RAR RAR PRESS

RAR RAR PRESS at BERLIN

2010-05-29T09:37:00.003-05:00

RAR RAR PRESS invades Brooklyn THIS WEEKEND

2010-05-19T12:12:00.005-05:00

RAR RAR PRESS @ RENEGADE AUSTIN THIS WEEKEND

2010-05-13T13:19:00.004-05:00

RAR RAR PRESS // PRINTERVENTION

2010-04-14T14:01:00.003-05:00

Printervention // Printing for the Public

Following the success of last years' Version Festival program: the Bridgeport WPA pilot project, we have asked artists from around the country to create works that raise awareness of social and political issues of our day.
Printervention debuts April 16, 2010 at the The Chicago Tourism Center Gallery and continues through Version Festival to include workshops, a mobile silkscreen cart, a window display at The Whistler and more. For more information and a complete schedule of events and participants please visit www.printervention.org

Opening Reception Friday, April 16, 2010 5pm - 7pm
@ Chicago Tourism Center Gallery
72 E Randolph // Chicago

Printervention, organized by Emily Clayton, Chris Roberson and Ed Marszewski, is part of Version Festival 2010, an annual arts festival in Chicago produced by the Public Media Institute that brings together hundreds of artists, musicians and educators from around the world.

www.printervention.org

www.versionfest.org

facebook invite

craft fair season is here! this is where i'll be....

2009-11-16T05:15:00.015-06:00

MCA designers showcase!

2009-11-02T13:53:00.001-06:00

crafty bastards coming soon!

2009-09-21T13:08:00.006-05:00

mark your calanders D.C. --- i'm coming your way
october 3rd booth #62
i will be unveiling new buttons, t-shirts, tote bags and postcards! hope to see you there!
don't forget to vote for me.....

readymade hearts rar rar

2009-09-21T13:05:00.003-05:00

i got mentioned in the readymade recap of renegade chicago, whoo hoo! awe, thanks guys.
check it out here.

renegade chicago!

2009-09-10T19:04:00.011-05:00

rar rar press

&
no coast

booth 270

vote for rar rar press!

2009-09-10T18:30:00.007-05:00

vote for rar rar press for

the craftiest bastard contest!

vote now! (even if you are not in d.c.)

hott off the press

2009-08-06T13:30:00.004-05:00

hott off the press

2009-07-26T13:40:00.006-05:00

now available on etsy!

new chicago stop for picking up rar rar cards

2009-07-26T13:36:00.002-05:00

this is one of the cutest stores, super sweet mix of new and vintage wears. i had to restrain myself from buying everything!
141o N. Milwaukee Ave.
http://www.rudysroundup.com/

next weekend!

2009-07-26T13:29:00.002-05:00

Chicago Ladies of Letterpress Open House

2009-07-02T14:18:00.003-05:00

Saturday July 11th
11am - 5 pm
@ Starshaped Press
4636 N. Ravenswood #103, Chicago IL

Come check out (and purchase) letterpress work from a handful of Chicago's talented ladies!

Printers include....
Starshaped Press
A. Favorite
Rar Rar Press
Shimmer Studio
Cindy Tomczyk (Paper Parasol)

with sweet treats by Sugarkist

and Starshaped Press will have the studio open for folks to see how printing works

more info about the ladies of letterpress visit here

hottt off the press and now on etsy!

2009-07-02T14:13:00.005-05:00

RAR RAR is back in action!
here are four new cards. available here.
be on the look out for 4 more by the end of july!

coming this weekend.....

2009-06-15T18:51:00.002-05:00

hott off the press: new postcard

2009-06-04T12:17:00.015-05:00

originally it was going to say wiener
but while picking out type i changed my mind!

i had to sand down the block a bit

hott off the press

2009-05-23T21:33:00.008-05:00

put a piece of wood on the press.

and then made some books. 2 sizes.
tiny and pocketbook size.

first craft fair of the year!

2009-05-05T18:28:00.007-05:00

in lovely berwyn illinois
click on flyer above for more info

Favorite Song Poster Series

2009-04-30T14:00:00.005-05:00

I started printing a new series last week
based on some of my favorite songs.
poster #1 features my favorite line from
My Head by Times New Viking

I find this line so fitting right now,
being so poor from my recent bike accident.
Drugs for me are records,
I usually buy lots and lots of records.
But right now I am unable to work full time and
have more bills than usual so record buying
is on told and things I make a wish list of. sigh

available soon in my etsy store
buy my poster so i can buy some records! HA!

no coast at next fair

2009-04-30T13:43:00.004-05:00

No Coast is part of GOFFO at
NEXT FAIR
Booth #8143
7th Floor
The Merchandise Mart
May 1st-4th

no coasters Aay Preston-Myint and Alex Valentine- new city breakout artists!

