Every two weeks we highlight one of our friends from the stationery world, with the hope that you'll be as inspired by them as we are. Today, I'd like to introduce you to Milkfed Press.
Company name: Milkfed Press
Hometown: Davis, California
Website: http://www.milkfedpress.com
Blog: http://milkfedpress.blogspot.com/
Year established: 2000
When Victoria Heifner began Milkfed Press, it was mainly an outlet for her love of music (she made show posters). But she learned so much about design, space, and layout while hand-setting antique type that she decided to expand her repertoire. In fact, she didn’t even know how to turn on a computer for the first two years of printing, for which she is forever grateful.
Specialties: book binding and letterpress printing. Both of her antique presses are hand-fed, so her method of printing is a little slower and incredibly thoughtful. Milkfed Press is a one-woman shop, so Victoria herself works with clients from creation to completion. She even does all the packing.
Biggest project: "I once did a bookbinding and letterpress project for a commercial. I had to letterpress print four different versions of text (so four different plates and press runs) onto the cover of a book, but they had to be identical in their placement. To say it was daunting to hand-feed the cover is an understatement. It had to be perfect. I only got one chance (four times). And I had to not crush my hands in the process. It worked out beautifully, but I don’t think I breathed for about two hours while I set them up."
Milkfed Press LOVES: vintage packaging, vacations abroad ("I like to look at grocery store labels before hitting the museums), small details. Says Victoria, "I love that I can be visual and tactile and make people happy with what I produce."
From: victoria | 6/17/10 at 6:43 pm
Thank you so much for your (kind) attention! xo Victoria