I just wanted to state the obvious and let everyone know I’m taking a break from blogging for awhile.  We have lots to do in the next couple of months: a big web site update, several new designs are in the works, I have a “new” press to get in production mode, a little more organizing to finish, and much more.

I’m excited about the changes we have in mind for 2010, so I hope you’ll just stay tuned and have a fabulous Fall while we get it all sorted out for you!

Stay cozy!
Tara

We were proud to participate in a print exchange to honor the first 100 years of Vandercook printing presses.  Organized by Paul Moxon of the ever-so-helpful Vanderblog, 100 printers pledged to each design and produce an 8.5×11″ broadside celebrating the Vandercook Centenary (1909-2009).

The deadline was August 16th, which happens to be R.O. Vandercook’s birthday — and funnily enough — our own Vandercook’s birthday!  According to the records, Ephemera’s Vandercook SP-15 test press was originally shipped on 8/16/1966 to the National Printing Company in Buffalo, NY.

A drawing of what our press looks like.  Ok… this one is a lot shinier.

Above is our submission to the print exchange.  Get it?!  No??!!  Then you must never have had the pleasure of printing on a Vandercook.  When printing, you continually switch between its “trip” and “print” settings.  I know, I know.  It’s a real knee slapper.  We used a combination of wood type and photopolymer plates, and printed it in 4 runs on lovely gray Magnani Pescia paper with a deckled bottom edge.  I absolutely love deckled edges.

The best part about having participated in the exchange is that sometime soon, I’m going to get a set of all 100 prints in the mail.  Paul has been updating the gallery on his web site as the submissions roll in.  Here are some of my favorites:

From top, left, submissions from: Uno in Los Angeles, CA ; Pellinore Press in Baltimore, MD; Studio 204 in Dallas, TX; and Parallel Press in Fairfax, CA.

You can view all the submissions here.  I am so excited to see them all in person, and have tons of new artwork for framing.

Yay, Vandercook!

Tara

Oops.  I’ve been away.  What can I say?  It’s been so nice and sunny, and I’ve been taking care of a few big things on “project status.”  But we’ve been working on some fun things that are now starting to get printed, so look out!

I recently discovered that my neighbor, Carol Richardson Marty, is also in the wedding business — she is the Carol behind Carol’s Creative Confections!  One day she told me about her business and said that sometimes she has — WAIT FOR IT — extra cake. And could she bring some by. I almost fainted.  Seriously.  You know how I feel about cake! Look:

Carol’s newest creation are the Cake Balls pictured above — small balls of cake wrapped in delicious chocolate goodness. Available in a variety of flavors, these moist bites of cake heaven will melt in your mouth. And because they are deliciousness rolled into a small package, they are easy on the budget and the waistline! Learn more at www.carolscreativeconfections.com.

LOVE the Spaghetti & Meatballs cupcakes, and the artist’s palette!

Carol was kind enough to donate some of her Cake Balls for Paperpalooza on July 11th.  Speaking of that, it was a big hit, but we still have things leftover — I am sure we’ll be advertising Paperpalooza-twooza soon.

Thanks again Carol!

–Tara

Every day I walked into my little office this month, I’ve been greeted by these cheerful cherries on my wall calendar.  And wow has this July been all about the cherry!  We’ve had a record crop here in Washington, and I have definitely been taking advantage.  Cherries are my absolute favorite fruit.  The little open air produce stand near my house has had amazing sweet red cherries and Rainiers for a steal.  I’ve bought between 2 and 4 pounds a week for the last month!  And Dave does not eat cherries (what is that about?).  It’s all got me very full and feeling inspired to make some cherry-themed stationery in time for next cherry season.

The calendar is one of my favorite things in our house.  I picked it up at a book arts festival several years ago.  It’s a gorgeous collaboration of several designers and artists from the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle.  It’s actually a perpetual calendar, so it’s great for keeping track of dates that never change — birthdays, anniversaries, etc. — and you can leave it up forever. It’s page after page of complex, hand-cut linoleum block prints.  Every month is interpreted beautifully. I have never actually been able to bring myself to write in it, of course!

