Letterpress Perfect

Still working on it...

Ever have one of those weeks where your significant other or roomie is out of town for what ever reason, business or pleasure. While normally you would be bummed and miss the company in the house, meals, tv viewing you know what I'm talking about.  Then there is that one time that you breath a sigh of relief when they are gone for a variety of reasons.  For me those reasons include still being sick as a dog, cranky, cryfestville, and overall bump on a log.  My better half would be stuck starving because well I can't eat anything and dealing with my random cryfest, poor kid has been a trooper.  I mean heck yesterday I started balling when I saw this cute little baby who was three months old in Whole Foods.  I had to compose myself in the cereal aisle, ugh.

 

Now let's talk about the good stuff, paper! I found this cute company out of the Washington, DC area called Orange Tabby Press.  Everything is amazing and I love the sense of humor she has. 

I mean come on, I love this card.  Then agian I love the joke, a cheese sandwich walks into a bar.  The bartender goes, sorry we don't serve food here!  HA!

(image credit Orange Tabby Press)

I'm diggin' this birthday card as I'm about to hit birthday season here with our family.

(image credit Orange Tabby Press)

You know me, I'm a sucker for a map especially when they are this cute!

(image credit Orange Tabby Press)

Here is one of my favorites and I think it will be come home with me.  I know exactly who to send it to.

(image credit Orange Tabby Press)

I hope you enjoyed the cards as much as I did.  I'm off to attempt to eat some more lunch, kinda feeling good today but trying not to jinx it.

I'm back, hopefully for good

Yes, I'm alive.  One wouldn't know based on my total and complete M.I.A. status here, but it's for a good reason I promise you.  I'm pregnant, there I said it.  It's now out in the open for all know.  Baby Z has made my life well, interesting to say the least.  I'm feel as if I'm bringing new meaning to the phase, "sick as a dog."  I've been told this week or next things should start looking up but until then I haven't been able to do much, ugh.  Not mention starving my better half.

The good news!  I'm due in early March and to say I'm excited is an understatement.  My better half is excited and yet freaking out all at once, okay so am I but who is saying anything.

Now on to letterpress cards, my favorite thing!  So cruising Etsy and I found Six Penny Press who is based in San Diego, CA.  After out trip to NYC this past weekend and a visit to the Guggenheim Six Penny Press are leaving a quite the impression on me.

For a bit of stripes these cards should suit your fancy.

(image credit Six Penny Press)

Yellow more your color?

(image credit Six Penny Press)

Feeling circles and stripes, yep got that one too!

(image credit Six Penny Press)

Just one last image for you, diggin' it don't you?

(image credit Six Penny Press)

 

I hope you liked today's cards.  I'm going aim for four postings if not five a week, so long as Baby Z doesn't keep me in the bathroom, ugh. 

Hitting up Central CA

Oh Tuesday...  So the other excitement going on is a BBQ I'm hosting on Saturday and there is so many fun things to prep for.  I know I can just throw some meat on the BBQ and some cold adult beverages in ice then call it even.  But well it's me and I feel the need to make everything look pretty and make sure everyone has a good time.   It's been lots of fun prepping, making little ribbon flags, and of course everything has to match!  Planning a menu for 20 any insight would be lovely...  Don't worry I will talk photos.

Speaking of everything matching and looking lovely, Drippy Ink Design a husband and wife team based out of Central CA.  They create some lovely wedding invitations and the baby announcements.

How cute are these save-the-date.

 
(image credit Drippy Ink Design)

If photos on your save-the-date are your think this cute vintage take makes me smile.

 
(image credit Drippy Ink Design)

I love this wedding invite design and one of many that I heart from them.

 
(image credit Drippy Ink Design)

Here is another fun design.

 
(image credit Drippy Ink Design)

 

Letterpress Ladies (and men) heading South!

Happy Monday!  This weekend I confirmed the fact that burning your scalp and lips is just one of the most miserable place to get sunburned.  This weekend we met up with my family in Carmel to head to the MotoGP.  Most families do beach house vacations mine does track side vacations.  With that said I should know better than to have exposed skin anywhere that isn't rubbed down with sunscreen.  But just because I should doesn't mean I did apply the sunscreen.  This morning when I went to brush out my luscious locks (okay a bit of an overstatement but indulge me) the pain was making my eyes water.  Let's not go into the attempt to blow-dry, let's just say I'm rockin' beach hair today.

