The studio is getting more and more equipped...

We kind of knew what we were in for when we decided to set up an old fashioned letterpress studio, but it has been certainly proving an interesting exercise.  So, we thought we would update how we have been going with the setting up.  The big news was the arrival of another flywheel in the building during the last couple of weeks...

This is our antique guillotine and what an amazing piece of equipment.   Being cast iron it does weigh literally nearly a tonne.  The cast iron bears the name of the makers Alfred Morfitt, Engineer Nottingham.  Researching the maker we came across the following advertisement for a similar guillotine dating from 1890, so we are guessing ours is around the same date, although ours seems a more substantial model, definitely not "ordinary":

image from here

Our guillotine is so sharp and precise, cutting paper is proving quite fun with it.  We were thinking of taking the guillotine back to black but it does have character being mustard yellow.

We have also found this printers cabinet, with the stand above for placing the printers trays, so handy for when we are sorting out the type.  We have been admiring the stylish metal and timber combination, and being quite partial to Indian timbers and style, were pleased to discover the original makers label of Gujarati Type Foundry, Bombay.  It would be interesting to know how this ended up in Australia... 

But on our main wish list has to be the type itself now.  We are thinking that we will never have enough! Our recent find of the Bernhard Fashion typeface is certainly a favourite at the moment, how stylish for the period it was designed being 1929...  

We have, however, been lucky to have come across the M & H Type Foundry, one of a increasing rare number of foundries still making lead type.  We needed "@" symbols for printing email addresses and we found that these were being cast at the foundry.  Not the original use of the @ for sure! But we recently we also ordered some other typefaces from the foundry and they arrived this week.  It was very exciting when the packets arrived, it was almost like stepping back quite a few decades with the packaging and imagining print shops of old being able to order in exactly what they wanted! 

 until next time, 

the flywheel team

New in store...! (and this is just some of our favourites..)

We promised last time to do a new in store post and it proved very difficult to pick just some of our favourites to show, but here goes! Firstly, are these stylish and luxurious leather pieces from Barbara Wiggins, London.. 

visitors books & pencil cases available in camel and dark brown

"Memories" photo albums in dark brown and camel

The quality and suppleness of the leather is a joy to hold.   Also, by Barbara Wiggins, are these fabulous photo albums with a crackle leather, giving that vintage feel, just so perfect for our store.  These are available in a duck egg blue, natural white and dark brown, and it is way too hard to work out which is each of our favourite colour as they are all so gorgeous.  

Barbara Wiggins photo albums, also pencil cases available 

Keeping with the leather theme are these Italian leather journals hand made in Florence.  Again, the softness of the leather is so divine.  The edges are hand marbled, so each journal has that unique hand made quality.  They have already been going to some lucky recipients for special presents including for a granddaughter's eighteenth birthday, what a lovely keepsake to receive..

handmade Italian leather journals 

Proving very popular since we opened have been these Japanese paper tapes.  We have now had a very extensive selection arrive... this is only a small part of our display... perfect for imaginative gift wrapping and decorating... 

Japanese paper tapes

Now, this has to be a favourite just based on the beautiful bottle, but there is even more to this bottled "1670" ink by J. Herbin, the worlds oldest ink production company.  It is named to celebrate 340 years of ink and wax production by this famous French company, now that is history! We also have a selection of J. Herbin inks and waxes now in store.  

Moving along to twenty first century requirements are these smartphone cases from Helveticus made from vintage Swiss army blankets.  We also have available in the range overnight bags, messenger bags, and slippers.  They are all very much in keeping with our vintage, practical and recycling thoughts here at Flywheel...  

But number one in quirkiness has to be this antique "shelf" that currently displays our Barbara Wiggins leather albums.   Already stylish with the brass bindings and supports and the rich red mahogany timber, it is actually metamorphic and converts to a table! We are thinking it is a campaign piece, so originally taken on military campaigns, but now such a talking piece.  

