two string jane » letterpress

two string jane @ First Thursday in the Pearl

Alyssa Zukas — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 01:34:53 +0000

Come check my booth out this Thurs Aug 6th at First Thursday in the Pearl! It’s kinda my first in-person show ever, let alone Portland so I’m super excited. I’ve got some new goodies to show you that I designed just for the street fair. Stay tuned for more!

Don’t you love that brass “hello” paperweight from West Elm. I wish I could take credit for it!

Mr. Mountain – New for First Thursdays

Alyssa Zukas — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 01:41:05 +0000

And new just for First Thursday, Mount Hood inspired Mr. Mountain tee soon to be in the shop. I’m using Canvas’ new heather marl tee, such a cool texture and feel. Lovin his gold tooth #theresgoldinthemtharhills

Letterpress Business Cards Printed at the Gann Bros.

Alyssa Zukas — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 01:21:08 +0000

Printing new business cards up for my first First Thursday in the Pearl at the Gann Bros print shop across the street. So excited to finally have a use for hologram foil and split fountain neon rainbow! They ran them on their 2 Heidelberg Windmills in the shop. These guys are totally mesmerizing to watch. If you ever need a letterpress print job run in Portland, they are the guys to go to! Their shop is totally old school (in more ways than one).

Madewell x Valentines Day – Letterpress fun in PDX

Alyssa Zukas — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 23:28:55 +0000

Had some fun with Gann Bros. Printing this Valentines this weekend! They were asked by Madewell to do a live letterpress demonstration printing Valenitnes cards at their shop in the Pearl District. I was lucky enough to design and cut some linoleum blocks to print in a 5×8 tabletop Kelsey press. What a fun experience! If you get a chance to stop by the Gann’s shop in the Pearl do it! They are the nicest guys and they’ll give you a tour of their historic building (right across from REI) and presses. I think they’re the best unknown letterpress printers in Portland right now and take their craft very seriously. They were the first people we met when we first came to Portland and they already feel like family. Josh saw an old Linotype (I think it was actually a Intertype) on their dock and knew they were serious guys.

Messing Around at the International Printing Museum!

Alyssa Zukas — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 04:14:05 +0000

So my newest favorite place in LA is the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA! I can’t believe I grew up in LA with this in my backyard and didn’t know about it. So the Hubs and I are now regulars and help out every Saturday that we can. Come down and visit us there and visit their Etsy store HERE

Anyway, I couldn’t resist grabbing this little flourish and making something out of it… it looked like an awesome little calligraphic pile of poo! So I grabbed some little lightning bolt border for stink lines and a star for the background… AND VOILA! I tried putting “PU” on one but not sure if it enhances or detracts. I’m still pretty crap at letterpress (I did try registering on a tabletop Vandercook hand proof press) but it’s SO MUCH FUN! I only wish it was bigger so I could make a poster of it for the bathroom.

Vintage Spotlight: UPDATE – More Walter Bosse Brass and Display Case!

Alyssa Zukas — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:21:49 +0000

After visiting a friend’s letterpress shop we acquired an awesome old type drawer used for sorting metal fonts. The perfect place to store all my figurines! Some of the little guys are so small it can be hard to display them but I think type drawers are perfect for displaying them! You can find them on Ebay or on Etsy.

And… welcome the newest Editions to my collection. Two owls with “Baller” markings and a brass set of hedgehogs!

Owl Bottle Opener

Owl Letter Holder

Hedgehog Family Ashtray Set of 6