While out at the track I saw I had a comment by Anita asking about a conference down south for letterpress ladies.  To answer her, yes!  It's called Ladies of Letterpress Conference 2011 and this year it's being held in Asheville, NC demonstrations focused on the art of letterpress. 

Judith Berliner of Full Circle Press is the keynote speaker and she prints in partnership with A Day in May Design.  I decided to take a peek at A Day in May Design and all week we will look at other speakers and demonstrators.  Thanks Anita!

Seeing as a much of our friends and family are getting married I chose this cute way to ask someone to be your bridesmaid.

 
(image credit A Day in May Design)

Of course you will have to thank them too!

 
(image credit A Day in May Design)

This card had me laughing so hard I almost peed my pants, yes I'm strong enough to admit this. 

 
(image credit A Day in May Design)

To wrap it up, some very pretty and summery coasters.

 
(image credit A Day in May Design)

Pretty cool stuff huh?  You should see both companies invitations, yum!  One last thing, The Glee Project, new guilty pleasure. Check it out!

Oregon Love...

Hi All, I told you I would be back.  It's been crazy over here in Palo Alto, in due time all the secrets will come out but for now just know my hair is on fire going mock 10.  All in all summer has decided to show it's face here and then go and hide!  Seriously, wtf, Northern California summers include sunny and high 70's, low to mid 80's.  I don't want to feel like I'm rubbing this in your face to everyone else but it hasn't been doing that here, it's cooler.  Yes I know, while the rest of you are sweating in place you care not to talk about in public, I've been wearing sweatshirts at night and it's not cool! 

But what has been keeping me warm is lovely letterpress goodies from Farmee.  Based out of Oregon's Wine Country they have that country fun with urban flare.  Seriously digging the vibe they have. 

Take a look at this way to say nice work!

 
(image credit Farmee)

I did say they were from wine country, so this card kinda cracks me up and a blush a little.  Okay a lot.

 
(image credit Farmee)

Has one of your friends had a wee one lately?

 
(image credit Farmee)

Everyone needs a birthday card.  Love having gender neutral cards on hand at all times.

 
(image credit Farmee)

Not to shabby huh?  I heart Farmee and I'm so happy I got to share my new find with you guys.  See you tomorrow!

Appologies

Hi Guys,

So to say things have been crazy here is a bit of an understatement.  Don't worry good news is in the future.  There are project updates in the works and plenty of mouthwatering letterpress in your future.  I am going to leave you with a teaser because that's how I roll.

 
(image credit Farmee)

Oh and one last word of advice always have a tissue around when watching Oprah: Behind the Scenes, just saying...

Foggy City love, you know the one with the big red bridge

Oh Target (pronounced all French-like of course) how I heart thee!  I don't know how it happens but I also  end up spending at least 50 dollars.  This time it was a cleaning supply run, those definitely are expensive. I kinda want to cry but you know all the cute new table accessories.  I'm on a total aqua and yellow kick and Target apparently got the message about me.  So I came home with a few goodies that will go fantastically with the new paper straws I'm going to order.  I'll be sure to take photos.

So back to paper, I found this gem of a studio that prints on wood veneer for some of their pieces.  In Haus Press and they are based out of San Francisco. 

Need to give a gift, I have some tags for you!

 
(image credit In Haus Press)

You hosting that party that you need the gift for?  I have some coaster for you took at.

 
(image credit In Haus Press)

Cooking for the party, I also have a place you can write down the recipes.

 
(image credit In Haus Press)

Finally a little conversation piece for your party.

 
(image credit In Haus Press)

 

Well I hope you enjoyed today's posting.  I'm off to put away my Target stash!

Kansas City Letterpress lovies

Hi All Happy Wednesday!  I have a blue bathroom!  So when I pulled off the tape half of the trim paint pulled off and found out the place use to be yellow.  Perhaps the guys before us made the same mistake.  Let's just hope with the paint can I found labeled trim that I can fix everything.  Who knew I had to be crafty about this but really this crafty?  I guess all the lessons I could possibly have to learn about painting happened in a rather confined space.  Let's hope the living room DIY goes better.

