Calling Card: The calling card in the Books collection was really fun to figure out. 

The outside is a monoprint on a nice rag paper. It is lined with tracing paper that has been monoprinted by spreading India type ink mixed with some water and blotting it. It makes the most beautiful organic designs on the translucent paper. I included an envelope on the inside – made after multiple prototypes – that is cut and folded from a single piece of tracing paper. The envelope holds the ‘calling card’ which is a thick rag vellum card printed on a Vandercook letterpress with my name and website address. The press leaves an imprint in ink as well as a slight embossing. It is fastened with black waxed linen thread that winds around the card finishing with a twist around a slate gray river pebble on the flap. 

The blacks and grays made from the beautiful etching inks and India Ink make an incredible variety of colors and shapes against the white of the paper. The design is organic down to the slight curves of the card caused by the paper’s reaction to being glued and printed. 

A simple piece. But simple is not necessarily easy.