July by Tracy Guza; Cover by Jenny Wilkson; June by Kerrie Satava

Happy summer!
Tara

Whitney, Michelle, Heather and I spent allllll daaaay in a warm room lovingly bundling, stickering, grouping and color-coordinating a TON of paper for Paperpalooza tomorrow!

If you are crafty, DIY-inclined, a paper-lover, and in the downtown Seattle area tomorrow, please do stop by!  Even if you’re not nearby, it’s totally going to be worth the trip.  You will make out like a bandit. Details here.

I’m exhausted — time for pizza and brews.  See you tomorrow!

–Tara

If I took a photo of the closet to my left, you would be shocked (and I, shamed).  It is filled to the brim with boxes of envelopes… Envelopes in all kinds of shapes, sizes in colors like Aquamarine, Sage, Violet, Chartreuse.  There are literally thousands of them — all leftover from previous projects.

Enter PAPERPALOOZA to the rescue!  We, along with 3 other local stationery designers, are hosting Paperpalooza — a can’t-miss, veritable paper feast this Saturday, July 11th.

And it’s not just envelopes…  We’re clearing out rolls of fine ribbon, beautiful handmade papers from India, Italy, Japan — all at way-below-retail prices.  This is a great opportunity for all you DIY brides, scrapbookers, crafters, and assorted paper fiends!

DETAILS:

Date and Time: Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: Real Card Studio 117 First Avenue North, Seattle (enter from the alley between 1st Avenue and Queen Anne Avenue North)

RED ALERT:

The first 20 people to email sale@mmmpaper.com will receive an invitation to our EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW HOUR from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM! Get first pick of all the goodies! Coffee and Cupcake Royale cupcakes will be served.

Hosted by Brown Sugar Design, Ephemera Custom Letterpress, mmm…paper, and Real Card Studio

Awhile back I finally got ahold of a font of wood type — it was in great condition and a serious steal.  They are pretty large — about 3 inches high — so they work well for monogram cards or invitations with a bold look.

It was fun playing around with the type and remembering how to lock everything up so that  it prints just where I want it to.  There is definitely more planning required and more limitations imposed than printing with photopolymer plates, and I definitely felt a little out of practice.

But I just love the worn out left edge of that capital “A” and the funky texture of the type — especially the overprinted areas.  If you love it as well, let us know — we can certainly design a project for you that uses our antique wood type.  I’m always looking for more to add to the collection…

Goodbye!
Tara

Have I told you about how every time I get an order of envelopes addressed by Brigitte I want to keep it?  I’m not a hoarder by nature, and logically I know that I have no use for envelopes addressed to other people’s friends, but when I see this kind of beautiful, I can’t help but want to steal one:

I mean, look at the “ss” in Massachusetts.  They are so cutely disconnected.

At least I can find and then hoard these vintage stamps .  Thanks for the images, Sophie and Andre!

–Tara

I just started a new calligraphy class with Brigitte — this time I’m learning Blackletter!

I am so bad about creating projects for myself to stay in practice.  I think it’s because there is something almost too-permanent about ink on paper.  It’s hard to commit!   However, for quite awhile I’ve wanted to design a last-name-logo for Dave and myself, and this would be a really fun hand to use for that.  Then sometime next year after we (hopefully!) move, I want to get it made into an obnoxiously-large custom return address stamp.  If it goes well, I think such a stamp will become my “signature housewarming gift.”  Cute, right?

This is my miniature inspiration board for our stamp:

Blackletter Alphabet by amazing calligraphy genius, Ward Dunham; Return Address Stamp by the wonderful Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls.

In the meantime, here’s some homework:

Yikes… I really need to work on that Z…

–Tara