Hello 2013

2012 was a BIG year.  There were some huge, earth-shattering moments. It was the Year of the Dragon, after all.

It was also a small year, because it feels like it lasted about 5 minutes. The first 6 months were spent furiously working in the studio and preparing for Asher’s arrival, with an ever growing watermelon under my shirt. The last 6 months were spent navigating the world of parenting, squeezing printing into any nook and cranny of the week, and taking 10,000 pictures of Asher a day – all with little more sleep than needed to live. So we floated through in a dream-like state, and blinked – and now we’re saying hello to 2013. Hello 2013! (Ok, so we said hello to 2013 a month ago…I’m a little slow in the “getting stuff done” department these days).

I’ll update you on the events I was looking forward to this time last year, and tell you about about some things I’m looking forward to now (though it’s hard to think a few hours in advance these days!):

Things I look forward to in 2012:

1. Something that I didn’t know I was looking forward to at the beginning of 2011, but by the time it happened I realized I had been looking forward to it my whole life. Alex and I found out in early October that we are having a baby, due in late May, 2012. I’m just starting to feel the baby’s little kicks, and am  fascinated and amazed everyday that there is a human life growing inside of me. I’m so glad that my studio will be fully set up at home, and that I’ll be able to work and be at home with the baby. This baby definitely tops the list of things I look forward to in 2012. 

– Asher not only tops my list for 2012, I have a feeling he’s going to rank #1 for all my years to come.

2. having a busy spring filled with letterpress and design. Weddings, weddings, more weddings!

– Phew! That was a busy spring indeed. I got to work with a lot of really wonderful people and have some pretty invitations to show for it all (some of which I still need to photograph!). With all of the work and all of the extra weight I was carrying around, treadle operating my press was extremely exhausting and was causing some really serious foot pain. So we decided to motorize my C&P – which has been huge in terms of increasing productivity.

Since I didn’t know when the baby would arrive, all spring I felt I had a little ticking time bomb inside of me, and was terrified I’d be in the middle of a job and go into labor. I scheduled to finish everything 2 weeks before my due date, and fortunately was able to keep to that. Little did I know it would be a month still before I had my baby, but at least I didn’t get into a situation where I didn’t get someone their invitations.

3. Melanie and Scott’s wedding. Will be posting their save the dates and invitations!

It was beautiful! On the most mild, gorgeous day in June, my BFF married her wonderful love. I was terrified I might not be there (I was 3 days overdue with Asher) but he ended up holding off another 9 days… So I waddled down the aisle in my bridesmaids dress (fortunately she was a super chill bride and let us all pick our own dress and shoes) and got to see the whole thing in person as opposed to skype or later on video. I love these two so much and am so happy that Melanie and Scott have each other for life.

The beautiful couple. Also Asher’s godparents! 

My BFFs – Melanie and Andrea. I get tired just looking at myself that pregnant.

4. a year full of firsts – first baby experiencing everything for the first time, watching my parents become grandparents for the first time, first full year being self-employed…

It’s amazing getting to experience all of Asher’s firsts along with him. He learns so much every day. I’m desperately clinging to this time with him that is slipping away all too fast. On his first day, my heart grew so much that it constantly feels like it’s going to burst.

Asher’s first day

Asher’s first party – his 0th birthday

First time sitting on Santa’s lap.

Asher’s first Christmas

In addition to Alex’s folks who were already incredible grandparents, Asher has made grandparents out of my mom and dad. It’s so nice to have them close (I couldn’t make it without them…like really…). Asher seems to have awoken something in them that they haven’t felt since my brothers and I were babies, or perhaps something that they’ve never felt before at all. My mom comes over most afternoons to watch Asher while I work. I can’t begin to express how thankful I am for all of her help and how incredible she is with this boy. He squeals with delight every time he sees her, and I think that says it all. I’m so thankful that Asher, like me, will grow up with the benefit of having been raised in part by my parents.

Asher’s first arrowhead hunting trip with his Boo.

Brand new baby boy with his MayMay.

My first full year of being self-employed was awesome! Admittedly, I thought that I would take a 3 month maternity leave then magically go back to work full time without giving up staying home with Asher. I’m not sure how I thought this was going to work – maybe I thought he’d take a few 3 hour naps consistently each day, or maybe I thought he’d play quietly and independently in my studio while I worked. Anyone who has kids knows that this is ridiculous. For now though, with a lot of help, we’re making it work. Although things are busy all the time, I’m so grateful I get to do what I love and get to raise Asher at home.

