I think of this as "Insular Deco". Two divergent versions, loosely based on a mussel shell I picked up at Ardtoe last year.

I ordered some new pencils (Derwent Graphitint) recently, and I've been trying them out. This is "Sage" and it's the colour of an English meadow. I need to print on this, even if an artistic response to the climate crisis (/polycrisis/global burning/First Summer of Hellfire) feels pointless.

Can anyone explain what this wet stuff is? I think it's related to being on holiday...

This morning's garden sketch, since this lovely holiday cottage has one. It has been pointed out that I may have wildfire on the brain a bit. Also, Tombow ABT Pro pens are the closest of all implements to feeling like a magic wand.

It prints! Caligo safewash, more or less equal parts phthalo green, burnt umber, and extender. Printed on my sizzix mini-press.

I ordered courgettes. I'm pretty sure each of these is at least a courge.

So this engraved fine - I'll want to try a reversed out version too. Soon I'll be able to run it through the mini press to see how it prints.

I'm also working on this one - I've never been able to cut it before, because the hackspace laser cutter computers I used haven't had the processing power. But that was years ago, so we'll see. (8900 nodes) #DHMakes

It's not always easy to see what's a scan problem and what's an artifact of the original print, or for that matter a slip of the carver's hand on the original block. For the two on the right here, I'm leaving them, but the jag in the middle left looks wrong so it goes. #DHMakes

Today I'm doing some SVG cleaning - a vector I downloaded has some scan errors in. Nothing that would show up in print, but this is for lasering so I want it as clean as possible. (After figuring out how to convert from EPS for Inkscape...) #DHMakes

This lonely ebay sort is destined for printing on a series of increasingly rough surfaces to see what shellacked wood can safely cope with.

I'm an idiot, I already ran half this experiment. The answer is "yes, but textured acrylic can damage softer wood blocks". This is one of the early attempts, and the pattern of the acrylic transferred itself to the block for the next one. #DHTries

Here's some waves for aabody as needs some North Sea in this heat.

I'm trying to work out whether relief printing inks will stick to different kinds of painted and/or varnished surfaces, and/or whether textured paint will damage letterpress blocks. It's going slowly.

Every hometown's got the ominous megastructure, what's yours?

What I'm actually doing is layering some backing onto this (something like 8-10 layers of 300gsm paper) and planning on hand cutting some pieces from that. Rectangles always work, but organic shapes can be tricky to get clean lines on with a scalpel. #DHTries

I am normally a big fan of @themerl.bsky.social, and this new "Nook" refuge space looks beautiful, but there is one detail which makes the study table unusable. I am referring of course to these anti-ergonomic stools. Unless the expected visitors are potted plants, which would be on brand.

The letterpress collection at Peacock has a whole pile of cuts from the printer and publisher James Daniel & Son, including this catalogue. There's no date given, but another in the set -the cover for Mill O' Tiftie's Annie - has a date of 1896. Image is flipped for readability, & see alt text.

Anyone have any guesses what this fine fellow's trade is? Copperplate, flipped for ease, from a late C19/early C20 printer's collection. #DHMakes #HistSky

Today's weird #printmaking experiment - Caligo Safewash extender mixed with Diamine fountain pen ink. Results positive, will try with some proper lino when I get the chance.

I found a bramble corner, so here we are! #DHMakes #WildLetterpress

Here's the first test! Lovely old font. #DHMakes

Off to Peacock in Aberdeen, for a #letterpress printing session. Bus journey brought to you by @themerl.bsky.social and @guyshrubsole.bsky.social, Pride badge by @canopyrobin.com!

In September I had to throw a whole pile of materials and WIPs in boxes because the ECO4 contractors arrived unexpectedly early. I'm now looking through them and trying to work out WTF I was planning.

And my laptop has a new sticker too, just in time for the letterpress session I have booked at Peacock this week.

Some gorgeous #DHMakes letterpress loot from @literaturegeek.bsky.social (who probably did not know I'm a huge @tamorapierce.bsky.social fan).

Also, it makes this little guy sad. flowerfairies.com/the-kingcup-...

Quote repost your art that has stars.

Morning, our Womble! I'm reading The Green Ages by Annette Kehnel, tr. Gesche Ipsen. It's a really interesting look at mediaeval innovations in sustainability, and some of the lessons we can take from them now.

This is a haar bank from where I live in Northeast Scotland, covering the North Sea.