2009-04-30T11:18:00.004-05:00

no coast on metromix

2009-04-30T10:31:00.000-05:00

new work!

2009-04-24T15:13:00.006-05:00

printing kind of kicked my ass but it was so nice to be printing for the first time in months!
for sale at etsy and no coast

Bridgeport WPA poster

upcoming event!

2009-04-14T18:47:00.007-05:00

WPA POSTER SHOW

opening night of Version>09
April 23rd at ZHOU B. CENTER
1028 W 35th ST, From 5pm - 10pm,
Entry is FREE

i'm printing for the first time in months!
come check out the results!

PEACE PARTY

2009-04-09T19:19:00.006-05:00

This Monday No Coast Studios will be a part of Danny's monthly Peace Party series. We will be presenting 12 months of Peace Party posters printed and designed here at No Coast by Alex Valentine. Proceeds from the bar will benefit public programming and other activities here at the space. Please come dance and listen to amazing music from DJ's Jeff Parker, Jocelyn Brown, Naomi Walker, and Josh Abrams.
Monday, April 13 @ Danny's
1951 W. Dickens (near corner of Damen, one block north of Armitage.)
10pm-2am FREE
www.no-coast.org

No Coast looking for members

2009-04-08T19:08:00.002-05:00

come and get a piece

No Coast is a collectively run art studio, event space and consignment store at 1500 W. 17th Street in Pilsen, a few blocks from the 18th Street Pink Line station and accessible by several bus routes. Our screen printing facilities include multiple printing stations with drying racks, pressure washer, light table, UV exposure unit, and some shared screens, scoop coaters and squeegees.

Per-Project Studio Rental is $50 a week. Renters can walk-in during our open hours, or set up an alternative schedule with our staff. Previous screenprinting experience is required. Access to equipment listed above is unrestricted, though it is recommended that you bring your own screens, and required that you bring your own materials (paper, ink, etc).

Monthly Membership is $200-$225 a month, inclusive of utilities (electric, heat, phone/internet) and some shared supplies. Equipment in addition to that listed above includes sewing machines, flat files and personal storage space. Collective members have 24/7 keyed access to the space. Collective responsibilities include participation in group meetings, basic cleanliness/organization, and some volunteer time running the facilities during open hours (can be as little as 1 or 2 shifts a month if your schedule is busy). Members may also use the space to program public events if desired. Long-term members do not need any screenprinting experience and can work in other media as space allows, but should have experience with or willingness to work in a cooperative group environment.

Contact everyone@no-coast.org for information, questions, or to schedule a visit.

sorry it's been a while.

2009-04-08T18:30:00.003-05:00

So two months ago I was on my bike headed to Columbia to start printing some lovely new postcards when a semi truck hit me. Don’t worry its not so bad. Only my foot was mangled (fractured big toe and a very swollen/bruised foot) and my bike is trashed. I’m now starting to walk again, rocking a cane to get around. Letterpress printing is on hold; it might be another month until I can get back to work.

This week I am going to take on screen-printing, something I can do sitting down with my foot elevated. Ha ha. I am helping out with the Bridgeport WPA project, part of Version Fest ’09.

Mark your calendars for a couple upcoming events….

Version Fest ‘09
everyone should come to this
April 23rd- May 2nd
Chicago, IL

NFO XPO
No Coast will be participating
April 25th & 26th
Chicago, IL

Next Fair
No Coast will be participating
May 1st- May 4th

Constructor Craft Fair
RAR RAR PRESS & Owly Shadow Puppets will be here
Sunday May 24th
Berwyn, IL

Indieana Handicraft Exchange
RAR RAR PRESS & Owly Shadow Puppets will be here
Saturday June 13th
Indianapolis, IN

upcoming fairs!

2008-11-28T16:49:00.005-06:00

long lost update!

2008-11-28T16:36:00.004-06:00

hey y'all sorry its been a while. no coast opened and i've been getting ready for all the craft fairs, busy times!

reprinted the crafty mother fucker shirts....
went to detroit for the detroit urban craft fair...

then diy trunk show.....

over at no coast......
we had an instore with anni rossi, emily lacy, happy salmon and purricane!

and i've been a screenprinting fool!

tshirts now for sale on etsy

2008-10-14T16:13:00.003-05:00

get um here!

