The printers
Printer/Pronouns:
Jennifer Farrell (she/her)
Bio:
Since 1999, Jennifer Farrell has operated Starshaped Press in Chicago, with a focus on designing & printing everything from business cards to posters, as well as custom commissions, wholesale ephemera and limited edition prints & books. All work in the studio is created with metal and wood type, making Starshaped one of the few presses in the country producing commercial work while preserving antique type and related print materials. Jennifer’s work has been repeatedly recognized in books, magazines and design blogs, and has appeared in poster shows throughout the USA and Europe.
Type of Work:
Business cards, posters, cards, social stationery, ephemera of all kinds
Presses/Equipment:
10×15 Chandler & Price
8×10 Chandler & Price
SP15 Vandercook
700+ fonts of metal and wood type
Best way to get to the shop:
The shop is between the Damen and Montrose Brown Line stops and the Metra has a stop a block north.
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Spoken Cafe (open until 2)
Perfect Cup
Aroy Thai
Printer/Pronouns:
Ben Blount (he/his)
Bio:
Ben Blount is a Detroit born artist, designer and letterpress printer best known for work that explores questions of race and identity and the stories we tell ourselves about living in America. Ben is a believer in the power of the printed word and shares his passion for print and design by speaking and teaching around the country. He is an active member of his local art scene and founding board member of Artists Book House. His artists’ books and prints are included in numerous collections including The Newberry Library, Chicago Field Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Type of Work:
Posters, artists’ books, installations
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook 4
Line-O-Scribe sign presses (3)
Dozens of fonts of wood and metal type
Best way to get to the shop:
25 min walk from the Dempster Purple Line stop
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Backlot Coffee
Brothers K Coffeehouse
Cupitol (coffee, food, drinks)
Blind Faith Cafe (vegetarian)
Union Squared (Detroit-style pizza)
Stumble and Relish (gifts and cards)
Nice Lena (gifts and cards)
Lee Street Beach (Lake Michigan beach, 1.5 miles east)
Printer/Pronouns:
Amira Hegazy (she/they)
Bio:
A mirror is a new project by Amira Hegazy combining new and traditional technologies in design, printing and bookmaking. The goal is to create prints and publications as an honest reflection on the world we live in today. The studio focuses on letterpress printing and bookbinding as a way to imbue craft tradition into contemporary practice. The studio produces both commercial and speculative work, often in collaboration with other artists, writers, and thoughtful people.
Type of Work:
Hand bound books, commercial letterpress printing, speculative type prints
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook Universal III
Best way to get to the shop:
Damen Pink Line stop
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Pilsen Community Books
Inga
National Museum of Mexican Art
Pochos
5 Rabanitos
Pleasant House Pub
Alulu brewing
Printer/Pronouns:
Amber J. Favorite (she/her)
Bio:
a. favorite design is a family-owned letterpress studio and stationery shop in Albany Park. Created and curated by designer and letterpress printer Amber Favorite, the shop has grown into a welcoming space where creativity, craftsmanship, and connection come together. From greeting cards and useful goods to live letterpress demonstrations, the a. favorite team believes good design and sweet (but sometimes cheeky) sentiments can make someone's day!
Type of Work:
stationery
Presses/Equipment:
Heidelberg 10x15 Windmill
C+P Platen Press
Vandercook 4
Best way to get to the shop:
Kedzie Brown Line stop, 78 Montrose Bus Kedzie stop, 93 California Bus Kedzie & Sunnyside stop
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Something Sweet Donuts
Restoried Books
Nubar
Sotomarino
Surge
Angelo's
Bokeh
Noon o Kabob
Salam
Printer/Pronouns:
Raychel Steinbach (she/her)
Bio:
Raychel Steinbach is a Chicago-based letterpress printer and the creative direction behind Current Location Press. Raychel creates fine art prints inspired by native flora, fauna, and landscapes of the Midwest. Much of her work showcases the natural beauty that can be found in city and state parks. Raychel’s prints utilize hand-carved blocks to give an organic definition to her subject, as well as abstract color fields set with wood and metal type that add cohesiveness and depth. By embracing traditional methods of letterpress printing’s movable – and inherently reusable – type, her production method is kept as sustainable as possible to help preserve the beauty of the natural world through conscious creation.
Type of Work:
wood and linoleum block carving, hand set type, nature-based prints
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook Universal I powered & adjustable bed
Heidelberg Windmill (not yet operational, but folks could teach me!)