Well there you go, definitely an interesting selection of new items for the store with more on the way all the time.   

Until next time, 

the flywheel team

Baby and children range now in store!

Well it has certainly been busy times at Flywheel in the last week or so.  We have been busy with the arrival of so many new items for the store, including beautiful papers, leather journals, ribbons, japanese paper tapes, baker's twine and the list keeps on going! Next time, we will definitely have to do a "new in store" post showing our favourite pieces. 

But what has been making us smile due to their utter cuteness has been our new children's range:

Perfect for creative little minds are these delightful stamp sets, activity books, ink pads and drawing books with frames, all with a fun "Circus Day" theme.  We have all decided that we certainly would have loved them when we were young!

We have also been catering for the arrival of even smaller little ones, with our gorgeous baby range of letterpress cards Rachel has made this week.  In keeping with our simple vintage style are these "Welcome Little One" cards...



and our gorgeous bunnies design in a soft green ink ...


and finally, the sweet Winnie the Pooh quote which seemed to us so fitting for the arrival of a new little baby...


and here they are together with matching envelopes...


Well all we can say is that we have certainly been surrounded by cuteness this week!

Until next time,

the flywheel team

The Cutest Tricycle Ever?

We have officially decided that this early 20th century tricycle that came into the store this week is the cutest tricycle ever! Everything about it is just so gorgeous, the style, the aged patina.  You can almost imagine the pure joy children have had tearing around on it in times past...

The arrival of our little tricycle has however, set off a craze for all forms of pedal power here at Flywheel as can be seen by our designs and printing this week....

                                                      

birthday cards

cute gift cards with envelopes

notebooks with printed bicycle designs

But what a wonderful appeal all the vintage bicycle designs have, maybe as they are reminiscent of different eras or the joy and freedom of riding your bike when you were a child, but they definitely have made us smile this week...

Until next time,

the flywheel team

Valentine’s Day Cards now at Flywheel!

That most romantic day of the year is fast approaching and here at Flywheel we have been feeling the love, with Rachel busily creating a range of Valentine’s Day cards for the true romantic at heart. 

The beauty of letterpress printing can be seen with the impression in the luxurious cotton paper…

With the gorgeous simple designs and sentiments, our letterpress cards are proving very popular with our customers for not only that upcoming day of the year...

So to all the romantics out there, wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day for the 14th February!!

Until next time, 

the flywheel team

why letterpress....?

It has now been over four weeks since we opened the doors of Flywheel and what a amazing response we have received from all our wonderful customers!   

Most who know us are not surprised by the vintage items in the store.  The biggest surprise has perhaps been the letterpress studio and how we have diverged into this?  Well, it all started with our purchase of some antique wooden printing type a few years ago.  It was love at first sight for us.  The patina of the timber from decades of use, the exquisite craftsmanship in the making of the type, the designs of the typefaces... imagining the posters and signs that were produced using them...

fabulous large Cooper Black wooden type

wooden type with beautiful patina

The mystique of letterpress printing had captured our imagination.  Printing equipment seemed to be finding us or maybe we should just confess to our addiction... Our youngest sister, Rachel started to make lovely gift tags using charming vintage blocks and they proved very popular.  Soon Rachel, who was originally employed to be a retail assistant on a Saturday in The Drill Hall Emporium, was nowhere to be found as she was printing away in our very crowded office. 

some of our gift tags with a very vintage style

What really set the idea of Flywheel in motion was our purchase of a cabinet of lead type, which contained to us a fabulous array of different typefaces.  We were all literally hooked!   There has been lots of trial and error, practice, reading, researching and the undertaking of a marvellous practical course with an experienced letterpress printer since...   

lead type in our original cabinet 

but what a lovely process to use centuries old methods and antique equipment in today's world to produce something by hand that is tactile, authentic and hopefully charming and unique. 

Until next time, 

the flywheel team