BT still helping

One week later the crack team BT set up investigate the problems I have been having setting up a website using Geocities (the service BT provide to customers since they linked up with Yahoo) is still working.

If anybody wants to read the details of the issues, and their resolution, they will be loaded onto "A great IT blog" once resolved.

Never say......

Libre Livre does not believe in petty rules, but one word which is absolutely banned is "No". So when we came stuck trying to access webspace at BT Openzone we did not just give up after half a dozen BT "Help" centres recommended each other and failed in turn to solve our problem, we rang head office (02027 356 5000). 24 hours later a team has been set up to investigate the problem.

Another issue: the distruptive effect of adverts on BT Yahoo Geocities websites is being investigated by a team in the States - it may sound trivial, but when you see all your carefully placed pictures scattered over the screen covering each other and your text it is very irritating. Let's see if BT can sort something out

Libre Livre Poster

It may sound like a bit of a busman's holiday, but last week our Head Marbler went printing. A five day intensive course to hone her skills and get the ink flowing.

The picture to the right shows a poster she designed and printed using wood type - something of which Libre Livre can never get enough. If you have any to part with do get in contact with us via our website.

Marbled Papers

"Marbled Paper". Two words, but what an enormous range of patterns and textures they can imply. And, of course the colour spectrum is limitless. I have recently stumbled across the digital collection of patterned papers produced by the University of Washington Libraries (site on the right), which gives a great idea of the sort of papers that can be produced.

Paper marbling at Libre Livre is done using water colours and acrylic paints in a variety of styles, traditional and modern. To see some examples of ourwork visit www.librelivre.com

Wayzgoose Print Fair

The Libre Livre team visited the Wayzgoose Printing Fair in Witney this weekend. An excellent fair it was too: there were stalls selling type, equipment, books, examples of fine printing and more. Two presses were set up for demonstrations, by the British Printing Society and the Oxford Guild of Printers respectively (see the links on the right for both).

The fair is held every other year, with the Oxford Fine Press Book Fair in the alternate years.

Unfortunately some ink I bought got sold twice, which gave me an excuse to visit John and Louisa Hare, of the Evergreen Press ("site on the right") at their new premises near Chipping Norton. John has specialised in letterpress printing for many years and showed me some examples of his work as well as selling me a rainbow of letterpress inks ranging from lime green to purple

Several months ago Libre Livre managed to pick up in a auction some magnificent and rare printing blocks of historical buildings in Lewes.

Over coming months we will be producing a series of cards made using these beautiful blocks.

Here is a sample to whet your appetite.

Anybody interested in acquiring their own set of these rare prints should, of course, feel free to contact us.

Hand Printing Begins at Libre Livre

This week the presses began rolling in our new workshop at Castle Ditch Lane, Lewes.