Until then Typo is totally floating my boat.  Based out of Kansas City, she is doing some fun stuff with invites, save-the-dates, and birth announcements. 

Love the blue and yellow in a playbill style!

 
(image credit Typo)

Super cute yet simple save-the-date.

 
(image credit Typo)

I wish I would have done something this fun for a rehearsal dinner invite.  Ladies and gentleman don't feel obligated to mail the rehearsal dinner invites with your regular invitations because then you can do something this darn cute!

 
(image credit Typo)

Lastly a birth announcement for you with matching thank you notes, yeah that's right notes from your peanut to your friends and family!

 
(image credit Typo)

Well I'm off to cook dinner or at least start the marinade and hope I don't burn it like last night.  Yeah, I burnt my first dinner ever in my life, not even when I was 12 and would cook for my brothers, i.e. mac and cheese in a blue box, did I burn dinner. 

Keepin' it local

Hi Happy Post Fourth of July weekend!  I don't know about you guys but we had one heck of a weekend.  We did the big birthday dinner with my better half's friends and family at Flour + Water.  I think it's official, I've died and gone to culinary heaven.  We had the dinner in their Dough Room.  If you have to host a larger party say 8 or more I would definitely recommend booking the Dough Room and go with the family style route.  Everyone got to try everything and they even accommodated a few dietary restrictions without missing a beat.  I'm still dreaming about the pork course! 

We also kept things class on the Fourth of July by purchasing a kiddie pool from Target, then hung out "by the pool" with margaritas.  We also were fully Silicon Valley geeks and were reading our ipad's as well. 

Now the weekend is over and let's talk about paper.  Today I had the privilege of getting to see Flywheel Press' new shop!  Amber produces some amazing work to say the least.  I want everything and want to find a billion brides to send to her.  To say her new studio and shop is gorgous is an understatement.  Then the icing on the cake, I got to see my first letterpress printer upclose and personal.  It only made me appreciate what letterpress printers do even more.

I think we need to see her paper goodies.  Custom stationery anyone?

 
(image credit Flywheel Press)

How about this one?

 
(image credit Flywheel Press)

She also does paperdolls!  How cute are these?  Seriously a perfect gift.

 
(image credit Flywheel Press)

Obviously there is more...  She has this 140 character line, that I heart.

 
(image credit Flywheel Press)

Okay I'll be good girl and stop gushing but someone has to do it.  Okay off to start the pork for dinner, yeah it needs three hours to cook but it's so good. 
 
 

Germany bound, yeah that's right Germany!

This strive to get two hours of solid exercise in a day might be the death of me.  The upside I think I have identified the "muscle", and I use that term very lightly, as a tricep on the back of my arm.  Who would have thought me with a tricep in the correct lighting, of course.  Oh and my personal favorite a lifted seat, at least according to my better half and the two guys who cat called me in Montreal.  It's the little things that make the pain worth it. 

So speaking of odd, okay so it's not really odd just well unexpected, was finding a letterpress printer from Berlin, Germany.  I didn't know etsy was so international!  Melissa Rachel Black likes to keep it real.  I find her cards definitely amusing and with a tag line of "letterpress cards for people with personalities" I am down.

Granted one of the cards I heart is from a song popular oh  during the late college years/right-out-of-college age and yet is not PG-13 for the kiddies.  So you are definitely going to have to hit up her etsy page. 

Until then I will show off some of her more PG-13 cards.

Have a party in your future, perhaps bachelorette like...

 
(image credit Melissa Rachel Black)

Perhaps I am the last person to watch the double rainbow video but in pursuit of making sure this card didn't have some odd hidden meaning that would make it not PG-13, I have since seen it and it's okay for the kiddies.  But the card is funny and it's in hot pink ink!

 
(image credit Melissa Rachel Black)

Have the need for a birthday card in your future...

 
(image credit Melissa Rachel Black)

For a change of pace, not an I'm sorry page but it's all good card.

 
(image credit Melissa Rachel Black)

She wasn't kidding when she said cards for people with personalities.  On that note, I'm off to put more blue paint on the walls, once again praying my landlady doesn't read this.