National Stationery Show 2010 : Overview

Envelopments

This year was my first at the National Stationery Show, and what a whirlwind it was! My NSS buddy, Erin Vale, and I had an absolute blast, and I was so happy to finally be able to meet so many of the talented paper gals and guys whose work I admire. I seriously felt like, for the two days I was there, I was walking around a huge eye candy store for paper lovers. Above: a rainbow of paper from the Envelopments booth.

It’s wonderful to check out paper goods online, and thank goodness for the internet because I don’t know what I’d do without my daily dose of pretty paper, but it’s even better to see high quality paper goods up close and personal, where you can feel the texture of the paper, run your fingers over the impressions (if it’s letterpress), and have the tactile experience that you can’t get online. I was so jazzed to see:

Monsieur Boudin

Monsieur Boudin! I’ve been completely enamored with this collection, illustrated by Labpartners, since it came out, and seeing it in person at the Vigo booth was fantastic.

Sycamore Street Press

Sycamore Street Press’ letterpress cards on display. Doesn’t the collection look lovely all together like this?

Hello Hanna

Fun, oh so whimsical, three dimensional Wishing Trees from Hello Hanna (available in July). These will be perfect for centerpieces at weddings, showers, birthdays, and other special days. I can definitely see why these won the NSS’s Best New Product award in the Party category.

Red Oak Press

Loved seeing Red Oak Press’ line in person, especially the William Morris letterpress cards (second shelf), which are even more beautiful in person. And their new Dog Wisdom line (third shelf) is so much fun.

Pomsicles by Cat Seto

Pomsicles from Cat Seto! Seriously, these are so cute, and I think that having a fuzzy pom pencil topper would make taking tests and writing grocery and to do list so much more fun.

Hello! Lucky Letterpress Cards

Just a few of the new letterpress cards from Hello! Lucky, including Sock Monkey Sam cards and mermaid and unicorn cards, illustrated by Julia Rothman.

images by yours truly

Milk and Cookies Printables

Free Printable Milk Carton

A little while back, Cyd from The Sweetest Occasion asked if I’d like to put together a guest post for her National Stationery Show week celebration, and I was honored to contribute. Cyd always finds such wonderfully inspiring celebrations to share with her readers, and I knew immediately that I wanted to do some sort of school day or milk and cookies theme.

I had so much fun with this project that I probably could’ve set up an entire party if I’d had the time to do so! Printables include the vintage milk carton favor boxes shown above, which will fit small cookies and all sorts of other goodies, and report card themed, printable recipe cards and envelopes that can be used as additional favors or place settings. You can check out more details over at The Sweetest Occasion, and while you’re there you’ll want to read the other awesome guests posts that are happening this week, including a fantastic letterpress birth announcement giveaway from Gus & Ruby Letterpress. Thanks for the opportunity, Cyd!

image from yours truly

Pattern Portraits by Benign Objects

Silhouette Pattern Portraits

Silhouettes are one of the hottest things in the paper design world right now, and Rachel from Benign Objects has taken the silhouette portrait and given it her own, unique twist by creating custom pattern portraits. You send in a high resolution photo of the subject you want to be made into a silhouette and, from there, you can choose custom colors, patterns, frames, and a size for your silhouette. These would make lovely items for the wall in any room, and they would also be wonderful as wedding gifts or gifts for any special occasion.

Here are just two examples of the types of silhouette portraits that Rachel can create for you:

Silhouette Pattern Portraits

image from Benign Objects

A Sneaky Sneak Peek : A. Favorite

Hello, paper lovers! I didn’t want to leave you completely hanging while I’m off exploring the stationery show, so I saved an extra sneaky sneak peek from a. favorite, whose clever, vintage-inspired letterpress greetings are always among my favorites … no pun intended. Rubber duckies, carnival fun, and neato typography — what’s not to love?

A. Favorite Letterpress Duckies Card
A. Favorite Carnival Letterpress Card
A. Favorite Shooting Ducks Letterpress
A. Favorite Holy Matrimony Letterpress

P.S. I’ll catch you back here on Thursday to share my stationery show adventures, eye candy included!

images from a. favorite

Cat Face Print by Box of Birds

Cat Face Digital Print by Kate Larsen

Hee! I have a total crush on this Cat Face digital print by freelance graphic designer and illustrator, Kate Larsen, who is based just outside of London and has a portfolio full of fantastic freelance branding and pattern work. You can check out her portfolio here, and you must stop by her shop, Box of Birds, to see this and more cute prints, as well as some of the most adorable felt animal brooches I’ve ever seen. You’ll see — they’re awesome!

image from Kate Larsen