Bill Ritchie design work in Texas
in the
Mandi Ballard Collection
Mandi's Frigate Halfwood Press No. 13.
About Mandi Ballard: Mandi Ballard is known as a fabric artist and she sometimes uses stencils in her dying processes. She's among other textile artists on the Stencil Girl Talk blog, where you can see her work, including a picture of one sample of her stencils, below. Her Frigate Halfwood Press was designed with intaglio in mind, but people use stencils in connection with printing, too. Her website is www.mandiballard.com
Sample of Mandi's stencils on Stencil Girl Talk
Bill Ritchie's comment: Mandi saw Mini Etching Press Number 26 on Etsy and, after thinking a long time, ordered it. She said, "... would like to have it right away. I'm planning a wearable art project with beautiful printed papers fused to silk. Project must be done by September, so I need to get going!" It arrived broken by the Postal Service, so she ordered the Frigate, and a custom chest, instead.
About Number 13: Made in 2014. Frigate Halfwood Press. Serial No. 750013. Specifications: Roller diameter 1 7/8" x 7.5" long, top and bottom. Bed is 3/8" polycarbonate, 7 1/2" x 21". The overall length is 22"; overall width is 12 3/4"; overall height is 13". Weight is 26 lbs.; Drive wheel is 10 1/2" diameter stainless steel. The bed is rack-driven, approximating a 3:1 mechanical advantage. Woods used are American black walnut with wenge interlayering. The pressure screws are linked and synchronized. The press included three etching felts, user's manual, Allan wrenches. This press included a custom fitted Printmaker Chest constructed with baltic birch and black walnut, with handcrafted solid brass corners, felt lined interior and decorative medallion. The chest measures 13" wide, 14.5" high and 24.25" long.
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