National Stationery Show 2010 : 2011 Calendar Preview

May 31, 2010 // kristen // 1 replies

Over the past few years, calendar design — in independent stationery circles, at least — has grown to become an art, and I’m sure I’m not alone in anticipating what fantastic concepts, illustrations, and design I’ll see in the new batch of calendars every year. I’ve featured several 2011 calendars so far in my highlights from this year’s stationery show, but there are plenty that I haven’t shown you yet. Here’s a peek at what will be gracing walls and desks in 2011.

Letterpress Volcano and Tidal Wave calendars from Oddball Press, available in September.

Wall calendars from Amy Smyth Made It, with plenty of space to write. I know how many of you will like that!

2011 Map Wall Calendar from Igloo Press, with design by These Are Things.

A selection of illustrations featured in the 2011 Egg Press desktop calendar.

An illustrated, woodland/nature themed letterpress 2011 calendar from Sycamore Street Press.

Flora & Fauna Press shows us a different take on woodland/nature themes in their 2011 letterpress wall calendar.

A spectrum of color and pattern in Two Trick Pony’s 2011 screenprinted calendar.

Two Trick Pony Screenprinted 2011 Calendar

Cat Seto’s baby milestone calendar is the perfect gift for friends and family who will be welcoming a new member into their families.

Monthly selections from the Pearl & Marmalade 2011 letterpress wall calendar.

Pearl & Marmalade 2011 Letterpress Calendar

Illustrated goodness in Paisley Tree Press’ 2011 desktop calendar.

Paisley Tree Press 2011 Letterpress Calendar

photos by yours truly

National Stationery Show 2010 : Holiday Card Preview

May 28, 2010 // kristen // 1 replies

Though I enjoy summer nights, lemonade, and barbecues, I still look forward to the crisp days of autumn and snowy days of winter, not to mention the awesome greeting cards that come out to play at Halloween and the winter holidays. Here are a few of my favorites from the stationery show:

Omigosh, how adorable are the illustrations on these Christmas holiday cards by Paper Parasol Press? I predict that these letterpress cuties are going to flying off the shelves this holiday season.

More irresistibly cute, illustrated letterpress Christmas cards, this time from Hello! Lucky:

Beautiful Hanukkah silhouettes and Christmas animal illustration cards by Oddball Press, where you can also find very cool letterpress ABC/123 prints and unique, letterpress family trees that would make great holiday gifts.

Squee! Love these new Halloween greetings from Red Cap Cards:

I got a kick out of these clever, screenprinted holiday cards by L2 Design Collective:

L2 also had some very cool, retro inspired Halloween greeting cards — these would look great framed as Halloween decor:

An autumn and holiday card preview from Delphine, and a big thanks to Erika from Delphine for showing us around the awesome Vigo booth!

Sugarcube Press has it going on with black on white letterpress Halloween cards and invites:

In addition to their line of everyday greetings, Urubbu has a number of oh so pretty Christmas cards:

Fun and colorful holiday paper goodies at the Galison/Mudpuppy booth, including lovely holiday cards illustrated by Anna Bond:

photos by yours truly

National Stationery Show 2010 : Greeting Cards Galore, Part 3

May 27, 2010 // kristen // 0 replies

If you haven’t already, you can check out parts one and two in my Greeting Cards Galore series here and here.

Gorgeous colorways and illustrations from Studio Olivine. The texture on these letterpress wall prints (bottom three images) — printed on 100% recycled handmade paper with soy inks — is fantastic.

Invitations from Sweet Letter Press coming up in a future post, but I also have to show you their greeting cards — love the blind debossed pattern on the *star* = you card.

Check out this die cut, letterpress Grizzly Bear Hug card from Blackbird Letterpress, whose booth bunting was super cool, too. It looks like someone dressed him up for the show by giving him a little hat.

Beautiful letterpress greetings by Red Oak Press. Love their use of color and texture:

Loving the letterpress greeting cards and invites by Tiselle. Such a great variety, from elegant, flourish-filled birthday cards to cute scooter moving announcements:

Really enjoyed the international flair and super cool, bright color palettes going on at Fine Day Press:

Oh so cute letterpress bunting cards and woodsy invitations at Flora & Fauna Press:

Hoot, hoot! Adorable owly letterpress cards and invitations, and pretty woodland silhouettes at Lucky Bee Press:

photos by yours truly

National Stationery Show 2010 : Greeting Cards Galore, Part 2

May 27, 2010 // kristen // 1 replies

If you missed part one of my Greeting Cards Galore series, then you can find it right here. Now, onto part two!

Old Tom Foolery combined a great display, clever design, and their trademark humor in their lineup. Their new Typestache poster is a must have for typophiles, graphic designers, and mustache enthusiasts!

The Full Courtney Press made their debut at the stationery show this year, and I’m really digging the simplicity and clever use of type in their designs:

Loving all of the color in these vintage-inspired letterpress cards by Elum:

There was such great energy at the Byrd & Bleecker booth. It was like a fashion show in there! I felt the urge to “work it”, but instead I took photos of their fabulous cards.

9spotmonk has a great concept (and awesome neon colors) in their line of letterpress pop out art cards. It’s a card and a little piece of art, all rolled into one!

The Pie Bird Press booth was filled to the brim with their oh so colorful cards. I can’t get enough of their layered illustration style — hello, chocolate bunny!

The colorful fruit silhouettes in Hazel & Violet Ink’s Alice line really caught my eye:

Such sweet illustrations on the cards by The Great Lakes. Love that bunting card!

photos by yours truly

National Stationery Show 2010 : Greeting Cards Galore, Part 1

May 26, 2010 // kristen // 6 replies

Are you ready for a fun-filled, greeting card adventure through the National Stationery Show? I sure hope so, because I have so many great greetings, note cards, stationery, and postcards to share.

If you’re looking for a great Father’s Day card, you should head on over to Hammerpress, which has some very cool options.

I absolutely loved the texture of ink on these oh so pretty postcards from Igloo Press, and I had to hold myself back from squeeing out loud over the adorable recipe cards and tags, illustrated by Suzy Ultman.

My photo does not do Sanna Annukka’s cards justice, but trust me, they were awesome!

Seeing Albertine Press’ new Letterpress Library on display in person was fantastic. The patterns and color are so pretty that I couldn’t help but be drawn to the display.

And I was so happy to meet Angela Liguori, who was boothmates with Shelley from Albertine Press, and to see all of her gorgeous cotton ribbon and twine, as well as the new Francobolli Line from Carta Inc. What a colorful booth this was!

Lots of colorful eye candy at the enormouschampion booth, too, where I couldn’t take my eyes off of The Kingdom Animalia (top left). Their letterpress cards and prints are always standout, as well, alternating between a modern, graphic and vintage inspired aesthetic.

A beautiful collection of cards from Masha D’Yans, whose colorful, dreamy painting style I really enjoy.

Really cool, new Sweetheart cards from 175 Design Studio. I like the combination of ornate pattern with the cute, stylized “sweetheart” illustrations.