Sam at BLAG

BLAG: Adventures in Sign Painting Craft, Community, and Culture.

The world's only print and online publication dedicated to sign painting.

Inside you'll find #SignPainting #Signwriting #Lettering #Ghostsigns #SignPainters #Signwriters

Posts are from Sam, a Londoner living in Sant Pere de Ribes, Catalonia.

Home: https://bl.ag/
Special Offer: https://bl.ag/md20
Shop: https://shop.bl.ag/
Ghostsigns: https://ghostsigns.co.uk

Public Key

npub1fpx2q69y6umm8u25h5at526cg337qpx0kd4tlp4w5v4wzddde95saek29l

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsysn9qdzjdwdan792t6w469dvygclqqn8mx64ls6h2x2hpxkkuj6gprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hsf5fand

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

relay.damus.io

relay.primal.net

Author Public Key

npub1fpx2q69y6umm8u25h5at526cg337qpx0kd4tlp4w5v4wzddde95saek29l

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Last Notes

2026-07-22 14:58:22 CEST

New at bl.ag online, ‘Chain Letter: Vanessa Power’, the latest in this never-ending series of lettering folk sharing work that has made a lasting impression on them:
https://bl.ag/chain-letter-vanessa-power/
View the series to date at https://bl.ag/tag/chainletter/.
#ChainLetter #Lettering #SignPainting #Alphabets #Inspiration
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/963/732/609/928/442/original/3e4970c3d5bc7121.jpg

2026-07-10 12:16:53 CEST

Anyone know why @npub19rt…adh9 isn't supporting the uBlock Origin extension any more?
And what are the implications of keeping it active? And/or what suitable/supported alternatives there are?
#AskFedi #Vivaldi #uBlock
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/895/152/798/117/388/original/cfe52c5b839fd284.png

2026-05-20 21:42:09 CEST

It's World Bee Day apparently, so here's a beehive on a ghost sign:
https://ghostsigns.co.uk/2021/03/brothers-butterworth-beehive-in-newcastle-under-lyme/
🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝
#WorldBeeDay #Bees #Beehive #Ghostsigns

2026-05-18 09:07:57 CEST

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I feel like I ticked a box somewhere to keep the original file so have been reducing the size of that to keep control of hosting costs, but maybe the better option is to upload the originals and deselect that option?

2026-05-18 08:28:14 CEST

Does anyone know how to allow the quoting of posts from @npub17gp…7p4g?
I just tried to quote this post from my own PeerTube instance, but it says that's not permitted:
https://video.bl.ag/w/c1L6jN3AiQg9dCNoKgC5Fz
cc [@FediTips](https://social.growyourown.services/@FediTips )
#PeerTube #QuotePost #AskFedi #FediTips

2026-05-15 17:49:46 CEST

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The number of videos, length, and quality requirements are key considerations, as they will affect administrative time and hosting costs.
I've been using the free HandBrake app (https://handbrake.fr) to reduce the size of my videos before uploading them to PeerTube. I'm using 'playlists' to group related videos. It's worth publishing the videos little by little or scheduling them to avoid flooding timelines.
The hosting with Fedihost is easy to set up, and their pricing on the basic PeerTube 0 plan includes 10GB for $6.99/month (https://fedihost.co/pricing), although when I look it seems to say I have 20GB. Once I've uploaded the next batch of videos I'll need to take out one of their extra storage packages (scroll down on link above).
Hope that helps.

2026-05-15 10:59:05 CEST

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After a day of implementing my migration from Vimeo to @npub17gp…7p4g, I can say that I'm very happy with the PeerTube user experience. It's a lot more intuitive than what Vimeo has become, and much easier to find and fine tune things along the way.
I'm excited to continue this work, alongside the addition of some new video content to @npub1t5s…e28c / https://video.bl.ag.
Thank you team PeerTube for the application and @npub1c36…t8sz for hosting.
#PeerTube #Vimeo #VideoHosting

2026-05-14 12:05:36 CEST

Oh my goodness, Vimeo really is a complete car crash. How did it come to this?
It's going to be a lot of work, but I now need to go 'all in' on my @npub17gp…7p4g instance hosted by @npub1c36…t8sz here at https://video.bl.ag.
The Peertube account can be followed directly via @npub1t5s…e28c.

