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Message 1
From: "Robert Viana"
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 11:26:38 -0200
Subject: [Baren 33330] Re: New Year cheer
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I second that Maria!
Marilynn, If the New Years Postcard exchange burns your ass so bad then say "to hell with it." Is it really worth the amount of, what seems to be, mental anguish that you are going through here?
Life is to short friends. If more people would spend the same anout of time thinking about what makes them happy instead of what makes them mad, the world would be a better place.
Marilynn, please don't get me wrong. I am not trying to get you angry at me or anyone else, it is simply that in the grand scheme of things, this is a very tiny piece of one persons life. If you need help with the postage, I can mail you a roll of stamps. I have extras.

Cheers,
Robert Viana
http://www.robertviana.com
http://www.printmakers.info
http://www.handpulledprints.net


> , we get it, okaaaaaaaay?????? You're pissed, you feel used...we
> get it. Life's not fair, there is no Easter Bunny...no Santa Claus---the
> Three Kings is the one I was most upset about, sigh (where did all the
> cookies go? and the milk for the camels?)...but life must go on.
>
> You are vehemently protesting that you haven't received all your cards
> and you HAVEN'T EVEN MAILED YOURS YET????
>
>
> Can we let it go now?
>
>
>
>
> Maria Arango
>
> [LINK: http://www.1000woodcuts.com/] www.1000woodcuts.com
>
> [LINK: http://www.artfestivalguide.info/] www.artfestivalguide.info
>
>

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Message 2
From: Charles Morgan
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 07:08:41 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33331] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V39 #3891 (May 4, 2007)
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>Sue,
>Charles Morgan, the King of Alternative Printing Tools and Processes,
>also has a kazillion or so printing devices. All are made of easily
>accessible materials meant for many divergent purposes, none having
>to do with printmaking. My personal fave is the appliance roller
>baren. I'm sure he will be speaking up soon and giving you a web
>address!
>
>Cheers ~
>Sharri

Sharri, thanks for your vote of confidence ... I think !!!! A
kaxillion is probably a few more than I actually have. I will mention
a few that might be of interest. If you (or anyone else) wants more
detail, please just drop me an email off-list and I will email you
more details.

1) Bottle jack press ... this is a light, portable, in-line press
similar to a book binding press. It is capable of exerting enormous
pressure. Even if you buy everything new, the total cost should be
only about $30 or $40. They are VERY simple to make ... I know many
women (and many men, for that matter) are frequently unsure of
themselves when it comes to such a project, but trust me ... anybody
can make this little press in just a few hours. These presses are
great for relief work, but not so good for metal plate etchings.

2) Palm press ... this is the one Sharri talked about. I first saw a
palm press made by Nik Semenoff ... have a look at his website. His
was made with ball bearings and was a bit complicated. It was made
for printing lithographs. I GREATLY simplified the idea. Mine are
made from appliance rollers and something for a handle ... e.g. a
large drawer pull, an old billiard ball, an old door knob, etc. They
take about 5 minutes to make. You can print etchings, lithographs,
and collagraphs with them, as well as relief work.

3) Furniture glide barren ... you can easily make barens from about
1/2 inch diameter to as large as you want using plastic-faced gizmos
sold as "furniture glides". You can also make them from drawer pulls,
but I prefer the furniture glides. Basically, you just attach the
glides to some sort of handle. Maria has made one with drawer pulls
... I think she called it a "shroom baren".

As I said, just email me off-list for more details.

Cheers ..... Charles

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Message 3
From: "Mark Mason"
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 16:01:49 +0100
Subject: [Baren 33332] Print Exchange 33 and question about Brilliant Watercolour inks.
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Hi all. I've just checked the Baren Exchange website and noticed that I'm fourth on the waiting list for Exchange 33. I'm going to go ahead and do my print anyway, but as a first timer on these exchanges could I ask some of you "veterans" what the chances of being moved up into the exchange are? Does it happen a lot of the time or not, and if I don't manage it this time, do you ever run an open "mixed bag" or "Waiting Room" exchange where waiting list members can submit their previously produced prints?

I'm still finalising my design and may put some progress reports on my new Blog site.

Marilynn's quick off the mark, block 1 cut already! I'd better get my skates on, I've 3 colours and a Key block to cut.

I'm considering using bottles Windsor and Newton Brilliant Watercolour for the prints and wondered if anyone has any experience of using them for prints. We used to use them for painting backgrounds for animation shows and for airbrushing. I'm not sure if some people call them liquid watercolour, but they look like bottles of very intensely coloured clear inks. I'm going to give them a try but thought I'd cast around for other people's experience aswell.

