Recent Sightings

    The DeWitt Typewriter Company was out and about doing some Christmas shopping. Even with the hustle and bustle of the season there's always time for antique-ing. Here are some recent sightings of the typewriterly kind:

Whew! What a great place for typewriter spotting! Would not be surprised if we missed one. Typewriters can be sneaky like that. We'll have to go back sometime.

More photos and info available on the The Typewriter Database.

One machine came home with us, but not one from the above list. So, you'll have to stay tuned for more on that!

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!!

Under the Darkroom Lights Part II

Paper negatives of pinhole images

            Round two of the pinhole photography workshop. Thanks again to the Youth Arts Alliance for bringing this fun activity to The Art Lab. Hooray for easy access to creative happenings!

            A vintage piece of luggage and some leftover foam padding made a great case for Granny. I felt quite stylish toting it around.

All tucked in!

           Here are my digital renderings of those paper negatives:

The first one is always a little wonky.

I rushed this composition and left out my lil' balloon dog.

That's better. Hello, lil' balloon dog!

Seems I captured a ghost! Is this typer haunted?!

             Overall, I am happiest with two of the pinhole images. So, I framed them together and gave them as a gift to my brother for Christmas.

Make and give gifts!

            The other two were made in a rush. (I was excited, ok?!) I'm learning that I need to slow down, take my time, and not get impatient with myself. 

            I had a great time meeting some new people who had a variety of experience levels. Some were trying out this process for the first time. Nice to see a heathy interest in pinhole imagery, and darkroom work experience.

            Granny made a gracious model for this photo shoot. I knew she would! Go ahead and take a bow, old girl!

That's all, folks! Have a happy New Year!! See you again sometime in 2022!!!

Under the Darkroom Lights

Paper Negatives made by pinhole camera

        I went to a pinhole photography workshop at the MSU Broad Art Museum recently and really enjoyed learning about this fascinating process. Getting images was an exciting and stimulating experience. Thank you, to the Youth Arts Alliance for bringing this workshop to The Art Lab.

        I brought the images home and began working out how to invert the images. I downloaded a photo editing program and figured it out fairly easily. A little bit of tweaking and here's what I came up with. 

        If I get a chance to do this again I would like to bring a prop. I'm thinking typewriter, perhaps Granny, after I blow the dust out of her first, of course.

        Did you know there is a Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day? The next one will be on April 24, 2022. Add that event to your calendar and while you wait, check out some images from the gallery of the last Pinhole Day.

        And now I will leave you with some advice that has clearly withstood the test of time!

Newspaper clipping found in dictionary purchased at an estate sale

Under the Radar

Lately I've been enjoying limiting the amount that I share... until I didn't have a phone for three weeks (going on four) and sharing anything became much more difficult.

No phone calls, no texts, no pictures--ack!

My old phone died unexpectedly. I know I should have upgraded earlier. That would have saved a great hassle. But that's all that it's been, a trouble, a nuisance. I realize problems could be much worse.

Normally I'm fine setting the phone aside. For most of the day it sits on the counter practically untouched. However, since this was not a willing choice, I've been feeling a little dysfunctional without it.

I'm not sure when 'll have a phone again. Hopefully soon because I have not been without a phone for this long in my adult life. For now I will be keeping a low profile, reluctantly.

Nevertheless, I did the writing prompt for the most recent episode of Typewriter Club LIVE!  Thought I might share it this way and see what happens. Thanks to all those fun folks that make the show a delight to watch; you know who you are!

So, here it is, my short essay for the writing prompt: "If typewriters could talk mine would say..."

I'm really hoping to get to my first segment flush sometime soon. I think I'm ready for the challenge. Lord knows this swell gal will really enjoy the spa works! (And now I feel a little silly for thinking of it as a challenge considering those who might happen to read this post, but hey! It's my first time!) 

Take care, y'all! And reach out to someone you care about today because you never know when someone is struggling with feelings of isolation. Let's keep lifting each other up!

Under the Microscope

A microscope attachment for my phone? Yes, please!

I really enjoy making these little image collages out of the snapshots that can be captured so easily!

I can get lost in this microscopic new world! Perhaps that's where I've been for the last two months? What is time?