5. Moving into my new studio – photos and updates to come!

Dude, this place is the bomb.

 

6. Finding a second press?? I’ve been lusting over some Golding Jobbers that I’ve seen listed lately….

Kitty is the newest member of the Mink family. She’s a Golding Jobber no. 6 made in 1886, and is named after my late paternal grandmother, Katherine “Kit” Minkin. She was a crafty lady, and taught me about sewing, crocheting, and handling my projects ever so precisely. We’re not consistently printing on it yet, still have some kinks to work out, but I’m excited she has joined us! Alex has been learning about all its parts and talking with John Falstrom, a Golding guru, in hopes of someday becoming gurus ourselves.
She joins Esmeralda, the 10×15 Chandler and Price, who is named after my late maternal grandmother, Mabel Lawrence. Grandma Mabel was a very funny, animated lady. She read and preformed short stories she wrote, and her character ol’ Esmeraldee is burned into my memory.
These two ladies, each of my parents’ mothers, were great friends and even lived together for a time. Their namesakes live together in my studio and, while they’ll never teach me as much as the real women did, will help me to learn and grow as a printer each time I work with them.

 

7. Finding out if we’re having a boy or girl – we’ll know in a week and a half!

Oh boy, I’m so happy to have a baby boy! No offense to baby girls, but boys rule. He’s the coolest dude ever.

Toasting our baby boy with blue champagne/sparkling cider.

8. Babymooning, and vacations with family and the new baby.

Fun fun fun!

Babymooning at Fripp Island and Savannah, GA.

Fripp Island with the Minkin clan.

Floyd, VA with family (my dad is taking the pic).

9. Spending another year with my wonderful husband. I can’t wait to see him step into his new role as a father – I know he’ll rock it.

I was in love before, but having a baby with Alex has taken our love to a whole new level. He’s so amazing and I’m so glad he’s mine.

Alex has always been a huge help around the studio – from cutting paper to running quotes to, well, building the studio itself with his bare hands. This past year though he started doing some printing – and made his first card. He designed, printed, scored and packaged it himself!

10. Launching my new website, which is in the process of being designed by Brendan English.

Here you are. What do you think? I think he did an amazing job!

11. Surviving the apocalypse.

Wow – we’re all still here!

12. Thriving in post-apocalyptic Asheville.

Thriving indeed.

 

Sorry that was all about my baby. Thirteen things I look forward to in 2013:

1. Sleeping. We’re starting to get more sleep consistently, and I will never take 4 hours of continuous sleep for granted again.

2. Asher crawling, walking and talking. What???

3. Printing for work and for fun.

4. Hearing my brother Alex’s tales and seeing his pictures from China. He just moved there indefinitely to teach English in Xiamen. While this is also one of the things I’m least excited about in 2013 (I’ll miss him so much!), I’m very happy for him that he’s going on this adventure. I’m confounded by his bravery and think that this will transform and enlighten him in so many ways. Thank goodness for Skype!

5. Trip to the west coast to see the redwoods and San Francisco.

6. Alex’s 30th birthday.

7. Asher’s 1st birthday.

8. Seeing more of my brother Erik’s work on TV. He’s working for a company called Bento Box, and the show Out There that he’s currently working on is about to start airing. Can’t wait to tune in!

9. Celebrating Erik’s engagement to his lady, Emily. He just popped the question a week ago, and we couldn’t be happier for them!

10. Tye and Tim’s wedding. Tye is another super chill bride and I’m so happy I’ll be standing up beside them on their big day! Pictures of their save the dates and invitations to come.

11. Learning calligraphy. I’ve been having fun playing around with it, but I’d love to actually know what I’m doing. I’ve been going to a calligraphy club with some sweet girls, some of whom are also printers. Fun stuff!
12. Visits to and from our Richmond family.
13. Hiring an intern??
Thanks for reading! I hope 2013 is a wonderful year for us all!

4 Replies to “Hello 2013”

  1. this blog was so heart-felt and wonderful that it made me weep! Yes, the most interesting man can exude a salty discharge from his eyes on occasion…

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