Kindest regards,

Mark.

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Message 4
From: "Marilynn Smith"
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 08:19:57 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33333] Re: Baren Digest (old) V39 #3892
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Maria,I was talking about the year of the dog prints not the pigs and I was
quoting someone else who felt very unhappy to have mailed out say around 60
prints for the last years exchange, the year of the DOG, and got only 19 in
return. If you find it acceptable to get less than half of what you mail
for an EXCHANGE than be happy. If you really think this is the post office
not sending out your mail so be it. Me I will send out cards to those who
send me one and Maria, I trust you so I am sending you one. I have waited a
YEAR to get those dog prints and have received only half of those posted on
the Baren site.If you think that is an EXCHANGE and that is yoru idea of an
EXCHANGE than so be it. I thought an EXCHANGE meant mailing to everyone on
the list.

Sorry you guys are tired of hearing this. I was trying my best to EDUCATE
you about what is truly happening. So carry on and I will say no more. I
simply will do as I please and never do this non exchange that is called an
exchange. Because that seems to be what everyone else has done.
Oh and if all goes as planned my prints will be mailed today.
Marilynn

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Message 5
From: Shireen Holman
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 12:02:41 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33334] solution to new year's cards?
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If someone really only got 19 cards last year, instead of ranting
about it, maybe we should put our heads together and figure out what
the problem is. Michelle might have figured it out. Maybe all post
offices don't treat mail equally. Maybe some can't handle mail in
clear envelopes. Maybe in some cases the ones sent as postcards get
lost in the huge mountains of junk mail that gets sent out. I don't
know the answer, but maybe we could think about it in a calm manner?
Shireen

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Message 6
From: "Robert Viana"
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 14:10:32 -0200
Subject: [Baren 33335] Re: solution to new year's cards?
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Simple solution would be to have a single coordinator and a real deadline like the regular exchanges.


Cheers,
Robert Viana
http://www.robertviana.com
http://www.printmakers.info
http://www.handpulledprints.net

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Message 7
From: Barbara Mason
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 09:35:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 33336] solution to new year's cards?
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This would be one solution but I rather like having no deadline and taking my time to get them out...seems like our lives are so scheduled. These are fun, sort of like christmas cards, not a real exchange. I think it would somehow spoil the whole thing to make it formal.
But I will go with the flow of the collective decision, as always. I admit to not even counting the ones I got....could have been 19 or a lot more. I just enjoyed each one as it arrived and I secretely cursed whoever sent one January 1st. I am never that organized. Seems like I printed about 75 last year and sent out at least 50. It would be easier on us to send to a central location but not easier on whoever sends them out....it will be quite a job to send out so many. I do have a good idea on how to deal with the prints as they come in and sent it to whoever coordinated an exchange after me...file folders in file boxes. As the work comes in you file it and then just pop the contents of each file into a shipping package. It worked well and there were not 30 piles of prints all over the day I shipped them out.
Best to all,
Barbara

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Message 8
From: Diane Cutter
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 10:52:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Baren 33337] Re: solution to new year's cards?
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Good idea, Shirleen... figuring out how to make this work.

Rob's suggestion of a coordinator makes me sigh mainly because it seems hard enough to get coordinators for the regular print exchanges. Personally I would be against this as I wouldn't want to burn out more people on being a coordinator for the two big exchanges.

I like the informality of Year of... Maybe an idea would be to periodically check the Baren gallery. If a print is up and you haven't gotten one, I would think it would be within your rights to let the printermaker know it hasn't arrived. Is it possible to have our email addresses added to the mailing addresses so we could make that contact?

And to be clear... I've only participated in two: dog and pig (as yet not sent out but will be in June)... so don't ask me for a rooster.

Diane

www.dianecutter.com
www.theitinerantartist.blogspot.com
www.DCutter.etsy.com

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Message 9
From: baren_member # barenforum.org
Date: 5 May 2007 17:57:33 -0000
Subject: [Baren 33338] new years cards

Message posted from: Dale Phelps

Thank you Maria,

Dale

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Message 10
From: slinders # comcast.net
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 13:31:51 -0500
Subject: [Baren 33339] Re: solution to new year's cards?
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Hi, inky folk!

One solution that worked at one time was that you couldn't
participate in the next year's New Year's Exchange if you hadn't
gotten your critters out the door by sign up.

