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For all of you who don't know, AIGA Charlotte put together a fabulous event this week (particularly fabulous for me, being the letterpress geek I am), Letterpress Fest! We've welcomed some of the biggest names in letterpress to Charlotte, including Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print in Nashville, TN, Kyle Durrie of Movable Type, and two of the founders of Ladies of Letterpress. Impressive, right (no pun intended)? Jim Sherraden kick started the week with a wonderful lecture Monday night, while Tuesday we got to sit in on a panel discussion with all of these modern pioneers of the craft. Tonight we'll see the film, Proceed and Be Bold starring Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., and tomorrow we'll wrap things up with a letterpress Pop-Up Gallery (all at the Chop Shop in NODA). I still haven't told you the coolest part; birdsong gregory was asked to participate by designing all of the event's promotional materials! Look for the official Letterpress Fest poster (printed by Crayton Heritage Letterpress) as well as a letterpressed collector cards for each night's event. We are so excited to be a part of this fantastic experience!

The goodness just keeps coming...I'll give you the inside scoop on the coveted letterpress workshops given by Kyle Durrie of Movable Type. Two of our birdsong gregory team members (our awesome studio manager, Rhonda, and myself) were able to score the coveted tickets. Kyle is on a journey across our great country spreading the letterpress love. She's been on the road for 8 months now, and landed in Charlotte specifically for Letterpress Fest. She gave a crash course in the basics of letterpress set up and type setting. Then we got to design and print our own little piece (see me up there with mine :)). Such a great experience. If you're interested, check out the video on how to lock up your hand set type for printing. It's pretty cool.

Stay tuned for more awesomeness that comes out of these walls, and I'll post photos of birdsong gregory's Letterpress Fest event materials soon! Until then, tell us what you think about this old world craft being reborn as part of modern design. We love your comments :)