definitely more in tune with the whole letterpress-as-physical-expression vibe than designing something on the computer and having a poly plate spit out. Kudos for the handiwork and for sharing the process behind the print.

Perhaps Aunt Dorothy was just a little bit ahead of her time...

The Ampersand

As a contemporary typehouse, Hoefler & Frere-Jones is peerless. Sometimes I think they should include a bib on their website, as I drool uncontrollably every time I visit. You've seen their work everywhere: newspapers, museums, packaging, ad campaigns, signage, etc. They've infiltrated every cranny of the our environment for good reason: their deliberate approach to type design is rooted in deep, classical exploration. In this post, they trace the history of the ampersand and its variants. (We were surprised to learn that its history predates that of many letters we use.) As a bonus, they explore some theories of how the ampersand got its name.

If Hoefler & Frere-Jones ever decides to cast lead type, there won't be a bib big enough to contain my excitement.

Pimp Out 'n Print Out

You can now sport the finest in Duckpin threads by visiting our Cafe Press store. You'll find men's tees, women's tees, kids stuff, a coffee mug and more. We didn't mark up the base rates for the merch, so the prices are as low as they can be. In other words, this thing ain't making us any money, but it is making you look good!

Thanks to Chris B. for the nudge to make this happen. Happy shopping!

Color Yourself Kinky

For those of us still stuck in print land, here's some inspiring work from DADA Design. We think Ken Nordine would be especially proud.

Happy Mother's Day

A great big shout out to all you moms out there—especially ours. We appreciate your dedication and guidance, and thank you for not judging us when we wanted to fill the basement with lead. You are the best.

Card above is one we designed for Mother's Day, 2008; paper is Fabriano Medioevalis; wood type is 10-line gothic bold

Modernist Poster Sale

The second best thing about May 21st will be the Modernist poster sale at Swann Galleries. Posters from the past 100 years will be up for auction, including iconic works by Peter Beherns, A.M. Cassandre, and Jean-Michel Basquiet. Better save up your pennies, though, as most lots will go for quadruple figures. Of course, Dad, you should feel free to do a little birthday shopping for me...

APA Bundle: April

Some nice pieces in the April APA bundle, including a fitting commemoration of the Vandercook composed of ornaments and borders.

Top image: Mike O'Connor's story of working a Washington Hand Press; middle: Sven Olaf Nelson's serene 2008 holiday card; bottom: Gordon Rouze's Vadercook celebration.

Shop Music: Ken Nordine

This series celebrates what we're playing while we're printing.

Ken Nordine's Colors is essential listening for anyone working on a project that involves, well, colors. The album consists of 35 tracks, each a celebration of a single hue. Though there's sparse instrumental accompaniment, this is word jazz at its finest. Nordine's expressive delivery gives each color a distinct and fitting personality. And since 1/2 of Duckpin Press experiences synesthesia, this is a particularly rewarding album to listen to while pondering what ink to mix up next.

Samples can be heard here.

National Postcard Week, May 2-9

Send your deltiologist buddy a handmade postcard next week. It'll make you both feel good.

Postcard by Rebecca at Rar Rar Press, who we met a couple years back at Crafty Bastards Art and Craft Fair.

Poop Rainbows, Part Doo

Since our Caldor post last week, visions of brown/orange/yellow rainbows have danced through our heads. They've been popping up everywhere we look, despite our best efforts to ignore them. Arrrgh. Someone please make them go away.

Clockwise from top left: Magnum P.I.'s awesome helicopter, pair of Jingas, Brad Keselowski's winning car from this weekend's Tallegega race, and our hometown Metro

Feel free to point out others in the comments section.

Weekend Fun

Fun in the shop this weekend. Here's Maria working the Pilot to make a baby shower invitation.

Paper is Crane Lettra (110#, pearl white); type is handset lead; size A6 with rounded corners

Drainspotting, part II

There's more than just one function to those wily Japanese manholes we wrote about last week.. Aya Tsukioka, a Japanese designer, uses them to avert theft. The New York Times ran a piece awhile back on her line of clothing and accessories that use stealthy optics to thwart crime:

"Take the “manhole bag,” a purse that can hide valuables by unfolding to look like a sewer cover. Lay it on the street with your wallet inside, and unwitting thieves are supposed to walk right by."

She also designed the backpack on the right that unfolds to reveal a replica fire extinguisher box. (Good for both kids who get beat up by bullies and for naive altar boys.) Her most ambitious clothing line features a skirt that unfurls into a full-sized soda machine. Amazing.

Brown Town

Brown is a favorite color of letterpress printers. Used right, brown adds the perfect touch of refined elegance. Used wrong, it looks like a poop rainbow.

I miss Caldor.

Tradin' Paint II

So while comparing Darrell Waltrip's paint schemes, I ran across a couple other gems worth sharing. Okay, I ran across a zillion worth sharing, but I'll spare everyone.

Talk about being true to your sport: what more perfect embodiment of NASCAR is there besides chew and brew? Behold two of the most iconic paint jobs in racing. "Handsome" Harry Gant steered his Skoal Bandit Chevy Monte Carlo (left) for over a decade in the Winston Cup series. Bobby Allison's 1988 Miller High Life scheme (right) literally glimmered with gold metallic paint. Yup, even them wheels.

Incidentally, you can thank ol' Bobby for the style of racing you'll see at Talladega this weekend. Twenty-two years ago Allison was involved in a crash at Talladega so horrific that NASCAR instituted the restrictor plate to reduce a car's top speed. Drivers could no longer travel at 200+ mph, but hey -- at least they could still enjoy some dip and a cold one!

Getting Started in Letterpress

Being a hobby printer is a huge leap that many want to take. And for most, it's a worthwhile and fulfilling avocation. But as with all commitments, it's good to look before you take that leap. One place that ties together all the disparate resources out there is this post from Joie Studio. (Its two years old, but still timely.) Pictured is a piece of her work -- which, if you follow her advice, you could be producing in no time at all. Well, okay, in some time.