hipster what?
Have you seen Hipster Branding? It's a neat little tumblr (only 21 posts as of now) that reimagines the logos of well-known companies under the tagline Holding up a mirror to the artsy community. Frankly, a couple of them are pretty uninspired and derivative (it's...
hand eye
If you've been paying attention around here, you'll know how much emphasis I place on story. I think it's important to tell a compelling story about yourself and and even more compelling story about your customers. Hand-Eye Supply has definitely done a great job of...
published | a locally-sourced wedding inspiration shoot
I'm proud to finally be able to share the fruits of some great friends' labor via this photoshoot, published at Eco-Beautiful Weddings. These amazing photos by Justin DeMutiis represent the beautiful idea of having a wedding or event whose food and decor are crafted...
local love | a storybook + citrus wedding invitation
I'm so thankful to be located in the middle of a region full of amazing wedding industry talent. There are so many great artists and vendors in the area that I'm proud to call friends. As I'm usually working with clients from other parts of the country, it was an...
on naming your products and your babies
I just came across The 8 Principals of Product Naming over at Fast Company and got to thinking about brand names in the wedding industry. Yes, the babies I'm referring to are the companies you put your blood, sweat and tears into (not the pooping and crying kind). The...
What Straight Razors and Fountain Pens Have to Do With the Wedding Industry
This morning, I did something most people would never even consider doing. I put three inches of incredibly sharp, cold steel to my face and attempted my first shave with a straight razor. My wife thinks I'm nuts and I'm sure some of my friends are secretly thinking...
zarella and the wedding industry
I'm reading Dan Zarella's "Zarella's Heirarchy of Contagiousness" and it's got me thinking. The book is about the science of virality in marketing (at least that's my take). It contains some research-based assertions about the optimal days and times to unleash certain...
careful construction
I keep no secret of my love for men's fashion. I think there are so many parallels to the work that I do and so much of the language has been borrowed by my industry (bespoke, tailored...). I'm incredibly inspired by the care and detail that goes into the Louis...
tone on tone | marcus and jillian’s invitations
Sometimes things take teamwork. Marcus and Jillian's invitation was one of those things. This is a great example of how hand-drawn illustrations and lettering translate well to letterpress. These invitations were illustrated and lettered by the couple's wedding...
power of the pen | be careful how you address your wedding invitations
Often, when I show friends and family the latest invitation I'm working on, one of their first reactions is "they'll deliver this?" to which I confidently reply "sure they will!" It's easy to take for granted the incredible feat of delivering documents across the...
illustrator’s elephant’s | fred’s business cards
My friend Fred is a great illustrator. He's developed some wonderful characters for children's books, including these adorable elephants. Fred asked me to render this image in a three-color letterpress business card and I'm thrilled with the results! The first run was...
ice cube’s down with the eames
"This is goin' green 1949 style, b*tch."
so much style
I just saw Jenny Craig's new logo on Brand New. She now wants to go by "Jenny" and has a new logo that reminds me of a certain wedding photographer. She's so sweet even Jenny couldn't resist!
where you work
I've been thinking a lot about the physical spaces in which I work - the print shop, my desk at home (in a shared space), the coffee shop. One of the things I'd like to do this year is set up a space that's more conducive to creative work. I've found Unclutterer and...
lime green and letterpress | rachelle and bradley
I knew this wedding was going to be special from the beginning. With such a cool venue (7°) and great colors, it was so much fun bringing this invitation together. As a reflection of the venue's signature angle, each piece of the suite was chopped off at a seven...
a wedding featured | rachelle and bradley
I was thrilled to see one of a fine press' weddings featured on Every Last Detail today. I've committed to doing a better job of sending invitations to the photographer directly so that they get included in submitted photos. In the meantime, Rachelle and Bradley's...
the list | hints for guestlist workflow
We're smack dab in the middle of what's known as "Engagement Season." If you just got engaged or think he might be proposing soon, you'll need to start thinking about the Guest List. Here are a few tips to make life easier for you down the road: Use a spreadsheet. I...
don’t forget the extra cent!
With all of the talk of shutting down Mail Processing Units and the ever clearer and present( um...-er?) possibility of a life post-USPS, many people have missed the fact that Postage rates increase on January 22, 2012. That's just over three weeks away! A first class...
we are all weird, but our wedding( blog)s sure look alike
It's not like me at all. I waited three months to purchase the latest book from my favorite author. The funny thing is: I'm not normally a fanboy. Not since Pedro the Lion has there been a content producer whose work I gobbled up with every new offering. Until Seth....
photopolymer plates, ii
Here's a second short video on photopolymer plates for letterpress printing. Hopefully when they're all done, we'll all have a nice little overview of what makes luxury invitations, well...luxury.