When I started this blog, I thought letterpress printing was the only way to produce original, beautiful designs on paper (ok, screening is pretty cool too). Then I found Gocco – sounds like the name of a large lizard, no? Gocco is actually an amazing, compact, totally self contained full color printing system invented in Japan by Noboru Hayama in 1977. Gocco really gives prints a handmade look. Having been popular in Japan for many years, Gocco fever is now spreading among crafters in the US – just as Gocco was beginning to be discontinued overseas! The “Save Gocco” campaign has done just that, and now anyone can buy Gocco products and begin printing. The system is a bit pricey (about $400 for a starter kit), but if you consider how much letterpresses cost (much more), you might find it’s worth looking into.
This week I’ll be highlighting Gocco papermakers and the wonderful world of Gocco! The notecards you see here are from Bubbledog, and they really show how vibrant Gocco prints can be. Check out Bubbledog’s Etsy page or her website.
