Friday, December 28, 2012

oink.

These piglets were a fun departure from the rest of the custom stationary I printed over the holidays. They are printed on 100% cotton A6 flat notecards, packaged with charcoal envelopes.

Untitled

simple thank you's

Untitled Untitled

These thank you notes were printed on high quality ivory, textured Italian paper stock sold by Cavallini & Co.

Custom Stationery

Before printing our holiday cards this year, I printed eight sets of custom stationery as gifts (not all pictured), packaged as boxes of 10 envelopes and flat cards.

The majority were printed on 100% cotton A6 flat notecards, using fonts by Emily Lime Design.

Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled

2012 Holiday Card

Hopefully our holiday cards have all reached their destinations. I didn't intend to wait until the last moment to design and print our cards this year, but due to some circumstances beyond our control, we spent much of the Christmas prep time away from home - and away from the letterpress.

I wanted to create a letterpress photo card (much like what Apple offers here), as it was Izzy's first Christmas, but I wasn't sure where I could order only the photo print, on nice card stock.

So we went for an A6 flat card on Paper Source's lovely new Savoy Cotton paper and sent a separate photo of our daughter. We were trying to keep it simple, and were hoping for a sort of modern vintage feel. I'm not super thrilled with how the cards came out, but they made it into the mail before Christmas!

Untitled Untitled

Friday, December 14, 2012

Photographing the Everyday

The lovely Kate of JetKat Photo offered a morning workshop for photographing children at her home this past Sunday and donated all proceeds to charity: water. We spent a lovely morning breakfasting, learning new techniques, and practice-shooting in Kate's beautiful home.

The workshop was the perfect opportunity for me to finally spend some time with my Nikon D90, which I didn't have too long before my daughter was born. I spent the time playing with the aperture and manual focus settings so that I can finally start achieving the kind of images I've been after: more light-filled and with blurred backgrounds, hopefully to the benefit of my daughter, and also my letterpress work (which I've been quite busy with as of late!).

Here's a few of my practice shots:

Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled

Conveniently, I went from the workshop to lunch with my family and got a little more practice with my main subject these days:

Untitled

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Moveable Type: Kyle Durrie's mobile print shop visits SF

Yesterday I went down to the San Francisco Main Public Library to visit the Moveable Type truck, womanned by Kyle Durrie, founder and owner of Power and Light Press. In November of 2010, Kyle launched a Kickstarter campaign to outfit a Chevy step van with two letterpresses: an 1873 Golding Official No. 3 tabletop platen, and mid-twentieth century Showcard sign press (which was really cool).

Kyle spent a year traveling across North America in her mobile print shop before returning home to Oregon. Luckily for me, she recently took the van out for another spin and I was able to visit her shop and make a print. Given my love for books, our library-themed print will definitely be finding a home on our wall.

Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled Untitled

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Putting the Book back into eBooks

Made by the oldest bookbindery in the U.S. - using heavyweight cloth, recycled materials and traditional techniques - these hard covers have been pimped out inside with a rubber cradle that will fit an iPad 2 or 3, Kindle Fire 7" and soon, the Nexus 7.

Even more rad, the company will donate an actual book to a community in need with each eJacket purchase. Available from Out of Print.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Giant Gnome Design

I was recently downtown and came across an unusual sidewalk vendor: Giant Gnome Design. The designer and his girlfriend had a small table set up on Grant St., not far up from the opera singers (who were out singing, full force, on Maiden Lane), selling greeting cards - a welcome respite from all the jewelry, leather cuffs and knitted baby hats. I love that several of the cards feature local spots.








Perhaps even more interesting than Giant Gnome's street presence is their Card Gnome venture, set up like a stationary store with shelves to browse through. Though the experience is virtual - you pick a card and write a personal message - they will prep and physically send the card in the mail to your recipient, postage included.

*All photos from Giant Gnome Design's etsy shop

Monday, September 3, 2012

Pulp fiction: ten-story love magazine

My daughter and I recently accompanied my parents up to the Gold Country for some heat, relaxation, good eats, antiquing and wine tasting. I picked up this pulp magazine for five bucks at The Emporium in Jamestown.

Evidence of inflation: the magazine was originally sold for ten cents, back in July of 1946. My grandparents would have been entering their twenties at the time, perhaps at university, acclimating to life after war. As far as I know, this magazine was published monthly from at least 1941 to 1950 and possibly beyond. I don't know about my grandparents, but there's no question that I would have been down to read 10 love stories per month.


This issue is full of scandalous lines and terrific pulp art. To be sure, the stories are not for the modern feminist, but any good love story is bound to leave at least one person unhappy.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Forget Barbie and Ken. Meet Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam.

The nerdy, writerly me finds these felted dolls from Cozy Classics (via The Paris Review Daily blog) amazing in so many ways.

“She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, 
when it was no longer likely they should meet.” 

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” 

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. 
You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” 

“A person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill.” 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Vintage Heath Ceramics

I've been vacationing in South Lake Tahoe my entire life - at a cabin my grandpa built with his two brothers back in the late 50's/early 60's. This year, unfortunately, the cabin was put on the market and promptly sold. We recently drove up to spend a last, long weekend. Somehow it had escaped me all this time (or, at least in recent years), that the cabin dishes are actually vintage Heath Ceramics.

For those who aren't familiar, Heath Ceramics is located in Sausalito, and they also have an outpost in the SF Ferry Building. They've made several things I rather covet (for example: these or this). Perhaps the dishes will remain with the cabin. It sort of feels like they belong together.





Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Postcards from the Paris Flea Market

My brother's girlfriend recently spent three weeks in Paris taking in the sites, visiting working ateliers with her fashion school colleagues, and, as it were, buying me the perfect souvenir. She had a chance to visit the flea markets and came home with a stack of vintage postcards in perfect condition. All of the great big eyeballs are perforated and can be punched out for extra effect. I think Little Red Riding Hood might be my favorite.








Friday, June 8, 2012

Kari Herer: flora and illustration series

I came across photographer Kari Herer quite some time ago via Design*Sponge, and loved her first for her photographs of flowers (peonies!) and then for her series of rabbit illustrations, which she's kindly given me permission to include here. Imagine my excitement at seeing rabbits and, well, roses.






All of Kari's prints some are sold here on Etsy.