how’s everyone doing out there?
I know it’s been a hot minute, but there’s been a lot of fun (and sorta-fun) things going on in my life:

we hosted our own couchsurfers for the first time (!!!) during the 2011 Chicago Couchcrash (and we loved having you, Nick and Rudy!)

Matt and I with one of our 'surfers, Nick

We didn’t get to go to a ton of events, but let me tell you, the ones we did make it to had the most welcoming and friendly people I’ve ever met. Where else could you find 150 people at a party, 95% who have never met each other before, half of whom don’t even live in the state, and everyone having a fabulous time?
There’s really something here about generosity building community.

Then classes started, which means thesis. Ah yes, that word that inspires so much creativity and dread. Who knew it would be so hard to write about my thesis proposal in under 150 words?

And, last but not least, last weekend I visited the Renegade Craft Fair, a now-international DIY craft market that started here in Chicago in 2003.
I was merely wandering around finding cute things (like these gems)

until we stumbled across…dun dun dun…Moveable Type! I wish I had gotten a better picture, but if you’ve ever been to Renegade, you know it was packed–but that’s a good (even great!) thing. :)

I had heard about Kyle Durrie’s traveling letterpress project (yup–another traveling member of the bookarts world!) and knew she was hovering around the Great Lakes area, but didn’t know she’d be here!
Squee!

visitor printing, Kyle on the right

I only got to geek out for a minute over her travel maps

before I got to use her proof press to make my own Chicago-themed Moveable Type print

ILSSA print from 2010's Printers Ball on top, Moveable Type print on bottom

thank you so much for coming to Chicago Kyle! I wish you the best on your travels. Happy printing!