Viaggio a Roma

My dearest, beautiful Roma here I come..... for a much needed time with my family.
I will be gone for the all month of July and I wish all of you a wonderful time, wherever you are. I also hope to come back refreshed and rested, with some new links for my city guide. Until then, buone vacanze a tutti!

Detail of Piazza di Pietra.

Summer Garlands by Satsuma Press

After days of gray, wet sky, today the first sunshine felt so good here in Boston. And in a mood for real summer, I like to share this garlands by Satsuma Press for Style Me Pretty wedding blog. She used some cotton ribbons and Japanese tape, simple and playful, in some summery, sunny pictures!

Letterpress and Bookbinding workshop No. 7

Talking about printing, I would like to announce a coming workshop in collaboration with Albertine Press, schedule for the weekend of August 15th and 16th. This one will be our 7th Letterpress and Bookbinding Workshop that Shelley and I have been teaching together and I have to say, they were all very great! There is one day of full design, type hand-setting and letterpress printing and one day of bookbinding. The book structure is Sewing on Tapes, with an exposed spine, as the picture included. We offered the same class in the past and it was one of our favorite. If you are interested, please contact Shelley and the application form is also available on her website. Thank you!

Printing Art Fair 2009

Another wet day here in Boston, but yesterday, despite the rain, printing and demonstrations were no stop at the Museum. A constant crowd of people were in and out during the Sixth Annual Printing Fair. A regular meeting, at this point, for many people in new England. Personally, I was most of the time at my table, talking to near by booth vendors and old and new clients, but much of the events were happening outside with the Steamroller Printing, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Vandercook Proof Press. I stepped outside briefly, but here is a good link for
a series of pictures of the Steamroller in action. All together a great event, just too bad I wasn't feeling very well! Lovely links from the pictures below:
Pressbound, Zoetropa, Albertine Press, Mayday Studio and small detail of the broadside with the tree by Marsolais Press (no website yet, too bad!).

Alissa and Ryan of Horne

When Alissa and Ryan approached me during the past Stationery Show, I thought that they were some of the most lovely couple I've ever met. I recognized their online shop Horne immediately, but I didn't know then what an amazing wedding they had recently. The beautiful pictures below are taken from the post on D*S and I found them so charming. I'm flattered that some of my hand-bound books will be soon part of their careful selection of paper goods. With no doubts, they were some of my favorite encounters at the show, this year!
Next coming show on June 21st, is the Printing Art Fair, hoping to meeting some of you soon....

Two days on the Squam Lake

Truly a dream..... The trip to New Hampshire, the Squam lake, the art fair, the forest, was all a fantastic experience. The art fair, as the end of the workshops session, was for one hour and half only, with people waiting in line to get in the beautiful dining room that hosted the fair. It was a full, intensive one hour and half! The lake surrounded every spot of the camp, with different views of the water wherever you look. The camp site was established in 1897, the old, wood structures are beautiful. Students attending classes were living in these houses, hidden in the forest. The feedback of the Squam Workshops were impressive. I will make sure to write a good proposal for teaching a class there next year. Hopefully it will work!
I have met a lot of amazing people behind some of the work I have been admiring and my friend Jill was next to my table. How could I ask for more? Enjoy some visual notes and a few links below.

Creative Thursday and Jill Bent pillows.


Lizzy House beautiful silkscreen fabric. She told me, that she has been wrapping her fabrics with cotton ribbons for a few years now. Love her prints too!


Jute sack by Designs Maya Made . Her description of the Squam workshops, from the teacher point of view, are worth reading. She was so lovely to meet!
More interesting encounters at the fair: Lauren and Derek from the The Curiosity Shoppe, Lettuce Knit, Lisa Klakulak, Betz White, Caro Sheridan and from far I saw four beautiful children with their mama, so I learned about the blog and books of soulemama.com. Also, notes on the Squam Workshop by Grace of Design Sponge, from last year.

And if all of this wasn't enough, we also saw mountains lions, bears, otters and other animals at the Squam Lake Natural Science Center.

Squam Art Fair

After recovering from the Stationery Show, there is more traveling to do this weekend, toward a beautiful place on the East Coast. If you are in the area, come to visit at the Squam Art Fair and Squam Reverly on Saturday, June 6th from 7:30 pm to 9pm at the Rockywold-Deephaven Camp, Holderness, NH. Organized by Elisabeth, the art fair will take place in the same campus as the Squam Art Workshops by the Squam Lake. And, I have just found out, that we are going to be 34 vendors, with plenty of amazing things on view.
The fair will be taking place in the Deephaven Dining room, building #67 on campus. For further informations here is the direct link to the map. I aspect to meet a lot of wonderful and interesting people that are there attending classes and, at the same time, to be in a calm and relaxing place with my family for the all weekend. I really look forward to that!

Notes on the Stationery Show 2009

Here are some visual notes on the NYC Stationery Show, that ended a week ago. I came back home with the Wall Display Kit by lovely Diva of Linea Carta and I hang on top of my desk some of my favorite business cards from the show. What a brilliant and simple idea for displaying some beautiful paper designs!


A great, comprehensive coverage of the show was done by Nole on her blog and I leave to others much of the presentations that each booth needed. So much beautiful work on paper, it was amazing!
This year I mostly enjoying meeting people at our booth, I have done very little walking around the show, but treasured every single encounters and conversation.
And.... I was happy to finally meet Lotta Jandotter! After working long distance with her in 2005 on the calendarbook, I was waiting for the opportunity to meeting Lotta in person for years. Also It was a pleasure meeting Alyson Kuhn, the writer behind Felt and Wire, someone that again I wanted to meet for a long time. She did a beautiful coverage on a few press kits from the show and I was lucky enough for the attention given to my glassine package. And how lovely is this post by Natsumi?
Below some shots of New York city, details of beautiful booths near by and brief notes on the ICFF I really enjoyed visiting one afternoon. Thank you everyone for stopping by, it was great meeting you all!

Detail of ribbons in our booth #1934 I shared with Shelley and her wonderful baby, Dee and Lala, Linea Carta


Pikku and Small Square Design


Lotta Jansdotter at our booth and beautiful Sub-studio.


Details of ICFF

K Studio.

New from the NYC Stationery Show

It will take me a little bit longer this year to organize my photos and notes from the past NSS, but just quickly I would like to post some pictures of the newest line of greeting cards, just launched at the show. Abc Line Cards, letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper, with an application of Alphabet Brocaded Ribbon, from my collection. Available now in the shop.
Wedding invitation design with the monogram ribbon is also a possibility, any inquiry are welcome!

Susy Pilgrim Waters' news

A new visual blog and a freshly new site by lovely Susy are ready to view. Pretty clear where the images on my top banner are coming from....Enjoy!

National Stationery Show 2009

So here we are, seriously getting ready for the NYC Stationery Show, which starts next Sunday, May 17th until May 20th, at the Javits Convention Center. I will happily share the booth with my friend Shelley of Albertine Press, and once again we will display letterpress greeting cards along with colorful Italian cotton ribbons. Something new, I will launch a line of greeting cards, completely hot from the press, the Numeral brocaded ribbons and our Francobolli Books, which have never been officially presented at any trade show before. Pretty exciting, but it's an incredibly busy time, until we will be there to just enjoy the show! Come to visit, booth no. 1934, I look forward to meeting you all!

Moontree Letterpress cards

I have great admiration for Moontree Letterpress printing and designs and this small line of business cards for etsy sellers seems such a simple, beautiful idea! Love the pink button too!

