edizioni

24 hours in NYC

2012-02-01T11:59:00.005-05:00

The trip to NYC was fast and intensive. But 24 hours in the city and a day spent at the NYIGF it felt as an intere week past by. I'm back to my studio rushing to ship last minute valentine orders and new products. The show is still on until tomorrow and I miss being at our new booth and meeting tuns of people every day. The show was an incredible inspirations to me.... and what a pleasure meeting Yumiko Sekine and Shanna Murray in person, among many other amazing designers! Thank you everybody that took the time to visit us!

Wholesale catalogue 2012

2012-01-27T10:05:00.004-05:00

Wholesale Catalogue 2012 ready and updated with new colors ribbon and new products. See you soon at booth #4120 if you are coming to NYC!

Product preview

2012-01-26T10:57:00.013-05:00

Something I'm excited about the NYIGF is to launch wholesale the Vintage Glassine Sets this weekend. The idea came with the first glassine I saved over the summer and I slowly developed a simple packaging for a set of 30 assorted envelopes. They are all different, some with old calligraphy, catalogue numbers and some just plane. They are in several sizes and shapes and they varies in shades of cream/white color. As the vintage stamps, they are also from all over the world. I believe, this variation in each set is what makes them unique. and Susy's calligraphy on the labels..... let me know what you think. Also new at the show, Chocolate and Sage cotton ribbons, in 6mm width. Now the collection of large spools of 400 meters, presents 10 colors. I'm pretty excited about this too.

Ny International Gift Fair

2012-01-25T12:06:00.007-05:00

Starting this Sunday the 29th until February 2nd, our booth # 4210 will be at the NYIGF, Studio Division. It is us again, Albertine Press, Carta, Inc. and May Day Studio, but in a brand new booth. Designed and created by Shelley with a new industrial style to enjoy. It was fun to photograph a preview of our booth at Shelley's studio and have the feeling of its look once it will be constructed. All three of us will launch new products for 2012, but mostly, I'm excited of showing everything under a new prospective that will propose individually our work with a different light. Come to visit us and see. Thanks Shelley for all the hard work!

Announcing...

2012-01-24T09:21:00.003-05:00

I wrote down, with Nada`help, all the names from the comments on the blog and likes and comments on FB. There were quite a lot of names! I drawn from two separate set of names and the winners are Viva B. and Peg Nocciolino. Please email me your address and I will send a copy of the Calendarbook asap. Thank you so much for following what I do and supporting my work. It truly makes a difference to know you are there!

The event

2012-01-23T12:17:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday snowed all day during the time of the event and I was so happily surprise when some friends, clients and other designers actually brave the cold and walked in the studio for the giveaway. I hope they found a warm welcome with Italian chocolate, espresso and lots of cheers. The online giveaway is still on until this evening and you can see a bit more of the Calendarbooks in the photos below. If you remember the post of the wood spools dye by hand in the fall, you can guess that the same idea of rolling ribbon, brought me the inspiration to use a strip of paper for our project. Silvana brilliantly designed the Calendarbook as a piece to measure time as well as space, based on 1 meter length of paper. Six months on one side and six on the other, each centimeter listed with date and day of the week. The paper tape is rolled around the spool and secured with metal eyelets and linen thread. To complete the object, I look for some Kraft paper boxes and brought 150 of them in a suitcase to Rome. If custom would ever stop me at the airport, would certainly wonder what do I ever do with these kind of materials back and forth from one country to another. But it is part of the fun of our collaboration. A big thank you to everybody that came on Saturday. Facebook and blog winner will be announced tomorrow, so please continue to let me know what you think of this project!

Measuring tape or calendar?

2012-01-17T11:15:00.010-05:00

Metro di carta o calendario?
All photos by Nada` Alaeddin, my 11 old daughter that is quickly learning how to use the camera with an interesting prospective. So lucky to have her help at the studio! Thank you for all the comments so far, the blog giveaway is still on for another week. On facebook too, where all page likes and comments count.

Calendarbook giveaway party

2012-01-16T12:18:00.015-05:00

I'm working on the final assembling of the Calendarbooks by Edizioni Almenodue. Schools are closed today, so Nada` is kindly helping me to punch holes and putting eyelets on the strips of paper. As every year, Silvana and I design the self-promotional piece in the fall, it gets offset printed the last week of December in Rome and copies of the Calendarbooks comes back to the US in my suitcase. Sorry if the calendar is always a present closer to valentine's day, rather than the end of the year, but the best wishes for 2012 have the same good intentions. The design, this year, is particularly close to me, growing up with my mother being a seamstress and remembering the measuring tape always on her shoulder. I will slowly reveal the calendar in the next days, but I like to keep it as a surprise for the ones that will have the time to stop by the studio next Saturday from 1 to 5 and pick up their copy. Instead of only sending the calendars via mail and a giveaway online, this year, I thought to have a small get together at the studio, to bare the cold and to meet some of you in person. If you have time and you live in the Boston area, please come by and say hello! Otherwise, leave a comment on the blog, facebook or both, by Monday the 23rd and I will announce a winner the following day. Thank you everyone for your precious support, I wish you could all come to visit! everyone is invited, bring a friend!

Roma, part 3

2012-01-12T10:21:00.005-05:00

I took lots of Polaroids during the trip, but I don't want to overwhelm you with more photos of Rome. I hope these few images captured a sense of eternal city. Briefly, I would like to point out a few places that strike me the most. Appia Antica, one afternoon almost at sunset, the interior of Ristorante Gusto and my old apartment building, where I grow up, where from the three third floor windows, I could see the cupola of San Pietro. Every time I go back there, I almost cry.
I'm planning next week a Calendarbook giveaway here on the blog, on facebook and personally at my studio. Check back soon, the Calendarbook, this year, is a real surprise!

Roma, part 2

2012-01-11T09:15:00.007-05:00

More polaroids. This app is great and I used it all along the trip, forgetting about my camera. Rome almost had a different prospective thought this light.

