A Letterpress Christmas 2010 : Fine Day Press

November 15, 2010 // kristen // 2 replies

Fine Day Press has a fantastic collection of holiday letterpress greeting cards and gift tags this year. Everything has such a clean, modern feel, and I’m really digging the red, green, and teal color palette. Holiday cards are sold in sets of six or as single cards, and two sets of letterpress gift tags are available, too.

The all-occasion letterpress gift tag set is also great inspiration if you’d like to try a new and different holiday gift wrap color palette this year . The set features purple and yellow retro florals and chartreuse and teal diamonds, and these tags will rock your gift wrapping all year long.

images from Fine Day Press

A Letterpress Christmas 2010 : Cartoules Letterpress

November 11, 2010 // kristen // 6 replies

Can you believe that this is the fifth year that I’m doing “A Letterpress Christmas”? Wow. Over the past several years, I’ve continued to be amazed by the new shops and talented creatives who have come into the letterpress niche, as well as by the level of design continually being produced by the more established letterpress shops, and I’m excited to continue the series this year.

This year’s first feature is on Cartoules Press’ wonderfully merry and bright holiday letterpress collection, which features letterpress cards and gift tags in both English and Greek. I love, love, love the vibrant cherry red and chartreuse color palette and the variety of designs available.

And I’m completely delighted by the fresh, modern holiday card designs that Cartoules is bringing to the Greek community. I don’t come across well-designed foreign language holiday cards too often (if you’ve spotted any others, please let me know!), so these are a breath of fresh air.

Typographic cards and tags read “Kala Xristougenna”, or “Merry Christmas”, and the ornament card reads “Kales Giortes”, or “Happy Holidays”.

images from Cartoules Letterpress

2011 Calendar Designs, Part 4

November 04, 2010 // kristen // 5 replies

Welcome to part four of my 2011 calendar design roundup! I have so many great designs to share with you today, and if you’ve missed the previous posts, then you can find even more wonderful 2011 calendars in parts one, two, and three.

I’m loving this sweet four season letterpress calendar by Yun Chung, who was inspired by a cat who often wanders near her house. One day, she went outside, and the cat was hiding next to a fence and watching her. Near him was a broken umbrella, and Yun started wondering what the cat might do with the umbrella when no one is looking. This calendar is the result of that wondering.

Gorgeous modern desk and wall calendars by Pawling Print, featuring a different, hand drawn geometric print every month.

Wall calendar detail:

Desk calendar detail:

Lark Press’ 2011 letterpress calendar is beautiful … and educational, too! Each month features something different – poetry, types of pollination, a peach cobbler recipe – I know that I’d be looking forward to turning the pages on this calendar to see what I would learn next. I love the blind debossing on the cover, too:

Ooh, loving the pumpkin, rose, and celery inks in this wonderful illustrated letterpress wall calendar by Dutch Door Press. So bright and lovely!

I really like Amy Marcella’s calendar, not just because it features her beautiful floral illustrations, but also because there’s plenty of space to write in appointments, birthdays, notes, etc. I know that some of you will appreciate this!

Such sweet, delicate illustrations decorate Furze Chan’s 2011 mini wall calendar, found at Little Paper Planes:

Flora & Fauna press has two lovely letterpress calendars this year. The letterpress desk calendar features hand drawn marine life illustrations with two months per page:

And their peacock blue, chocolate brown, and flame orange colored letterpress wall calendar celebrates the great outdoors with hand drawn illustrations of woodland creatures and an outdoorsy scene:

images from their respective owners

Butterfly Paperie

November 03, 2010 // kristen // 0 replies

There’s a new stationer on the virtual block! The new online stationery shop, Butterfly Paperie, was founded by Tina Ketterer, who has curated a wonderful collection of cards and invitations from several of the top independent studios in the business. Lines carried by Butterfly Paperie include Cheree Berry, Dee & Lala, Smock, Rifle Paper, Mr. Boddington’s Studio, Suitor, Screech Owl Design, Yellow Owl Workshop, and Linda & Harriett. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Above, clockwise from top left: Simply Great Letterpress Birthday Cards from Smock, Sky is the Limit (Boy) Letterpress Birthday Card, Waiting for Your Call Card, and Dear/P.S. Letterpress Notecard from Cheree Berry.

images from Butterfly Paperie

2011 Calendar Designs, Part 3

November 02, 2010 // kristen // 2 replies

Thanks to all of you who have submitted your wonderful 2011 calendars so far! Today is part three of my super duper calendar roundup, and given the number of great calendar submissions that I’m receiving, I know that there will be at least a few more rounds after this one. If you’re looking for even more 2011 calendar options, you can check out parts one and two.

First up today are these fantastic letterpress calendars featuring 1950’s era illustrations by Jim Flora and printed by Yee Haw Industries. Tear off wall calendars are available in three designs: Swingin’ Sax, Stardust Moon, and Boogie-Beat Drummer:

Also available is a poster-sized letterpress calendar, featuring Flora’s 1954 woodcut illustration, Sheffield Island:

I’m loving all of the vivid, destination-inspired illustrations in JHill Design’s 2011 “Places I Have Never Been” calendars. Each month features a different place, a pattern inspired by the destination, and little tidbits of information about each. For the wall calendar, you can cut off the date portions of each month and frame the patterns as art prints.

And the 2011 “Places I Have Never Been” desk calendar can be transformed into patterned postcards when you’re finished with it:

Mufninc.’s 2011 printable calendar features a different, original floral pattern by Pauline Grayson for each month, and the patterned reverse sides can be used as art prints when the month is finished. All of the patterns coordinate, so you can hang them in a group, if you’d like.

Paper Squid’s 2011 poster/wall calendar features an original, dynamic illustration by Karyna Amador in your choice of five different colors. Custom colors can be requested, too! The calendar is printed on eco-friendly, 100% tree free cotton rag paper, and when the year is finished, you can cut off the date portion of the calendar and frame the illustration as an art print.

I’m loving all of the lovely, organic watercolor illustrations featured in Flora Douville’s 2011 wall calendar. Available in English or French.

Egg Press always has fantastic calendars, and this year’s offset printed desk calendar is no exception. Each month features a different super cool illustration, and on the reverse is a coordinating illustration with an area for your notes.

Linda & Harriett always does a bang up job in the calendar department, too, and this year’s options are absolutely terrific. The 2011 letterpress wall calendar features a different patterned illustration each month, and after the month is finished you can cut off the top of the page and use the patterned area as a postcard!

And the Linda & Harriett Perpetual Birthday Calendar is a brilliant idea, especially for those of us (erm, myself included) who have trouble remembering birthdays. That hot pink ink is awesome, too!

Lizard Press’ 2011 Luna Letterpress Calendar is gorgeous! The calendar features a Shakespearean quote and highlights the date of the full moon each month, giving the name of the full moon, too. The deep, rich navy backdrop is stunning.