Today's postings

  1. [Baren 38776] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009) (Marilynn Smith)
  2. [Baren 38777] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009) (Elizabeth Atwood)
  3. [Baren 38778] Re: Printing with lousy stamps (Sharri LaPierre)
  4. [Baren 38779] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009) (Shelley Hagan)
  5. [Baren 38780] Baren Member blogs: Update Notification (Blog Manager)
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Message 1
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:14:09 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38776] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009)
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Tibi,

Barbara is right, gluing your wood onto a solid surface will help. Then
I would suggest making a jig for dropping your paper onto the surface
so you get it where you want it.
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Message 2
From: Elizabeth Atwood
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:31:29 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38777] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009)
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I agree with Marilynn...........using a jig is the
answer..............as in silkscreen work.
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Message 3
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:13:58 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38778] Re: Printing with lousy stamps
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Tibi,
The found wood block prints that Barbara provided the link to were
done by securing the various found wood pieces to a larger matrix with
double sided carpet tape. On the larger matrix I made registration
gizmos, I guess they could be called kentos since they were used the
same way. Most of the time they were made with popsicle sticks glued
to the larger sheet of plywood. After that I just kept positioning
and re-positioning the various shapes and printing them hanga method.
They were a challenge and most had anywhere from 15 - 20 impressions.
Some of the blocks were carved or had minimum carving.

Good luck with your project - feel free to write me privately if you
have questions.

Cheers ~
Sharri
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Message 4
From: Shelley Hagan
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:18:45 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38779] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4801 (Apr 30, 2009)
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Hi Barener's - I've missed being on the forum lately and have only been able
to sporadically follow the posts. As always, I am so impressed by the amount
of talent and expertise here on the forum. I've been working diligently on
oxen, exchange #40, and my son's school carnival. Between the three tasks,
I've not had much time for anything else.

I wound up abandoning my completed oxen when I went to my uncle's memorial
service in late March. His ashes were scattered in the Buffalo River under a
bridge in Ponca, Arkansas - Teddy was an avid kayaker and this was his
favorite put-in spot on his favorite river. The weekend in Arkansas with
family and friends inspired me to throw out my original ex. 40 print and go
an entirely different direction. I feel good about the decision but whew! I
am not the speediest carver, printer, or anything really so I have been
working double-time to get it out the door.With Spring Carnival coming up on
May 8 and the exchange deadline May 1, the poor ox cards had to wait.

It has been hard looking at them just sitting there, waiting to be trimmed,
addressed & mailed but I knew if I stopped to finish them up there would be
no way to get ex. 40 done in time. They will be headed (herded?) your way
soon though as exchange #40 is out the door and carnival will soon be done.
I have foolishly volunteered to coordinate all the class art projects for
teachers without room parents - about 15 in all - so don't start looking for
your ox cards until after May 9.

Speaking of class art projects - Andrew, your class print is gorgeous. I'm
sure the prints will be in high demand! Would you do this project again? Is
there anything you would change?

Good to finally be posting again - I've missed reading your posts this past
month!

Shelley

Digest Appendix

Postings made on [Baren] members' blogs
over the past 24 hours ...

Subject: Back to the Aldens
Posted by: Annie B

JohnBlock
One of four blocks for a John Alden portrait

Today I had a nice long time in the studio and was able to carve all of the blocks for my 4-color portrait of John Alden. I'll be carving 4 blocks for the Priscilla portrait next, as both prints will use the same ink colors and will be printed at the same time. These are smallish prints, a little under 5" x 6".

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, depicting these two has been challenging since there's not much information to go on. This is further complicated by the fact that in 1858 poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, himself an Alden descendant, wrote a hugely popular narrative poem called The Courtship of Miles Standish about the early days of Plymouth Colony. There's an ongoing debate about whether or not the poem is fact or fiction, but it colors Americans' perceptions of John and Priscilla.

Here are the known facts. John was not a Puritan himself, rather he was hired at the age of 22 to act as the ship's cooper (barrel maker) and given the option to return to England or stay in New Plymouth. In 1623 John and Priscilla were married.

William Bradford gives this description of John Alden, which has influenced my print:
"John Alden was hired for a cooper, at South-Hampton, wher the ship victuled; . . .
[Long item has been trimmed at this point. The full blog entry can be viewed here]

This item is taken from the blog Woodblock Dreams.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.