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blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Sam at BLAG
@blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
71 followers 6 following 480 posts
BLAG: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community, and Culture.

The world's only print and online publication dedicated to sign painting.

Inside you'll find […]

🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://typo.social/@blag, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
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blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Sam at BLAG @blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy · Jan 27
Following the recent influx of new folk across the fediverse — welcome! — here's a new #introduction to me, Sam Roberts.

I am the editor and publisher of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) at https://bl.ag, and part-time Ghostsigns blogger at […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Man sitting on a stool holding a copy of BLAG magazine. He has a shaved head, is wearing a green jumper, and is smiling as he looks at someone to his right. The scene is in an art studio setting, and the man is bathed in sunlight, while other parts of the studio are in the shade.
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
mooseallain.bsky.social
Sketchy cartoon, rear view of a ban with the words “HOWS MY PUNCTUATION?” and a phone number written across the back doors
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
index.bl.ag.ap.brid.gy
When ‘Hand-Painted Jamaica’ Met Bug Art Sav
Tracey Thorne profiles Bug Art Sav, a Jamaican sign painter keeping the island’s traditions alive.
bl.ag
November 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Good point, well made, by @willsh

"If someone is so unsure of their own writing skills, how do they then put so much faith in their editing abilities?"

https://smithery.com/2025/11/13/what-is-writing/
What *is* writing?
If you aren’t going to really write something, I’m not really going to read it. This was a reaction I captured on a card a couple of weeks ago. I can’t even remember what spurred …
smithery.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
The stupid Christmas AI mural in London came up in one of the sign painting groups I'm in, to which I replied:

"Good to know this bullshit isn't coming for your jobs, but don't get complacent..."

https://youtu.be/laJX0txJc6M?si=vwJiI-_hSsKLoHwL

#writing #signpainting #signwriting #automata
November 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Seems to be something in the air this year as I simply can't keep up with all the brilliant new sign and sign painting books that are being published.

Fresh out of Malta is 'Tberfil: The art of Maltese vehicular decoration in the 20th century' by Steven Scicluna, and I'm honoured to have […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Enjoy the latest creative collaboration between the Astrophonica label, run by a good friend, and UTILE, who design BLAG.

I'm always happy to receive their email newsletter with new releases, and seeing what direction they've taken with the artwork, which more often than not features new […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 19, 2025 at 8:15 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
As a purveyor of books about signs (see https://bl.ag/shop) I think this is the first time I've seen such a substantial volume (150 pages) about a single sign. But I'm ready to learn of others!

'A Sign of the Times: The Best of the Penthouse Marquee' by Benjamin […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Landscape book cover with title and authors in a vertical panel on the left and a night time photo of a theatre marquee on the right with green neon letters on top that read "The Penthouse" and the reader board letters below that saying "Forever Neighbours, Never Neighbors".
November 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
If you're looking for a great 3-player card game, I highly recommend Manni. Whist is probably the closest I've played before, but Manni has more depth and jeopardy in my opinion.

You can play it online at @cardgames_io or via their free app.

https://cardgames.io/manni/

The page says it hails […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy
Every now and then I rediscover this amazing website that integrates tax assessment photos taken of almost every building in NYC in the 1940's with a clickable map. Sort what Google street view would look like, if it were 1946.

https://1940s.nyc/map/
1940s NYC | Street photos of every building in New York City in 1939/1940
1940s.nyc
November 16, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
pixelfed.thereisnocat.com
El Vecino

Storefront in Long Branch. Kodak Retina Ia, Kodak Plus-X (expired 1994, shot at EI 80), Rodinal 1:50.

#BelieveInFilm #folderweek
Sign in a store window reads El Vecino Your cell phone store Verizon • ATT • T-Mobile • Cricket • Ultra Notario Publico There are also flyers in the window for various mobile carriers.
October 29, 2025 at 12:05 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
New at bl.ag online, 'Chain Letter: Meghan McDermott', with the story of how Vanessa Power's Dublin mural guided Meghan towards her chosen career of sign painting.

https://bl.ag/chain-letter-meghan-mcdermott/

PS. This is the eighth 'Chain Letter' in the series: […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Mural with block and shade lettering for 'Me Aul Flower' set within an array of pale pink flowers.
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Just got some stock of Doyle David Butler's new book into the shop.