Roma, part 1

2012-01-10T09:23:00.016-05:00

I'm awake since 5 a.m. with strong jet leg and still the sound of the plane in my ear. Two weeks on the other side of the ocean feel as a long time and I know it will take me a few days to recover and feel at home again. The air is so clean and the light so different in this part of the world, the landscape is stunning. Missing Rome, my family and tons of people/friends we met during this trip. Back to my studio and to work, I hope you all had a nice beginning of the year. Here is a first glimpse of the trip and slowly, I'm sure, I will have much more to share.

Buone feste!

2011-12-23T09:49:00.007-05:00

I'm clearing up my desks and packing some presents, before locking the studio in a few hours. We are leaving to spend time with our family in Rome and I really look forward to take a little break and come back refreshed and ready for the new year. I will work in Rome with Silvana on our annual Calendarbook and I'm very excited about our new project this year. After many, many collaborations, I still enjoy every moment we can spend together designing in our parents home. Same building, same room. It is so familiar and it brings me back in time with deep memories. As usual, copies of the printed Calendarbooks will arrive to the US in my suitcase! You will see, it is going to be great! stay tune for a giveaway in my studio, as well as online, as soon as we come back. The studio and shop will be closed from today, December 23rd, until January 11th. My best wishes for a wonderful holidays and happy new year! thank you so much for your continued support and much inspiration this past year. See you back in 2012!

Stivali rossi in Piazza Chigi, Roma, Gennaio 2011.

Cotton Ribbon applications, part 4

2011-12-21T10:04:00.025-05:00

Through the year I collect images of different projects where I see the use of our line of cotton ribbons and twine. This time I also wanted to add the vintage stamps to the collection and show you different ways to use these products, ether to decorate, bookbinding, wrapping and styling from several designers. I posted before many projects during the years and up until now I'm thrilled every time I see something new. It is what motivates me to continue to find and provide new materials. I love to see how people will use it! All the following photos and projects are by the designers and/or stylists listed below. Thank you to everyone that contributed! But if you have something that you made and would like to post it online, you can do so by sharing the images on the studio's facebook wall. I would LOVE to see it!

Do Design Madrid

Flora and Ceres

MacMaster and Storm

Bookhou

Terrain

Moontree Letterpress

Oblations Papers and Press

Swiss Cottage Designs

Campbell Raw Press

Jill Bent

Oh Meaghan

May Day Studio

Sycamore Street Press

Albertine Press

Katy Elliott

Work in progress

2011-12-19T13:22:00.006-05:00

Do you remember the quick post about the vintage glassine? with some small variation, I will launch them wholesale in the winter 2012 and here is a preview of the calligraphy by Susy Pilgrim Waters that I will use for the label. Always a pleasure to work with Susy!

Appunti

2011-12-14T10:55:00.012-05:00

Sorry the lack of post in the last week, but only now I'm recovering from several holidays shows done all within a few days. I took many photos and choose only some to give an glimpse of the places I have been. Particularly during the show at 36 Shea, I loved the warm afternoon light of Jill's kitchen. The simplicity of her aesthetic always strikes me all through small details around her house. Then some photos taken during an espresso break at South End Buttery and beautiful Union Park Street. Thank you for everyone that came to visit us during the shows and stay in touch in 20121

Note, the hanging calendar is by Flora Douville. Love it.

Paper and Fabric 2011

2011-12-09T12:43:00.009-05:00

Our last trunk show of the season, to the South End Boston, at Michelle Willey. Our annual Paper and Fabric, the show at Gracie Finn and Sowa Market all in the same block. There is going to be a lot to see! Jill Bent and I will be at Michelle Willey
Saturday, December 10th from 11 to 6
Sunday, December 11th from 12 to 5. Hope you can make it!

Invite design and photo by Studio Carta.

Festa in bianco e nero

2011-12-08T11:39:00.015-05:00

Before having a digital camera, I used to take most of my photos in black and white. This time, I thought to possibly turn them again into an old film. I also hardly ever post pictures of people, but the other day was a celebration for all who came and enjoyed food, paper and caffe` with us! Thank you to Colleen for the amazing catering and to Jill for some of the following pictures. It was an unforgettable day for me and thank you everyone for coming! my only regret, not having my camera on during the all party, instead of only in the first hour!

Announcing...

2011-12-06T10:09:00.011-05:00

The studio party was wonderful. So many people came to visit and I was so incredibly happy and tired by the end of the day. I will have some photos soon, but first I would like to thank everyone that participated on the giveaway, wishing us luck for the first year anniversary. My daughter wrote all the names last night, and I pick the winner just a few minutes ago, from the linen bag. Doing this always remind me of playing tombola/bingo during the holidays, when I was little. The winner is Juliette, now living in Germany. Please send me your mailing address at mail@angelaliguori.com and I will send you the package right away on my next trip to the post office. And If you are wondering about the linen bag in the photo, is hand-made and from one of my favorite store in Rome called C.U.C.I.N.A. They sell it for storing bread. I go there every time I'm back home and I always find something unique. Thank you everyone again for the comments and more news to follow....

Before and After

2011-12-02T11:26:00.012-05:00

I'm very excited to see the studio makeover featured on D*S and I particularly thank Kate Pruitt for working with me on the post. She worked on the editing and making sure my English was ok for the post to go live. I only had a few hours to write the description! Here are some more photos of the studio and off I go to get ready for the big day tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the comments on Design Sponge and to the giveaway, which it is still on until Monday, December 5th. See some of you tomorrow.......

Vintage glassine

2011-11-28T11:40:00.010-05:00

I hope you all had a fun, long weekend and thank you to all the people that left a message on the giveaway post! There is another week to submit your entry and I see a busy week head of me getting ready for the event. I'm going through every shelf in the studio and basement to organize and I found a lot of glassine envelopes, I saved this summer, that used to store the stamps for the big order. They are all sort of sizes and shapes, with old calligraphy, pencil marks and catalogue numbers. They seem part of the history as well as the vintage stamps, so I sort them into packages of 30 envelopes and made them available in the shop and the upcoming holidays shows!

Giveaway

2011-11-21T15:12:00.005-05:00

While I'm learning how to use Instagram and having fun, I would like to announce a giveaway. Because not all of you that follows my blog live in the Boston area, I would like to do a giveaway to extend my thank you, for our first year studio anniversary, to all the readers that won't be able to come. It's a thank you gift that I will mail the week of December 5th to the winner. Please leave a comment and I'll send anywhere in the world a 2012 Calendar, a wood spool of chartreuse ribbon and some vintage stamps for your holiday wrapping. Thank you for all of your constant support, I wish you could all come to celebrate with us!

Save the date

2011-11-18T09:15:00.009-05:00

Sorry the lack of posts in the last week, but I'm working hard on holidays orders and getting ready for the upcoming events in December. The season will start with our studio anniversary party on December 3rd. Right after, on Sunday the 4th, I will be at Jill Bent's house in Cambridge for a holiday sale with other vendors. On December 10th and 11th, Union Park Street in South End~Boston will be busy with several of us vendors, both at Michelle Willey for the annual Paper and Fabric and at Gracie Finn. More details will follow, but for now, I leave you with Susy's invitations for the event and I hope to see some of you soon!

Studio Carta first year!

2011-11-14T12:33:00.007-05:00

It is official! We are having a studio anniversary celebration on Saturday, December 3rd, from 12 to 5 pm. Everyone is invited, please stop by if you are from the Boston area or like to come from far. Espresso and treats will be served. It has been a busy year, full of excitement, hard work and long, quite hours spent in this sunny studio in Brookline. Studio Carta won't exist without your support and inspiration, please come, I would love to celebrate with you all!

Oliver Jeffers illustrations

2011-11-08T10:31:00.005-05:00

It's no surprise I love children books. And yesterday when my boy brought home a book from the school library, I was completely fascinated with this story and illustrations by Oliver Jeffers. I had to read more about his work and I found out he recently moved to Brooklyn. Looking at his illustrations and hand-writing made my day!

Pikku Ribbons

2011-11-07T13:05:00.009-05:00

...freshly silkscreen printed just arrived on my desk. And soon available again in the shop and at holidays trunk shows. Also at Pikku beautiful shop.

Amanda McCavour

2011-11-04T09:17:00.006-04:00

I saw something amazing today, found via Bookhou (one of my favorite morning reads), work by Amanda McCavour. I was even more impressed when I read her Artist Statement and realized she only use thread and a sewing machine!

In my work, I use a sewing machine to create thread drawings and installations by sewing into a fabric that dissolves in water. This fabric makes it possible for me to build up the thread by sewing repeatedly into my drawn images so that when the fabric is dissolved, the image can hold together without a base. These thread images appear as though they would be easily unraveled and seemingly on the verge of falling apart, despite the works actual raveled strength.
I am interested in the vulnerability of thread, its ability to unravel, and its strength when it is sewn together. I am interested in the connections between process and materials and the way that they relate to images and spaces. Tracing actions and environments through a process of repetition, translation and dissolving, I hope to trace absence. My work is a process of making as a way of tracing and preserving things that are gone, or slowly falling apart.

Do~ Madrid

2011-10-31T12:00:00.006-04:00

I'm always excited to see the final destination of our products and I really like the information I received yesterday from Lucia, owner of a new shop in Madrid called Do. When she contacted me during the summer, the shop was still a work in progress, but the description of a shop focused on the creation of a space integrating Art, Fashion, and Design was very appealing. And I love the result: the white brick wall, the light color interiors, the stripes curtains, and the metal round tables for the cafe`. Do opened its door a few days ago and I only could wish I was there during the inauguracion!

New colors, spools of 400 meters, 6mm width ribbons

2011-10-25T19:25:00.010-04:00

I took me a bit of time to obtain the photos I liked to launch the new colors cotton ribbons in the 6 millimeters width. They were not that easy to photograph. The rolls are large with 400 meters of ribbons around a cardboard spool and I tried different backgrounds. Then again the Lettra Paper it's what it gives me a warm white and a nice texture to work with. New spools in 8 different colors are available for wholesale orders: Natural, Marigold, Melon, Red, Chartreuse, Pool, Iron and Black. Free domestic shipping until November 15th. If you are interest in smaller spool of 5 yards ribbon, please visit the listing on the shop. And let me know if you need to see any samples, I'm always glad to assist you!

Stripes and Field

2011-10-25T14:57:00.008-04:00

I've been following Elisabeth letterpress stationery and invitations, since the first time I visited her studio, right after I moved to Boston in 2006. Her company, once called Black Pearl Press, always had a striking simplicity I loved. More recently she launched Stripes and Field and I'm excited to see what she will use the cotton ribbons for, every time her orders come in my mailbox. Today she sent me the link to her new wood boxes of stationery, tied with loose weave ribbon. I thought they are so elegant with the black on unfinished wood!

A visit...

2011-10-19T14:36:00.005-04:00

Rainy day this morning and a small group of students from the New England Institute of Art came for a presentation on book structures and design. And to remind me how much I love what I do! Thank you for coming to my studio, here are some quick photos taken during the visit.

Last minute invitations

2011-10-17T09:49:00.009-04:00

I designed the invitations with one week turnaround. Besides the pressure of completing and delivering the project, from start to finish, within 7 days, it was nice to see the letterpress printing on the 2-ply Lettra Paper. A beautiful thick paper I'm sure to use again in the future!
Printing, perfectly executed, by Albertine Press.

Calendar 2012

2011-10-13T11:08:00.008-04:00

Very excited to announce the last part of my collaboration with Moontree Lettepress for this fall. A limited edition calendars 2012 is available in both our shops and feels quite an accomplishment!
The calendars are letterpress printed on 100% recycled cotton paper, tree-free and hand-bound with 6 mm chartreuse cotton ribbons, the 12 months are divided into four pages, each with a different design and printed in 2 or 3 colors. The calendar measures 5.5 x 8 inches. We added a new pattern for the spring months, from the series of designs from the Leaf and Straw books. Thank you to everyone that followed our collaboration all the way through in the last months, we hope you enjoy it. We certainly did!

8 Ottobre

2011-10-11T13:52:00.004-04:00

A walk close to home on October 8, my favorite day of the year. Love autumn!

Leaf and Straw books, part three

2011-10-07T11:09:00.003-04:00

The collaboration with Moontree Letterpress, started a few months ago, is almost coming to an end. The three books are now ready on the shelf of our studios and available in Rebecca's shop and mine. Pretty fun to collaborate on the project with miles apart, but many emails and postal parcels played well their role.
So here there are! Three designs hand-bound books, letterpress printed in 2-colors, hand-bound with linen thread. 30 sheets of Mohawk Superfine paper on the text block and three colors combination to chose from. Books are available also in Set of Three.
While I'm writing, the front of my studio is having a new color of paint! so excited about a new look, without the green and light blue that were here before, that I have never chose. October seems already full of news, more soon.....

My desk this morning

2011-10-05T09:48:00.006-04:00

A beautiful light is coming in and a full day head. Here is a quick preview of the calendar collaboration with Moontree Letterpress coming soon.....

Finding Inspiration....

2011-10-03T14:31:00.005-04:00

I think I visited Studio M site before, but can't remember exactly. There are so many little photos that inspired me.

Ready!

2011-09-27T15:15:00.008-04:00

The wood spools are now ready with 5mm cotton ribbons and available in the shop. They are quite charming in their 2 inches tall spools and easy to photograph in this warm light of early fall. For extensive wrapping and packaging, the same 5mm ribbon is available in large spools of 400 meters, let me know if you would like to receive the wholesale catalogue. I hope you will enjoy them!

Wood spools

2011-09-21T11:24:00.008-04:00

I'm working on a new product for the fall that started with some wood spools, but they were too light or too new to look the way I wanted them to be. So I decided to dye them with some black tea I bought years ago in the Souk of Aleppo, Syria. I like the result and I will soon finish what I have in mind. Lots of memories from the time spent in that ancient city, I needed to pull out some photos from the trip. More news to come on the new product and enjoy the first day of fall. It is sunny and warm here today, but I know it won't last for long....

Brides Magazine ~press

2011-09-16T11:24:00.006-04:00

Cotton ribbon on the wedding cake? I like the idea of this rustic cake with the Natural ribbon on burlap. Thank you Brides!
and more photos of our collaboration at Moontree Letterpress, this morning. The books prototype arrived! I look forward to this weekend, I hope it is a good one for all!

Leaf and Straw Books, part two

2011-09-13T10:15:00.010-04:00

The third cover of the books arrived freshly printed from Moontree Letterpress and I quickly worked on binding the first copies of our prototype. Then, ready to ship some of the books back to her for photo shoot. The story will continue, until our limited edition will be photographed, all the copies bound and soon in our shops. Along the hand-bound books, we are working on a small run of 2012 calendars, that I'm very excited about. A preview can be seen here, but until then, back to work!

Children stamps

2011-09-09T12:20:00.005-04:00

Working on a custom order this time, I went though lots of vintage stamps and selected some lovely ones as a little tribute to children. My favorite: white dots on light blue, Danmark 1954! and yours?

Back to school

2011-09-08T11:51:00.015-04:00

It has been a busy summer, mostly working, really, and I find myself planning for the fall already. Since school started, three days ago and it has been raining ever since, summer seems already gone. And my little one managed to start first grade with a broken arm, in a cast! While I wait for the sun to come back, I found these photos of the two playing with boxes in my studio a few weeks ago. They were actually elaborating a possible halloween costume as a postal parcel. Something very appropriate in our studio life!And happy birthday Nada`, today she turns eleven!

Mare

2011-09-01T11:36:00.009-04:00

Feeling summer is passing by way too quickly, remembering a day spent at Marblehead. Need to go back, maybe this weekend? please summer don't end so fast!

Francobolli

2011-08-25T10:42:00.010-04:00

I'm spending days after days of what it feels as the all summer, sorting through vintage stamps for an order that I will announce soon. My collection of postage stamps extended incredibly, and I'm still amazed about what I can find everyday. The design is so intricate and delicate at the same time for such a small piece of paper. Within the boxes I also find some treasures: little packages of stamps tight together with thread from an avid collector. So beautiful I had to photograph some of my favorite!

Last photo credit to my daughter Nada`.

Leaf and Straw Books

2011-08-18T11:21:00.006-04:00

It has been a few months since I started a collaboration with Rebecca of Moontree Letterpress on a set of three hand-bound books. Now I have some of the fist covers of the books printed and ready to bind. Since I have met her at the stationery show a few years ago, I was always inspired to find a way to collaborate together on some project. But It wasn't until I saw these ex-libris on her blog, that the right idea came to mind. I created the patterns with leaf and straw by only working with black and white on the screen, and it makes me so happy to see now the beautiful texture and colors of letterpress. Rebecca is printing soon the third cover of the books set and a calendar 2012 is also in the process, so more news to come. I'm so grateful to work with her on a collaboration that looked to be fun since the beginning! Thank you Rebecca for finding the words to describe how much we learn and get inspired behind our screens!

5 mm ribbons ~new colors~

2011-08-10T14:47:00.012-04:00

Launching this weekend at the NYC Gift Fair are the new colors of the 5 millimeters ribbons, custom made in Italy in some of my favorite colors: Chartreuse, Pool and Melon. Good for endless packaging and gift wrapping, the ribbons comes in large spools of 400 meters, also in Red, Natural and Black. While my orders from Italy become larger and more consistent, I was be able to lower the cost of some of the ribbons, by saving on the cost of shipping from across the ocean. So this seems a good news! The 5 mm ribbons for now available at wholesale only, please check our catalogue if you are not visiting the fair or come to visit our studio and see other projects that we are working on this summer. A quick preview was just announced this morning. More news to come, I'm sure, as summer days go by so quickly......

