Letterpress Perfect

Architecture + Cards=Bliss

Happy Monday to everyone! I just got back from an adventurous weekend in Boston with two of my closest friends.  It was great to see them both and especially meet my girlfriend new boyfriend.  You know being the good best friend that I am I felt the need to lay down the law that you do when anyone get serious with one of your friends. Come on, you know what I'm talking about.  The, if you mess with her or make her cry I have no problem flying out here and hurting you because I can and she is my friend, so take care of her speech.  It's par for the course, everyone has their version of the talk some are more intense than others. I decided to go with the, take care of her and don't make her cry version.  I think it went over well and he seems like a lovely chap. 

Now that I'm home my back finally decided to give out completely. As in I can't stand up to walk to anything.  I'm hoping to stay sitting up right up long enough to  crank this posting and not type to type laying down. I've already tried that and it's very slow going.  Just when I thought the pain was really icky I was scanning etsy and I found Architette Studios.  The angels started to sing I swear.

If you love Cardamom Press, who just put out a few new cards by the way, then you are going to love Architette Studios.

Check out the cute save the date she put together.  Just imagine your cityscape on your save the date looking all pretty and chic.

 
(image credit Architette Studios)

I have been seeing the card kits but this one is super cute.   An emergency card kit, fantastic right?

 
(image credit Architette Studios)

Spain anyone?

 
(image credit Architette Studios)

Last little teaser for you, one of her construction cards.

 
(image credit Architette Studios)

Now go and check out her etsy site and her website.  Now go forth and conquer!

Los Angeles = Handwritten Wedding Invite Love

Last night my better half and I discover, what just might be the best damn pasta in Chi-town courtesy of Nightwood.  I think we both slowly had an "oh god" moment at the table when we had our respective pasta dinners.  He had rigatoni with bolognese and gnocchi with red peppers and lamb pancetta for myself.  Amazing, truly amazing and worth the crazy cab driver and the almost skidding across four lanes to get there.  If we could have served this at our wedding it would have been awesome.

Speaking of weddings, while cruising Style Me Pretty found a lovely wedding that took place in Brooklyn that was filled with the fabulous work of Papermade.  Elaine is based out of LA and she does the hand lettering for the invitation.  The invites, save the dates, and stationery can be printed in both flat print and letterpress, our favorite!

Check out the chandelier set!

 
(image credit Papermade)

 
(image credit Papermade)

 

If this doesn't scream a fun loving couple that is ready to have fun, yet with great style, I don't know what does...

 
(image credit Papermade)

Not only is this a great save the date but an even better photo!

 
(image credit Papermade)

Elaine also creates some additional paper goodies for your wedding.

 
(image credit Papermade)

I told you, you would love her!  Be sure to check out all her design genius featured on her web site.

Squirrel in the Attic?

Last night was quite the culinary adventure.  We hit up Girl and the Goat, which we have frequented a few times before and have established our favorites on the menu.  Lucky for us they have managed to stay there for example the goat, pork, and veal sugo and ham frittes.  Now keep in mind the sugo is a bit of us being adventurous in our eating.  We are sitting at our table having a grand ol' time, then out comes the runner with a dish and she states "compliments of the house our wood oven roasted pig face with a sunny side egg."  I don't know what freaked out my better half more the egg or the pig face?  I gave it a go and I will say not bad once you try to forget what you are eating.

But on to safer things, like stationery and brillance on paper!  Jennifer from Squirrel in the Attic hand draws all the cards and prints them on recycled paper.  Her cards started while her husband served overseas in the military.  While unable to find just the right card, she decided to do it herself.  I have to say I want them all. I only have two but at least the collection has started!

 
(image credit Squirrel in the Attic)

How about this one just to say hi? 
(image credit Squirrel in the Attic)

Also love this to drop a line to a girlfriend.

 
(image credit Squirrel in the Attic)

Last but certainly not least...

 
(image credit Squirrel in the Attic)

Jennifer has so many wonderful cards at her etsy shop so be sure to check them out!