I do like getting these beautiful surprises from all over the
world. Today there was a lovely red envelope from Maria in
Brazil! It's a beautiful two color thing, with delicious
decorative touches! If I'd gotten the prints in a bundle I
might not have been able to enjoy this one as thoroughly, but it
made my morning!

If gathering prints at one location for distribution will help
some people, I like that we can do it that way, and I volunteer
to gather for those who wish next year. I do like things rather
the way that they are, but it probably would help to reinstate
the rule about not signing up until your obligation is filled
for the previous year. (I think that we'd get a little 'fall
stampede' in those good old days!)

Best to all!
Sharen

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Message 11
From: "Oscar Bearinger"
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 15:09:36 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33340] Re: solution to new year's cards?
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OK OK OK Folks!
Let's get real here. Everybody seems to be "caught" on something.
As one of the early participants in this issue, I will make one more
comment,
and give you the wisdom I have gleaned from a morning's gardening.

To look for a "solution" one must have a "problem." Is there a problem
here? I don't think so. Now we can collectively create a problem by not
letting "this" go.

As for a "solution" let's define the problem, and I believe we will find the
solution.

Here goes:
Certainly one Baren member is upset (maybe more). I don't see any further
problem besides that.

This can happen to any one of us (becoming upset). The Masters and
Mistresses of the Baren have anticipated that and provided us all, already,
with a solution.

Any left over comments, or questions, or feeling statements, or demands, etc
etc etc, after any initial discussion on the Baren List, should subsequently
be discussed ONLY ON THE BAREN AFTER-FIVE list. These residues (we all have
them about one thing or another) often need accompaniment of libations to be
fully let go of.

How's that?
Please let's not respond with another regulation or deadline or other
bureaucracy.
Of course I'm open for questions on this. ONLY at Baren aft 5.

My 2cents
Oscar

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Message 12
From: "Bea Gold"
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 12:08:42 -0700
Subject: [Baren 33341] Re: solution to new year's cards?
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I need to jump in here - I love getting the cards throughout the year. I
guess I just send them to all on the list and then don t count - just enjoy
what comes. Keep sending them and eventually you will get mine. Bea

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Message 13
From: "phare-camp # imp-s.com"
Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 17:14:57 -0400
Subject: [Baren 33342] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V39 #3892 (May 5, 2007)
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Hey All:

I can sure relate to being busy busy busy, I'm i the middle of finals right
now, large format "quilt" print for my relief class (I'm using several
different sized blocks of "Easy Cut" then putting them together in
different patterns to pull one large print [sorta like a puzzle print])I'll
probably pull at least 5-10 of these 18x24" quilt prints with the blocks
rearranged in each one. I'm also pulling 20 silkscreen monoprints in my
silkscreen class.

In the silkscreen project I'm incorporating a silkscreen pull from a
positive that Carol Wagner made for us to collaborate on when I finished my
class. I will create 20 abstracted and or literal silkscreen monoprints
from one pull and incorporate Carol's image into those monoprints in
another pull. I decided to do it for my final in my class since Carol is
no longer around to do any more work on this project we were planning
together. My silkscreen teacher loves it and has been very encouraging
about this postmortem art collaboration...

All that on top of a new full time job!

Don't worry folks, I do have my dog and pig plates ready to print as soon
as I've finished with my finals. Sorry I'm late but this has been a year
of pure hell...I wont go over my troublesome excuses, it's too
depressing---I only hope that in later catharsis I can make some effective
art...as for as how many I have gotten...I have never counted mine.

I know there are some I haven't received that others got and I have pretty
much decided it's the post office---I would never place blame on my fellow
artists... some of you send them as postcards, well the post office has no
respect for art and they mangle and mix those postcards strangely. I've
found year of cards stuffed within the pages of a magazine that was mailed
to me, I've found them mixed inside of folded advertisement
mailers...goddess only knows how many of those advertisements I have thrown
away that may have had a postcard slipped in...so I don't count, I just
squeal with joy everytime I find one in the mail, whenever I get them, no
matter how many years later!

And I just want to add that the Alaska post office was way off base
charging you extra for the plastic envelope! It is perfectly OK to send
mail in a clear plastic envelope, especially if you're sending it 1st class
mail. I suggest you contact your postmaster and let him/her know how you
were treated by your local service and if that doesn't help write to the
State Postmaster.

And last of all, Charles Morgan, put me on your mailing list for when you
publish the book you should be writing on how to make art making tools from
handy budget items!!!

Cheers,
Patti P-C

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End of [Baren] Digest