Open publication - Free publishing - More catalogue

Peter Bagi photography

2011-08-09T10:45:00.010-04:00

Arrived in my mail box a letter by Peter Bagi introducing his beautiful photography, lovely blog and shop. I choose some of my favorites images, but many more to see. I was also not surprise to read that he is working with Kinfolk Magazine, one of my latest fascination. Enjoy!

EmmaDime

2011-08-04T10:40:00.010-04:00

While working on my usual orders, the upcoming gift fair and relax in summer slow days, I came across the blog of Emma Robertson and found so much inspiration. Love the use of hand-calligraphy for her own logo, as well as other designs. And as much as I love coffee, I asked Emma if I could share her project for Hoboken Coffee. How inspiring are also the images from Emma's visual research? I hope you will enjoy and here are more images of her designs.

New York Gift Fair

2011-07-29T16:26:00.005-04:00

The Gift Fair is coming up on August 14 until the 18th. We are lucky to exhibit again in the Studio Division of the gigantic Javits Center, where many independent designers and studios have their booth. I still need to finalized some new products and update the catalogue, but mostly is all done. I'm slowly learning how to organize my work and start earlier to work on the preparation for each show. I can't postpone it until the last minute, every time!
So here it is. I took the photo for the invite the same day as this posting. The blue table never seems to fail as a background. And we have now a nice collection of invites from several shows done together. Come to visit our booth #4124 together with Albertine Press, May Day Studio and even some letterpress cards by Susy Pilgrim Waters. And happy weekend!

English alphabet ribbons

2011-07-27T13:13:00.007-04:00

Preparing samples and catalogues for the upcoming New York Gift Show in the middle of August, I also ordered some custom made English letters for the Brocaded Ribbon line. The letter J is brand new and the latest addition to the collection. Just received a large box from Italy with hundreds of rolls, perfectly in time for the show!

Pikku unique cloth + wares

2011-07-21T09:42:00.019-04:00

It all started with this first meeting last summer. Thinking a way of collaborating with Pikku that will combine their beautiful patterns with cotton ribbons, creating a product that we can both use in our line. I was so happy when Valerie announced her brand new site and shop, where I could see the final designs and a small signature detail of ribbon sewn into her pillows and tees. Love the photos and how amazing is the online shop organized into different colors?

Photos by Pikku.

Vacation

2011-07-20T11:55:00.009-04:00

So beautiful.....

The Knot Boston ~ Press

2011-07-06T17:04:00.006-04:00

Thank you to The Knot Boston Magazine for including some wedding invitations I made last year. It was a great project, happy to see it featured!

Estate

2011-07-06T14:21:00.006-04:00

Completely in a vacation mood after this small trip to the country side over the weekend and not be able to recover. Especially after seeing this beautiful, short movie by Kinfolk, that made me remember many wonderful dinners shared with friends. Thank you ChellisWilson for introducing me. Filling up orders and working on a upcoming collaboration, we are leaving soon for a real vacation on the ocean. See you back after July 17th and I hope all of you are enjoying these bright, summer days!

Mani, mani

2011-07-01T16:48:00.010-04:00

More hands, watercolor, busy afternoons at the studio.

This afternoon

2011-06-29T15:19:00.005-04:00

Love my children busy hands, sorting and going through the huge box of vintage stamps. While they are helping to take the stamps out of the old glassine envelopes, they are choosing their favorites for their collection: insects, butterflies and international flags. Have you ever seen so many vintage stamps all together? I need them for a big order of sets that will take me the all summer to complete! wish me luck.....

Summer wedding

2011-06-27T16:39:00.009-04:00

I saw this wedding the other day and loved the way they used the cotton ribbons to tie the reply cards and the lovely photography by Kate Headley.

Pikku ribbons for summer

2011-06-22T13:56:00.008-04:00

Since this day, I was looking to have a moment to take some photos of the new colors ribbons, that Pikku and I designed for the summer. As tomorrow is the last day of school here in Brookline and my work hours will be completely upside down for the next few weeks, I decided to better hurry and complete this project. The new Pikku ribbons are now available in the shop and I enjoyed taking some photos of the behind the scene table, while I was cutting and arranging the ribbons for the photo shoot. And, I noticed, this is the first time my old zig zag scissors got photographed. The fall winter collection is here. Tell me what you think and happy beginning of summer!

The 8th annual Printing Arts Fair

2011-06-20T10:48:00.005-04:00

I wish the Printing Art Fair was more well attended as the Museum and the demonstrations on all day are so interesting. So this is a wish for the future, to better advertise the event. Though the day for us vendors was a bit slow, I still loved the smell of ink, seeing friends, and get my hands wet by making paper after such a long time......

Thread, paper and scissors

2011-06-16T13:58:00.023-04:00

Binding Castelvetro for an order, during a warm, sunny day!

A day printing

2011-06-13T10:34:00.016-04:00

I had the plates made for a long time for a studio carta note cards, and finally found the time to print them on the table top. Two colors run, gray and red, made on my little Kelsey press, standing on a stool to have a better view. So now I have some personalized cards to include with each order to go along with the invoice. Today I will work more on the round corners and then they are all ready. Planning for the Printing Art fair this Sunday June 19th at the Museum of Printing, this is where I bought most of my letterpress equipments and I'm sure more is for sale. If you enjoy printing and papermaking demonstrations and meet some vendors, come to visit, this is the right place, see more of my posts from the previous years at this link!

Via Aerea Cotton Twine

2011-06-07T17:08:00.011-04:00

I spent all day getting completely distracted with Pinterest and the new possibility of saving the images I see on the screen and having a way to remembering them and saving where they come from. I'm sure I will add a lot more in the next few days. Brilliant idea in my opinion. + spent the rest of the time taking some photos of the new Via Aerea Cotton Twine now available in set of two spools in the shop. This offer is valid until July 5th! I hope you will enjoy it and they will inspire you for some great air mail projects!

