NYC Stationery Show

After months of long days and nights preparing for the National Stationery Show, I'm finally ready to pack and leave tomorrow for NYC. I'm launching the Italian Cotton Ribbons to the show, in larger rolls and spools, no paper or design at all. But even though I thought it was going to be something easier, I couldn't be more wrong. It took long ours of work in designing invitations, color charts, catalogues, line sheets, ordering form and samples packs, something I completely underestimated the time they could take.
I will share the booth with my friend Shelley of Albertine Press, so we hope it will be a nice combination of colored ribbons and letterpress greeting cards! She is launching some beautiful, new lines of cards in her self built booth, and I was amazed to see how easy and natural it was for her to deal with building something so big! I barely helped, she did all the work with paint, drill and hammer! Something, I'm incredibly grateful for!
Looking forward to this amazing experience, if you are there, come to visit us at booth 1934!

New at Bari Zaki

New services at beautiful barizaki.com:
For those of you seeking a sumptuous something, we are at the ready, from snapping photos of objects in the studio not shown on the website, to gift-wrapping & calligraphing. For special orders, we offer samplers of silk and paper swatches for you to view prior to ordering your custom albums, boxes and books.
Photos by Michelle Litvin.

Snippets and Ink

Thank you to Kathryn of Snippets and Ink for including the cotton ribbons on her wedding inspiration board. The color combination looks lovely!

A book from Japan

Lately, work, only means getting ready for the Stationery Show in NYC. Except some teaching and a few trips to the park with my children, one enjoyable distraction came in the mail, today. I have ordered a beautiful Japanese book from Pomadour24 and it is more inspiring then aspected. I love Japanese aesthetic, the simplicity and photography in the book are amazing. There are plenty of more books to order through the same site, on different subjects. The book here listed, is about eraser stamping on any kind of surface. Which it also reminded me of the charming stamping work on cotton ribbons, done by Caroline of Paloma's Nest.





The following image from Paloma's Nest.

For the love of letterpress

A great article came out on Step Inside Design magazine, with the title For the love of Letterpress. A friend of mine Leslie Evans of Sea Dog Press is feature in the article, along with Katie Harper and Karen Battles of B Design. Leslie will present her work at Surtex, for the first time this year. As we are both getting ready for the shows in May, I enjoyed reading: Letterpress is like that. It involves multiple senses and thus connects us more closely with both process and results. We touch the type, the paper, the plate; we smell the ink; we feel the impression; we see the three-dimensionality. And we strive for that just-right “kiss” impression that affirms our love of this timeless craft.

Some beautiful prints, illustration and wood engraving by Leslie Evans are in display here below.

Limited edition, Workshop part 2

Another wonderful workshop in collaboration with Albertine Press during the past weekend. Thank you to all the students for coming and for adding their creativity to our work.

Terrain

Today, 2500 meters of cotton ribbons are landing to the new Urban Outfitters home and garden concept store called Terrain, to be sold in their wrapping department! They are launching the new store, opening tomorrow, by: "transforming the local garden center into an experience that celebrates the beauty and abundance of nature while offering an eclectic mix of garden-inspired products tailored for the contemporary customer". What attracts me is also the idea of "a comfortable atmosphere that includes a leather sofa and a coffee bar serving upscale La Colombe coffee". I think the new store will be great. As usual, I would have liked to deliver the order myself!
For the full article about Terrain here is the link, also Oh Joy have posted about the new store opening near Philadelphia.

Spring Trunk Show

Lovely time at Essex, Connecticut during the Trunk Show at Weekend Kitchen! The shop has a unique collection of home and kitchen goods and I have spent special attention in trying to see everything the store carries. There is so much to see! The owner Nancy is a pleasure to talk to and I was lucky to meet other artists and designers that came to visit the show from different area of CT. Also, what a pleasure all the little towns along the Connecticut River Valley, full of Antique shops and flowers along the roads. Below, a collage of pictures of Essex, including the old, steam train. Thank you very much everyone for coming!

Roma city guide

Today the Roma city guide came out on Design Sponge. It was beautiful to organize and write about information I have collected over the years. Writing a guide about the city I'm from and where I feel I still belong, was also very emotional. Many places are the ones I go every time I'm back home, and there is a certain walking route in the guide, which is exactly the one I do every time. I like to recognize places, they are so familiar and so part of me. I like to find and feel the same light, the same colors and taste of places I love. It has been a real pleasure to share them. After over ten years living in the US, I'm certainly still feel from Rome!
I also would like to thank my dear friend Krishna for editing the text and other friends for pointing out some great gelato places I'm sure I will try on my next trip.

I would like to add many thanks to all the people that left a comment on Design Sponge. There are so many new information about Rome that needs to be read and some comments were so incredibly kind! Thank you!

Detail of a courtyard in Via Giulia.

xoxox Francobolli cards

New on my shop, a series or Francobolli cards, designed in collaboration with Bari Zaki. Vintage stamps on Medioevalis Fabriano paper, with black ink calligraphy. For full series of designs available in the Francobolli line cards, please visit Bari's shop at her lovely B-zaar.