OPENING PARTY!

2008-10-09T22:54:00.000-05:00

no coast is open!

2008-10-06T13:40:00.018-05:00

open
wed-fri 1-7
sat 12-7
sun 12-6

stop by soon!

t-shirt photo shoot

2008-09-26T14:07:00.005-05:00

coming soon to etsy!

NO COAST UPDATE

2008-09-26T13:49:00.002-05:00

Soft Opening

Our front space is going through what our friend Abby G. likes to call a “Soft Opening.” You know, one step at a time. Schedule is below…lotsa fun stuff through October…

Through September 28th - come by and hang on the weekends, we’ll be building furniture for the store and other fun stuff.
October 1st - Fall open hours begin! Wednesday through Friday 1pm-7pm, Saturdays noon to 7pm and Sundays noon to 6pm.
October 5th - first official Sunday Brunch Screening! Presented by Bike-In Cinema, every first Sunday at noon from now on.
October 9th - first monthly Stitch & Bitch! Second Thursdays from 6pm-9pm. Bring a snack and a needlework project to share - knitting, crochet, hand sewing, embroidery, etc. We will have some yarn and needles available for use.
October 11th - Grand Opening party and Saturday BBQ with Future Islands (Baltimore), Radical Passenger (Chicago) and a super secret to be revealed soon. Starts 3pm.

look at how sweet the great wall looks!

THIS WEEKEND I'M A BASTARD

2008-09-26T13:39:00.002-05:00

SEPTEMBER 28th
Crafty Bastards
Washington, DC.
10am-5pm
at the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th & Wyoming
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards

--booth 45--

RAIN OR SHINE
In the event of light rain, the festival will go on as planned outside.
The fair will move inside the Marie Reed School if there is severe inclement weather.

friends in the ny times!

2008-09-05T18:21:00.002-05:00

Faythe Levine
handmade nation
owly shadow puppets pictured!

check it out!

renegade is next weekend!

2008-09-05T13:06:00.003-05:00

mark your calenders!
andrea (owly shadow puppets) and I will be at booth 201
a corner booth right off of wood street.
see you there!

no coast lock-in was AWESOME!

2008-09-02T13:34:00.019-05:00

it was a blast!

i was there from 6pm friday until 2:30 am saturday. then slept a bit and came right back at 11am and stayed till 8pm!

friday i showed some people how to make a dos-a-dos book. after awhile people just started to just make books on their own. it was pretty sweet!

ice cream break!

lots of screens ready to go!

saturday i printed a ton of shirts and helped anne make a box. the last of the night crew left at 8:30am! they were some troopers for sure!

lauren came by and printed. her screen messed up last night so i made her a new one first thing in the morning!

i printed this too.

when i'm not putting words on paper, baked goods are my second choice

2008-08-18T20:29:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCING NO COAST!

2008-08-18T14:50:00.005-05:00

my new studio space

1500 w. 17th street, in pilsen

STUDIO, STORE & OTHER THINGS TOO
WHERE IDEAS CAN JUST HANG OUT AND DO WHATEVER
OPENING MID-SEPTEMBER
add us on myspace
www.myspace.com/nocoastcollective

No Coast is currently looking for submissions from artists creating books, zines, posters, altered clothing, t-shirts, music, and more. If you are interested in having No Coast sell your amazing creations please contact us at everyone[at]no-coast[dot]org

we are having our first lock-in at the end of august. hope you can make it!
(if you can't we will be having these bi-monthly)

blog love from we covet

2008-08-06T19:26:00.002-05:00

check it out!

HOT OFF THE PRESS

2008-07-30T09:16:00.006-05:00

two new postcards...
talk nerdy to me
&
jk

mini poster...

