New Italian Collage Papers - Gorgeous!

I love to make my own collages but I also enjoy papers that are already collaged! These new papers from Italy are just fabulous. The first one is musical and this paper just sings!

I love how they combine vintage images and calligraphy. Think of the delightful recital invites this paper would make!

Of course we are nuts about letters, lettering and anything with typography! How cool would a handmade journal look with this paper? Awesome!

I love fashion and the use of gold on this paper is really super. Where is Project Runway?? Think of the fun cards this paper would make.

This travel paper is exotic and dreamy! Great paper for wrapping travel gifts! Our next trip is to....Idaho...not exactly exotic but a gal can dream!

New Letterpress Goods online

We just added some new letterpress items to our online store and we've included free shipping for our greeting cards to make it easier and more cost effective for folks to purchase paper goods.

 Everyone should have a "suck it up" card in your stash--you know that you totally know who to send it to! This 2- color card is 4bar size and comes with a shimmery pink envelope. 3 5/8" x 5 1/8".

All the creative people we know are list makers, brainstormers, idea generators and note takers. We decided to work on a series of portable pocket-size notebooks based on typography. Similar in function to the moleskine but way more interesting looking!

Here is the first test prints in the series. The three journals are letterpress printed with an old copper plate (mounted on  really wonky wood). We are selling limited sets of 3 for an amazing price of $10.95 and free shipping!! Wow wee!

We figured that everyone could use some happiness! Post this on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror or work cubicle to remind yourself and everyone else that happiness is available.

This was printed with some banged up gothic wood type and the fabulously groovy & rare "smoke" typeface in celery green and orange. The print is 5.5 x 7.75 and letterpress printed on lovely cream BFK Rives.

Perpetually Yours - Fabric Art!

I love to blog about paper, printing and pets--my kitties as well as the critters I encounter--like the snake in the fireplace. (not a pet!)  But here are some animals of the home decor type that I couldn't wait to profile. These are really fabulous CUSTOM made pieces from Rachael's etsy site Perpetually Yours.

You know how people love their pets, so now you can send Rachael one of your favorite photos of your pet for a completely custom pillow! How cool is that?

Rachael is  a 20-something illustrator/graphic designer/fashionista/punk rock chick, who loves to sew and just happens to have a soft spot for furry friends of all kinds--just look at the adorable pillow below! You can tell that she asks questions that get to the heart of your furry friends!

I just love the artistic, retro and whimsical style of her work. Wouldn't this be the best gift for your favorite pet aficionado? I can't think of anything better!

The A's Have It!

Lots of A's lately! We popped into a.ware  for the first time--well actually, we went two weeks in a row because the shop is wonderful! It is a really cute shop featuring handcrafted goods in Phoenix and is located at 4700 N. Central Ave which is just south of Camelback Road.

 The shop is the brain child of the very talented artist and writer, Julie Hampton.

The shop features artwork, gorgeous handcrafted purses & scarves, handmade cards and hand-spun yarn and roving. They even teach classes.

 My pal Lisa has these yarn cups and knitting needles or sale. They are the coolest thing ever!

More A's back at our shop! Mike is working on a letterpress piece.

The silver ink prints deliciously on black paper!

It was our lovely Anne's  birthday so Gary and I did a special card for her featuring wood type, Japanese paper and a cat that looks like her kitty - Kiera.

Valentine's Day

Ah, Valentine's Day. Love it or hate it. We love it!

Gary and I decided to send some of our pals an assortment of valentine delicacies.

We were always wanting to use the ginormous vintage cupid cut so we made envelopes after we printed it.

Everything was done with handset type both wood and metal.

 We found a fun vintage cookbook that worked well with the love of cake quote.

Fa la, la, la and snowmen

I love holiday music and always have to get new music to listen at the studio. This year, my favorite holiday albums are the Indigo Girls, Holly Happy Days and Annie Lennox, A Christmas Cornucopia.  If you like a Capella, the group Straight No Chasers has a nice album titled Holiday Spirits.

Every December we get so busy that we forget to take photos of projects we are working on and we never seem to have time to update the blog  in a timely manner. Bummer we didn't take photos of the holiday cookie baking extravaganza! Too busy baking and tasting cookies! But here some quick holiday-ish pics that we did remember to snap.

 We love Snowmen! Here are some of our cuts and tags we printed with handset type on handmade snow paper! The paper has mica in it so it looks like glinting snow.

We used the Vintage Snowmen Wrapping paper to decorate gable boxes and the vintage look is also great for cards!

Holiday Cards!

More cards!

Who says Red and Green are the winter holiday colors? How about Orange?

 After Cool Fitness colors are orange & blue. Guess what color their Christmas tree light were? Yes. Orange and Blue! Their orange, blue and silver invites were cool!

Next year we need to take the advice on this card--Simplify the Holidays!

Tis' the Season!

December has gone by in a flurry! Although not the snowy type of flurries here; it was 80 degrees last week! Because the weather was so nice, I made paper outside for a couple days.

Right under our orange tree. That led to another project.

Picking the oranges. They are totally juicy and yummy!

 Oh, yes, the cotton and recycled box handmade papers came out yummy as well!

Just in time for the holiday - Gluttony Pants!

The 7 deadly sins are always fodder for artists' prints, books, performance and even puppetry work. Now the subject has expanded to clothing! Just what we need for the holidays - Gluttony Pants by the San Francisco company Betabrand. The inner lining on the waist and pockets looks like antique letterpress cuts!

These crazy albeit nice-looking pants are the first in limited series themed around the seven deadly sins (those would be: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony). The waistband is adjustable so you don't have to wear elastic banded pants!

At least they didn't make a meat pant ala Lady Gaga's meat dress.

Then after the holidays, you can work off the gluttony and wear Bike-to-Work Pants which are khaki pants with reflective back pocket bags and cuffs.

This practical and smart looking pant is from Betabrand as well. Can't wait to see what they dream up next!

Parking Lot Sale at The Paper Studio - Think Garage Sale!

Think Garage Sale!

We are clearing out stuff and are having a parking lot sale because we don't have a garage!

We'll be selling some duplicate letterpress items such as composing sticks, type drawers, metal and wood type as well as a bunch of paper goods from our online store.

Some folks have been calling asking if we were having an open house--nope--just a fall-cleaning-out-our stuff-sale! Cash and Carry!

Yay Mike on the poster! We used all handset wood and metal type (10" wood type for the sale!).

Charlie B and Green Valley

On our way home from the SW Fiber Fest, we stopped in Green Valley AZ. A whole weekend of places I've never been! We popped in to meet Charlie. He is 80 years old and was in the printing industry for over 50 years.

He still prints regularly on his 8x12 c&p but just for pleasure not for work! He is a testament to the longevity of LP printers! We make it our goal to get out there and meet other printers--such great folks and a wealth of knowledge!

Fiber Fest part 2: The Cow Palace and Tubac

You know that you spend too much time in letterpress when you decide where to eat based on the typeface on the sign! We were trying to figure out where to grab a bite to eat and I was thumbing through various brochures when I spied a menu for this crazy place--The Cow Palace.

This restaurant has been around for 80 years and has seen the like of John Wayne and other actors. It's also been a number of films.

Inside, they were totally decked out for Halloween. 

Here's the Longhorn Grill across the street.

I love this doorway in Tubac. Is that the Pope?

Some lovely fall colors. 

Tubac was found in the 1700's--way before AZ was even a consideration!