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I carved some rubber stamps last night. I think I prefer lino blocks. It's harder but it's good to be in a slow pace. Nice thing about the rubber blocks is that you can print them by hand easily.

I can't wait for tomorrow's letterpress class.

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have a nice weekend!

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I printed the bird last weekend.



and some more proofs for the new blocks I carved.....





I'm reading "The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen" now. I admire Andersen.
See more of his paper cuttings here.

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Six night tales



1st night, Rabbit and Moon




2nd night, Orchid Yard




3rd night, Mushrooms




4th nights, Woods




5th night, Roots

6th night, Danger in the garden, Rabbits and Wolf

Here are my new prints which were featured in the Tinlark gallery, Los Angeles last month. I just put some of them up in my Etsy now. They are the biggest print I've ever done, 11.2x15.2 inches. Also shipping are free for these new prints.


My new works are mixtures of childhood memories and imaginary night. They take place in the house where I used to stay with my grandparents and my big family.

The house is a very long house. It consists of a storefront, a courtyard and orchid garden, a living room with an altar, a small bedroom, a dining room, a kitchen, another bedroom and then a huge backyard garden in the Chinese style (rocks and water). All the elements are arranged in a linear sequence one after the other.
There is a stair to my grandpa’s bedroom the second floor that folds away flush with the ceiling. It’s hard to recognize.
There are 3 different settings and styles that co-exist in the house. On the second floor, in the Japanese style, my grandpa’s bedroom has a raised wood floor with tatami mats and wood frame sliding doors. Then, in the European style, my grandmother’s bedroom is filled with all the things she collected during her trips to Europe. And finally, the Chinese style is represented by the altar and gardens.


These 6 night tales also represent the forbidden world which kids are not allowed to enter. The world of darkness is left behind when all the kids are forced to go to bed early but dreams hunt the remnants of the witching hours.

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I feel I have much more to say and many more things to show you but I will just log out now.

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sketches







Thinking about what to carve for new blocks so I did some sketches!! What do you think?

It's amazing to see myself to do lot of hand sketches now. Right now I didn't transfer the digital sketches on to the blocks I just simply hand draw the pattern on the block directly.........


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If you are interesting about the japanese flower arrangement zine which I posted the other day, you can get your copy here.

my v-day



Letterpress class was canceled so we went here to have breakfast. I ordered a warm breakfast tart.




then we stopped by Kinokuniya and saw this beautiful giant poster...have no clues about the artist but it looks like a kozyndan art to me.
updates:Tessar let me knows that those posters are done by PCP. Thanks a lot, Tessar!!

before getting on the freeway we stopped by ooga booga. such a little cute shop in China town.




immediately when we got home, I started to do some test printings on fabric with the blocks I carved.



I also craved a rubber block.

I have to say, it's easier to print with press than printing by hand. the press keeps very good consistency of ink. it's easier to print on paper than on fabric.. Rubber block is easier to print on fabric than linoleum block.....................................

I will try out more different kind of things later this weekend.......

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L O V E



^ Indian head wear^^



I'm running out of linoleum blocks now!! just can't stop carving!

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Happy Valentine's day!!

-^-


I learned how to set types this week so didn't do any printing. We run a proof for the bird blocks though, so I can see if I need to work on them more or not.

Working on two new blocks now, my fingers are sore but I'm really happy.

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Just got a new zine about Japanese flower arrangement!
(My niece is taking flower arrangement classes in Taiwan. I am very jealous of her. She is only 12 years old. She is a lucky girl.)










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Finally these two birds were printed. I printed them with a vandercook.
It's very hard to stop carving so i carved two more blocks!! They will be printed next weekend and I will learn how to set types next week.



I didn't expect I would be introduced the linoleum block printing when I registered the letterpress class.
I am glad that I take the class. My goal is one day I can make a children book and I know it won't happen too soon, but I will work hard and keep learning. (Also I am still thinking of weaving class, I need more time and more money.)


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