Happy Penguin

Identity work for happy penguin press. Can't wait to see the new site!

Cards from the Land of Enchantment

A save the date postcard featuring a Santa Fe streamlined train.
The paper texture of these cards was sublime.

Gray Days

A winter-y charcoal envelope.

Sibling Gift

A ex libris bookplate-- a sweet birthday gift from a brother to a sister.

Evidence of The 700...

A snippet from the 700 envelope project.
They were white, 9 x 12 with script extending almost to both edges.

Lace in the Razor Wire

I pass these doilies in the razor wire every day walking to the subway at 14th and 3rd avenue. Photo via flickr.

Hello again.

Thank you for sticking with me dear readers. I appreciate your patience and forgiveness. In the past two weeks I've addressed 700 envelopes for a noted fashion house. I've also completed work for a very exciting and project that I can't wait to tell you all about in a few months. There are some wonderful collaborations afoot. And also, my hard drive died.

On the first project: I have never addressed this many envelopes at one time, but it turned out to be meditative and fun. I'll share a photo soon. The recipients were...ummm...well, they were all remarkable and accomplished people and it was exciting to know that my work would make its way to their mailbox and hopefully brighten their day. Some days my schedule was slightly ridiculous -- going to Bay Ridge to interview octogenarian ballroom dancers and then coming home to calligraph envelopes addressed to cultural icons. But each involves writing in very different ways, using different parts of my brain. And I'm so grateful that I can do both.

Postal Press 2010 Calendar

Postal Press recently released their 2010 calendar. Could it be more wonderful?

From an exhibit at the Chicago Art Institute

Snow/Moss

Yes, that's right. That's my calligraphy above Kate Moss's head. A bit of my work from a recent corporate identity campaign.

Cinderella Stamps

I sometimes wonder when or if Cinderella stamps will ever catch on for wedding invites/other types of correspondence. Cinderellas look like a postage stamp but do not carry any value -- they are purely decorative. I recently received a package of them in the mail from a friend (thank you, S.!). I'd never given them much thought but these were lovely.

Website Update

I've added some new fall samples to the website. I'm complete smitten with oversized envelopes like the one pictured above. I've found a great source for gigantic envelopes (like 20" x 24"). I love the idea of putting a very small invite in a very gigantic envelope.
'

Snow Trade

I received an email not long ago from a client inquiring about escort cards. She said they would be on "vintage ledger paper." I said "tell me more about the materials you are using!" What resulted was a pretty incredible trade. I did the escort cards (pictured above). And Phyllis sent me boxes of her wonderful wedding decorations, including these amazing chalkboards, to use at my wedding. I'm pretty sure I got the better end of the deal. You can see more of Phyllis and Dan's beautiful wedding, photographed by Sarah K. Chen, over at Once Wed.

Hello Again

Coco Paperie's incredibly kind post inspired me to get back on the saddle and start posting again. A little update for my readers: this past month has been the busiest of my life, between getting married in New Mexico and relocating (during the week) to New York for graduate school. I appreciate you sticking with me. I can't promise daily posts, but I'm aiming for a weekly digest of electronic ephemera, probably on Sunday or Monday. Most of all - happy fall!

Mysterious Letters

Two people decide to write a letter to the entire world, and start with Cushendall, Ireland. It doesn't get any better than this. {via design*sponge}

The Graceful Envelope

Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that only people who travel in calligraphy circles are aware of the Graceful Envelope competition but I think it's just great. Above are some that I especially like from this year.

Also, many of you have asked about calligraphy lessons (specifically, do I give them). Sadly, I don't (nor do I feel qualified) but, if you're in Philadelphia, I highly recommend you head over to the Philadelphia Calligrapher's Society and take a gander at the members who teach. I can give you some specific recommendations if you wish.

Bicycle envelopes

Another great one...

Envelopes that break my heart all over the floor

I found these envelopes celebrating the American Bicentennial. Each one honors a different aspect of...well, what makes America great? I get inexplicably emotional when I look at these envelopes-- something about living in a country that once honored the American Craftsman, Farmer and Homemaker on correspondence...it's too much.

August Favorite: Greta Garbo

It is hard to choose favorite stamps. I have many. So I'm going to try to choose a favorite each month. These Greta Garbo stamps are just stunning. Aside from the the striking image, these stamps are textured-- they are engraved. I've never felt another stamp like it.

Gratitude

I recently wrote one of the most important notes of gratitude of my life. The experience reminded me that I should write these types of expressions more often.