paper & pretty things

love stories

2008-08-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

I recently stumbled upon the brilliant typographic work of Marian Bantjes {via iLT}, specifically her Love Stories series – a visual essay on the people and things that Marian loves. Love Stories was featured in the August 2008 issue of Monograph, published by Creative Review. Magnificent. I can't stop looking at it.

images c/o Marian Bantjes

morris + essex

2008-08-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

I'm digging these hand-printed cards by morris + essex. Available right here.

image c/o morris + essex

june wrap-up

2008-07-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

my june was filled with fresh peonies and weddings! what a great month.

for the love of dogs…

2008-06-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Boston Terrier card by Beau Ideal {via Oh Joy!}.

where did may go?

2008-05-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

It's already the last day in May, and I've just realized that I only posted twice this month – where did the month go!? It was a busy month – I took a bookbinding class at the The Print Studio in Hamilton, finished wedding stationery for a couple of my close friends, and did lots of baking and gardening.

As the weather is getting nicer {but still not as nice as it should be for the end of May!}, I've been spending more and more time at the beach, and in the backyard with Maude.

I hope you had a great May! Thanks for reading :)

{my handbound book!}

{blackberry crumb bars from everyday food magazine}

meet maude.

2008-05-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is my {rockstar} puppy, Maude. She is my inspiration today.

modern radar

2008-05-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Fun colours and prints from modern radar.

{images c/o build me a nest and modern radar etsy shop.}

gocco invites

2008-04-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

My first project is complete! I had such a great time using the gocco, it's so easy… even my husband got into it and wanted to help me {I could get used to this!}. I used gold and brown ink on cream paper. Here's a glimpse.

I'm itching to experiment with gocco on different materials, and get back on my letterpress! In time…

harmonie interieure

2008-04-12T06:02:00.001-07:00

I'm oohing and ahhing over the elegant wall stickers and prints from harmonie interieure. my favs are the type sticker {right} and the ornament sticker {left}, which may soon grace a wall in my living room! I'm keeping an eye out for their line of books, notebooks and other paper products, which is currently under development. Check out their flickr for more beautiful photos of their work and some behind the scenes.

{images c/o harmonie interieure}

heather knight ceramics

2008-04-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Heather Knight's pieces remind me of my recent vacation, inspired by sea urchins, leaves, coral, flowers and fruit. Her work is so exotic and full of interesting textures. Check out the elementclaystudio etsy shop for more.

{images c/o Heather Knight Ceramics}

hola…

2008-04-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a week in paradise. This is where we stayed, and it was fabulous. Check out that lobby! Now back to reality… sigh…

{images c/o blue bay resorts}

twenty2

2008-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

I was just perusing the lovely wallpaper & fabrics from twenty2. we're re-decorating our bedroom soon, and i'm in need of some inspiration. This is a good start.

polyvore.com

2008-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

i read about polyvore.com on paper pony's blog, and i should have known better than to go there. i am now completely addicted. i sent the link over to my equally shopping-obsessed friend amanda, and we've been sharing our outfits throughout the day. here are our spring wardrobe wishlists...

{top} amanda, {bottom} lindsey

gocco goodness

2008-03-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

i strolled into the paper place in toronto the other day and i couldn't believe my eyes – they had a pile of shiny new print gocco kits! i couldn't resist and ended up purchasing my very own PG-11! i can't believe i've lived so long without this little machine. i've almost completed my first project, a friend's wedding invitations, which i will post photos of soon.

it's so great to find gocco at a local retailer, where i can get all of my supplies. although printaddictjapan's etsy shop has very competitive prices, even with the shipping factored in.

one thing's for sure, there will be plenty of fun gocco projects in my future :)

remake

2008-03-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

stumbled upon remake's etsy shop this morning. everything is made with salvaged and recycled materials – beautiful AND eco-conscious! my fav items are the mini font notebooks {right}, which use pages from an old type book for the cover, and graph paper, kraft paper and paper from ledger & legal pads for the inside pages.

easter inspired

2008-03-13T05:31:00.000-07:00

I heart these lovely vintage egg cups from Sea Glass Vintage {via perfectbound}. Visit their etsy store for more vintage treasures.

