The longest-running event of its kind, the Pilsen East Artist's Open has become an integral part of Chicago's cultural history. It was founded in 1970 by Mrs. Annelies Podmajersky and a handful of artists to help connect their art with the public.

This event is a self-guided walking tour of the intimate world of the working artist. The neighborhood of creatives welcomes you to experience art at its source as you visit their home, studio, theater, dance space, gallery. More than 50 artists will participate and be on hand to discuss their work and share their creative process, don't miss this unique perspective.    

 {excerpts from Chicago Arts District website www.chicagoartsdistrict.org and the open house's program}

KIPP, the Knowledge is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. There are currently 99 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 26,000 students.

Every day, KIPP students across the nation are proving that demographics do not define destiny. Over 80 percent of our students are from low-income families... Nationally, more than 90 percent of KIPP middle school students have gone on to college-preparatory high schools, and over 85 percent of alumni have gone on to college. 

 

{excerpts from KIPP's website www.kipp.org}

this is how i mix ink... i'm not sure if this it the "official" printer's way of doing it, but this is how i was taught... i start off with a clean marble slab and my putty knife {i've read that some printer's use a large piece of glass and some even use paper plates to mix their ink}

i was {and still am} a scrapbooker before i got knee deep in letterpress and this used to be my paper cutter... pretty and green with a little cute bug emblem on it.  i thought it was pretty nifty that you could cut and score with it.

then, in addition to scrapbooking more,  i started making more cards and invitations for myself, family, and friends...  so i upgraded to this paper cutter.  i thought it was awesome with its heavy duty wood base and handy dandy grid for measuring... i thought i was cool with my big, bad paper cutter that had the capability to cleanly cut less than 10 sheets of text weight paper at a time.

then i got involved in letterpress and realized that the paper i was using was so thick that my big, bad paper cutter could barely cut 2 sheets of 110 lb cover at once.  forget when i tried cutting double-ply 220 lb cover, that nearly broke the darn thing.  i quickly realized i needed yet another upgrade and got myself a guillotine cutter.  behold this beast...

it's made by american machinery & manufacturing company and the only reason i know that is because it's right on the cutter.  i know really nothing else about this guillotine besides that it is really heavy,  it takes 2-3 people to carry it, it's made out of cast iron, and weighs well over 300 pounds.  it cannot score, it has no fancy grid, but it can cut like no other!  

i'm all about supporting other entrepreneurs, especially mompreneurs!  over the weekend i gave a helping hand to my good friend jackie, owner and floral designer of flirtation flowers.  after this weekend, i have a greater appreciation for flowers.  i learned how to process flowers, wire, tape, make a boutonniere, put together a head piece for a flower girl, create a centerpiece, ribbon a bouquet, and learned flower lingo like pit, sprays, and stock.  it is incredible how much time, labor, and skill go into a flower arrangement.  i often times here brides say that they're going to do their own flowers for their wedding... think again...  floral design is a skill and art form that should be left to the professionals.  my friend jackie has been in business since 2004, but only until now was i able to convince her to start blogging.  check out her blog today... she's funny!  if you are local and need flowers for your next special event, contact flirtation flowers!  below are photos taken of the flowers we worked on...