Packed with over 250 pages of exquisite design, lettering, and illustration inspiration, this new book is a slice through the prolific output of one of the sign world's most revered designers […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Book cover with the lettered title 'Doyle David Butler's Book' Book spread open with sign designs on the left page and an alphabet titled Havican on the right. Full-page spread showing an elaborate sign design for 'Godby Studios'. Book spread showing the artwork, installation, and finished mural for Hennemann's Cream City House.
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Can anyone point me in the direction of a company/companies in Denmark that offer book storage and fulfilment services? And that can do business in English.

Boosts/shares with Danes much appreciated.

#askfedi #denmark #danish #books #fulfilment
November 14, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
mattblaze.federate.social.ap.brid.gy
Addendum: Hobo moniker tags are a rathole you can spend a lot of time going down. I recommend the somewhat obscure documentary "Who Is Bozo Texino", which I just noticed seems to be up on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSqMAADNKA8
November 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
index.bl.ag.ap.brid.gy
Chain Letter: Meghan McDermott
The Dublin mural by Vanessa Power that inspired Meghan McDermott to become a sign painter.
bl.ag
November 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
For Mosaic Monday followers in London, here's a chance to hear Tessa Hunkin talking about the Hackney Mosaic Project.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tessa-hunkins-hackney-mosaic-project-tickets-1813697651499

The event is in-person on Saturday.

#MosaicMonday #mosaics #publicArt #streetart #hackney
Tessa Hunkin's Hackney Mosaic Project
A Bloomsbury Jamboree lecture
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Goodness gracious me, it's actually a real book, with an introductory essay from the wonderful Morgane Côme.

This one from @letterformarchive looks spectacular and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Lettres Décoratives: A Century of French Sign Painters’ […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Graphic of a spread from a book with a column of text on the right and a black and white landscape image sitting across the fold. The image shows a school/workshop setting with multiple people painting large signs.
November 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
As BLAG 08 goes to print I've noted work, articles, and projects from 17 countries in total: Argentina; Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Kenya; Ireland; Italy; Mexico; South Korea; Spain; Thailand; UK; USA.

The international nature of our adventures in sign […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Lettering, type, and graphic design folk: a call for help.

Google inexplicably blocked my 'Lettering Locations' map, so I'm rebuilding it in uMap. (Thank you @InsertUser.)

I've forgotten most of the locations I'd previously pinned — why I had the map in the first place! — so I need your help […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 12, 2025 at 9:58 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Excitement is building ahead of the official American Sign Museum book launch later this month:

https://signsofthetimes.com/american-sign-museum-releases-25th-anniversary-book/

If you want to see a bit more from inside, then here's my recent bl.ag online post about it […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
NYC Type has just thrown up a bunch of new images, old and new, onto their Tumblr, including this one for Spanjer Signs that I recall @stewf passed by recently: https://nyctype.com/post/49527859905

NB. Not to be confused with the famous Spanjer Bros., manufacturers of dimensional letters and […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 11, 2025 at 10:28 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
Can any Spanish speakers help with translating these four words from an Argentinian sign painter?

- escolazo

- jentuza (perhaps alternative spelling of gentuza?)

- nagual (perhaps alternative spelling of najual?)

- pusilamine (perhaps pusilánime spelled […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Wide-format hand-painted panel lettered with the word Escolazo Wide-format hand-painted panel lettered with the word Jentuza Wide-format hand-painted panel lettered with the word Nagual Wide-format hand-painted panel lettered with the word Pusilamine
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
New book alert: 'The Art of Dancehall: Posters and Flyers of Soundsystem Culture' by Walshy Fire.

https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780789345769/

There's a look inside here with a good sampling of the hand-lettered work from Jamaica […]

[Original post on typo.social]
Book cover with "Art of Dancehall" lettered three times in a vertical stack in red, blue, and black on a yellow background. The lettering is in loose sign painterly styles with simple white shadows added as the only embellishments.
November 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
blag.typo.social.ap.brid.gy
When ghost signs make the financial press, presumably because investing in advertising makes share prices rise?

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/COCA-COLA-CONSOLIDATED-IN-8857/news/Coca-Cola-Bottling-Consolidated-Iconic-Coca-Cola-Ghost-Signs-Come-Back-to-Life-In-Virginia-a-18698932/ […]
Original post on typo.social
typo.social
November 10, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Reposted by Sam at BLAG
oldlaphotos.palewi.re
""Tribute to the Farmworkers"" http://tessa.lapl.org/cdm/ref/collection/photos/id/134512
November 9, 2025 at 6:02 PM