2026-04-17 14:39:02 CEST

Question for users of Libre Office with Google Drive on Windows 11.
I am only able to open documents/spreadsheets in read only mode. I then have the option to switch to editing, but if I do that and then try to save I get the error message pictured.
If the document is on my desktop or saved to Dropbox then the problem isn't happening, so it seems to be something to do with the interaction between Libre Office and Google Drive.
Any help greatly appreciated as I continue my efforts to extract myself from Google, Microsoft, etc.
cc @npub1tgg…qwzh
#AskFedi #LibreOffice #GoogleDrive
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/116/420/069/730/124/599/original/7b521be069ff60de.jpg

2026-01-29 17:48:11 CET

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Nice to see Halfstudio (https://www.halfstudio.net) in there.
I've featured them a few times in the magazine, including this piece they did for the Letterheads special (https://bl.ag/07).
ESAMDL — É Só A Merda Dum Letreiro
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/979/390/229/079/704/original/abd0a22a38916ece.jpg

2026-01-25 09:07:04 CET

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Bloom was the adopted name of Russian immigrant and master cabinet maker Philip Blumhert who spent most of the 1930s trading here
This sign has a little bit of everything: scale, illustration, confident language, elastic lettering and the signwriter’s signature. It’s also in palimpsest, but the older layer is impossible to make out. The wall regularly catches the eye of passers-by and has featured in ghost signs projects from photographers Tom Bland and Martin Thompson.
In 2012 the sign was added to the Local List at Hackney Council in recognition of its artistic and aesthetic merit, and historical value. This probably offers less protection than its north-facing orientation, and hasn’t prevented the graffiti that is gradually creeping up the wall.

2026-01-24 15:41:54 CET

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I was shocked to realise that my first (pre-graffiti) photo of this is almost 20 years old now!
https://ghostsigns.co.uk/2007/06/blooms-pianos/
It's a rare example of a locally listed ghost sign in London:
https://ghostsigns.co.uk/2013/05/local-listing-status-for-hackney-ghostsigns/
#Ghostsigns #Pianos #Shoreditch

2025-11-05 07:21:14 CET

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Thanks, I think I've got this working with the 'unlisted' setting, and pasting the link into my content management system automatically embeds it.
One thing I noticed is that under the title there's a warning, "Watching this video may reveal your IP address to others".
Is there a way to disable this, or to flick a switch in my Peertube account to not send this data anywhere, and therefore negate the need for this warning?

2025-10-21 18:24:59 CEST

Is it a good sign when secondhand copies of your book are going for more than twice its cover price on ebay?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=ghost+signs+a+London+Story&_trksid=p4624852.m4084.l1313
cc @npub1ye5…xtn6
#Ghostsigns #Books #London #Ebay

2025-10-15 07:56:31 CEST

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Thanks, yes, 'Unlisted' looks like the one I'd need. Does that allow embedding on my site?

2025-10-15 06:36:16 CEST

My current 'Plus' plan on Vimeo is around £110 ($130) for a year with up to 200GB of storage/hosting. For some videos, I designate them as 'private' except for embedding on my site.
Could I achieve something similar with Peertube without having to worry about any of the technical side of things like hosting etc?
I wouldn't mind paying slightly more, but not multiples of what I currently have with Vimeo.
cc [@FediTips](https://social.growyourown.services/@FediTips ) @npub17gp…7p4g
#AskFedi #Vimeo #Peertube #VideoHosting

2025-09-08 10:00:58 CEST

And so it begins; my first rejected shipment of two magazines to a US customer for not meeting the "exceptions to Executive Order 14324".
This package never left Madrid in Spain, so I'll have to wait to see how things go with deliveries being despatched from the main North American facility in Canada.
Way to shoot yourselves in the foot folks; Brexit was a warning, not an instruction manual.
#tariffs #ExecutiveOrders #14324 #SmallBusiness
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/167/608/989/882/161/original/7b43817a37794276.jpg

2025-08-29 09:56:58 CEST

I've switched to the @npub19rt…adh9 browser and I'm very happy with it so far. In addition to the strong privacy and security options, it even has a free integrated RSS reader.
https://vivaldi.com/
Another bonus is that they're not only here in the fediverse, but running their own mastodon server.
https://vivaldi.net
Thank you to those that responded to my earlier request for recommendations in light of Firefox starting to slow down my machine significantly.
https://typo.social/@blag/114953376130437112

2025-08-04 08:49:30 CEST

I've just posted an update to the Kickstarter for reprinting the Coast Manual of Lettering and Designs. It closes this week, so please back and/or boost to help us to the finish line...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coastmanual/the-coast-manual-of-lettering-and-designs/posts/4450111
#SignPainting #Signwriting #Lettering #GraphicDesign #Layout #RareBooks #Kickstarter

2025-07-17 18:43:18 CEST

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When I was there last month I got to see the work-in-progress on this one that will soon be positioned at the entrance to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati.
At work on it is Christine Brunk DeShazo, who led the production of the original design by Noel B. Weber.
#SignPainting #MuralPainting #GreetingsFrom #AmericanSignMuseum
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/869/567/449/274/613/original/e222331e5c68f341.jpg