Orange Beautiful= Mini Crush

Hi All! I know I've been slacking but it's been quite the intense and amazing past week.  I've officially hit the big 3-0 and rang in the big day surround by amazing friends back in San Francisco away from the snow.  My better half flew in my best friend from Boston and surprised me. No one surprises me, it just doesn't happen but he did it.  He got a little help with another good friend in San Francisco.  Nothing says fun like shaking your booty with your bestest and your better half. 

This past weekend my better half and I went off and explored Lincoln Square back here in Chicago.  During exploration (okay I knew where we were going but don't tell him that) we found Orange Beautiful and got to meet Emily in person!  Her stuff is so much fun and even my better half said he wanted to take a lot of it home.  We did end up taking a few pretties home but for now he has a little list to work on.

Tell me these two gift tags are not the cutest and these are just just two of six!

 
(image credit Orange Beautiful)

 
(image credit Orange Beautiful)

I know we are into March but with a perpetual calendar it's all ways a good time to buy!

 
(image credit Orange Beautiful)

I'm also running out of wall space but have a soft spot for letterpress wallprints, especially this one!

 
(image credit Orange Beautiful)

I want to show you everything but that would keep you from enjoying it all yourself. So one last goodie then you have to see the rest yourself.

 
(image credit Orange Beautiful)

Okay now go have fun with Orange Beautiful!

 

Valentine's Day Love!

Hi All!  Happy Valentine's Day! I'm briefly back in Chicago for a day before whisking away to New York City for two days including my actual birthday where I turn the big 3-0. I have lots of stories to tell and cards to share but in true Letterpress Love fashion I didn't do to much prior planning.  So today's posting is going to be rather short but cute, as I have laundry coming out of my ears, unpacking and repacking to do, and oh maybe lots of Valentine's Day love to put together for this evening.  Yikes! 

I did get some of my Valentine's in the mail from Crow and Canary's Valentine's exchange.  I got a cute one from Lark Press.  Here is one of their cards as a bit of a teaser of more to come this week.

 
(image credit Lark Press)

 

Plus I found this a long the way.  I'm now a follower of i am baker.  You have to read this tutorial it's amazing and I can't wait to try it.  It actually doesn't look SUPER difficult.  I'm so going to cheat and do box cake only because we all know that when I try to make cake from scratch it comes out heavier than lead. Amazing yet true.

 
(image credit i am baker)

Now that should be enough to keep you busy 'til tomorrow.  I know it's not paper but what that women can do with cake and cookies and cupcakes, AMAZING! 

Heading South

I honestly I haven't been so excited to see Wednesday in a very long time.  I go home today!  I think I have everything packed and worse case I am going home and therefore I will have a thing or two just in case.  So long as I have my party dress packed and my party shoes life is all good.  I mean how can a girl have a party without the approperiate dress and a killer pair of heels. Yes, there will be flats tucked away for emergency white girl boogie moves. Needless to say super excited about the trip home and the secrets planned for the weekend.

While I count down the hours to I get on a plane, you need to take a look at Kate Reed Design.  I've picked a little bit of this and a little bit of that to show off all of her talents.

Just a little random card to say hi!

 
(image credit Kate Reed Design)

As I always say you do need a thank you card around.

 
(image credit Kate Reed Design)

How about this one for your better half?

 
(image credit Kate Reed Design)

Now for my favorite piece.  Yes I'm still on the hunt for the perfect personalized stationery this is making the top three for sure!  In pink of course with a grey liner...

 
(image credit Kate Reed Design)

Now go check out more of her lovely on her etsy site.  How many more hours?

We're Going to LA!

So you made it through Monday, nice work!  Tuesday is here and I'm super excited to head home to my house tomorrow night.  I'm not counting down the hours 'til our 5 pm flight or anything like that, no never.  I miss my flats and I'm pretty sure they miss me too. It will be fabulous to be reunited and to have access to my card collection again, also a plus.  Who knew how many cards I do send out and how often I need them? 

Here are some cute cards from Free Range Platypi, yes you read that right.  How can you say that name and not smile?

