resources
(Photos by April Rocha, International Printing Museum)
TO TAKE LETTERPRESS CLASSES IN OC/LA:
As a promoter, I try to keep up with letterpress class offerings in OC/LA. (This list is not exhaustive). Here are classes for members of the public:
• Armory Art Center, Pasadena
• Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
• International Printing Museum, Carson
• Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine – Letterpress instruction and press rental
• Lala Press, Los Angeles – Letterpress instruction and press rental
• Otis Laboratory Press, Los Angeles
• Saddleback College, Mission Viejo (letterpress offerings may be incorporated within other classes, check under Graphic Communications)
And in San Diego you can take classes with Tim Butler of Quality Letterpress and rent press time at Bay Park Press.
I offer letterpress classes and rental time occasionally in my Laguna Beach studio as well.
I’m sure there are dozens more! Check out briarpress.org for additional opportunities.
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BOOK ARTS SUPPLIES
I try to keep up with where to purchase book arts items (especially in Orange County for myself and my students. Suppliers are always changing so call first before you go and also google items you need as their are new retailers every day.
General Book Arts Supplies, Book cloth and Decorative Papers can be found at:
• Art Supply Warehouse 6672 Westminster Blvd Westminster, CA 92683 (714) 891-3626. Best prices and fabulous paper section. Been using them for 20 years. Only place to get book binding needles directly (not online). Carries Lineco brand of bookbinding products + awls, tapes, repair tape, white linen thread (no colors), book cloth and more.
• Paper Source South Coast Plaza (1st floor of Crystal Court next to Carousel) 3333 Bear St Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 957-8555. Papers, book board, PVA, kits, bone folders and small rolls of colored waxed linen thread are sold here.
• Hiromi Paper at Bergamont Station in Santa Monica. Absolutely must go for Asian and International papers and book arts stuff (while you are in LA of course you can go to Dick Blick and Pearl Art Supply too).
• Envelopments: Gorgeous Papers and Envelopes can be used for a wide-variety of book structures. I’ve also letterpress printed on their stock. I am an official Envelopments Dealer/Designer if you want to order through me!
• For waxed linen thread in bulk, order from Royalwood.
If you don’t want to spend a bundle, Paper Source in South Coast Plaza Crystal Court or Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster, CA has small quantities for sale.
Online:
•Talas in New York = high end fine bookbinding retailer
•Daniel Smith now sells PVA glue, bone folders, awls and book board.
•Bookmakers Catalog in Maryland. I used to go there to pick up supplies.
Contact me if you know of other resources I should put on this list.