2025-05-28 17:11:30 CEST

New(ish) at bl.ag online, 'Hand-Painted Shopfronts in Rural Uganda', where Olivia Krawczyk introduces the hand-painted signs for businesses large and small in the rural Kumi district.
https://bl.ag/hand-painted-shopfronts-in-rural-uganda/
#SignPainting #SignPainters #Kumi #Uganda #SmallShops #Brands #Advertising
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/586/082/688/885/300/original/97a21ae12f5fbd6b.jpg

2025-04-25 11:23:08 CEST

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From 7pm London time we travel back to late 1920s Japan with @npub1u5l…ngwx at @npub1rhy…u5ma as he takes you deeper into the 24 volumes of The Complete Commercial Artist.
The periodical, and the archive's new book (https://letterformarchive.org/shop/complete-commercial-artist), were the topic of Stephen's regular BLAG column: Inside Letterform Archive.
Stephen's is one of 12 sessions running across five hours of BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 06. Learn more, and book for free at https://bl.ag/meet.
#Signs #Japan #CommercialArt #Radio
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/397/855/043/874/109/original/2d6c77b14fa14430.jpg

2025-04-25 11:07:50 CEST

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BLAG Meet (https://bl.ag/meet) is tomorrow, Saturday, completely free, and online from 4pm London time.
One of the live talks at the event will be from Rick Janzen of Canada's Streamline Studios: https://streamlinestudiosinc.ca/.
Rick is a veteran of sign painting for film, and has worked on numerous blockbusters, as well as series such as The Last of Us. You can expect plenty of wise words and insights into this and commercial sign painting applications.
#SignPainting #TheLastOfUs #SignPainters
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/397/802/356/183/479/original/ee18dc9802a344c4.jpg

2025-04-23 17:17:05 CEST

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One of the things I try to do with BLAG is embrace the many and varied international manifestations of the sign painting craft.
There isn't a lot written on its history in Spain, and Nico Barrios has been filling the void through his Masters research.
He'll be sharing some of this on Saturday via his presentation on the three eras of Spanish sign painting history.
Join us for BLAG Meet; it's free and online: https://bl.ag/meet.
#SignPainting #Spain #Rotulismo #Rotulistas
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/387/934/064/833/399/original/4881726ef8aeecd4.jpg

2025-04-23 17:12:22 CEST

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I'll also be delivering a short session during Saturday's BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 06 (https://bl.ag/meet).
This is'ot strictly connected to the latest issue of the magazine, but I'm using the free, online event to share details of my forthcoming Kickstarter that aims to raise funds to finish a short film I've been working on: When Better Letters Met Brian Walker.
You can pre-register for the Kickstarter now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samroberts/when-better-letters-met-brian-walker-a-short-biopic?ref=9wh6qg.
#SignPainting #Signwriting #SignPainters #Signwriters
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/387/911/599/380/947/original/bee86350ecf476bf.jpg

2025-04-23 17:07:18 CEST

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Continuing with the run-down of what's happening at Saturday's BLAG Meet (https://bl.ag/meet), I'm very excited to hear from @npub1wc9…y8fy and how she uses digital tools to find and view old ghost signs.
Kasey's San Francisco Ghost Sign Mapping Project (https://sfghostsigns.com/) is an inspiration to me, and it was a pleasure to publish her 'Ghost Sign Corner' piece in BLAG 06 (https://bl.ag/06).
Kasey is on at around 5pm London time: https://bl.ag/meet.
#ghostsigns #SanFrancisco
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/387/881/399/999/939/original/f0482ebcaf78e321.jpg

2025-04-22 15:54:44 CEST

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After India and Belgium, we fly across the Atlantic for a look behind the scenes of the recent American Sign Museum expansion. 'Magic on Main Street' is the third BLAG Meet session (https://bl.ag/meet).
I got to see the new spaces last month, and the report is here: https://bl.ag/my-week-at-the-american-sign-museum/. Saturday's session will only scratch the surface, but will give you the opportunity to hear from those that brought the whole thing together.
#SignPainting #SignPainters #AmericanSignMuseum #Lettering
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/381/943/981/378/660/original/1d3a285ae4f247cd.jpeg

2025-04-22 15:49:12 CEST

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Next at BLAG Meet (https://bl.ag/meet) We'll hear from the Crickx Research Group about their work investigating the life and work of 'typographic letterer' Chrystel Crickx.
I've previously shared the project at bl.ag online (https://bl.ag/peeling-back-the-layers-of-chrystel-crickxs-typographic-legacy/), and the Publi Fluor book (http://surfaces-utiles.org/publi-fluor-affaires-de-lettres-a-bruxelles-letterzaken-in-brussel-letter-business-in-brussels.html?ref=bl.ag) was one of those in 'Book Club' in BLAG 06 (https://bl.ag/06).
cc [@incroyable_dls](https://mastodon.social/@incroyable_dls ) — please remind me who else from the group is on here please!
#Typography #Signs #Lettering #Brussels
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/381/915/774/688/841/original/9a7805346abd4c8b.jpg