HOT OFF THE PRESS

2008-07-27T15:15:00.003-05:00

i've been wanting to print this one FOREVER!

i printed this one with photopolymer, not my favorite thing to use but i doubt there is a wood or metal stitch type out there.

pitchfork/depart-ment recap

2008-07-21T18:46:00.010-05:00

the calm before the storm

i can pack a ton of stuff in a small space!

andrea hanging tough.
showing off the green sash we had to wear to let people know who the hall monitors were at depart-ment.

i didn't really watch bands during the day. i hate big crowds and big stages. i spent most of my time between depart-ment and the southern records/permanent records corner of the record tent. my lunch for two days consisted of soy mint chocolate chip ice cream from temptation. both days different boys at that tent gave me my ice cream with a super discount. no complaints here! oh and flagstock was pretty sweet. my favorite was landland, hands down. i got bff and mountain goats posters. everything of theirs was so amazing, it was hard to decide what to get!

on friday i saw chicago's finest... mahjongg play at the hideout with the ever so amazing Health! its going on the best shows of the year list for sure!

mahjongg=cords and cut-offs

saturday night i biked really fast to schubas after pitchfork to see Abe Vigoda (shown above) and one of my favorite bands right now High Places (defiantly go to their myspace and download their songs, you will not be disappointed!). i was very excited that this show ended at 1am. i was so exhausted. but then half way home there was a terenchal downpour! it took me an hour and a half to get home! boo rain!

the only bands i did end up watching at pitchfork played early on sunday...
times new viking
High Places
Health

not only did i get a little sunburned on my back/neck (i forgot the sunscreen there), i ran into a girl that bought one of my shirts at depart-ment. she was a little creeped out a first when i ran over to her with my camara but then when i told her i made the shirt she got really excited and let me photograph her.

by sunday night i was ready for a cold shower and early bed time (compared to the last two nights of 3am).
good times.

this weekend!

2008-07-16T18:46:00.003-05:00

t-shirts!

2008-07-14T16:37:00.005-05:00

went over to no coast and burned some screens.
it's been a while since i've screen printed!

here's the finished product! different colored alternative apparel shirts and thrift store shirts with hot pink, metallic purple, or black ink
i made some of these too.....

and now my house is covered in shirts

Craffty Bastards Photos

2008-07-03T00:10:00.008-05:00

people loved the new books and buttons!

owly was right next door!

met some sweet people that worked at pyramid atlantic and bought this from their booth.
it says "i am the leaden army that conquers the world, i am type," Frederic Goudy

HOT OFF THE PRESS

2008-07-02T23:53:00.006-05:00

rar rar card with a hot new tiger.
the tiger head printed even sweeter than i thought!

also reprinted f that s, but for some reason i only took a picture of the type on the press

this week marked a big change....
i moved everything out of my school studio.
next week i will start volunteering at the center in exchange for press time.
so now my house is a mess of type and paper, sigh.
i hid everything in the front bedroom and started to create a rar rar hq in the middle room.

just wait till i unpack the boxes from school, those empty shelves won't last long!

HOT OFF THE PRESS

2008-06-25T13:55:00.006-05:00

some of my classics are now buttons!
the lovely ladies of short torso whipped these up for me!

new notebooks!
4 1/4" x 5" and wire bound

re-printed everyone's favorite!

i'm a crafty bastard this weekend (and most other days too)

2008-06-23T14:10:00.003-05:00

Crafty Bastards Silver Spring is almost here!
Saturday, June 28 from 10am-5pm
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
8230 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, MD

Join City Paper at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center Saturday, June 28 for our bi-annual indie craft shopping extravaganza. Shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade items from more than 70 vendors while enjoying a full day of entertainment, workshops, and local treats.

Bring your own T-shirt to screen during one of the workshops! Trade unwanted craft supplies at the Crafty Mutiny Supply Swap Booth! Rock out to local music on two stages!

rar rar press will be at booth 26
right next to Owly shadow puppets!

HOT OFF THE PRESS

2008-06-22T11:26:00.003-05:00

they just need their backs printed!
will be available by the end of june!

blog love from brooklyn bride

2008-06-18T17:56:00.005-05:00

check it out here

my framed it's not that far really postcards have been flying off the shelf today thanks to brooklyn bride!

blog love from fancy island

2008-06-17T14:50:00.000-05:00

check it out here

renegade brooklyn wrap-up

2008-06-17T13:59:00.014-05:00

DAY ONE

well it rained on the first day but not until the very end of the day. luckily we got a new tent, so the rain didn't bring us down!

sea of tents, and this is only about half of them!

DAY TWO

owly and rar rar ready to take on brooklyn!

new set up! made a clothesline to hang cards from.
the winds not going to bring me down!

new item, framed cards!
they flew off the table!

andrea shows off her new tattoo (only temporary, boo!)
and my new card

for some reason i didn't take pictures of all my crafty friends i saw over the weekend.
i did manage to take a picture of my favorite lady,
sue of giant dwarf

we wanted to steal my friend anna's cat, beans

beans attacking the plane mobile
andrea give to anna

owly and rar rar take on brooklyn this weekend!

