8 years of anticipation,

and now I can explore the world of wood block printing.

I bought my printing press shortly after we moved to Mapua. But I got so caught up in the possibilities of turning my adult fairy story into a children’s book, that the press has sat draped under a table cloth for 8 years. Now with my final trilogy book written and selling well, I can start printing.

How does the printer work again?

It was second-hand and didn’t come with a manual so I studied the ‘machine’ carefully.

A hub in the middle with, at the side, four large spokes is attached to a solid metal roller. When these are turned a slab of metal slides under the roller. That’s it. Can’t be too hard to work… and it wasn’t.

Of course I couldn’t remember a thing from the course

I did in 2023. So lots of deep thinking, U Tube browsing and I eventually found a way of transferring the image from the key block.

The key block is the original drawing/image transferred onto a wood block then carved leaving only the drawn lines. This is then transferred to as many un-carved blocks as you have colours in your image. Each block is a separate print and colour.

I only want two colours. Red for the roses and green for the leaves.

A whole world of new creating.

The possibilities are endless.

Mono printing is fun and much faster and easier than multi wood block carving. I always like a challenge so why not start with a difficult project first.

You can get wonderful effects with dry leaves, feathers, torn paper and small flat stones.

Can’t wait.