2025-04-22 15:41:11 CEST

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BLAG Meet: Inside Issue 06 is free, online, and features five hours of talks, interviews, studio visits, and demonstrations: https://bl.ag/meet.
We kick off with @npub1xhs…cgc0 and her quest to learn and devise the language to describe letterforms on India’s vibrant signage. (See previous post here: https://typo.social/@matratype/114042322483513686.)
I'm excited to see where these investigations have led to, and how they're being incorporated into the India Street Lettering project.
#SignPainting #Lettering #Effects
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/381/892/295/723/016/original/804e64ff5e813ea1.jpg

2025-04-21 12:29:55 CEST

BLAG Meet is happening this Saturday, 26 April, with a dozen sessions packed with even more adventures in sign painting from contributors to Issue 06 of the magazine.
It's free and all online, with details of the line-up and registrations available via https://bl.ag/meet/.
For a look inside BLAG 06, visit https://bl.ag/06.
#SignPainting #SignPainters #Lettering #OnlineEvent
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/375/477/377/406/547/original/35c383338dbafc79.jpg

2025-04-14 16:19:38 CEST

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Do you have any insights as to what kind of centre it was before the pets and puppies moved in?

2025-03-27 09:15:59 CET

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Beat me to it by about seven months!

2025-03-27 06:42:48 CET

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Have you seen Andrei Lacatusu's 'Social Decay' project?
https://ghostsigns.co.uk/2018/08/social-decay-from-andrei-lacatusu/
#SocialMedia #Signs #DigitalArt #Ghostsigns #Twitter
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/232/784/905/424/456/original/e0a99957d7438f44.jpg

2025-03-12 07:34:22 CET

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The problem is that Substack makes it all free. As far as I know, those alternatives cost money, either paying for their hosting, or hosting yourself.
What's the viable free alternative, as I'd recommend that in a flash to those that want to move, or start from scratch, especially those not seeking to monetise their newsletter.
For reference, I'm on Ghost, and pay as my subscriber numbers go up, but this is fine as I have paid plans that cover this.

2025-02-23 16:20:34 CET

"Their [calligraphers'] handwriting, if you think about it, really defined the character of the neighbourhood." — Billy Potts talking about his Hong Kong Ghost Signs tour in Kowloon City
https://www.orangenews.hk/HKEye/1256662/Walking-tours-reveal-another-side-to-the-city.shtml
#ghostsigns #calligraphy #calligraphers #HongKong #KowloonCity
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/053/850/747/056/824/original/1264f6d523244db0.jpg

2025-01-31 15:52:19 CET

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Maybe @npub1d2v…0l89 knows a place?
Mine is hosted by Ghost, but I don't know what that means geographically.

2025-01-26 21:22:04 CET

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Some more crayon humour. From the collection at https://bl.ag/ay-caramba-its-cartoon-time/.
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/896/491/181/117/739/original/dfea6edb92a91017.jpg

2024-09-27 09:14:24 CEST

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Take these for a spin and see if they lighten up your timeline:
@npub1pr0…l3qf
[@The_Whore_of_Blahbylon](https://mastodon.social/@The_Whore_of_Blahbylon )
@npub14wt…f9y6
@npub1lne…nz7e

2024-09-21 10:21:39 CEST

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I had the pleasure of hanging out with Jon at the 2021 Barcelona Letterheads, ¡Que Buena Pinta!
https://bl.ag/panels-paints-and-pints-at-barcelona-letterheads/
#SignPainting #SignPainters #QueBuenaPinta #Barcelona

2024-09-08 16:10:46 CEST

Happy world ampersand day to those that celebrate. I'd love to see more ampersands, especially hand-painted, by reply; boosts appreciated 😃
#Ampersand #SignPainting #lettering #type #typography
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/102/309/262/993/983/original/ca108d4f1bbdaf1c.webp
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/102/309/334/336/838/original/6da7ef64fe1d43fa.webp
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/102/309/391/370/128/original/81a411ae883fb0dc.webp
https://typo.social/system/media_attachments/files/113/102/309/450/616/336/original/e0987385b510b4a7.webp

2024-08-29 13:30:51 CEST

I've just learned that Bryan Yonki's 'Hand-Painted in LA: Some Los Angeles Signs' has already gone out of print. I have a couple of copies left in the shop in case anyone wants one: https://shop.bl.ag/products/signs-of-la.
#signs #LosAngeles #LA #HandPainted #SignPainting #lettering #book