Best way to get to the shop:
5 blocks from the Metra Electric train station to the loop - otherwise private vehicle is easiest
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
BOOKS: 57th Street Books, Seminary Co-op bookstore, Powell's used bookstore, Call and Response Books
CAFES: Build Coffee & Books, Plein Air Cafe, Medici on 57th, Virtue (reservations strongly suggested),
Other places of Note: Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park Art Center, THE OBAMA CENTER, Promontory Point, Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright), University of Chicago campus, Museum of Science & Industry, DuSable Black History Museum, Stony Island Arts Bank
Printer/Pronouns:
Aidan Anne Frierson & Dave King
Bio:
Chicago Pulp is a hand papermaking studio and papermill dedicated to expanding access to the art, craft, and design possibilities of handmade paper in Chicago. Chicago Pulp is one of the few non-institutional spaces in the country that offers public access to essential papermaking equipment such as Mould & Deckles, Hollander beater, hydraulic press, and drying systems-tools that are typically housed within university art programs or private institutions. The studio approaches papermaking not only as a craft but as an intentional practice that intersects with sustainability, storytelling, and material experimentation. Through workshops, open studio opportunities, and collaborative projects, Chicago Pulp introduces participants to the possibilities of fiber-from raw pulp to finished paper-while encouraging exploration with recycled materials, ephemera, Cotton, Denim, Abaca, Mulberry, Flax, Hay, Sisal and alternative papermaking
Type of Work:
Handmade Production Paper, handmade paper artworks, handmade mould and deckles, and raw fibers
Presses/Equipment:
(2) 2lbs Reina Hollander Beaters
48inx48inch Hydraulic Press
4ft, 5ft and 6ft Deckle Boxes
48inx48inch Restraint Dryer
Filamaker Fiber Shredder
Best way to get to the shop:
We are accessible via the CTA Red Line Train. From the Sox-35th-Street station take the 35 CTA Bus heading (Westbound towards Cicero & 24th), exit at the 35th & Morgan stop, and we are an 8 minute/.4 mile walk from there.
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Hoofprint
Fat Peach Bakery
Antique Taco
Charis
Co Prosperity
Marz Brewing
Phil's Pizza
Printer/Pronouns:
Ryan H. Basile (he/him)
Bio:
I found letterpress while I was in graduate school at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and instantly fell in love with it, as so many of us do. Shortly after I realized that my education, personality, aesthetic inclinations - and perhaps a little of my crazy - all combined lent itself well to the wedding industry. Thirteen years and hundreds of couples later, Double Trip Press chugs along as one of the premier wedding stationers in the city of Chicago. The predictable seasonality of the wedding work allows the creative juices to ebb and flow throughout the year and also allows us to take on more interesting and creative projects (no offense wedding clients) in the 'off season' and collaborate with local artists and creators across the country.
Type of Work:
While we focus on wedding the bulk of the year, we've been lucky to work on other exciting branding opportunities with local businesses and artists. I'd love to show that work as well as our branded collections of items which may include letterpress items amongst some that are not due to the nature of the object. Showing off some of our more non-traditional wedding invitations might be fun too.
Presses/Equipment:
SP-15 Vandercook
Paragon Paper Cutter (1879)
Best way to get to the shop:
CTA Train: Brown Line Western Stop (12-15 minute walk)
CTA Bus Lines: 11 Lincoln, 92 Foster, 49 Western (all less than 5 minute walk from nearest stop)Easily Accessible Paid Metered & Free Un-zoned street parking around as well
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
The heart of Lincoln Square is about a 15 minute walk away. Several coffee shops and cute things on Lincoln between me and Lincoln Square including the Ainslie Art Plaza. Deb Maris Lader’s personal artist studio is down the street as well on the back side of Chicago Printmakers Collaborative.
Printer/Pronouns:
K. James Handerson (he/him)
Dud Lawson (he/him)
Bio:
Depression Press Mfg. & Ink, Inc. is the letterpress/screen printing/Risograph studio of props. K. James Henderson & your pal Dud Lawson, conveniently located in Chicago Art Department.
