On Friday, I took a bus trip to Chicago with my graphic design program.
Not only was it great to spend the day with my creative buddies, it was also great fun bumming around Chicago, shopping and seeing the sights.
We started out with a tour of Evantson Print & Paper, a letterpress and screen printing shop. This is the first time I’ve ever seen a letterpress in action. How cool to get to see it in action.
The owners let us take turns trying out the letterpress. First up, ink the type.
Then, guide the paper through the roller. Can you tell how cool I thought this was?!
Then, admire your finished piece!
We made a stop at The Paper Source, a fun stationery store. After lunch, we stopped at Posh, a cool thrift store full of European vintage.
How could a group of art students resist going into a Blicks!
We ended our day at the Art Institute of Chicago.
What an amazing place! We toured the Soviet Union war poster exhibition, the Impressionists, the American Art, and a fabulous series of illustrated alphabets. The highlight for me was getting to see a couple pieces by my favorite artist, Mary Cassatt.
I cam home with a loot full of goodies, including a vintage NYC map that we’re going to frame and hang in our guest room, a fabulously-designed paper calendar for inspiration, a set of tags for more inspiration, a set of inktense pencils, and just a few sketchbooks!
Not only did it feel good to spend the day with my creative friends, but I came home with revived inspiration and reinforcement that I can’t wait to resume taking classes again in January. One of the best days I’ve had in a long time!
Terri's Notebook 
That letterpress did look pretty fun!
You came out with some great loot!
Looks like a great trip – love the second photo!!!
What fun! I bet it was pretty cool to operate the letterpress. Love seeing you in action:)
thanks Terri for showing us your chicago field trip. I love the old fashioned printing press. I have a love affair with letterpress.
Hi Terri! I can imagine how your are full of inspiration after that fantastic day! Photo with the letterpress is really great! It must be amazing to visit all those unique places, museums and shops! Enjoy your new materials!
xxx Teje
Your face made me smile! How cool!!
You got some inktense pencils…. let me know what you think of them and if you have any tips. All of your other goodies look fab too – I love the ‘trust your crazy ideas’ paper – I’ve been doing a lot of that lately lol.
The best part is that you got to hang out with your friends, have fun and then come back all inspired. I hope you get the chance to have more field trips in the future – they sound like a blast.
What fun! It was a wonderful day to be here in the city – such perfect weather the last two days.
Hello Terri,
What a beautiful day out for you and your art friends. Lots to see and do and purchase. Love the Letterpress, You could have some great fun on that. Happy days.
Bev.xoxo
Just got to ask did you buy one of those Waiter Waiter plates from Posh??
Wow! Love your goodies you came home with, nothing like some new supplies to help with the inspiration!
The letterpress looked like tons of fun! I’ve been reading about a few artists on Etsy that use letterpresses, sounds so cool!
Looks like the day was beautiful in Chicago, and lots of inspiration everywhere you went (I love stationery stores too, I’m jealous,lol!)
So glad you had a wonderful time!