Kyle Hawley is the founder and creative director of Letterpress PLAY; a letterpress design and print studio based in the heart of the Lone Star State, Austin, Texas. The team make zero-waste paper toys, cards, posters, and garments on beautiful, antique presses or block printed by hand.
Kyle earned a degree in Art Direction and studied printmaking under Tony Zepeda at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Upon graduation, the printmaker purchased their first letterpress machine; a Chandler and Price jobber that had been retrofitted with a Kluge feeder. Today, the Letterpress PLAY studio features six vintage letterpress machines from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Letterpress PLAY opened in 2019 as a community space, showroom, working museum, and toy and stationery shop. At the studio, they believe in fostering community and play for everyone, and that crafting inspires moments of happiness and imagination; “Everyone, big or small, ages 4-100, should experience the joy of creating something with their hands“.
Some of their most popular paper toys include the Thaumaframe; a vintage thaumatrope, frame, and greeting card in one, Wish Blooms; a paper vase and paper flowers, and Garlagreet; a garland filled with sweet messages. In addition to paper toys, the team also make sustainable and utilitarian garments, such as bandanas, hats, and hankies, which are made from organic cotton or washable paper, with a focus on handmade, natural dyes.
Once the pandemic is over, Kyle and the rest of the team at Letterpress PLAY look forward to opening their studio to the community once again, where they can continue hosting letterpress workshops for children and adults alike.
(Photos by Buff Strickland and Carolyn Fong)
www.letterpressplay.com
@letterpressplay
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