Vintage print inspiration

As you may remember from my pre-wedding foray into wooden block printing, I’m a big fan of vintage letterpress prints. If you’re looking for a more professional finish than DIY block printing, I’d recommend East London-based letterpress studio A Two Pipe Problem, which does beautiful bespoke posters, stationery (including wedding invites and cards) and book covers. 

Everything is designed directly on the 1930s press, using nothing but old wooden blocks and metal type, some are a little worn around the edges lending the type an old-fashioned charm. 

You can also attend letterpress workshops to learn about the traditional printing process and make your very own poster. 

While on the subject of vintage-style invitations, I love this one that a colleague passed on to me - such a clever concept and so beautifully designed by the groom himself.

Antique printing blocks

I picked up these wonderful old wooden letter printing blocks at one of my favourite London vintage furniture shops, The Dog and Wardrobe, just off Broadway Market in the East End (head to the market on a Saturday for an array of food stalls, cafes and boutiques). 

I thought I’d start experimenting with using them to block-print our initials and the wedding date on the front covers of the Order of Service booklets (I may start to regret this idea 100 prints later!).