nantaka joy {new paper goodies}

2008-02-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

New arrivals for early spring from the magnificent nantaka joy. I've always been crazy over Joy's metallic floral woodcuts on kraft paper, and now they are available in tiny cards. Too cute!

images c/o oh joy!

marimekko

2008-02-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

I've been browsing the spring 2008 collection from Finnish textile and clothing design company, Marimekko. I enjoy the graphic shapes and bright, bold colours from designer Maija Louekari {pictured above}. Other favorites include, Erja Hirvi, Anna Danielsson, and the clothing designs by Samu-Jussi Koski.

perfectbound

2008-02-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

I just love the sweet styling and photography by julie & kathryn of perfectbound – a design duo from Winnipeg. They pair together such interesting colours, patterns and everyday objects {they collect vintage design books and teacups... my kinda gals!}. I am addicted to their blog and flickr photos. They are guest blogging over at Design*Sponge this week, check out their colourful posts.

images c/o perfectbound

a bit of pattern to start the day...

2008-02-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous new patterns & colour palettes from Amy Butler. Check out more from her new Midwest Modern line of fabrics (available in April).

the type junkie

2008-02-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

I'm craving type today. This beautiful photograph by thetypejunkie is available here. This would look lovely hanging above my letterpress.

sunlit letterpress

2008-01-31T06:40:00.000-08:00

Sunlit Letterpress has launched a website! I love Erin McCall's clean & modern style. Reading her blog – Adventures in Letterpress – has inspired me and taught me so much about the art of letterpress. Go see for yourself!

images c/o Sunlit Letterpress

swayspace letterpress

2008-01-30T06:45:00.000-08:00

Swayspace is a design and letterpress studio out of Brooklyn with some nice work. Their website also has some fun videos of their presses in action {scroll down to the bottom for these}.

images c/o Swayspace

if i had $395 laying around...

2008-01-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

...I would buy the Alejandro Paul type collection at Veer. That's five of Alejandro’s beautiful scripts for the price of four. Sigh. {pictured here Burgues Script & Affair}

images c/o veer

a learning process

2008-01-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

All of the COD fees and ink stained fingernails were worth it, because my first letterpress project is complete! I wouldn't call it a complete success, but I did learn a lot and I know that I can only get better with lots of practice. Things I learned {in no particular order...}:

1. My first project was a tad too ambitious. My design used a large surface area, so it was difficult to get even ink coverage and any impression at all. I also should have stuck to one colour for my first go. I always tend to jump in, head first.

2. Green, yellow and white don't make brown. Um. Ya. I need to buy some more ink colours. And thanks to fellow Canadian letterpress printer Snap & Tumble, I've found US Litho Supply, who sells VanSon rubber based inks and has free shipping to Canada on orders of $50 or more. I see a large ink order in my future.

3. Rubber based ink is a bitch to clean up. It's difficult to handle during mixing as well, but I am assuming it will get better with practice {fingers crossed}. Crisco was my saviour in the clean up process {thanks to this post by Erin McCall at Adventures in Letterpress}. I didn't want to use chemical cleaners because I am working in a basement with no ventilation. The ink fumes are bad enough.

4. The dollar store has everthing. It's where I purchased tools for mixing ink, rags, latex gloves and many more helpful items.

5. There seems to be a lot of fiddling and adjusting to be done before you can begin a run. And a lot of wasted paper.

More to come...

k. talis

2008-01-27T07:05:00.001-08:00

Did I mention that I love jewlery? Especially of the vintage sort. Here are some beautiful pieces from k. talis's etsy store. She creates new pieces out of vintage finds.

images c/o k. talis

design police

2008-01-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

Save the world from bad design! Visit design police to download your very own "visual enforcement kit." I got this link from my fabulous friend and fellow designer Amanda {thanks piggy}.

write like they used to

2008-01-22T14:36:00.000-08:00

I just love the authentic 18th & 19th century typefaces from oldfonts.com {shown here American Scribe}. This would be lovely used for wedding invites. Reminds me of my grandmothers beautiful penmanship... wish I would have inherited that gene!

babies need pretty things too

2008-01-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am invited to my first ever baby shower, so I am looking for the perfect (stylish, functional, unique) gift. I think I may have found it at DwellStudio. I love their simple graphic patterns on everything from diaper bags to wall art. Browse their online shop here. Be sure to check out their bedding & table lines too, more beautiful patterns, but for grown ups.

i am coveting...

