Lead Letters rule

Last week I went to visit a typography and I literally freaked out over e a real Heidelberger Letterpress, which was already very old. The owners were very happy about my joy and sadly admitted that they use the press very rarely, that they even start to throw away lead letters and letter cases. I nearly fainted. How was this possible??



I talked them down to give everything they would ever throw away to me and I left the place as a happy owner of two sets of letters and a real, 70year-old wooden letter case (still have to clean it).
I really admire letterpress art, it is so special.



I know that there is a huge Internet community that shares my love for this art, but it really seems that it is an art doomed to die, or, for the better, will be only for the few. In fact, the typographer I talked to said, that “in these days nobody wants a letterpress work anymore”; so it was a happy coincidence to see the Briar Press: “a community of letterpress printers, book artists, and press enthusiasts. The site is dedicated to the preservation of letterpress-era equipment and the art of fine printing.”



In the Cut&Caps section they offer loads of ornaments free for download – and they are all vectorized! (*oh thank you*)



I remember when I first used something in german is called “typometer” – I really searched for an English translation, I am sorry I couldn’t find it. Anyway, a very technical thing, close to a ruler that you need for typographic work. Normally these things are hard to find and very expensive.. but now you can download one and print it on film. If you are a graphic and read this, here you go.

“Hey, I am not into Typography, you are talking too much about letters!” Am I? Ok, let’s switch to something that I like equally: photography.
Recently I noticed these two websites, that are really photofun:
“DeletedImages brings unsharp, moved, blurry and unfocused pictures back to life.” Fun to see the rejected photos of others, I particularly like this one.



Next is Flickrvision: “Flickrvision uses Google Maps to show Flickr photos as they’re uploaded. You can see what people all over Earth are taking pictures of right now! Amazing.” I love it! Take your five minutes off and get a real virtual trip around the globe. Awesome!

Here you go, have a nice Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Paper is good

Lately I was running my fingers through paper samples for a project at work. After considering thickness and the kind of finish I was searching for the whitest paper I could find. I said “I need paper which is as white as snow. No, even whiter if I can.” I am deeply in love with paper. I collect it, I keep it in stacks, little collections – my house is full with paper that I just love to have with me and don’t dare to use.
Others instead took the love of paper much farer and higher and create wonderful art with it, like Peter Callesen.




His art is so wonderfully special because he keeps the used papersheet visible.



Find more here.


Su Blackwell instead gets even farer: she animates the paper.



if you check out her homepage you can find a cool making-of for this spot - what an awesome work!

It's obvious, that I must at least make a little nod to Origami here… I just add the classic, the crane.



They are easier to make than it seems. Try one! You'll get hooked!

If you aren't about folding, maybe you should try coloring.
Pixo’s 10,000 page colouring book is already over 600 pages long.



He explains these beautiful line drawings are part of a Buddhist exercise in emptiness, which adds a dimension of profundity to the project.

For my project at work I found a wonderful "extra white" paper, which was so great to touch and to look at. Unfortunately this paper was too expensive for the purpose and I had to waive it. But I still dream of it.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

If I had to say one word, it'd be "hot". It's hot outside, it's hot inside - there is nothing you can do, except taking cold showers, sip iced tea and waiting for the evening, hoping that it brings a cooler breeze.
I am sleeping with all my windows open, which means that the heat in my house overtook the fear that a thief could take advantage of open windows. Until now a lot of mosquitos gratefully took advantage.



So in this moment "hot" is unavoidable linked to "mosquito" to me. What would be your thought about one word?
Find it out here - don't think. just write.

If you are lucky, you own a garden or a balcony, to sit outside and chill - I am not one of these lucky people, which means that I go out a lot, seeing friends with balconies. In donor I bring some chilled wine or a table lantern (hint, hint).



So, have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. summer holidays are coming! :-)

p.p.s. How can I talk about heat without the classic! Awwww.. Billy Wilder!

Designer's Blues

Sorry, I had a busy week and I am still on the run.
In the meantime please have a laugh on common reasons for Designer's Blues.



And if y ou have some time know y ourself better with this interesting test.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||| 54% Stability |||||||||||||||| 62% Orderliness |||||||||||||| 58% Accommodation |||||||||||| 46% Interdependence |||||||||| 36% Intellectual |||||||||||||| 54% Mystical || 10% Artistic |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Religious |||||||||||||||| 63% Hedonism |||||| 23% Materialism |||||||||||||| 56% Narcissism |||||||||||||| 56% Adventurousness |||| 16% Work ethic |||||||||||||| 56% Humanitarian |||||||||||||||| 70% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||| 56% Need to dominate |||||||||||||||| 63% Romantic |||||||||||| 50% Avoidant |||||||||||| 43% Anti-authority |||||||||||||||||| 76% Wealth |||||||||||||| 56% Dependency |||||||||| 36% Change averse |||||||||||||||| 70% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 63% Individuality |||||||||||| 50% Sexuality |||||||||||||||| 70% Peter pan complex || 10% Family drive |||||||||||| 50% Physical Fitness |||||| % Histrionic |||||||||||||| 56% Paranoia |||||||||||| 43% Vanity |||||||||||| 43% Honor |||||||||||||||||| 76% Thriftiness |||||||||||||||| 70%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
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I wouldn't say this is me 100%, but a lot of things they got right ;-)


Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle