Val Lucas - Bowerbox Press
@bowerbox.com
Letterpress nerd, fledgling typefoundry, cats. Also probably mushrooms.
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
Find my work at bowerbox.com, buy some of my type and print things with it!
Subscribe to my niche newsletter about typecasting: americantypecastingfellowship.org
Lost several hours of sleep last night bc I woke up and then was so mad about the FDA's refusal to review the new and improved flu vaccine that I spent the next two hours writing emails in my head instead of sleeping so I can be ready to teach today.
February 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Lost several hours of sleep last night bc I woke up and then was so mad about the FDA's refusal to review the new and improved flu vaccine that I spent the next two hours writing emails in my head instead of sleeping so I can be ready to teach today.
Reposted by Val Lucas - Bowerbox Press
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Finally had a bit of energy to get on press today
This is some of my biggest wood type, a very old 25 line octagon style with wood rule above and below. #letterpress
This is some of my biggest wood type, a very old 25 line octagon style with wood rule above and below. #letterpress
February 1, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Finally had a bit of energy to get on press today
This is some of my biggest wood type, a very old 25 line octagon style with wood rule above and below. #letterpress
This is some of my biggest wood type, a very old 25 line octagon style with wood rule above and below. #letterpress
Hooray! Looking forward to this already.
Community is everything and printers know that well. So @blountben.bsky.social & I are leading the charge to host WayzgooseORD (WORD) here in Chicago. It’s a new gathering for the print community to share their shops, knowledge and friendship. More info: wayzgooseord.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Hooray! Looking forward to this already.
Gotta love it when the flat rate box shipping label I bought yesterday was 9.95, and today it is 11.20, and the coming rate increases are not even kicking in until the 18th? #wtfusps
January 12, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Gotta love it when the flat rate box shipping label I bought yesterday was 9.95, and today it is 11.20, and the coming rate increases are not even kicking in until the 18th? #wtfusps
I'm home from my foundry trip, and working on the snowflake type. Each piece has two little points that hang over the side, so I have to run them across the file. Slowly, fonts are being assembled! #typecasting #typefoundry #letterpress
January 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
I'm home from my foundry trip, and working on the snowflake type. Each piece has two little points that hang over the side, so I have to run them across the file. Slowly, fonts are being assembled! #typecasting #typefoundry #letterpress
After switching over to the 24 point mold, I made 2 versions of the larger snowflake. I had to re-seat the mold 3 times to get a good seal with no water leaks. Tomorrow I'll change again, to 14 point. (Hopefully.) #typecasting #letterpress
January 4, 2026 at 1:00 AM
After switching over to the 24 point mold, I made 2 versions of the larger snowflake. I had to re-seat the mold 3 times to get a good seal with no water leaks. Tomorrow I'll change again, to 14 point. (Hopefully.) #typecasting #letterpress
Better! After cleaning the pump, nozzle, and piston, and cleaning the mold, and discovering that the temperature control all the sudden was reading 200° too low, and restarting everything- it's better. I redid all of the first batch that was only barely acceptable.
January 3, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Better! After cleaning the pump, nozzle, and piston, and cleaning the mold, and discovering that the temperature control all the sudden was reading 200° too low, and restarting everything- it's better. I redid all of the first batch that was only barely acceptable.
Not off to a great start. This machine hasn't run since July, when it was working great, but today there are temperature issues (pot was too hot, the temp control wasn't turning it off at temp) and I'm not getting a good solid piece of type. More troubleshooting after lunch...
January 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Not off to a great start. This machine hasn't run since July, when it was working great, but today there are temperature issues (pot was too hot, the temp control wasn't turning it off at temp) and I'm not getting a good solid piece of type. More troubleshooting after lunch...
I am at the type foundry at my mentor's house. I am about to live like a 92 year old man for a week, and also make some new letterpress type. Can I get any more analog and/or obsolete? I love this crazy old machine.
January 2, 2026 at 2:09 AM
I am at the type foundry at my mentor's house. I am about to live like a 92 year old man for a week, and also make some new letterpress type. Can I get any more analog and/or obsolete? I love this crazy old machine.
