Arts and Crafts Press

If you like the Arts and Crafts style then you will enjoy these letterpress greeting cards and framed artworks we have at the Gallery. Founded by Bruce Smith and Yoshiko Yamamoto, the small publishing company produces prints and cards that are letterpress printed from hand cut blocks by inspired by the turn-of-the-century movement.

Yoshiko originally studied sculpture in her home country of Japan before moving to California.  She met her husband Bruce Smith while working as freelance writer. 

For her limited edition prints, Yoshiko first sketches flora or fauna she finds from either Japan or America -anything from fir trees, pines, maples and poppies to heron koi fish and crickets.  After multiple drawings, watercolors and oil paintings, she begins cutting the blocks.  Sometimes she works with wood blocks  and other times linoleum.With the blocks, she prints each color separately on a Vandercook printing press, using as many as 20 blocks per print to achieve the desired effect.

The prints depict tranquil scenes of trees, birds, landscapes and flowers. The artwork is matted and framed in oak Mission style frames by Dard Hunter.

Joanna Alot Design Ltd.

Joanna is an artist of hand painted silk - creating beautiful clothing, paintings, and accessories. She combines European elegance and color with an American vitality and sense of humor.

The process begins with pristine white starched silk. Dyes applied during the painting process are alkali and are permanently fixed by steaming under high temperature and pressure.  Finally the silk fabric is specially treated to enhance the color and smooth texture to ensure many years of enjoyment.

Her designs have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute gift store, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Arts Center, Arts and Artisans Art Gallery and at many other venues around the world.

We carry a collection of her vibrantly colored geometric designs and the more subtle nature based leaf prints in her scarves and ties.