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
Visible in northern Maryland!
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Visible in northern Maryland!
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Aurora! Monkton, MD. I could see the pink with my eyes but the camera really brought out the green.
I see a giant Z in the sky
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I see a giant Z in the sky
Here is the proof:
October 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Here is the proof:
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
October 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It's finished! Issue 47 of the American Typecasting Fellowship Newsletter is now shipping. You don't have to be a typecaster to enjoy the great articles on history, technical tips, and current activities in the metal printing type community. Order at americantypecastingfellowship.org
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
October 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Freeze warning tonight, after a bit of frost this morning... I did a hasty run through the garden to pick all the peppers and some Indigo seeds.
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
October 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
This year's carved giant pumpkin! I've been carving these at Ladew Gardens since 2019 and it's always exciting to create a woodcut style image on a huge squash. They glow so beautifully when lit from the inside. #giantpumpkin #gardenglow
A most helpful beast.
October 13, 2025 at 1:54 AM
A most helpful beast.
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
October 3, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Ten years ago I quit my job in a digital print shop and dove into running my own analog print shop full time. Overall, it's been 17 years of running Bowerbox Press. Still feels good! #letterpress
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
September 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Students had extra time in class after doing their assignments, so I set them loose among the wood type and they restocked the poster board. #letterpress
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress
September 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Bought myself a birthday present. 1893(ish) specimen book from BB&S/Great Western Type Foundry. It's got some pretty neat stuff in it! #typefoundry #letterpress
Flu shot achieved. Feeling protected for the fall and winter (I'll get the new covid shot in 6 months if I can, I got the old one 3 weeks ago)
September 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Flu shot achieved. Feeling protected for the fall and winter (I'll get the new covid shot in 6 months if I can, I got the old one 3 weeks ago)
I made a new print distribution system for the letterpress class. I'm hoping students will get involved and pring their hearts out.
September 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I made a new print distribution system for the letterpress class. I'm hoping students will get involved and pring their hearts out.
Boom. Got the old vax before they pulled out but will try to get the new one in 6 months. Still taking this shit seriously
September 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Boom. Got the old vax before they pulled out but will try to get the new one in 6 months. Still taking this shit seriously
Giant batch of tomatillo salsa going in the oven to roast. Mostly from the garden, filled out with some onions, corn, and extra peppers from the local CSA. Dinner is going to be good.
September 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Giant batch of tomatillo salsa going in the oven to roast. Mostly from the garden, filled out with some onions, corn, and extra peppers from the local CSA. Dinner is going to be good.
Heck yeah, feels good to finally have my tiger up on the wall. I printed the names, this was a blank from Enquirer Printing I picked up on ebay.
August 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Heck yeah, feels good to finally have my tiger up on the wall. I printed the names, this was a blank from Enquirer Printing I picked up on ebay.
Just looking at some type in the nice light today (it's finally not a thousand degrees and feels like two thousand) This is my Amanita type and you can buy it if you want to print your own little weirdos #letterpress
August 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Just looking at some type in the nice light today (it's finally not a thousand degrees and feels like two thousand) This is my Amanita type and you can buy it if you want to print your own little weirdos #letterpress
How i know it's getting to the end of summer: the dehydrator is full of cherry tomatoes, the freezer is full of pesto, my counter is full of various pickles, and I'm doing anything but finishing my syllabi.
August 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
How i know it's getting to the end of summer: the dehydrator is full of cherry tomatoes, the freezer is full of pesto, my counter is full of various pickles, and I'm doing anything but finishing my syllabi.
These are the most disgusting case pulls I've ever had to clean, the bottom channel for the label was completely full of crud. They should paint up nice though. #letterpress
August 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
These are the most disgusting case pulls I've ever had to clean, the bottom channel for the label was completely full of crud. They should paint up nice though. #letterpress
New cabinet for holding my boxes of type! I have had this for a year in storage, finally painted it and cleaned it up. I'm hoping it will hold all the type that's currently on galleys on top of the other little press and all over the shop. Originally meant to hold linotype mats. #letterpress
August 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
New cabinet for holding my boxes of type! I have had this for a year in storage, finally painted it and cleaned it up. I'm hoping it will hold all the type that's currently on galleys on top of the other little press and all over the shop. Originally meant to hold linotype mats. #letterpress
It's time! You can get my new designs, Flora Tesselatum and Bellflower, right now. Find these and the other designs I have in stock at www.bowerbox.com/category/type
And do share what you print, I love seeing how people use my designs in their own work. #letterpress #typecasting
And do share what you print, I love seeing how people use my designs in their own work. #letterpress #typecasting
August 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
It's time! You can get my new designs, Flora Tesselatum and Bellflower, right now. Find these and the other designs I have in stock at www.bowerbox.com/category/type
And do share what you print, I love seeing how people use my designs in their own work. #letterpress #typecasting
And do share what you print, I love seeing how people use my designs in their own work. #letterpress #typecasting
My new mug sums up pretty much exactly how I feel every morning now looking at the news
(Thanks @erikarier.bsky.social, I love it)
(Thanks @erikarier.bsky.social, I love it)
August 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
My new mug sums up pretty much exactly how I feel every morning now looking at the news
(Thanks @erikarier.bsky.social, I love it)
(Thanks @erikarier.bsky.social, I love it)
I just returned from the American Typecasting Fellowship Conference, and had such a great time that I hardly took any photos. I made some type, learned some history & new techniques, and caught up with the nerdiest letterpress people. It was great, both of my presentations went well! #letterpress
August 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I just returned from the American Typecasting Fellowship Conference, and had such a great time that I hardly took any photos. I made some type, learned some history & new techniques, and caught up with the nerdiest letterpress people. It was great, both of my presentations went well! #letterpress
Spa day for the Vandercook presses at the Corcoran in DC. They needed a good cleaning and tuneup before the next batch of students learns to print! Maintenance is makeready, says @paulmoxon.bsky.social #letterpress #pressrepair
July 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Spa day for the Vandercook presses at the Corcoran in DC. They needed a good cleaning and tuneup before the next batch of students learns to print! Maintenance is makeready, says @paulmoxon.bsky.social #letterpress #pressrepair
I have emerged from the deep dark recesses of the Cucumber Jungle, so I guess it's time to make pickles (3 pounds from today, more coming and some still in the fridge)
July 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I have emerged from the deep dark recesses of the Cucumber Jungle, so I guess it's time to make pickles (3 pounds from today, more coming and some still in the fridge)