At Squam Lake and Art Fair

2011-06-06T12:15:00.007-04:00

Back from a lovely weekend in the NH forest. Just realized it has been the fifth time I do the Squam Art Fair and I always find some exciting reasons to be back every time. Love the trees, the moist in the air, the water streams and the sound of the forest. This time our favorite was to see the otter falling asleep. The Art Fair, is always quick, busy and colorful. The new Pikku Ribbons sold as hot cakes: I learned this American expression years ago and it always makes me laugh! Loved to see Jill, Maya and Lizzy and meeting charming Ysolda from Scotland! Thank you for everyone that came and stop by at our table. My daughter, now 10, was a great help and I'm pretty sure you will see her again learning the trade!

Work in progress

2011-06-01T11:56:00.005-04:00

I'm cutting the new Pikku Ribbons to bring with me at Squam. They look so pretty hanging from the blue chair over the rug, I quickly took some photos. More info on our collaboration soon, meanwhile a quick preview and back to work!

Markets of New England ~ Press

2011-05-31T12:47:00.011-04:00

After a long, sunny weekend, it was nice to receive my copy of the Markets of New England, mentioning the Squam Art Fair, just in time before the fair this coming Saturday. Lots of colorful photos from the show, and happy to find our table display included in the book. Thank you to the writer and photographer Christine Chitnis for mentioning our company and for making a comprehensive book about all the markets in this area. Definally a guide I will use this summer! And if you are visiting New Hampshire this weekend, come to visit us at the Squam Art Fair from 7:30 to 10 pm. The location by the lake is amazing!

Birch San Francisco

2011-05-25T09:59:00.014-04:00

It always make me happy when some of my products arrive in the hand of a florist designer. I wish I could see more often the way they use the cotton ribbons in their creations. A box of ribbons is shipping today to Birch and these amazing photos are from their site. They certainly brighten my day!

Missing NYC

2011-05-24T15:09:00.007-04:00

Last few notes on the Stationery Show and a few pics from those days. NYC was beautiful, filled and exciting as much as it could be, despite days and days of rain. The MoMA, beyond the show, was the best part of the trip. Spent almost an entire day there, mostly in the garden with the children, I have to say, but it felt great! and loved going to buy launch at the Westside Market, everyday, before going to work. My ideal life, but only last for a few days....
If you still haven't seen enough of the show, also great shots by Pushing Papers and The Obsessive Imagist. A big thank you to all the bloggers that continue to visit our booth and supporting what we do!

After the Show 2011

2011-05-23T12:05:00.011-04:00

Back to my studio after a week in New York. Being away for the Stationery Show and meeting hundreds of people in just a few days, always make me feel I have been away for an entire month! there is nothing like this show for me, and it is exciting to meet in person so many new contacts and the designers behind what I love. I need a few days to recover from all the excitement and get used to a quite studio again. It will be a busy summer head, I'm sure, and I will start slowly with sorting my new collection of business cards. My favorite, love at first sight, was Linda and Harriet's red stripe card, and, I found out this morning, someone else share the same idea. Best coverage of the show is always by Nole, that this year even came with a professional photographer. There were less time to take breaks and walk around the show, but I wanted to thank everyone that took the time to visit us, to take photos of our products and inspiring us with their support. More pics soon, but for now, I better organize my studio again!

NSS almost done!

2011-05-10T09:42:00.015-04:00

Almost done with the samples and delivered all the boxes to Albertine Press for our trip to nyc. Everything is almost ready! This year I decided for a green choice and make a simple price list to give away, instead of a real printed catalogue. The wholesale catalogue is then visible only online and hopefully this will help to save paper and waste. Not sure if this will be the best, practical idea, but I wanted to try. Took some quick photos this morning of the hand-bound brochure and the price tags. Always love the baker twine on the blue table. Ok, back to packing and I hope to see some of you very soon!

Open publication - Free publishing - More catalogue

National Stationery Show 2011

2011-05-05T13:00:00.008-04:00

Fourth year at the Stationery Show! This time I might know what to expect, maybe a bit less nervous compare to the first time, but already having some sleepless night and busy preparing until the very last minute. Come to visit, booth #2142, my favorite part is meeting old friends, new designers and all the great people that come to the show! Again, and with great pleasure, I will be there with Albertine Press. We have a lot of new products in display and I just packed more vintage stamps for the giveaway!

In the same tradition as our past invites, design and photo by angela and letterpress card on the background, by Albertine Press. Hope you like it.

Wire type

2011-05-05T10:55:00.007-04:00

Before the next posts will be only about the trip to New York City, I don't want to forget this day trip to Providence over the weekend. Love Nael's type, he quickly made out of wire on the steps of the RISD Museum!

A new site for Carta, inc.

2011-05-03T11:13:00.011-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. The preparation for the Stationery Show is taking most of the time and completing a new site, just in time for the show, was really a big challenge. Even though I planned to design a simple site, not too many photos, not too much text, and with very basic knowledge of Dreamweaver, I found myself in a much bigger project, than initially estimated. The fun part was talking and discussing with an old friend, Katherine Lewis, a writer and editor, what it seems to be the story of my life! I thought she was brilliant to resume years of work in a few sentences, and I hope the text doesn't seem too long, in the end. So here it is, please let me know what you think, any feedback, good or bad, is appreciated! I always can make some changes after the show.....

Spring Break

2011-04-25T11:54:00.006-04:00

Despite the amount of work waiting to be done in time for the Stationery Show, with the school being closed for spring break, I had no choice than taking a week off, enjoying spring, visiting animals at the farm, a ceramic class for my daughter and some fresh air. Glad to be back at my studio and hoping for a new, productive week!

Stationery giveaway

2011-04-20T10:29:00.004-04:00

It is spring break from school this week and I have all three children with me, today. The stationery giveaway was very easy this time, with only a few names to write down for the drawing. The winner is Barbara, please let me know your mailing address and which monogram you would like on the stationery set. Thank you all for your comments and enjoy the week!