I am a believer in the "use what you have" mentality; at the time we had snow, so, yeah, snowflakes.

Small and insignificant but ubiquitous, the secret code of the industrial printing machines.

More to come in some future post because I am fond of this tiny (pun intended!) gadget!

Under the Table

            My kids can read me under the table. They zip through chapter books at a rate that astounds me. I wish I could keep up with them. Maybe someday.

            For now, I feel pretty good about the books I was able to finish in 2020. The stack includes Standing at Water's Edge by Anne Paris,  100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write by Sarah Ruhl,  When Strangers Meet by Kio Stark,  In His Image by Jen Wilkin,  Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris,  and The Once and Future King by T. H. White.

            Here's my 2020 Reading List reviews in a nutshell.  Firstly, I did not realize White's novel about King Arthur would take me a year to read, but am glad to have taken the time to do so. It's definitely a book I would consider re-reading (right now if it weren't for all the other books I'm anxious to get to-- again, maybe someday!). I now understand that I need to read more books by Sedaris, a hilariously entertaining storyteller. Paris's and Wilkin's books were helpful. I found Stark's book insightful. Finally, Ruhl's delightful book reminded me to do more writing of my own.

            On to accumulating titles for 2021's reading list! I hope you found something good to read in the past year!

Christmas Bits & Peace(s)

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

I'm throwing this post together. It's a mish-mash of some Christmas-y things: Past, Present and (hope for the) Future.

First, the Past. Here's a collage image I created one night during college. I think it was productive procrastination before I knew that was a thing tons of other people do, too. I used a good ol' craft knife, construction paper, and magazines. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Next, the Present. My Christmas cards went out with this obvious error on them. Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed about this mistake and not even sure how it happened. Lesson learned: order earlier!

Oh, well. Done is better than perfect!

Finally, a hope for a Christmas Future from my 6-year old. I swear, he found this and did it all on his own. It definitely brought a tear to my eye.

This holiday season has certainly been different than years past. But the meaning of Christmas is always the same; it's a time for peace on earth and hope for all. God bless!!  

Ain't Zine Nothin' Yet

    Here's a zine I made sometime earlier this year while testing out some vegetable printing, thanks to Austin Kleon's post and recommended reading. (Seriously! Sometimes, I think I  buy every book he suggests!) Anyway, I also drew on a couple of cute cactuses ("cacti?") before my 3-year-old added some random letters. Then I took the doodled-on sheet of paper and, almost instinctively, folded it up into a zine. I flipped through it a few times, trying to decide in what order the pictures should appear, but gave up, stuffed it into a drawer and forgot about it.

    During some recent tidying I came across it again. Even though I sorta stalled on the project and left it unfinished, I've decided to turn it into a zine template for whoever might be interested in a creative prompt!

    I invite you to print out a copy of my unfinished zine and fill it in however you like. This zine template is missing the captions. The story is open to interpretation. (Maybe that cactus has a conversation with those tumbleweeds?) Order the images however you like. Folding and cutting is easy. Or, for even more fun, go make your own zine if you haven't tried doing it already! 

    Download and print the PDF.

Walking Solo

I don't get to walk alone much anymore. It was nice to get to do that this evening. Lately, I haven't had time to think. I like to sit down and have a good think now and then-- quite often, actually. But I just haven't been making time for it; I've been avoiding thinking. So, after my walk I did some stream-of-consciousness typing. Here's what I came up with.

 

Tonight's machine of choice:

Smith Corona Galaxie II from 1964. Made in USA.

My Companion Types

 I know it says "Royal" and "Companion" but it doesn't look anything like the other Royal Companions on The Typewriter Database. Is it a Royal (Silver-Seiko)? I do not see "Companion" listed in the drop down menu bar. Can I add that when I input this machine to my typewriter gallery? It looks identical to a Royal Mercury that I have. The date of manufacture is difficult for me to pinpoint since it seems on the cusp of a decade. Is is 1960's or 1970's?

    Over the long weekend, I made a rough draft version inventory of my typewriters. Why? Why not?

    Actually, there are two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to see what I'd spent so far, but would rather not say. Just know that I don't go searching eBay anymore. This keeps the cost down and allows a more natural pace of growth.

