Archive for the ‘letterpress’ Category

The stars at night, are big and bright…

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Deep in the heart of Texas! *clap clap clap*

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Texas, Deep in the Heart / 11×14 3 color letterpress print

Texas Map Detail
detail

Find the Texas print in my shop.

This may very well be the most fun of the maps – the icons for Texas are endless! I have only been to Texas once for a whirlwind one night trip from Chicago to Dallas. It was for a design meeting in October a few years ago. I didn’t get to see much or experience how I would have liked to experience Texas for the first time. Instead of going to some BBQ joint drinking beers and margaritas, we ended up at a chain restaurant. Therefore, I would like to pretend I have never been, so that I can try it again. Everyone always says I would like Austin. Maybe one day, I’ve always wanted to go to South by Southwest.

This print is #3 in a series of prints inspired by vintage road maps and road trips. It’s always good to hit the road in the US of A.
#1 California
#2 Illinois

If you would like to see your state made into a poster, please comment with your email. I may have to take a break from the maps till the National Stationery Show is over, but I am planning to get to: Florida, New York, and Michigan this year.

Let’s run away…

Sunday, January 9th, 2011

I am a huge fan of running away. The truth is, there are some good anchors here in Chicago that keep me grounded. This is a two color postcard I did for Uppercase Magazine Issue #8, which is about letterpress. I am a big fan and subscriber to the magazine. Receiving it in the mail really makes my day and I recommend it to like minded creative folk. I am really glad it’s taking off and doing so well. I am looking forward to seeing what treats from other letterpress printers are in my issue!

Let's Runaway Postcard
4×6 letterpress postcard, printed on my Vandercook #3

Let's Runaway
detail, Let’s Runaway Postcard

As a New Years resolution, I am not going to take on any new custom letterpress clients this year, as much as I do enjoy it. I have decided to not bite off more than I can chew and the National Stationery Show is already nipping at my heels. The show is in mid-May and I have not even really started my new line yet and I really want to put more work into the wholesale aspect of the business. I am also determined to take a few HTML classes in the next few months and the day job has been keeping me on my toes more than anything. I also have a little gallery show at the end of 2011 and really want to do some fine art letterpress prints for it. I want to enjoy 2011 and start taking care of myself. The past few years have been really packed and the only time I ever had a break was when I left the country, which is probably why I like leaving the States so much – it’s my only reprieve from my long days. My lifeboat can’t always be my passport; Although, that does sound nice! If my situation does change, as the world is always throwing things unexpectedly at one these days, I may find myself with more time. Until then, I will continue to keep in mind a good night’s sleep, taking care of myself, and spending the time with the people I care about. Life is too short!

New Adventures in 2011!

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year! I’ve been busy with a few custom orders and trying to wrap everything up before the new year.

Amy + Justin Invites

Amy + Justin Invites, detail

I just wanted to share these Polish Wycinanki inspired wedding invitations I did for a couple in Pittsburgh. I love the colors Amy picked out – they are so much fun! These may have been one of my favorite projects and sort of amazing that all correspondence was done over email. I’ve never worked with a wedding client in a different state, but Amy knew exactly what she wanted. These are printed on #110 Lettra in Pearl White, which gives it such a nice “kiss” on the paper. I love doing wedding invites because you can really show off the letterpress quality.

I want to thank all my customers, friends, family, and clients for a fantastic year. I had no idea I would add 20+ stores to my list, do a huge trade show (and survive, thanks to my booth-mates and always supportive boyfriend, Andrew Lee), travel to several cities for craft fairs, and meet so many wonderful clients all over the country. Thanks for supporting the small guy in an ever growing sea of large companies. It’s a hard world to navigate, but I somehow made it through this year in one piece.

Winner!

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

WinnerBlog
Congrats to Carol! I drew her name for the Illinois Print Giveaway! Her comment was really sweet and touching.

Special thanks to these blogs for featuring my holiday cards recently!

geek + nerd

Pushing Papers

Alright, I am a busy bee the next few days, so I am out of here!

holiday lineup!

Monday, November 15th, 2010

I am currently gearing up for a few holiday shows, which means a lot of late nights. The first show will be next weekend and it’s called the The Handmade Weekend organized by Angel D’Amico-Bauer of a Ad Love. (Love her work!) It will be at 1941 W Division Street and runs both Saturday and Sunday from 11-7pm. Come on out and get a early start on your shopping – plus it’s on Division, which means you can hit up all your favorite stores!
The Handmade Weekend

December 4th and 5th is my favorite holiday show, the Renegade Craft Fair Chicago. I am hoping to pick up some holiday goodies here for family and friends.
Renegade Craft Fair

For the last leg of holiday goodness I will be heading out to one of my favorite cities, San Francisco for Bazaar Bizarre. This is my first time doing the show and aI am looking forward to some Pacific air in these lungs! It’s held at Fort Mason on the water, which is the perfect space for a craft fair.

