Designer's Sketchbook

I have long wanted to create a new section on my website called "Designer's Sketchbook". For most new commissions I produce a series of original designs, only one of which is selected as their favorite. But often my favorites are not on that list. So here I sit, with a collection of perfectly wonderful, unused designs just itching to make it to the bigtime.

For instance:


(c) 2007 Albertine Press so don't even think about it!

These intertwining tree silhouettes would be oh-so-lovely in a barely-there tan ink, with a burnt orange accent for the names (changed to protect the innocent) for a fall wedding; or a transparent early spring green for a spring or summer affair. I've always loved the idea of trees growing together as wedding imagery, but until now haven't achieved it to my liking.

I'd like to post this and other never-been-printed designs to my "Sketchbook" section, hoping it'll be to someone else's liking as well.

Right after I update images for the already-been-printed collection, that is...

The birds and the bees...

...and the flowers and the trees.

Seems to be a theme for last week's print jobs, though some pretty different design styles.



First, a super-sweet engagement party/birthday party/bastille day/summer bbq invite. Given another chance at this, I might try a forest green in place of the brown for a more summery feel. I need to start resisting the urge to automatically reach for the can of chocolate brown ink (it's that darn chocolate factory across the hall... chocolate smells wafting... mmm... chocolate...).



The second was the continuation of the blue-footed booby invitations. The booby does make an appearance on these as well, on the closed right flap to the main invitation (not shown) as well as on the reply envelope.



I managed to achieve some pretty fetching alignment, despite printing edge to edge on soft deckled paper (no overage or cropping allowed, ack!). In the end, I signed myself up for about four extra print runs in order to accommodate the design.



The central portion is definitely sneaking into the custom collection book before it's finished! (thanks, Kathy, for giving me some really great imagery to work with!)

If it weren't for the birds and the bees we wouldn't be needing this birth announcement. It's also part of the new custom collection book which debuted at the stationery show last month. There's a "girl" version as well, in purple and pink (not to gender stereotype or anything).



Yes, it's a fake announcement - if the arrival date wasn't a giveaway, I hope the name was. Boy, the things I do to amuse myself...

No kite in sight

But we did have Ben Franklin visit us at the 4th annual Printing Arts Fair!




It was a most beautiful day, full of wonderful people, lumbering old machines, cards, books, and maybe a little dust (stupid road construction).



Kelly, "Ben" and me (just look at his shoes!).

It's possible, that I might have brought just a few too many cards...





I was very happy to see Kelly of May Day Studio at the fair. I love her bingo books!



My favorite letterpress thing man, John Barrett (nice hat!).



Fellow Somerville-ian Ezra from Rainy Planet Press.



Here's Monica and John from the North Bennett Street School bookbinding program. Last year John was kind enough to impart his three-ring-binder binding skills so I could create our new custom design album.



It was absolutely lovely to spend the afternoon surrounded by my fellow printers and book craftspeople, seeing everyone's latest work, planning future collaborations (paper marbling later this summer!!!), and making mischief in general.

Three cheers for all of these fine folks, plus Jesse at Firefly, Angela from Carta, Leslie of Seadog Press, Gardner at the Museum of Printing, and especially all of the visitors, hobbyists and enthusiasts who came for helping make the day such a pleasure and success!

It's a small small world

Last weekend, while on a family trip to Chicago, I met some old friends for brunch. There was a wait for the table, being the hip, popular place that it was, so we took a little walk. Wouldn't you know, right on the corner not half a block from the restaurant, was sitting a C+P old style platen press!



my friend Eric, posing graciously with the newfound wonder

What on earth was this press doing just sitting on the sidewalk? Okay, it was welded stationary and cemented in place, so it was a monument of sorts. But still! It seemed to have nothing to do with the realty company behind it.

After gawking for several minutes we walked on, espying a street fair just a block further on. To our delight (well, mine, anyway) we discovered a book fair. Guess what we found at the very first booth?



A little Kelsey! It was the Columbia College book arts program, with a do-it-yourself postcard/woodtype print set up (see the "neato" card on the table). Cool.

It wasn't until we were heading back to the restaurant that I found this sign:



Ohhhhhhh.... we were on Printer's Row. Suddenly the random appearance of a one-ton press sitting on the sidewalk made a little more sense.

Arrrgh!

My apologies to anyone who has recently tried to access the website. The server has crashed, and various parties are in the process of both fixing the problem and figuring out what to do in the meantime. All intentions are to have the site up and running (somewhere) by the end of the weekend.

Keep your fingers crossed.

D is for Dad

A call from Mara at Boutique Fabulous asking for Father's Day cards inspired me to create a limited edition piece in the same style as our Mother's Day card.

So here it is (and don't you just love the little plants?!) :



If you're in the Boston area, pop into Boutique Fabulous in Inman Square, Blue Cloud Gallery in Somerville, or Magpie in Davis Square to pick up one of these hand-typeset little beaut's. Available with either khaki or chartreuse envelopes.

Not in Boston? Not to worry - we have officially launched our Etsy shop (albertinepress.etsy.com) where you can buy this card online and have it arrive at your doorstep in a matter of days.

It's only two weeks until Father's Day - don't be a slacker!

(but if you are, you can get cards even on dad's day itself by visiting us at the Printing Arts Fair
in North Andover).