Type of Work:
Letterpress archive
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook
Chandler Price
Best way to get to the shop:
#8 Halsted Bus (Cullerton stop)
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Chicago Art Department (home base) with Chicago Printers Guild Skylark
Printer/Pronouns:
Craig Jobson, he/him
Bio:
Craig Jobson has transformed 22 years of art direction for ads, books and magazines into a passion for the book arts. He is the former Art Director for Holt Rinehart & Winston, and the Director of Design for McDougal Littel Houghton Mifflin. In 1997 he joined the full-time faculty at Columbia College Chicago as an Associate Professor and earned an MFA in its Interdisiplinary Arts Book and Paper Program. He is the 2001 founder of Lark Sparrow Press where he designs, illustrates, and letterpress prints contemporary works of short fiction, broadsides, and faux postage stamps.
Type of Work:
Fine Press, hand bound books, broadsides, faux postage stamps
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook IV, Dickerson Combination Press
1898 Treadle Operated Perforator
C&G Saw Trimmer
Art Library
Best way to get to the shop:
Davis Purple Line stop is less than a mile away
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Blicks warehouse store
Davis Street between Hinman and Oak has 14 different restaurants
Printer/Pronouns:
Executive Director: Jamie Thome (she, her)
Director of Education: Ann Hudson (she, her)
Bio:
Hive Center for the Book Arts is a place to learn and celebrate the book arts: paper making, printmaking, bookmaking, writing, and reading. We work to make the book arts available to everyone, and build community through these shared experiences. Though our home base is at 840 Custer in Evanston IL, our workshops, exhibitions, programs, and events are popping up all over the North Shore, Chicago, and online.
Type of Work:
prints, broadsides, workshops, papermaking, bookmaking, writing
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook Universal I
small Kluge
small tabletop Vandercook proof press
Provisional Press
substantial type collection
Best way to get to the shop:
Purple Line Main Street stop; Metra Main Street stop
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
The Main Dempster Mile is FULL of awesome shops and cafes and restaurants and bookstores.
Printer/Pronouns:
Matt Jorgensen (he/him)
Bio:
C’mon Home is the irregular print and design practice of Matthew Jorgensen. It was born during the pandemic, when he and Midwest Ephemera (Bryan Bedell) split the bill on a 10x15 C&P Model-N and moved it into Matthew’s basement. Following additional equipment acquisitions, they outgrew the basement quickly. Now C’mon Home is nestled in the corner of the Midwest Ephemera print shop—a big weird space on the western reaches of the city. Rent is cheap, the food is greasy & amazing, the neighbors are weird & friendly, and everything is kinda hard to get to.
Type of Work:
Social Stationery, Posters, lino-cuts, Ludlow odds and ends
Presses/Equipment:
-Ludlow Model L Typograph with 225 sets of matrices and Supersurfacer
-Vandercook No.3 proofing press (The one without an inking motor! Fancy!)
-10x15 Chandler & Price Model N platen press (One of the last C&Ps made!)
-10x15 Kluge Model M (so very, very close to operational!)
-30.5" Challenge Champion cutter (with a computer upgrade straight from Wargames)
-Ben Franklin Trim-o-Saw
-The actual 1975 Vespa Super 150 from the 1979 film "Breaking Away."
Best way to get to the shop:
85 Central bus to Bloomingdale
72 North bus to Central (5 min walk N on Central)
65 Grand or 74 Fullerton bus to Central, or Metra Milwaukee West to Hanson Park stop (15-20 min walk S on Central)
Always easy street parking on Bloomingdale (Do not park in the lot)
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio is a 5 minute drive away in Oak Park, Ill. SunSub is a wild little food spot a few blocks away that has the best Gym Shoe around (aka Jim Shoe, aka Jim Shoo), a sandwich that is better experience than described.
Printer/Pronouns:
Bryan Bedell (he/him)
Bio:
After 40 years as a graphic designer obsessed with printing and typesetting technology, Bryan Bedell got suckered into the letterpress community while working with Jim Moran and Stephanie Carpenter on Field Notes' "Two Rivers" edition. Bryan started attending wayzgeese with Field Notes co-worker Matt Jorgensen and eventually they started hoarding type and equipment in Matt's basement, starting Midwest Ephemera (Bryan) and C'mon Home (Matt, see also). In May, 2025, we rented a warehouse space on the West side and continue sharing the space, often working together.
Type of Work:
Midwest Ephemera is primarily a job printer with a focus on music-related / -inspired projects. We also host classes and monthly workshops. We'll be firing up our Ludlow Typograph to remind WORD attendees about our custom slugcasting services… and we're working on some other surprises for WORD weekend.
