Introducing... Lucky Press

There are faster ways to make things.
Letterpress isn’t one of them.

Introducing, my newest sub-brand, Lucky Press: Ottawa, Ontario Canada’s newest letterpress print studio.

Lucky Press comes from a growing need to spend more time with the process — ink, paper, pressure, and all the parts of printmaking that simply can’t be rushed. In a world that rewards speed, efficiency, and instant results, I found myself pulled in the opposite direction.

Toward something slower.
More tactile.
More considered.

Letterpress demands that. It asks you to pay attention. Every detail matters — the impression, the ink coverage, the alignment. It’s physical work, repetitive in the best way, and it leaves behind something you can actually feel. Not just see.

I’m Making My Own Luck

The name Lucky Press came later, and for a different reason.

Not luck in the traditional sense — not chance, or timing, or being in the right place at the right moment. I’ve never really believed in that version of luck.

What I do believe in is the kind you make for yourself.

The kind that comes from sticking with something long enough. From showing up repeatedly, even when it’s slow, even when it’s uncertain, even when it feels a little irrational. The kind built through persistence (sometimes to a fault), a healthy dose of grit, and, if I’m being honest, a splash of delusion.

That’s the kind of luck this is built on.

And now, I want to make some of that tangible. Something you can hold onto.

A New Space for the Work

Based in Ottawa, Canada, Lucky Press Letterpress Studio focuses on small-batch, hand printed work. Pieces made to be kept. Local art to be displayed in your home, for lovers of craft and all things analog.

Cody Calligraphy isn’t going anywhere. I’ll still be teaching workshops, working with wedding and event clients, and continuing all of the work that exists under that name.

This just gives my artistic print work its own well-deserved space.

A place where it can stand on its own, evolve at its own pace, and be shaped by the same values that drew me to letterpress in the first place: patience, process, and attention to detail.

Behind the Press

At the centre of it all is a 75-year-old letterpress machine — a piece of equipment that refuses shortcuts and rewards care. Working with it is equal parts technical and intuitive. Every print is pulled by hand, one at a time, with small variations that make each piece feel distinct.

There’s a rhythm to it. A physicality. A kind of quiet satisfaction that’s hard to replicate any other way.

If you’re curious what that looks like in practice — the setup, the process, the inevitable trial and error — I’ll be sharing more of it over time.

You can follow along at @luckypress.ca for a closer look behind the curtain.

What Comes Next

This is just the beginning.

Lucky Press will be a space for small runs, experimental pieces, and work that takes its time. Things made slowly, on purpose, with an emphasis on how they’re made as much as what they become.

F.A.Q.

What is letterpress printing?

Letterpress printing is a traditional printmaking technique where ink is applied to a raised surface and pressed into paper using a mechanical press. The result is a tactile, debossed impression you can see and feel — something that digital printing can’t replicate.

What makes letterpress different from digital printing?

Letterpress is slower, more hands-on, and intentionally imperfect. Each piece is printed one at a time, with slight variations that give it character. Digital printing is faster and more uniform, while letterpress emphasizes texture, depth, and process.

What does “hand printed” actually mean?

At Lucky Press, “hand printed” means each piece is individually set up and printed on a vintage letterpress machine. Ink, pressure, and alignment are adjusted manually, and every print is physically pulled by hand — no automation, no mass production.

Where is Lucky Press based?

Lucky Press is a letterpress print studio based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, focused on small-batch, process-driven printmaking, and shipping worldwide!

What kinds of products will Lucky Press offer?

Lucky Press focuses on small runs of hand printed paper goods, including art prints, stationery, and experimental printmaking projects. The emphasis is on quality, process, and material — not volume.

Do you offer custom letterpress printing?

Sure do! Please reach out for your business card, branded stationery and custom wedding invitation letterpress needs.