Gather Here, Cambridge

2011-04-18T11:26:00.011-04:00

I crossed the river and visited Gather Here in Cambridge and thought it was a brilliant place! It's a new fabric and yarn store, but also a stitch lounge, where you can use their equipments and large tables and create something, while enjoying other people company and inspirations. There is even a small kitchen for making coffee and share sweets. I thought it is a warm and welcoming place, where you can work and also being surrounded by beautiful colors and fabrics. Also it is the only place in the Boston Area where you can purchase the Cotton Ribbons by the yard and pick the color you need, without the cost of shipping. And if this is not enough, the following description from their site, will better present this great place.

Gather Here is a fabric, yarn, and fibers store offering classes, an inspirational work space, and knowledgeable instructors. We aim to provide a creative, fun, inspiring environment for the maker in everyone.
We are Cambridge's first stitch lounge with machines, supplies, tables and most importantly, space, for the maker to create.
What's a stitch lounge you ask? Sewing lounges have been popping up all over the country (even the world!) and provide people with a space to make something without having to purchase expensive equipment or make room in their homes to craft. It's also a place where people can meet others who share a common interest (or two). It's a gathering space to come create, support, and learn from each other.
also offers classes in sewing (beginner to advanced), knitting (beginner to intermediate), crochet, and hand embroidery. And there are plenty of workshops that cover the spectrum of DIY crafts like block printing, repurposing "stuff" and whatever else we/you/us wants to learn/do!
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Polka Dot Wrap

2011-04-14T12:01:00.004-04:00

I'm always exited to see how the cotton ribbons is used, particularly when I know the designer behind it. Love this Polka dot packaging by Sycamore Street Press, with Marigold ribbon and circle labels!

Liberty London and giveaway

2011-04-11T12:44:00.014-04:00

Today a large shipment of Alphabet Cards arrived to destination across the ocean to historic Liberty in London! For once, I have been there and I remember it well from my trip to London, years ago. The history behind it is so interesting. I'm quite happy about the news and I would like to celebrate with a giveaway. Please leave a comment by April 19th, (my son's birthday) and I will send a set of six Alphabet Cards to the winner. To be announced on the 20th. Thank you!

I took some photos of the cards and ribbons when I was working, but the photos of Liberty are from this link.

Marigold and Mint

2011-04-05T11:24:00.004-04:00

I'm shipping an order today to a new account in Seattle. Already the name of the shop Marigold and Mint makes me wish to go there and smell the flowers around. I also never been to Seattle! I like the philosophy behind the shop and the idea of an organic farm. Following is the description found on their site. Despite the rainy day, spring is coming here too!

Marigold and Mint is an organic farm, a retail shop and a studio. We grow two acres of flowers and edibles, as well as harvest responsibly from our orchard, woodland and berry patches. The farm is situated along the Snoqualmie River, about 30 miles east of Seattle. The shop is located in the Melrose Market on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington. We sell and deliver to florists, individuals and businesses, and, in the studio, make things such as marigold garlands, notepads, and driftwood sailboats.

Studio

2011-04-04T12:55:00.010-04:00

It has been a long time since my last photos of the studio. I'm quite happy about the new prints, framed and up on the wall during the weekend and I took some photos during a sunny day. Prints and one painting by Susy Pilgrim Waters, Rita Ravaioli, Rob Dunlavey and Guido Scarabottolo. Come to visit, they look pretty nice all together.

Spring project from Purl Soho

2011-04-01T12:01:00.008-04:00

Looking badly for signs of spring, here is been snowing since last night, I happily found an Easter project on Purl Bee, that uses the Italian cotton ribbons. A nice end of the week surprise. I love the bright color combination and their creativity!
Photos by Purl Soho.

New colors ribbon, Loose weave

2011-03-30T11:58:00.009-04:00

In summer 2010 I launch a new line of cotton ribbons, loose weave, with a new range of colors. I worked closely with the manufacturer in Italy, but kept changing my line of colors a few times, until very recently. Only now, with the latest shipment, I feel I have the ribbons I was looking for with a new selection of 10 colors. So here they are, ready for the launch at the Stationery Show and available now in the shop: butter, persimmon, cherry, grass, leaf, teal, cyan, night, ice and charcoal. I hope you will like them! Please notice that the cotton ribbons, loose weave, are not longer available in small rolls of 22 yards, but only in larger rolls of 54 yards. I now only have a few rolls left in stock, in super sale, at this link. In the photos, Butter and Teal ribbons.

Book Arts in a class

2011-03-29T12:04:00.018-04:00

This morning I brought some hand-made books to show in my son's class and thought to show some samples here from my small collection. I should really pull these books more often! The children were so enthusiastic and tried an accordion fold right away. I'm sure more ideas will come from their class, as they will work on the lotus folds for their event invitations. Thank you second graders for having me and being an inspiration for the day!

weekend

2011-03-28T10:33:00.004-04:00

There is something in these Iphone photos that I really like. For sure they remind me of a good time spent with friends over the weekend with good coffee and cake after dinner at my home. Photos by Susy Pilgrim Waters.

Vintage style business cards

2011-03-25T11:28:00.017-04:00

A few samples of some business cards I designed recently. The client contacted me with these words: I'm a writer who favors a vintage-y, old-time style I love old postcards, train tickets, vintage stamps.
And this is the style I was trying to have from the design. The cards are letterpress printed with sepia ink color on Lettra paper, a different vintage stamp is affix on each card. The final size are a bit larger than standard, to allow stamps to vary. Loved to work on this project!

Uno, due e tre

2011-03-22T10:14:00.006-04:00

Here there are, one day at the Museum. I love taking pictures in front of this black and white wall at the MFA.

Hand-made decorated paper collection

2011-03-21T12:36:00.012-04:00

The last week has been very hard to concentrate and feel motivated or inspired to work due to the latest world news. I'm sure it was the same for a lot of people.
Yesterday, though, I decided to leave and take the LGNE invitations to go to Sidney Berger's extensive collection of decorated papers, books and tools on papermaking, collected over the past 40 years. He has thousands and thousands of paper stored in drawers, thousands of books and amazing ephemera. I felt so lucky to spend a few hours viewing such a collection with a small group of the guild members at Sidney 's house. The all experience was very impressive and I left with my mind full of memories from the time marbled paper and hand-made books were taking all of my time and attention. I decided to donate some of my old sheets of marbled paper to the collection and to post a few pictures taken during the viewing. Below, stunning marbled paper alchemy by Karli Frigge and on the top left, an original sample of Japanese stencil, used for Chirogami paper. I took more photos, but the light was so poor indoor and I don't have any other good ones to show.

