how to print an invitation

Over the summer, good press bought its very only Kluge Automatic Platen Letterpress.  Woohoo!

Last week, we printed our very first job. 

Here's how to go from zero to invitation in five easy steps.

step one: set up your plate (the yellow and red thing) in the chase (the big metal frame).

pantone color selection.

step two: mix your ink.  yes, by hand.

step 2A: keep mixing ink until you get desired pantone color. yup, you're still mixing by hand.

step three: ink the press.

note: a little goes a long way.  the above is actually too much.  lesson learned.

step four: set the chase (metal frame) in the press.

step five: fire up the press and here you go!

step 5A: check your progress as you go.

and voila!

your very own letterpress invitation.  

wish you were here

Yesterday I went on a little field trip.  During my travels, I stumbled upon the best unused vintage postcard stash at an estate store and snatched up a bunch to sell at good press.  The mix is random and includes highlighted locales both near and far.  Some of my favorites include this shot of the Sheraton Hotel in Military Circle and the Japanese Exhibition House at the Museum of Modern Art from 1954. 

crafty

I love a crafty customer.

A sweet college girl was outfitting her new apartment and needed to redo a side table on the cheap.

One piece of skull midori wrap later, voila! 

dog days of summer

Every Friday morning, I walk a couple of SPCA rescue dogs. One of them, JJ Bunny, sometimes talks at his mom and me, but we never know what he's saying. We imagine it's a lot like the above video.

Happy weekend!

mercury rising

a day like today calls for popsicles, garden hoses and lawn chairs.

(new cards from gold teeth brooklyn in the cool of the shop.)

happy weekend!

Happy Earth Day and Happy Easter!

(image via here)

bird's eye view

get in to good press to see it in person.

spring fevah

this little clare vivier gem is on its way to me thanks to these fine folks.

love the springy pink stripe.  

(photo courtesy oh joy!)

a weekend in los angeles

I took my first vacation since opening the shop.

I ate well, slept some and caught up with a handful of old friends.

I came back with tons of inspiration and full of ideas.

Here are some snapshots from the weekend.

 Though a little chilly and windy, it's still the beach, and I'll take it.

I love you Santa Monica.  So beachy cool.

The view from my hosts' casa in The Hills.

Thank you note materials for an especially patriotic host.

This candy bar lives up to the hype.  

 I had this album on repeat all weekend.

 826LA is a super cool program encouraging writing and creativity amongst LA kiddos.

Kid-written lyrics + known LA performers = this fabulous album.  

My favorite song is The Fun Party.

As a new business owner who works 6 days a week at 2 different jobs, I don't always have the chance to shop as locally as I would like.  

Recently, I delved into the world of online shopping, with a stop at Land's End's new offshoot Canvas.  I placed my order, received my goods and thought that was that.

So imagine my surprise when I came home to a handwritten thank you note yesterday.

Hats off to you Land's End.  When a local option isn't available, I'm heading your way. 

Back before good press had a home, I'd go meet with clients.

One of my brides was a teacher, and we would meet in her classroom 

during her planning period.

There was nothing I loved more than witnessing the chaos and euphoria 

of the final bell of the day.  

The mad dash from the confines of the classroom to the freedom of the bus line. 

(photo found here.)

This is the first set of stationery I ever bought myself.

My mom recently found it while cleaning out my room at home.

Half sheets with a cloud pattern, gold trim and that classic Crane's watermark.  

This is what the behind-the-scenes of a photo shoot really looks like.  

Over the weekend, I saw The Romantics.

While not enamored with the movie itself, I was over the moon with the styling of the wedding weekend the movie was set around as well as the soundtrack.  

Everything had a dreamy, pastel, quirky-meets-WASP quality to it.

The grey-salmon-brown color combo of the groomsmen's attire was divine. 

(all photos courtesy the romantics website.)

take note.

15% off all custom printing.

Now through March 31st.

Time to start socializing, note-writing and gifting after this long winter.

what the cuss

I love this movie.

Then again how can you not when it's Wes Anderson working from a Roald Dahl book?

(By the way, Roald Dahl happened to be my favorite author as a kid.)

The new BHLDN line and website launched this week to much blog fanfare.

Not a part of, but a product of those creative masterminds at anthropologie, the line not only features wedding wares for purchase (think gowns, dresses, shoes, accessories) but also a quiz to figure out what kind of bride you are and a third section showcasing photos of nuptials of yesteryear.  The above shot was included amongst the portraits of brides and grooms of the past.  I love this shot of the ballroom before the festivities, the waiters hard at work polishing silver, placing glasses, making everything just so.

xo.

Happy Valentine's Day.

We hope your day is full of chocolates, conversation hearts and most of all, love.

one for the history books

Elizabeth Taylor can easily be considered one of the great romantics of our era. She's been married eight times--twice to the same man, actor Richard Burton who she called one of the two loves of her life--and was even barred from his funeral by his last wife.

I can only imagine the Valentines they exchanged, but good press can make sure you have the Richard Burton (or Elizabeth Taylor) in your life covered this upcoming Monday.

   

one shot.

good press is getting some promo shots for an impending website.

busted watching the master at work.

hallmark, schmalmark

unlike most people (please reference the blanket debacle of 2011),

i actually like valentine's day.

i'm in it for the heart-shaped candy, heart-shaped valentines

and telling friends and family how much i love and appreciate them.

this little box of love is on its way to my favorite ex-pat

and will hopefully be received on the 14th.  

happy weekend, all.

crank it up.

Some good ole American rock-n-roll got me up and going on this dreary Monday. 

Here's a sampling:

American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

By Your Side  The Black Crowes

Miles Davis and the Cool  The Gaslight Anthem

Fightin' For  Cross Canadian Ragweed

Slow Night, So Long  Kings of Leon

Oh! Sweet Nuthin' The Velvet Underground

Till You're Gone  The Gabe Dixon Band

Joey's Arm  Sons of Bill

vitamin D

I need some sand, surf and sun in my life so badly right now.

love story

I remember like it was yesterday.

I was rounding a corner at the National Stationery Show, circa 2008, and there it was.  

This delicious, sumptuously thick grey basket made of woven felt strips.

 I wanted/needed/had to have it.  

Didn't care what it cost (and that was when the exchange rate was REALLY bad).

That was the day that I fell in love with the felt goods of Parkhaus Berlin and haven't looked back.

This fabulous line of containers comes from those design savvy Germans.

I love how form pairs so nicely with function.

All of their pieces are made by hand using lamb wool.

Available at good press in two sizes and you can custom order, too, if you want.

thanks

this is the most beautiful card i've ever seen.

i love its beauty, serenity, simplicity.

the folks at yellow owl workshop get it right every time.

happy friday!

stay warm today.

brrr

co·zy Adjective   /ˈkōzē/  

         Giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation

        

(image via here)

charlottesville didn't get the snow it was promised, and now it's gross and cold and rainy out.

hope you're inside, warm and cozy either in your bed with a book or on the couch watching a movie.