Our Sunday Spring Show

Our show have past and left us happy about spending a day together, with old and new friends at Jill's lovely home. It was so intimate, calming and exciting at the same time. I hope the few pictures below can give a sense of the overall atmosphere of our Paper and Fabric. Every elements of the house carefully reflects her sensibility and aesthetic, no wonder Jill parents are both artists!
Right in the end of the day, Michelle Willey from South End, came to visit and left with two bags full of our products to carry in her shop. It was a good way to end our spring sale! and my treat of the day, was this hand-made scarf I've happily been wearing since then.
More news to come for the upcoming Stationery Show, which is just around the corner...

Bookhou new coaster

Love the Numeral Ribbon application by Bookhou. As I always admire their work!
Soon, I should also be ready to announce our attendance to the National Stationery Show, booth 1934, just coming in a few weeks. But one step at the time, before I still have the trunk show with Jill tomorrow!


And....how nice is this picture of Bianco e Nero by Pod!

All what I like...

Again from an amazing Japanese shop, Five from the Ground. Beyond the great products, what a beautiful photography! found via simple+pretty.

More books

This picture never made it to the sneak peak of a few weeks ago. But I thought it represent so much of my studio, I wanted to share it here. It's one of the box of the shelf unit that holds some samples binding I bring to my classes. On the same tone, I'm binding new books and getting ready for the coming show this Sunday. Can't wait.....

6th Annual Printing Art Fair and Sea Dog Press

I know it is a long way until June 21st, but the great poster design by Leslie Evans of Sea Dog Press inspired me to write about the event right away. The Printing Art Fair will take place in the Printing Museum in North Andover, MA. As the previous years, I will be there with other vendors, and the following is part of the presentation from Leslie's site. Lots of people came last year from all New England and I hope even more visitors will hear about it this time. Spread the word and see you soon!

Announcing the 6th Annual Printing Arts Fair on Father’s Day, June 21, 2009 at the Museum of Printing located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover, Massachusetts just across from the town common. The Fair is free to the public and runs from 10am to 4pm. Co-sponsored by the Letterpress Guild of New England and the Museum of Printing, it’s the perfect time to learn about the book arts and printing, with papermaking and bookbinding artisans demonstrating their craft. Also on hand are stone lithography, intaglio and letterpress printing demonstrations. And for the first time the fair will present Steamroller Printing in honor of the 100th anniversary of the beloved Vandercook Proof Press.
On display in the big tent and upstairs in the Museum are artwork, stationery, prints, books, decorative papers, crafts, posters, type and letterpress printing equipment from such vendors as Albertine Press, B Designs, Brookfield Paperworks, Carta Inc., Sea Dog Press, May Day Studio, Swamp Press, Sun Hill Press, and Zoetropa. The Museum has a fantastic selection of letterpress items for sale for those wanting to try their hand at printing. Vendors will also be donating items to the raffle that benefits the Museum.

I also would like to add, Leslie Evans completed a beautiful set of illustrations with hand-colored linoleum block prints for the book Faces of the Moon, where my daughter happily posed as a model. The books is available here and more images of this great book in display on her site.

If you are in Boston...

Not to be missed! The 35th Annual William A. Dwiggins Lecture celebrates the legendary designer Hermann Zapf in his ninetieth year. Matthew Carter will assess Zapf’s contribution to type design while Jerry Kelly will present Zapf’s achievement as a master calligrapher. On April 21st, at 6:00 p.m. At the Boston Public Library Rabb Lecture Hall, 700 Boylston Street. Free admission.
Hosted by: The Society of Printers and the Boston Public Library

Spring Line Francobolli Books

After this weekend, spring is really here in Boston! To celebrate it, Bari and I are launching our new spring line of Francobolli blank books, with botanical theme vintage stamps, lighter colors Murillo paper on the cover and the usual pamphlet stitch binding with linen thread. Available in the shop, is perfect as a wedding guest book or as small journal!

Sneak peek on Design Sponge

Welcome to my home! And thank you to Daily Candy for including carta, inc. in their Boston wedding guide.