Below, some samples of my oil colors marbled papers and stationery. With nostalgia, I'm thinking of the time I was intensively marbling paper with oil colors from 1990 to 1997 and cut and fold envelopes by hand. I better pull some sheets out of my archive.....

2011-03-21T11:01:00.003-04:00

Satsuma Press is organizing a fundraiser for Japan and I would like to invite everyone to participate. More informations can be found here. Thank you!

For Japan with love

2011-03-17T11:46:00.009-04:00

Feeling speechless and in tears. For Japan with love.

At ChellisWilson

2011-03-16T10:32:00.004-04:00

This vintage indigo textile is on view now at ChellisWilson, in Portland, ME. Wish I could go to see it.

The Link Stitch Workshop

2011-03-15T11:05:00.007-04:00

Lovely class at the DeCordova during last weekend. And first signs of Spring in the Sculpture Park.

Letterpress and Bookbinding Workshop No.10

2011-03-07T16:59:00.007-05:00

It's time for workshops for me. I have announced already the one coming up this weekend, but I also would like to announce the Letterpress and Bookbinding Workshop taught in collaboration with Albertine Press on Saturday, March 26th from 10 to 4 and Sunday, March 27th fro 12 to 4. The class is open now for registration!
On day one, participants will design, typeset and letterpress print an edition of one book page, by learning basic letterpress skill. On day two, we will learn the construction of the origami-style Lotus book and assemble the editioned pages + learn other two accordion based structure books. The picture below illustrate the result of two books, made during a previous class. If interested, please contact me directly or Albertine Press with any question. I can't believe we already arrived to No.10 workshop taught together in the past few year!

Cocon

2011-03-02T12:59:00.008-05:00

Since the time I visited ChellisWilson I was trying to remember the right name or the right spelling for the artist beyond these amazing mobile. It wasn't until recently that I was finally be able to find Cocon. Happy to see more of her work, here are some photos and color palette that I really admire.

A good day

2011-02-24T15:20:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Katie for sending the link with the Blue and Green Twine. Love the photo by Angela Hardison. And thank you to Felt and Wire for the Gourmet paper goods mentioning the Edizioni Almenodue. It was fun to talk about our collaboration over the phone with Alyson Kuhn, bringing our books to life again. Today was a good day!

Workshop at the DeCordova Museum on March 12th

2011-02-23T13:33:00.014-05:00

After a long time without teaching, I'm excited to offer a workshop at DeCordova Museum on Saturday, March 12th.
As my previous class, it's taught in one day, focused on the Coptic/link stitch binding, a very versatile structure that can apply to a lot of applications.
We will bind two books, one to first test the sewing and a second book, with the complete binding and eight signatures. We will use hand-made, flax paper by Cave Paper, on the cover and mould-made Biblio paper on the text block. The class is nearly full, but if you are interested, there are a few spots available. To register contact directly the Museum School or call 781-2590505.
Thank you all for your interest in my classes and for incoraging me to continue to teach. I'm thinking to start offering some classes in my studio, something I had in mind from a for a while and more classes in collaboration with Albertine Press will be announced soon.

The following is the description of the coming class:
Coptic Binding refers to methods of bookbinding developed by early Christians in Egypt, the Copts, dating back from the 2nd century AD. Due to their beauty, simplicity and ease of opening, Coptic binding styles are popular among modern artist books. The multi section spine is exposed, leaving the Coptic binding visible. The stitch, done with two needles, resembles the chain stitching used in embroidery. The book can open to a full 360° display or lay it completely flat without risk of damage to the spine. The sewing technique lends itself to a very traditional style yet the exposed look adds a contemporary elegance to the final book. High quality paper will be used for the text block and fine, hand-made, flax paper on the cover. A wide selection of book structure samples will be shown in the end of the class, for further discussion and inspiration.

Macchina da cucire

2011-02-16T13:26:00.009-05:00

I grew up with the sound of this sewing machine next to me. During the last time in Rome, I pull off the last thread, took off the dust and brought back some photos with me. To keep the memories as close as I can, even if the machine is now for ever quite.

Red and Black Twine in sale

2011-02-14T13:19:00.005-05:00

To make space for a new shipment of Twine and Cotton Ribbons coming in the next few weeks, I have decided to offer the Red and Black Twine in sale, at wholesale price, as this color will not longer be available in stock within my line of Twine. Number of spools available in the shop are very limited!

Two notes from the weekend

2011-02-14T11:44:00.004-05:00

Found at Gracie Finn duiring the trunk show. Loved the hand-painted sign and the cat plate on the tray. Buon San Valentino!

Uppercase No.8

2011-02-11T13:11:00.009-05:00

Delighted to have Uppercase Magazine in my hand and very grateful to be part of Lettepress Sampler. How great is the Abecedary of letterpress printing, included in the article. And you can read more in her blog and see pictures of all the submissions at this link. The random sample I receive with the issue was by Orange Beautiful, that fast my daughter made disappear to send it to her friend for valentine. Might some of you received the xoxoxo?

Photos below by Uppercase

Vintage Stamps new in the shop

2011-02-09T13:47:00.008-05:00

After much request of the Vintage Stamps Sets, they are available now in my shop and wholesale. Here they are, new and improved!

A Valentine Trunk show

2011-02-09T10:54:00.006-05:00

My friend Susy Pilgrim Waters will have a trunk show On Saturday, February the 12th, at 18 Union Park Street, Boston. Always love her use of calligraphy and various fonts for the layout of the invite. I'll go and see you there if you are in the area. It's a great block in South End!