2008-01-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

...these pieces from contrary's jewelry line. These stunning vintage-inspired baubles seem as if they were made just for me. Check out contrary's blog and etsy shop.

lovely little birdies

2008-01-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled upon ashleyg's artwork on etsy. Her characters convey emotion so simply and beautifully. Check out her etsy shop or her blog.

letteria

2007-12-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

Beautiful letterpress work from letteria.

2008 calendar

2007-12-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

2008 is almost here, and to me that means it's time to find the perfect calendar for my desk! Love this letterpressed one from ilee papergoods. My friend purchased it at the One of a Kind Show in Toronto {it's even more beautiful in person}.

piggies + paper = love

2007-12-21T10:30:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist. Check out these adorable hand made goodies by essimar. {via the SCOOP}

camilla engman

2007-12-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

This morning I have been admiring the work of Camilla Engman - an artist, illustrator and graphic designer from Sweden. I particularly enjoy her paper-on-paper work {pictured above}. Gorgeous.

OrangeBeautiful holiday cards

2007-12-14T05:03:00.000-08:00

Just checked out OrangeBeautiful's etsy store {via The Scoop}, and they have a great selection of holiday cards for sale. I love their holiday card samplers {pictured above}, that include a mix of 5 of their stunning designs. Beautiful work.

studio wishlist

2007-12-13T09:05:00.001-08:00

If anyone reading this wants to buy me a Christmas present, here are a few ideas! ;)

Left to right: Print GOCCO, Xyron® 900 Creative Station, Diamond 1 Corner Rounding Machine

UPDATE: I guess this post really worked – I received the Xyron from my fabulous husband for Christmas! Love it!

abby clawson low

2007-12-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

I recently came across the work of Abby Clawson Low {via Kate Spade's "Things We Love"} – former Senior Art Director at Kate Spade, who recently founded her own design company specializing in identity and publication design. She has a vintage meets modern, collage inspired style that I just love. Her blog, HI+LOW is a must read.

papered walls

2007-12-08T07:32:00.001-08:00

I am loving this feather wallpaper {by ferm living} that I came across on Design Public. Love the bold graphic and contast. I've been really into wallpaper ever since I had my first wallpaper experience – we recently did our basement in a green and silver damask paper from Home Depot {see this post}. Speaking of redecorating, I have to go wake my hubby up so we can start painting our guest bedroom...

ready, set....

2007-12-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of online ordering recently to collect everything I need to get printing my first big project – wedding thank you cards {that should have been done two months ago...}. I am already fed up with paying brokerage fees for US orders, which totalled about $150 for my VanSon ink and my order from Boxcar alone. That's on TOP of the shipping costs. I am on a mission to find Canadian suppliers, so if anyone out there has any recommendations, I would be thrilled.

The good news is that I almost have everything I need and it is so much fun to receive all of these goodies in the mail! I also ordered some paper samples from French Paper, who have such amazing design {there is an article about their design firm in the latest issue of HOW magazine, which is a very good read}. And I recieved some Lettra paper samples from Crane, the last thing I must order before I can start my cards. I can't wait to get going!

holiday card round-up

2007-12-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

I've been on the hunt for the perfect holiday card... it's a bit late, I realize, but I think it's the hunt that I love, so I just can't decide... and I can't stop hunting. These are my favs so far.

Clockwise from the top left: Happy Holidays by Sunlit Letterpress, Joyeux Noel by Vertallee Letterpress, Christmas Piggies by Linda & Harriet, Happy Holidays by Amyb13, Holiday Bird and Foliage Mini-Cards by Satsuma Press, Cheersplotion! by EggPress.

here goes...

2007-12-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

My first post on my brand new blog that nobody will ever read! I am a graphic designer with a passion for paper and letterpress printing. I plan to document the trials and tribulations of learning to use my Chandler & Price tabletop letterpress, and all of my inspiration along the way. Enjoy :)