    Secondly, and more importantly, I want to fulfill my apparent destiny and become a Typewriter Hunter! I hope that making this list will help me stay organized as I go through the process of uploading typewriters to my digital collection.

    Admittedly, I'm in over my head with the current number of machines. It could be a slow process uploading every one. The advice of Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird  applies to writing and, I think, also to this process. I plan to take it slow and just go one typewriter at a time.

Ouch! Strangled by her own drawband!

From the front--yeeeesh!

    Also, I helped a troubled typer by playing amateur repair woman. This Smith Corona Silent wasn't advancing properly when I found her at an estate sale last fall for $8. The old inflexible drawband slipped off the spool and got itself wound around underneath. Ouch! I managed to untangle the drawband and get it advancing again, but will need to seek professional help in the future to really make her sing once again.

Label Me!

Here's a tutorial on how to use a sticky note to aid the process of making a typed label.

 I maybe had a little too much fun making this!!

Hold back less

Sometimes one just needs someone with whom to talk.

Just saying...

crayon on notebook paper

Sometimes one just needs to make something. I made this sign. I like exploring the concept of text as art. It's not fine art, more of a doodle, a nod to the sketchbooks of Michael McGuire a Chicago based artist whose finer works I have been ogling recently after discovering his blog. Several years ago, when I first came across his artwork in Midwest Living his watercolor paintings of Lake Michigan and sky above caught my attention delightfully. I'm glad to see he is still making art. I keep trying to overcome the self-doubt that so often follows alongside creative work by sticking it to the inner critic and doing it anyway, one day at a time even if it's something small and doodly. Sometimes one just needs to get something done and move on, much like this blog post!

If you're not wearing green...

Here's a tiny look at what I've been working on lately, a word collage inspired by the art teachings of Corita Kent, who said, "We have no art; we do everything as well as we can." I think about that when I'm doing everyday tasks like caring for my children, tidying up my home or pulling old dead leaves out of the landscaping. "Do everything as well as we can," means life is art which makes everything so much more beautiful... for a moment.

Old Blog New Tricks

Typecasting since 2019.

 A typewriter is kind of a weird thing to buy in the 21st century; however, an old desire was reawakened after browsing a local antique mall, a desire that couldn't be ignored. One eBay purchase opened up the door to a world of fascination....and a few more eBay purchases.

I'll admit I have fallen hard for typewriters in the last 18 months. Something about them seems magically romantic! Oh, and addictive. So..... you have been warned.

If you are trying to be responsible I suggest you do some research before making a purchase. Check out Richard Polt's The Typewriter Revolution for some really helpful content. Or, if you are impatient like me, just buy a typewriter from eBay ASAP so you have something to play with! Then get plugged into the Typosphere to see what interesting things people are doing with these awesome machines. Your new old toy may need a new ribbon so, head over to Discount Printer Ribbons for lots of cool options.

Have fun and be sure to share the love of typing with a friend!

My first typewriter, an Olympia SM 9

My first typecast!

aaaaaaaand....we're back...

So, after a long break because I think I had a baby or something?

Anyway, here we are again about to welcome back those robins who'll be returning in droves sometime in the near future. Winter, I will miss you a little, I'll admit, but welcome spring...almost.

I like all the seasons equally, of course, because in MI we really get four distinct, stereotypical seasons. If I ever move away from the Midwest I may spend a few years just getting used to not having snow in winter, rain in spring, sunny days in summer, and brisk autumns year after year.

I've been pretty busy since my last post and not just with babes. I've been devouring books, audio books, blogs, pod casts, etc. to keep in the loop of creative people. This has been really great and encouraging. I have been reminded that creativity is cyclical: consume, create, share, repeat.

Since I have just recently regained some time to be in the create stage, I've been playing with all sorts of medium including watercolor. I broke just about every rule for using watercolors except for using watercolor paper. That is what kept this painting from literally falling apart. I believe it's because I broke so many "rules" that I can feel pleased with this totally unplanned, out-of-my-head, made-up-as-I-went-along piece.

Is this thing on?

I am not a writer. Good thing blogs can be less words and more pictures! Exploring my own creative process has reveled a tendency to get in my own way. With this blog I hope to step aside and let flow the manifestations of life's journey.