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
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!
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A whole new year of birds! I can never choose just one bird to paint, so I do 12 each year. The Cedar Waxwing might be my favorite this year.
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Get a 2026 calendar here: www.bowerbox.com/product/2026...
Have you had a squid fact or an eel calendar yet?
Happy consumerism bonanza day!
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Throw tomatoes at target/Walmart/Amazon! Get some freaky little presents from artists!
Big corps make the wealthy wealthier & artists are trying to buy wet food for their cats.
Artists, drop your shops!
For a start, check out SquidFacts.net
More of my faves below
Support Skype a Scientist with the Squid Facts shop!
The Squid Facts shop supports Skype a Scientist! We match scientists with classrooms, scout troops, and libraries. We also connect people with...
SquidFacts.net
November 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Have you had a squid fact or an eel calendar yet?
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Bird nerds, come to the Wild Birds Unlimited in Timonium MD today till 2! I'm popping up with cards, calendars, and coasters. Or, shop at bowerbox.com anytime and use the code NEWBIRDS for free US shipping for orders over $45. #birdnerds #birdsky #watercolorbirds
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky
November 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
A look at the behind the scenes bird chaos that is my life before craft fairs. So many watercolor birds! #birdportraits #birdsky