The fingerless gloves are done! They match this hat I made last winter and used up every inch of the green yarn, a yak blend, it's very soft. The cream was something from NZ that my mom brought me. Not sure of the glove pattern as it's a hand-copied pattern I've made many times. #knitting #knitsky
December 31, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Haha! I won! Tied two scraps together, it's one row short, but you can't say I didn't use every single inch of that skein of yarn. (It is yak yarn and it was very $$) These are for me, just a scrapbuster project, so I am very happy. Now for the thumbs. #yarnchicken #knittting
December 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Haha! I won! Tied two scraps together, it's one row short, but you can't say I didn't use every single inch of that skein of yarn. (It is yak yarn and it was very $$) These are for me, just a scrapbuster project, so I am very happy. Now for the thumbs. #yarnchicken #knittting
A great sentiment from the great @kennedyprints.bsky.social
December 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A great sentiment from the great @kennedyprints.bsky.social
I'm glad I unpacked the car after the craft show last night, and don't have to drag bins through 4.5" of snow today! It's a picture perfect first snow here in Monkton.
December 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm glad I unpacked the car after the craft show last night, and don't have to drag bins through 4.5" of snow today! It's a picture perfect first snow here in Monkton.
I spy a few of my original type designs on Jen's amazing cards!
New wintry cards inspired by sweater weather and featuring some lovely ornaments. One for Chicago, too. www.starshaped.com/holiday
December 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I spy a few of my original type designs on Jen's amazing cards!
This is Bellflower, my most recent type design. The brass mat is the magic piece: I use a pantograph to engrave the design on the blank mat, then it goes in the casting machine to produce identical pieces of type! You can print with this: www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
December 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This is Bellflower, my most recent type design. The brass mat is the magic piece: I use a pantograph to engrave the design on the blank mat, then it goes in the casting machine to produce identical pieces of type! You can print with this: www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
Looking for gift ideas for that letterpress printer? My brand new type is ONLY available from me, as I designed, engraved, and cast it myself! Order before Dec 15 for holiday shipping. www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
December 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Looking for gift ideas for that letterpress printer? My brand new type is ONLY available from me, as I designed, engraved, and cast it myself! Order before Dec 15 for holiday shipping. www.bowerbox.com/product/new-...
I printed this for my students (it's their week before finals) but I'm sure some other people need to hear it too. #letterpress
December 7, 2025 at 1:08 AM
I printed this for my students (it's their week before finals) but I'm sure some other people need to hear it too. #letterpress
I'm planning to recast my snowflakes this winter! Stay tuned for more sets of these and the second snowflake design in 14, 18,and 24 point.
Some truly spectacular metal type ornaments here, spanning 100 years of design & production at numerous foundries across the country. 6-pointed snowflakes are the newest, designed & cast by @bowerbox.com #letterpress
December 5, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I'm planning to recast my snowflakes this winter! Stay tuned for more sets of these and the second snowflake design in 14, 18,and 24 point.
I got some excellent mushrooms from my two-year old innoculated logs. I did have to bring them inside the print shop as it went from 60 to 20 degrees very quickly but they kept growing inside. Now for dinner! #mushrooms
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I got some excellent mushrooms from my two-year old innoculated logs. I did have to bring them inside the print shop as it went from 60 to 20 degrees very quickly but they kept growing inside. Now for dinner! #mushrooms
Today is a good day to support The Printing Stewards! We are working to preserve and continue the tradition of foundry letterpress type in the US, with the largest collection of Barth casters from ATF, thousands of mats, and literal tons of history. Join the Patreon or donate at printingstewards.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Today is a good day to support The Printing Stewards! We are working to preserve and continue the tradition of foundry letterpress type in the US, with the largest collection of Barth casters from ATF, thousands of mats, and literal tons of history. Join the Patreon or donate at printingstewards.org
Thank you to everyone who has ordered cards, calendars, or artwork the last couple of days. This very tiny business (me) appreciates each and every purchase! Find me at bowerbox.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Thank you to everyone who has ordered cards, calendars, or artwork the last couple of days. This very tiny business (me) appreciates each and every purchase! Find me at bowerbox.com
Blackbird Letterpress has some of my favorite patches, and awesome fun-shaped letterpress cards. Go support a small shop!
Shop SMALL weekend is here! FRi-MON 25 % off cards on the cards page https://www.blackbirdletterpress.com/cards-1 thru Monday! Select items marked down throughout our online shop. Free sticker with every order fri & sat.
Choose to spend your dollars with small businesses this year.
Choose to spend your dollars with small businesses this year.
November 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Blackbird Letterpress has some of my favorite patches, and awesome fun-shaped letterpress cards. Go support a small shop!