Join me for an afternoon of hands-on creative fun in my Central Lawrenceville studio, learning how to set and print vintage metal & wood type just like Gutenberg did over 500 years ago! Invite your friends, and enjoy some light refreshments while I guide you through step-by-step instruction to make your own printed keepsake!
No design or printing experience necessary whatsoever.
Traditional Typesetting Vs. Block Printing Play Workshops
Gingerly Press offers two styles of letterpress printing workshops with vintage type & printing blocks.
Traditional Typesetting
In Traditional Typesetting Workshops, participants will learn how to set lines of vintage type with a composing stick, leading and spacing just like type compositors did for hundreds of years. Participants will build a single form with vintage metal and/or wood type and will hand-ink & print an edition of ten prints. These workshops are good for a more structured, step-by-step approach to letterpress printing! Typesetting Workshops are 5 hours long to allow plenty of time for participants to get acquainted with typesetting & building a design of their choice.
Block-Printing Play
In Block-Printing Play Workshops participants will hand-ink and stamp vintage metal & wood type and my carved blocks into the paper creating multiple one-of-a-kind compositions instead of building a single design within the guidelines of traditional typesetting and taking multiple prints of that one design. These workshops are great if you need a dose of loose creative play without the constraints of the grid of traditional typesetting. Block Printing Play Workshops are 3 hours long, as we jump into printing right away!
2024 Fall & Holiday Workshops:
Get Out The Vote Block-Printing Posters
Let's rally our communities to get out and vote in this November's election with a fun creative workshop making posters for your yard or window! Together we can inspire our communities to vote for a better future for everyone!
In this 3-hour workshop, we’ll use a curated selection of larger vintage metal & wood type and ornaments and an array of ink colors to block-print monoprints (one-off art prints) in 8x10" and 11 x14" poster sizes.
thursday, october 24th — 6pm-9pm
$98
Holiday Card Typesetting & Printing
Do enjoy sending holiday cards to your loved ones? Come cozy up with a hot beverage and design & print your own set of cards with us! Experience the old-time art of letterpress printing by learning how to set & print antique wood or metal type to make your own set of folding cards. Each participant will head home with a set of 10 personalized notecards & matching envelopes along with a newfound appreciation & knowledge of printing history!
Sunday, November 17th — 12pM-5PM
$125
Holiday Card Block-Printing
Come cozy up with a warm beverage and learn how to block-print your own holiday cards with us! In this 3-hour workshop, we’ll use a curated selection of vintage metal & wood type and ornaments and an array of ink colors to print a collection of one-of-a-kind holiday cards. This class is great for beginners and a great way to make a set of different holiday cards for each of your loved ones!
Thursday November 21st — 6pm-9pm
$98
Workshops Make for Great Gifts
Give the gift of an easy-going creative learning experience with a Gingerly Press Workshop Gift Card! Both digital and physical gift cards are available on the Workshop Listing Page for both afternoon & all-day workshops.
Private Parties & Team Building Workshops
In addition to the public workshops listed above, I also offer workshops for private parties and team building groups at no additional cost! To book a private party or team building workshop, you need a minimum of 6 guests and a maximum of 12. These group workshops can be arranged for any given day of the week, depending on our shared availability.
in case you’re wondering…
Frequently Asked Questions
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Please wear clothes that are okay to get a little dirty possibly. I will provide aprons to help protect your clothes, but sometimes a little ink or press grease will sneak past your apron and it is not easy to wash out! Additionally, consider wearing comfy shoes that are okay to stand on a concrete floor for multiple hours. We have stools available but you’ll be moving around the studio quite a bit throughout the workshop.
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Please arrive a couple minutes early to leave time to settle in, but no earlier than 30 minutes before the workshop start time. We have a lot of fun stuff to do in just a couple hours and I want to make sure I don't keep you late! Follow the Gingerly Press sandwich boards at the address provided to lead you to my studio space.
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We’ve got a lot to do in just a couple hours, so please, please try not to be late! We will begin at the designated start time with introductions, a brief history of letterpress printing and a brief tour of the studio, then we will jump right into our print project! If you are more than 45 minutes late, you will be considered a “no show” and it will be too late to receive a refund, workshop credit, or begin typesetting & printing at this point.
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Here at the Ice House Studios, we have a couple options for parking. We have a courtyard on 43rd Street (where your gps will take you for the studio address) with a couple off-street visitor parking spaces as well as handicapped spaces. However, if you don’t need handicap access, the best option is a free off-street gravel parking lot next to our building, off of Willow Street between 43rd & 42nd Streets. Lastly, there is plenty of free street parking around the studio building in Central Lawrenceville, but please note, if you park on Butler street, you’ll need to pay for your spot!
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If I have made the judgement to still host the workshop, and you cannot make the event due to bad weather, I will offer you a workshop credit that is good for 60 days. If I have cancelled the workshop due to bad weather, I will offer you a full refund or a class credit that does not expire.
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Yes, workshops participants can BYOB if they choose! I will have bottle openers and ice in a cooler for those interested. I will also provide ice water, coffee and tea and a charcuterie board for participants. We will not be operating any printing presses with their motors for this workshop out of safety!
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Gingerly Press reserves the right to cancel a workshop if fewer than 4 participants register, or in the event of dangerous weather conditions.
We require at least 3 days notice of cancellation to receive a full refund. Any cancellation less than 3 days prior to the workshop, will receive a workshop credit good for 60 days for any available workshop of equal value.
If you are more than 45 minutes late, you will be considered a “no show” and it will be too late to receive a refund, workshop credit or begin typesetting & printing at this point.
To cancel or reschedule a workshop, please email lindsay@gingerlypress.com.
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To book a private party, you need to have a minimum of 6 guests and a maximum of 12. Private parties can be arranged for any given day of the week, depending on my availability. Please fill out this Private Workshop Inquiry Form to inquire about a private party!