I think I'm in heaven

About two weeks ago Dave and Beth from Hot Metal Services came by to service our Vandercook. They're in the very small field of yeoman traveling repairmen who circulate the country fixing up linotype & ludlow machines, and vandercook presses. Since we're across the hall from our own chocolate factory, Dave mentioned hearing about some chocolate letterpress type and I simply had to know more.



What I discovered was Typolade, a German company producing chocolate letters inspired by the letterpress hand-set type tradition. Or in their own words,

"Typolade - the sweet blend of typography and chocolate. In memory of the black art of type setting, we are producing letters out of high quality, handmade chocolate."

You can experience 48 point FagoMo Bold as a "typographic sensation of taste" or create "a moment of literal enjoyment" for another.



As Blayne would say, typelicious.

Getting down to business

Lately much of our work had been for commercial clients - business cards, promotional pieces, hang tags. It's rewarding to form relationships with other small companies and be a part of their growth and success.



Earlier this year we printed some folders for Grazier Photography to house their cd and brochure for prospective couples. Last month, Matt (of the husband-wife team Matt & Enna) approached me about doing some matching envelopes to complete the set.



I adore the way the scrolls wrap around from the front to the back flap of the envelope, it's such a wonderful touch.



In fact, let me say another few words about Matt & Enna; their work is absolutely stunning. I was fortunate enough recently to be at the receiving end of a portrait session with Matt where my husband and I roamed from the Science Museum to the back streets of historic Boston, hunting down perfect backdrops for us. It was casual, fun and really let us be us. They pay just as much attention to each of their wedding couples, and Enna's baby portraits are too precious. For more of their images visit the Grazier Photo blog.



Speaking of babies, another young company, Toby + Rei, came to me in the spring for some hang tags for thier new line of organic children's wear. The original order was for 300 tags (at the time, printed on plantable seed paper), but it wasn't long before they were asking for 300 more. Only last week I shipped them this newest order for 1500 tags. You've come a long way baby! (by the way, their bamboo & cotton baby blankets are the softest, most delicious fabrics I've ever held - we'll definitely have one for our baby when the time comes).



Lastly, one of our favorite local(ish) stationery stores, Scribe Paper in Marblehead, just reordered some business cards. They opened shortly after we started fulltime here at Albertine Press, and it's been our great pleasure to grow alongside Grace, Colleen, Eric and their crew (now in two locations).

So thanks to Matt, Enna, Alanna, Kate, Grace and all of the other businesses out there who choose letterpress to really stand out, and for choosing us to make it happen.

Well hello!

Yes, I've been a bad blogger.

Partly, it's because we've been very busy here at the shop, printing away, working on custom jobs, holiday cards, three (yes THREE) 2009 calendars, and spending most weekends doing craft fairs.

For the first weekend in I don't know how long, I have no responsibilities! It's exciting.

With luck I'll recharge and be ready to get back into it all next week, and start up witht he blogging once again. Lord knows we have lots to share!

Happy fall!

Straight from the oven

The Baked Fresh SOWA open market this Sunday promises to be a really great event. The music will be great, the vendors will be great, the weather will be great. Greatness abouds.

Don't miss out!

Violation of Parking Car-ma

We're long-time apartment-dwellers and seasoned street-parkers, yet we never stop getting frustrated at the inept parking of our neighbors. You know the guy - the one who leaves 3/4 of a parking spot between his car and the end of the street; or the one who parks *right* in the middle of a stretch of curb that clearly should hold two cars.



Instead of scribbling nasty notes on the back of a glove compartment napkin, I finally reprinted the mostly-friendly Parking Car-ma Violations to leave on windshields of offending parkers. Hopefully these people aren't selfish or mean, they just didn't realize what they were doing.



Here's hoping.

Want some? You can find them on Etsy, or from us at one of our local fairs.