BB SF

I think next year I am going to have to try to work LA into my travel art plans. I don’t do well with winter and running away is always welcoming, especially if it’s California in the dead of winter. Alright kittens, back to work!

studio happenings

Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Intern needed!
Studio Happenings

I am looking for a design or illustration major to intern at the studio for a few hours a week. I’ve already contacted a few colleges in Chicago, but still looking! I am searching for a dependable person who is interested in the letterpress process, learning the Vandercook #3, light design work, willing to rock out with me (lots of music playing ALL of the time) while folding, scoring, and packaging cards, keeping the mailing list update, light marketing, and learning about wholesale, craft fairs, and day-to-day business. I’d like to have someone starting as soon as possible thru the National Stationery Show in NYC in May. I am all about being flexible as well, as I know with classes and life things tend to jump up. It’s starting to become harder and harder to balance everything on my own and I need to get designing on a new line.

In other news…

Press for Sale!

Yes, it’s with a heavy heart, I’ve decided to sell Olga. I need to make more room in the studio for a paper trimmer and maybe computer work space and now that I have the Vandy, I am not using the C+P as much.
More details here.
Olga Sale

• 12 x18 Press in good working condition with 110 motor
• great for cards, prints, boxes, or coaster printing
• two new recast rollers, plus extra rollers
• extra tympan, chases, and rollers

Time Out Chicago feature!

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Well, this is a little late. I was on a 2-week road trip from London, England to the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland. (more on that later!) Before I left though, I was featured in Time Out Chicago in an article about housewarming gifts! Thank you to Stephanie from Inkling and Time Out Chicago for the feature and great photo set up!

photo c/o Time Out Chicago Magazine

photo c/o Time Out Chicago Magazine

If you happen to be in Chicago please visit Inkling! I am planning on doing lots of my holiday shopping there:
Inkling
2917 1/2 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60657

Vicki + Will

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

When Vicki and Will came to my studio I fell in love with their wedding invitation vision. They are getting married in October at the Morton Arboretum and wanted an organic, illustrative design. After giving them a few options and many font options, (mostly me trying to place the perfect font with the illustration) they went with this design.

VickiandWillBlog_1

VickiandWillBlog_2
© Paper Parasol Press, Two color letterpress print on 140lb paper made from renewable energy, printed on a Vandercook #3

The entire process from start to end was wonderful. Yes, they were my clients, but I felt like it was more of a team effort – as if we were in a design meeting bouncing ideas back and forth. Both Vicki and Will were truly curious in the entire letterpress process. (I even let them pull a sheet or two through Ellie Mae, my Vandercook!) In fact, they paired the invitation with the envelope and designed the entire stacked right side. It’s always nice when a couple comes in together and share the entire wedding planning. Even at the last minute, we pulled a color change on the first color. It was supposed to be a slightly transparent orange, but we decided to go with a more gold tone which allowed the chocolate brown to pop more and show off the details in the leaves and wood grain on the tree. Whereas the orange would have competed and been a little more polarizing.That’s what’s great about custom work – things tend to flow more organically. Thanks, Vicki and Will for the opportunity to let Paper Parasol Press design your invitation and thanks for being a super cute and fun couple to work with! The lucky couple are jetting off to Australia after their wedding and I wish them the best on their new endeavors.

A little Illinois

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

I think wherever a person is from he or she carries a love/hate relationship with the place. In my case, I tend to carry it with me everywhere. When I am away, I start to miss Chicago, but while I am here I long for so many other places. I’m just a restless soul and I think most of us are. Maybe this is why I’ve gotten so many request to do a few states from one person. West Virginia and Florida? Texas and California please! Indiana and what about South Carolina? It a mobile, ever moving world, why stay put? Why not belong to one or two places? Heck, give me three places to call home!

IllinoisBlog_1
Illinois, Meet Me in the Middle / 11 x 14 three color letterpress print on 140lb paper printed on a Vandercook #3

This guy is now in the shop and I will have them at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend in Wicker Park in Chicago. Hope to see you there!

California Print Giveaway!

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

I haven’t had any giveaways in a while, so I think it’s about time! I had a wonderful time in San Francisco at the Renegade Craft Fair and it was fantastic seeing returning customers and meeting new friends.

I love maps, vintage travel brochures, plotting points, and day dreaming about these places. Perhaps it’s rooted in the family road trips we took when we were younger. We were allowed to sit in the front seat only if we were to help navigate (or if we were fighting!). Before our smart phones and GPS systems, we had to plot points and plan. Last year, when I drove to San Francisco from Chicago with two friends, we stopped in Nebraska to debate a detour to Southern Utah’s Goblin Valley and if we would have enough time. Being smart phone-less at the time, we had to figure it out the old fashion way with time we had and the miles we would need to drive. It worked out perfectly and felt entirely archaic, yet accomplished. So, here is the first poster in a series of many inspired by the sense of adventure and travel! And yes, it’s the fine state of California.

California_1
California poster, 11×15, two color letterpress print printed on a Vandercook 3

Here’s how to go about entering:
1.) Become a fan of Paper Parasol Press on our Facebook page.
2.) Make a comment below confirming that you are a fan with you lovely name and last name or last initial. (if you’re already a fan, just leave your name!)
3.) Twitter about this post -and link your twitter below in the comments. Our twitter is: paperparasolprs
4.) Or, blog about this entry and post link below.

* Please make sure your name is linked to the comment, a twitter account, website, email, or blog, so I can contact you if you win!

*Names will be drawn on Monday, August 23 at 8:00pm central standard time and I will contact you via one of the social networking sites for your mailing address!

California_3

California_4
And if you are not from California, but would like your state in a letterpress poster, please tell me what state! Next ones up are: Illinois, New York, and Texas!