National Stationery Show - Days Two and Thr...never mind

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We were all set to post some photos and reviews and shout outs and all of that...and then we read the six-part recap on Oh So Beautiful Paper and figured we'd never do as good as job as Nole did.  Carry on and pay them a visit.

We'd just like to say it was fantastic meeting so many of you - nearly 90 of our customers were there!  We saw amazing work by far too many talented people to list here all at once.  We saw old friends and made a whole bunch of new ones.  We had some great meals and lots of drinks and are looking forward to seeing you all again soon.

 

National Stationery Show - Day One

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As we finally kick off our shoes and relax after day one, we realized three things: 

  1. We're overwhelmed by (and grateful for) how many of you came by our booth (#1574) to say hi and see what's new
  2. We didn't get a chance to walk around nearly as much as we hoped.  There's always tomorrow.
  3. The Recipe Card project had a big buzz around the show.  We can't thank Amber Ellis-Seguine of Flywheel Press and Marc Schotland (Legion Paper Director of Marketing) enough for putting it all together, not to mention the other 14 ridiculously talented printers who contributed their work.

We did manage to make it one or two full aisles so far.  Among others, we saw amazing work by some of the Recipe Project contributors. Check it out:

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What's Cookin'

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We're proud of our collaboration with 15 letterpress printers and designers on a project to promote the art of letterpress printing.  We hand-selected a different paper for each printer who was on their own to design and print a recipe card to be part of a set that can be collected at the show.  Amber Ellis-Seguine of Flywheel Press was the mastermind behind this project and, somehow, made it all happen in time for the show.

The cards were all amazing.  We were totally blown away and we're sure you will be too.

Have a look for yourself

The Rich History of Magnani

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The Magnani name may not be as well known as the papers they manufacture (Arturo, Pescia, Revere), but young designers are finding value in Old World papermakers like never before. Magnani of Italy bridges the gap between old world and new design with an elegance not often seen in today’s paper world.  With this expertise comes a rich history of paper making.

The Emperor Napoleon chose Pescia paper for his wedding cards when he married Maria Luisa of Austria. In addition, some of the most influential names in Contemporary Art and Culture, e.g. de Chirico, Salvatore Fiume, Annigoni, Morandi, Viani, Possenti, D'Annunzio and others have personally turned to Magnani for the fine papers required for their work.

Read the full article on The PaperMill's site here.

 

34 Typographic Sins

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I might be a little late on this one, but our friends at Rowley Press printed these limited-edition signed letterpress posters "expounding the 34 most horrific Typographic Sins known to humankind."  Designed by Jim Godfrey, originally to help in "educating his students on some of the more common mistakes made when designing with type."

Apparently the Font Police had a lot to say about it but I'm loving it for the concept and the amazing printing.  

See more images and read about the printing process and challenges here.

LetterMpress: A Virtual Letterpress on Your iPad

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Well, it seems that they want to do more than just virtually letterpress.  According to John Bonadies, the project's creator, their goal is to give designers, artists, students, lovers of type—anyone—the ability to produce their own authentic letterpress designs and artwork virtually, and then to ultimately have those designs letterpress printed in "real life". 

Letterpress, met the iPad 2.  iPad 2, letterpress. 

The Royal Wedding

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1,900 of their closest friends and family members received Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding invitations.  

Here's what we know:  the card was thick enough to have gilded, beveled edges.  The print was engraved, the card is 10x6 (ish).

Anyone know anything more?  What paper?  Who printed it?  Why I wasn't invited?

Cake Makes Paper

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Cake, the band not the food, work with SF Center for the Book to create blockprint handmade lyric books for their new release - using paper made from their shirts.  Great feature on it here showing the entire process.

The limited edition of 1,000 handmade packets was produced in Berkeley, California in true DIY fashion by project coordinator Pam DuLuco and her team. Using natural and recycled components and throwback printing methods, they carved printmaker Rigel Stuhmiller’s bold illustrations into linoleum.

Lead and wood type were used to hand-press the words onto paper crafted from the Cake wardrobe discards and jute coffee sacks. Binding thread was hand-spun and coated in beeswax drawn from DuLuco’s personal beehive.

Say 'Hello' to Heartfish Press

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Please welcome the newest member to the letterpress community: Heartfish Press, based out of Brooklyn, NY. They just opened their doors last month.  Owned and operated by graphic designer, Hijiri K Shepherd, Heartfish offers a collection of letterpress prints and cards as well as custom design services.

One of their first designs is called HELLO.  It measures 8 x 10 inches, letterpressed by hand using vintage wood type blocks on 110lb, 100% cotton Lettra Pearl White paper with soy-based ink – means it’s very eco-friendly!

Lunchbox Notes

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Kelly McMahon, from Mayday Studio in Montpelier, VT, came by on Friday with Shelley from Albertine Press (see prev. post) with to talk paper, printing and about a top secret upcoming project to be unveiled in May.

One of the things that came up was how well Kelly found Coventry Rag to fold, especially for a heavier 300gsm paper.  In our dream, Kelly then volunteered to quit her job and spend sixty hours a week being a copywriter for this site and the forthcoming new version of LegionPaper.com.

So to kick off the week, check out these great Lunchbox Notes created by Mayday on Coventry Rag.  These 3x3 cards are perfect as gift cards.  Or, for those of us who spoil their children with paper goods because we're in the biz, actual lunchboxes.  (Can't you just feel the jealousy in the lunchroom?!  "Is that an actual letterpressed card?  I'll trade you my lunch for it!")

Coventry Rag can be found here, here, here, here, here and anywhere else you can find gorgeous, well-folding cotton papers.

NY Gift Show

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Just got back from an icy trip to the NY nt'l Gift Fair where I saw some fantastic work from Albertine Press, Smudge Ink and Pistachio Press.  

Albertine, fresh off an appearance in Martha Stewart Living, had some amazing card sets with covers that I'd want to keep after I used the cards...Smudge was showing a wide range of cards, many of them on Arturo...and Pistachio had a great booth with calendars, cards and their wedding album.

It was great to see them all and we're looking forward to seeing them again in May.

"Are You A Kathleen Or An Elizabeth? A Keith Or A Country Joe?"

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"Are You A Kathleen Or An Elizabeth? A Keith Or A Country Joe?" is a gate fold letterpress print created by Providence's CW Roelleand DWRI Letterpress. The artwork measures roughly 10" high by 20" wide when open. Folded, the print measures roughly 10" high by 10" wide.

Each letterpress print has been signed by the artist and blind debossed by the printer with the print's number and edition information. It is printed on St. Cuthberts' archival 300gsm Somerset textured printmaking paper in a natural white. The gate fold features a deckle edge.

In honor of his dog Owen, CW Roelle has chosen the SPCA of Anne Arundel County as his artwork's charity. The SPCA works to promote humane care and concern for animals by educating the public and by working to end pet overpopulation, to provide shelter and rehabilitation to animals in need, and to work for the passage and enforcement of laws which promote and provide for the humane treatment of animals. $250 dollars from the sale of CW Roelle's print will be donated to the organization.

If someone else says it, it's not bragging

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The Artisan Press in NSW, Australia, have been around for over two decades and are known as one of the top Australian studios for fine letterpress stationery.  They know that not all papers are created equal and discuss which ones they like and what they look for in a paper.  They seem partial to mouldmade paper from centuries-old european mills with storied pedigrees including Magnani (Arturo, Pescia, Revere) and St Cuthberts (Somerset).

Check out their work here and, if in NSW, in person.