2008-06-09T09:51:00.004-05:00

find us at:
booth 136

fact and fancy nyc now open!

2008-06-08T19:30:00.005-05:00

75b Hoyt St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
check it out!

they have the most beautiful floors ever!

here i am!
they also have my moustcahe posters and board book

hot off the press-announcement for becca

2008-06-07T13:28:00.006-05:00

today i discovered that printing while trying to get over the stomach flu is not fun.

hot off the press!

2008-06-04T10:35:00.004-05:00

art star philly report

2008-06-04T10:14:00.009-05:00

DAY ONE

all set up!
(check out the sweet banner anrdea made for us!)

and then the rain came, bummer dude!

unfortunately, i bought a tarp that was too small, water pooled in the corners of our not so waterproof tent and it started raining inside the tent.

DAY TWO
all set up, again.
it was sunny today! thank goodness!

found a new method to battle the wind!

andrea got a $5 hair cut

over all the fair was ok,
the rain was a big downer, what can you do?
didn't sell as much as i was hoping to.
does philly not write letters?

new flyer

2008-05-29T20:00:00.003-05:00

NEXT WEEKEND: PHILLY

2008-05-22T21:55:00.005-05:00

you can find me at booth 53 with OWLY SHADOW PUPPETS

finally censored by etsy... boo!

2008-05-21T16:22:00.003-05:00

had to blur all my bad words!

W.A.S.H.I.N.G-T.O.N BABY, D.C.

2008-05-20T13:26:00.009-05:00

the vendor list went up today!
i'm super excited about this fair,
it's going to be super sweet!

coming soon to hotlanta!

2008-05-19T14:16:00.003-05:00

the fireside bowl project

2008-05-19T13:20:00.002-05:00

I just finished up my MFA at Columbia College Chicago's Center for Book and Paper Arts

About the project:
The Fireside Bowl is drenched in memories from the thousands upon thousands of people that have entered the space. My thesis project, The Fireside Bowl Project, is an installation documenting the rich history of a Chicago landmark. The project includes an installation of 30 letterpress printed posters based on a collection of past show-goers' first-hand stories, a zine that acts as a key to the posters, personal photographs from a dozen different people, and about 75 miscellaneous posters (including prints of bowling pins and over-printed posters). In the same vein as traditional show posters, the posters for this project are meant to document the personal experiences at the venue, giving back the community its own opportunity to document this loved and lost space.

I plan on continuing to collect stories and create posters. I have plans to show a new set of 30 posters in the fall. On an even grander scale I hope to write a book about The Fireside, that would include my gathered stories from past show-goers and create a website to catalog ephemera from The Fireside. (e-mail your story to firesidebowlproject@gmail.com)

fact & fancy

2008-05-19T10:07:00.002-05:00

Christine Domanic (of JackRabbit, Craft Product and Etsy.com) and Danielle Maveal (of Danielle Maveal Jewelry, Gold School and Etsy.com) are opening a sweet new art/craft gallery space in brooklyn, fact & fancy. they just asked me to be a part of their first show!

WET PAINT featuring over 25 undiscovered artist and crafters.

When: May 29 - July 11

Wet Paint Party: Saturday, June 21, 4pm - 8pm

Where: 75B Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY

Artist:

Amanda Blake

Andy Eats Only Candy

Angel D'amico

Anna Laura

Argyle Whale

Art Goodies

Cakehouse

Callie & Co

Clever Girl

Cornflower Blue Studio

Crankbunny
Danielle Maveal Jewelry

Dead Bird

Girl Savage

Go Monkey Design

Invisible Fountain

Jack Rabbit
Leslie Shershow

Lotus Jewelry Studio

Mae Jane

Michelle Maule

Paloma's Nest

Michael Pfleghaar

Remake

Showpony

UnaOdd

Yellow Canoe

Your Secret Admiral

and me!

welcome to my brand spanking new blog

2008-05-18T19:08:00.005-05:00

My name is Rebecca Ann Rakstad,
but you can call me Reba RAR RAR.
I create letterpress printed postcards and other miscellaneous items including posters, music packaging, books and greeting cards. Since 2004 I have produced over 100 different postcards!

98% of my items are printed using handset type

Sometimes I use photo polymer and linoleum cuts.

I print on french paper.
Est. 1871 - America's family run paper mill
& environmentally conscious!