I made things all day: coffee, valentines, clay bowls, birthday cake. I didn't make any etchings or texts or books, tant pis, although just one more plate to go and I'm done printing the etchings. Then the letterpress, then the handmade paper, then figure out how to put it all together. "Fool! You can't print a book before you know how you're going to bind it!" Kevin more or less exclaims into my voicemail. Don't worry your little head; I have it all under control.

The Vandercook (No. 3) has seven rollers and no electricity; it's the quietest letterpressing I've ever done (even the 325G made a racket from sheer size). It has no foot pedal--yeah, you heard me--and my poor foot keeps vainly reaching for one like my mum reaching for the nonexistant breaks in the passenger seat when I was learning to drive. Knock it off, Mum, I'd mutter. Easy does it, foot, I tell myself gently, and rock the cylinder back and forth to raise the grippers. The rollers are a little too low and recalcitrant about raising themselves so the ink is a little heavy but it's a nice machine so far. Cross your fingers for my little polymer plates & watch your mailbox for a late-May wood type valentine. Send your address if I don't have it.