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We could have uploaded a digital family photograph and ordered our annual holiday card through a Web site. But this year, I wanted to get my hands dirty.
In the era of virtual and digital everything, I wanted a greeting that announced its humble homemade origins. When I saw the family letterpress printing class at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, I knew that was what I was looking for.
My 8-year-old son and I made our way to Washington Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, where several book-related organizations are housed in a restored brick building called Open Book. There, we joined seven other families in the basement letterpress studio of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. After a four-hour excursion into the era of Johannes Gutenberg, we each left with 40 hand-printed holiday cards, inky fingers and a newfound appreciation for computers.
The MCBA offers classes throughout the year on letterpress printing, bookbinding, paper making and marbling. A few classes every month are designed for parents and children to take together, including the holiday note card session, which has proved so popular that a new second session filled quickly this year.
First, we had to settle on our greeting. I came up with "Peace on Earth," to which my son added, "Presents for Everyone," a phrase I initially thought sounded greedy, but then decided showed a generous spirit.
Next, we went hunting for a font.
Long before you could select "Times New Roman" or "Arial" from
After spending 10 minutes spelling out our six-word message, I envied the mom and daughter next to us who had opted for a more concise greeting, "Celebrate!"
Next, we had to immobilize our tiny and shifting lines of lead type in what's called a frame. I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say that at this point, several children lost interest and one mom wailed in frustration, "This is one step up from a chisel and tablet!"
We finally got our words into a letterpress. My son pulled a lever that brought the inked rollers down over the type and squished our blank cream paper against the letters. Voila!
We peered with excitement at the message:
htraE no ecaeP
!enoyrevE rof stneserP
We had to reset it.
"I want to go home," my son whispered. "Don't ever take me here again."
Actually, we ended up enjoying ourselves. Really. But we also couldn't believe how long it took to set type. And we gained an appreciation for Benjamin Franklin and our inkjet printer.
Making an image for the front of the card was a breeze by comparison. We cut and pasted paper to create a simple collage. My son made a star and two squareish wrapped gifts, one topped with a huge, curling ribbon. I spent 10 minutes trying to cut out a dove that didn't look like a duck.
We used the collages to make a monochromatic pressure print. The kids had a great time rolling the huge rollers of the press and watching for that magic moment when the first impression rolled out the other side.
"We did this last year and it was so much fun that we're making it an annual tradition," said Peggy Whisler of Minneapolis, whose 9-year-old daughter Anna had just finished printing an image of three Christmas tree ornaments.
Anna plans to send her cards to relatives and friends. They were a big hit last year, she says, and she got a lot of compliments.
My son is proud of his cards, the way that the picture he made goes with the words. I am taken with the fact that you can run your fingertips lightly over the words and feel the indentations where the type pressed into the paper, a tangible reminder of the effort that went into creating them by hand.
We'll send the cards out later this month. We'll also add our annual Christmas letter. We'll be composing that on the laptop.
Maja Beckstrom can be reached at mbeckstrom@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5295.
WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING OF IT?
So, you want to give grandma a homemade gift, but she's already got too many potholders. Check out these classes from area arts organizations where parents and kids (and teens!) can team up to make everything from mugs to marbled note cards to give away during the holidays. Check back - they offer classes year round ...
ARTSTART
What: Create your own note cards, gifts, ornaments or picture-frame holiday decorations by using fun and unusual scrap materials from ArtStart's ArtScraps creative materials reuse center.
When: 10:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 1 (Holiday cards from scratch); Dec. 8 (bangles and beads); Dec. 15 (CD ornaments); Dec. 22 (picture frames)
Where: 1459 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul
Cost: $10 per participant
Ages: 5 and older with adult
Info: 651-698-2787, artstart.org
MINNESOTA CENTER FOR BOOK ARTS
Where: 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls.
Info: 612-215-2520, mnbookarts.org
Classes:
-- Marbled Paper & More: Create sheets of marbled paper and then turn them into a small stitch book and a set of note cards.
When: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 1
Cost: $36 adult/child pair; $18 each additional child
Ages: 8 and older with adult
-- Preschool Book Arts: Hourlong classes for preschoolers with focus on things for the holidays
When: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 29 (book ornaments); Dec. 6 (pressure printing); Dec. 13 (marbling)
Cost: $12 adult/child pair per class; $6 each additional child
Ages: 3 to 5 with adult
NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
Where: 2424 Franklin Ave. E., Mpls.
Info: 612-339-8007; www.northernclaycenter.org
Classes:
-- Clay Ornaments at the Holiday Open House: The annual open house includes a chance to make clay ornaments. Pick up fired pieces Nov. 26.
When: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $5 material fee
-- Couch Potatoes: Hand build mugs or platters for Thanksgiving leftovers or holiday gifts
When: 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. Nov. 25
Cost: $40 adult/child pair; $15 each additional person
Ages: 6 and older
-- Holidays in Clay: Make everything from tree ornaments and nativity sets to menorahs and dreidels.
When: 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. Dec. 2
Ages: 6 and older with adult
Cost: $40 for adult/child pair; $15 each additional person
TEXTILE CENTER
Where: 3000 University Ave. S.E., Mpls
Info: 612-436-0464, textilecentermn.org
Classes:
-- Cooking Up a Storm: A two-session beginner's course in sewing a kitchen apron. On the second night, see demonstrations and add pockets, trim, applique and more. (Bring your sewing machine).
When: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 27 and Dec. 4
Cost: $62 plus $20 materials fee
Ages: 16 and older
-- Family Day Make--Take: Grownups can shop the annual holiday fiber arts sale while kids make robot keychains.
When: 1-4 p.m. Dec. 2
Cost: Suggested donation of $3 to $5 per person
Ages: 3 and older
-- Felted Beads: Learn to make two styles of felt beads from wool fleece that can be turned into bracelets or holiday ornaments.
When: 6-9 p.m. Dec. 5
Cost: $31 plus $5 materials fee
Ages: 12 and older
FAMILY OUTINGS: THE SCOOP
What: Family classes at Minnesota Center for Book Arts
When: Classes throughout the year
Where: Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls.
Cost: Varies depending on class
Information: 612-215-2520 or mnbookarts.org
Target audience: Artists and word lovers
Avoid: Parking can be a problem if there is an event at the Metrodome.
Tip: Check out the exhibit in the gallery and try a kid-friendly lunch at the cafe, both in the Open Book building.
For a list of arts organizations where you can make gifts for the holidays with your children, see Page 3E.
