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
I almost put on This is Spinal Tap two nights ago. Watched it tonight. A classic.
December 16, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I almost put on This is Spinal Tap two nights ago. Watched it tonight. A classic.
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
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It's holiday craft fair time already! As an artist, I make a huge portion of my income from 5 or 6 weekends. This year, I didn't get into 2 big shows (so it goes, you can't get into everything), so it's up to my hustle to fill the gap. Check out my new holiday cards for this year at bowerbox.com
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I'm staying at my mom's tonight so I can take her to an appointment on the morning, and I got to see a shooting star from the hot tub and listen to a fox yelling its head off in the woods. Pretty ok night.
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
November 14, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Courtesy of one of my students. Perfection. #letterpress
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
A great gift idea for the type nerds in your life (but I already have a copy)
I offer inscribed/signed and giftwrapped copies of my book Six Centuries of Type & Printing if you have a discriminating and hard-to-shop-for typophile or designer in your life! sixcent.info
October 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
A great gift idea for the type nerds in your life (but I already have a copy)
It's #nationalblackcatday? Perfect timing for these cards. Void-inspired and void-approved. I made this woodcut based on Lady Batman, our first foster fail. www.bowerbox.com/product/blac...
Black Cat Notecards
Letterpress printed notecards, featuring a woodcut of a black cat (inspired by our own little feline void, Lady Batman.) Printed in dark...
www.bowerbox.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It's #nationalblackcatday? Perfect timing for these cards. Void-inspired and void-approved. I made this woodcut based on Lady Batman, our first foster fail. www.bowerbox.com/product/blac...
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