Presses/Equipment:
-Ludlow Model L Typograph with 225 sets of matrices and Supersurfacer
-Vandercook No.3 proofing press (The one without an inking motor! Fancy!)
-10x15 Chandler & Price Model N platen press (One of the last C&Ps made!)
-10x15 Kluge Model M (so very, very close to operational!)
-30.5" Challenge Champion cutter (with a computer upgrade straight from Wargames)
-Ben Franklin Trim-o-Saw
-The actual 1975 Vespa Super 150 from the 1979 film "Breaking Away."
Best way to get to the shop:
85 Central bus to Bloomingdale
72 North bus to Central (5 min walk N on Central)
65 Grand or 74 Fullerton bus to Central, or Metra Milwaukee West to Hanson Park stop (15-20 min walk S on Central)
Always easy street parking on Bloomingdale (Do not park in the lot)
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Sun Subs (5542 W North Ave) serves every fast food you could name, including all the Chicago classics. They put giardiniera on pretty much everything. Try the Gym Shoe!
Printer/Pronouns:
Angela Davis Fegan (she/they)
Amy Leners (she/her)
Bio:
Co-owners Angela Davis Fegan and Amy Leners are Chicago based artists who met in Columbia College Chicago’s interdisciplinary book and paper MFA program.
Type of Work:
Letterpress prints, handmade paper and book objects, also printed garments
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook universal 1
C&P press
Kensol press and sewing machines
a serger and a snap press
Best way to get to the shop:
35th street Red Line Stop or 35th Street bus
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Antique Taco
Stockyard coffee
Printer/Pronouns:
Director - Meg Duguid (she/her)
Studio Manager - Avery Johnson (she/her)
Board President - Amira Hegazy (she/her)
Studio Assistant - Olivia Childress (she/her)
Bio:
Founded on the premise that art should be a democratic and empowering medium, Spudnik Press is committed to being an approachable and affordable print shop; a space where professional printmakers meet aspiring students; a space that encourages collaboration and the sharing of ideas.
At Spudnik Press, artists create and use printed materials to further culture and engage with their community. Through sharing materials, equipment, and studio space, artists are also sharing technical skills, practical knowledge, and creative processes. By pooling resources and creative problem solving, artists at Spudnik Press are able to create a space that is beyond the means of solo emerging artists.
Type of Work:
As a community print shop, the projects produced in the Letterpress area vary greatly. The space supports introductory Letterpress classes as well as independent open studio printers. I hope to put together some sort of display of recent projects from students and members to show off the wonderful work created in the space!
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook-4
Vandercook SP-25 (the largest public press in the city of Chicago) Two platten presses
We also support screen printing, risography, intaglio, relief, and monotype.
Best way to get to the shop:
Damen Green Line stop, #50 Damen Bus - Damen & Hubbard. Parking lot for the building as well and metered street parking on Hubbard
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Uncle Mikes - Filipino Breakfast
Publican Quality Bread - coffee, drinks, and great bread & pastries
Center of Order and Experimentation - coffee shop with eclectic gifts and knickknacks
Printer/Pronouns:
Vida Sačić
Bio:
Vida Sačić is a Croatian American artist whose practice uses language to explore collective narratives through printmaking, typography, and handmade paper. Rooted in letterpress and contemporary papermaking, her work investigates migration, material histories, and collective memory. Recent solo exhibitions include Galerija Karas in Zagreb and Galerija Zlati Ajngel in Varaždin, Croatia, alongside projects with the Chicago History Museum, the Newberry Library in Chicago, and Pushkin House in London, United Kingdom. Sačić is Professor of Art + Design at Northeastern Illinois University, where she developed the BFA in Graphic Design.
Type of Work:
Vida’s studio will feature her large scale handmade paper work as well as her printing equipment.
Presses/Equipment:
Vandercook #4, wood type, metal type
Best way to get to the shop:
21 Cermac Bus
Driving or Uber recommended
Local Attractions/Recommended Eats:
Mana Contemporary features eight floors of artist studios and galleries - Tiger Strikes Asteroid is a favorite. Inga Bookstore
Amazing Mexican food (Frida Room Pilsen is a favorite)
National Museum of Mexican Art
Chicago Art Department,
Zhou B Art Center
Skylark