One Woman Works Fingers To The Bone Keeping Two Crafts Alive

Bookbinding and Letterpress Printing are kept alive and well at Milkfed Press.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2005 -- Victoria Heifner is both a Bookbinder and a Letterpress printer, and she has created a beautiful studio which is truly out of this Century.

Having studied traditional craft bookbinding, as well as apprenticing for a typographer and fine letterpress printer, she has combined her love of both crafts to create Milkfed Press. With antique presses and a keen eye for design, she is able to create beautiful custom pieces for brides-to-be, book collectors and yes—rock ‘n’ roll stars.

Her studio, fittingly housed in a turn-of-the-century grocery store, is truly a step back in time. Most of the equipment dates back to the early 1900’s, and her walls are lined with beautiful silk bookcloths and colorful leather skins, as well as the hand-cut show posters she loves to create.

Heifner is able to design and create custom-bound books—both on the inside and out. Her wedding invitations, as well as their matching guest books are sought out by brides all over the country. Letterpress broadsides, personal stationery and custom-built boxes are all created under one roof. “I think some figured I’d sort of settle down, and choose one craft over the other, but I simply can’t. I love them both and feel like the ability to create in both realms is truly unique.” says Heifner.

With a strong design-sense and the best materials she can get her hands on, every day is a new adventure at Milkfed Press. The variety of work that she creates is quite impressive, and it’s hard to believe that she is the sole creator here. She does all of the work herself, from hand-setting and hand-cutting letters to making her own photo-polymer plates. Custom boxes are laboriously cut and assembled piece-by-piece, and her ready-made note cards are lovingly designed and packaged by her. “I’m proud of every detail, from the moment an idea is conceived to wrapping the final piece for delivery.”

Drawn to her truly custom-approach to each project, clients from all over have been seeking out Heifner’s work. Lisa S. from New York said, “When I was planning my wedding, I didn’t want to go to a store and pick out an already-designed invitation from a book. I appreciated the time Victoria took to get to know me and my fiance’. I don’t know how she did it, but she truly channelled our personalities, and we couldn’t have been happier with our final pieces.” Says Heifner, “I really enjoy working closely with my clients. I think it’s fun for them to be a part of the process, and this also ensures that each piece I create for them reflects their personalities.”

When asked what is in store for Milkfed Press, Heifner replies, “Well, I am having my grand opening celebration next month, and it is truly a dream come true for me—I have been working towards this goal for years. I am grateful that I get to work in such a creative field, and I am doing my best to keep the art of bookbinding and letterpress printing alive.”

Amen, Sister.

For additional information on Milkfed Press, please contact Victoria Heifner, owner and operator.

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