the sycamore q+a {no.21}: Kseniya Thomas

Sorry I haven't written the past few days -- we were out of town. More on that later, but for now, I'm happy to post this Q&A with the talented Kseniya Thomas from Thomas-Printers and Yonder Yest. We met on Etsy over our mutual love of the Smiths, and I soon found out that she's a fantastic letterpress printer, designer, and indie entrepreneur. Over the past year or so, I've asked her for advice a few times, and she's kindly and freely given it. I found out about her Ladies in Letterpress alliance not too long ago, and it has already been a great resource for me. Technically, Kseniya could look at other letterpress printers like me as competitors, but she makes it feel more like we are letterpress sisters-in-arms. I love that. Basically, I think she's the bees knees.

1.) How did you get into whatever it is you are into?

After graduating from college, I had a fellowship to study and work in Germany for a year. A friend and I happened to go to Mainz one weekend (I was nuts for movable type, but didn’t yet fully understand the implications!), where the Gutenberg Museum has a working letterpress-print shop. I wrote and asked if they accepted interns, and they did, so I moved to Mainz. I worked there for six months, and learned how to set type and print from guys who had spent their whole lives in print shops. It was great: they have hundreds of typefaces in lead, and I could print whatever I wanted. I also once printed a birth announcement for a princess, which was neat. I came back to the states, and worked various jobs before I bought my first press through the Letpress Listserv. I’ve been printing steadily ever since.

2.) What’s inspiring you these days?

Spring always washes the dirt out of my eyes! I love being able to open the big door and let the breeze in while I’m printing—plus, then I don’t have to sweep. I’ve been listening to the new Neko Case cd, Middle Cyclone, incessantly; it’s unspeakably good, and goes really well with printing and wind, for some reason.

neko case photo courtesy of the new yorker

3.) Tell us about something you’ve made or done lately.

Jessica White of Heroes and Criminals Press and I recently started a group for printers called Ladies of Letterpress. We noticed that most new printers out there were women, and thought a place for them to go with resources and discussion of business and printing topics would be a good thing. I recently started a wedding invitation wing of Thomas-Printers, called YonderYest, so that has been an interesting and exciting project as well.

4.) Is there anything else we would be interested to know about you?

My great-grandpa, a German guy I never was lucky enough to meet, started a flower shop and greenhouse called Thomas Florists. I like the idea of carrying on the small business spirit.
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Thanks Kseniya!
She does such beautiful work...and I'm really loving her new wedding invitation site. Please be sure and check out these links to see more of what she's up to:

http://www.thomas-printers.com/
http://www.yonderyest.com/
http://ladiesofletterpress.ning.com/
http://kseniya.etsy.com