I love the colors and the details. Did you see the pink envelope?

 
(image credit Free Range Platypi)

Love this one too!

 
(image credit Free Range Platypi)

Need a note card?

 
(image credit Free Range Platypi )

Finally a pretty little note card for your viewing.

 
(image credit Free Range Platypi)

Pretty cool huh?  I hope you enjoyed her work!

Upstate Letterpress Love

It's Monday and we all have a bit of Super Bowl hang over.  I mean with the National Anthem flub, the light filled half time show (I think the Black Eyed Peas where singing there), and then the best part THE PACKERS WON!  We are in Chicago and kinda near Packer territory, so I had to go with the semi-home town team.  I'm currently trying to catch up on the Glee episode that played afterwards that tied everything up in a pretty little bow. 

Well I'm going to try to help lessen the let down of Super Bowl hang over by taking a peek at the lovely and eco-conscious Green Girl Press.

Just in case you wanna drop a little hi.

 
(image credit Green Girl Press)

You know a simple shout out some times does the trick.

 
(image credit Green Girl Press)

Should you need to say a bit more I have two more cards for you.

 
(image credit Green Girl Press)

 
(image credit Green Girl Press)

I like this one the best! 

 
(image credit Green Girl Press)

I told you Green Girl would take care of that hang over!  Enjoy it with some more viewing on her etsy site.

Rar Rar Press

Today has just been one of those days.  You know the kind, the one where you wake up put on your spandex and go, wow the span is dexing a bit more than usual but it's early so I'm sure it must have been the washer.  You head off to class ignoring the fact things seem tighter than usual.  You go home, shower, and go to put on your skinny jeans. Not because you are feeling skinny but merely because it's the only thing you can comfortably shoveinto your brown boots without wrestling with the fabric and working up into a sweat.  Let's be honest with yourself do you really need that?  No,  the gnomes have already gotten to your skinny jeans and shrunk those too, so your other jeans are probably hosed too. 

In the end, all you want to do is hang out at home and write post cards printed by RAR RAR PRESS, in your sweats (those always fit).  I love my post cards I got at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco and I find it only fitting I share the wonder work Rebecca does. 

I got a few of these to send from Chicago. 

 
(image credit RAR RAR PRESS)

The international version.

 
(image credit RAR RAR PRESS)

If you need to send some inspiration to a friend, I have a card for you.

 
(image credit RAR RAR PRESS)

One last image to tempt you to check out their etsy site.

 
(image credit RAR RAR PRESS)

Happy Thursday, see you all tomorrow!

Jersey Letterpress

Well Snowzilla is in full effect. I can't see anything but a sea of white, which when part of your view is a lovely neon YMCA sign isn't so bad but I really did want to see those 18 foot waves on Lake Michigan.  No, I'm not going to let go of that one.  I guess I'll just be forced to do more paper research, watch taped television, and fashion documentaries via netflix on demand. Sometimes life can be so rough!

Speaking of paper research look what I found, Smith Letterpress based out of Montclair, NJ.  Some of you might know I'm actually a Jersey girl myself.  Montclair is about 25 minutes from where I spent my formative years aka 5th through 12th grade.  So not only is Sarah uber talented she is super close to my hometown!

Smith Letterpress does custom letterpress work, along with social stationery, and greeting cards.  Let's check out the work at hand, shall we?

More Valentine's Day love, personally I like to spread the love all the time but that's just me.

 
(image credit Smith Letterpress)

This one reminds me of the notes you use to send in 3rd grade, you know "check the boxy if you think I'm foxy."  Also know when dating was simple.

 
(image credit Smith Letterpress)

Of course I'm going to show off some thank you notes.

 
(image credit Smith Letterpress)

Now in Spanish.

 
(image credit Smith Letterpress)

Last but not least a little shout out to the home town.

 
(image credit Smith Letterpress)

You have to go to Smith Letterpress's website and check out the amazing wedding invite she did in Arabic.  The design is beautifully done and the fact she doesn't speak or write a word of the language and was able to do such an amazing job.  All I can say is awesome!