eva nouveau

I love Social Networking

Rob and I usually press pretty late at night, and during a plate change a couple of nights ago Rob asked me, "How many people do you think are letterpressing right now?" I thought about it for a second and said, "You mean right now, right now? (It was about 3 am EST) In the whole world? Um, 5." "I bet way more than that," Rob said... 

Like usual, Rob was right... I today I found this Frappr map of letterpress printers who belong to the Letterpress Discussion Group there. Click on the points on the map and get a photo and contact information... How fun is that?

Frappr Letterpress Discussion Group

Store your custom ink

I stumbled across a great idea for storing custom mixed inks today from Dave Celani. I am so glad to find this because my last batch of custom ink is saved in a shallow plastic cup double wrapped in saran wrap... not so cute! Dave does a great job of describing a step-by-step process for filling either tubes or tins, and includes pictures of every step. I think I am going to go the metal tin route... I just love the way they look all lined up on his shelves... I also will be designing a custom label... I think that adds such a nice touch.

Step-by-step storage by Dave Celani

I also did some digging and found a resource that offers different types of tins:
SKS Twist Top Metal Tins , SKS Clear Top Metal Tins , and SKS Metal Tins

Loveliness from Wyeth

Inspiration can come from anywhere, and tonight I am finding it in collections from Wyeth. Todd Magill infuses Wyeth with the most sumptuous fabrics and I find his use of color so refreshing. Eggplant and olive...love it!  Also, the presentation of the clothes is so beautiful, each image looks like a painting by Vermeer. I'll keep hoping someone in Michigan will pick up the line, but, until then, those of you living by a Barney's or a Bergdorf's can go visit these beauties in person and report back to me.

Wyeth by Todd Magill

Free fonts rule

When I need inspiration I check out the new offerings at Da Font. Designers send in type they have created for all of us to use, best of all, its all FREE for personal use! You'll want to read the designer's usage agreement that accompany the files, install either a Mac or PC version and ta-da! you are off and designing! Some of my favorites are Kalocsa Flowers (featured above), by Ballpark Wiener and Jane Austen.

Happy designing! Da Font

I love my Daddy

Daddy, who always has the most awesome t-shirts, at the Woodward Cruise, August 2005

I am so excited because tomorrow my Daddy comes from Texas to visit me. Last time I saw him was over the summer when he came to visit and go to the Woodward Cruise. (My Daddy, like my husband, loves cars... check out the exhaust pipes on that baby!) Every time I get to see him I have all kinds of happiness rushing through me, because I am so lucky to have this time with him. In 2003 my Daddy had a liver transplant, and as you can image, you have to be pretty sick for it to come to that point... there were so many times that I thought I had lost him forever. But, thanks to some selfless wonderful family, I get to have all this extra time with him. Its so amazing, and I am so grateful.

To give the gift of life, the first step is to let your family know. For more information visit the  Coalition for Donation

What do you mean a band?

Above: My Barbarian, Malik Gaines, Alex Segade and Jade Gordon  Right: feature shot from i-D magazine Lower: scene from MB: The Mary Blair Story, NOW Festival, REDCAT, Los Angeles

What seems like a zillion years ago I sat next to Alex, a funny, quirky, amazingly talented designer who one day turned to me and said, "Malik and I are going to start a band." I knew that Alex, and his boyfriend Malik, put together theater pieces and plays, but a band seemed like it came out of thin air.  I didn't push for details...  in my mind I remember it going something like, "Oh, that's nice, how cool will that be?...do you have the Pantone solid to process book?"

So fast-forward to now. Alex and Malik, along with the beautiful Jade, did start a band, My Barbarian.  And, in typical Alex fashion, he was part in starting a band unlike any other, playing music in a totally new musical genre: SHOWCORE. How great is that? They have been gaining a following for years and have progressed their music and expression into what they refer to as "spectacles," which is totally true. My Barbarian is a total spectacle, and unlike anything you will ever experience. The LA Weekly says, "My Barbarian are a revolution, so far ahead of anyone else on the scene right now in terms of humor and guts..."  They have been featured among i-D Magazine's coolest people, been Artists-in-Residence at the Drake Hotel, in cooperation with the Power Plant in Toronto and played shows all over the country in everything from nightclubs to galleries. Oh, and they have real jobs too... Alex is a web designer that also shows his video work in galleries like the American Fine Arts Co. in NYC and LOW Gallery and Mark Foxx in LA, while Malik is co-editor of ArtUS, a curator and a fellow at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, among other things.

So, ya.  I am starting a band. Next time someone says that to me I'll know it means: "I am just about to do something that no one will understand, and when you finally get it, you'll wish it hadn't taken you so long to catch up." Until that happens, I'll remember to keep myself open to possibilities too.

You can catch My Barbarian in Aspen at the Aspen Art Museum March 4th or in Annadale-on-Hudson, NY at Bard College at the Center for Curatorial Studies on March 12th

My Barbarian

 

If only I knew what I had...

When I was a wee girl my mother worked in interior design and filled our home with modern classics... Le Corbusier pony lounge chairs, Eames office chairs, beautiful art collected from local artists. At the time she was ahead of the curve, (like she usually is when it comes to these things), and I was horrified. All I wanted was live in a house like my friends'... a home not so, well, modern. I was admittedly an idiot.

A lot has changed since then... the pony chair was sold, the art happily hangs on my walls and I have become a design fiend... always looking for new lovelies for the home. Today that passion took me to Apartment Therapy, my newest addition to del.icio.us links. Check out all the cool stuff I found there... a. a great resale shop called Casa Victoria in LA that sells slightly used furniture, b. Standford Kay's painting Two, c. a lamp (that I super love) from Jonathan Adler's new collection and the best ever... d. a tour of a condo in SF... I love looking at people's spaces. So enjoy... and dream with me about the pony chair of my youth.

Links to great stuff in NY and LA Apartment Therapy

I could spend hours here

Hollander's is one of my favorite resources for paper. Lucky for me it is just a short jaunt to Ann Arbor to get my fill of their paper goodness. If you can't get to  Hollander's for yourself, they have a pretty robust website and will ship goodies to you.  If you are close enough to get there (take a plane!) I highly recommend taking a class at their School of Book & Paper arts. I took the letter press class and ended up having an addiction, so be careful what you get yourself into!

Hollander's School of Book & Paper Arts

Never thought I would love a STD

I have been spending a lot of time getting my little letterpress going. Buying ink, sourcing paper, preparing plates. Inking the press, cleaning the press. :) As detailed a process as letterpress is, I find it so relaxing. Maybe it is the sense of accomplishment that after pulling the press' arm a 100 times there is a little card to show for it... or a hundred little cards.

Clare is getting married in Cabo in April at a beautiful seaside resort. For her Save the Date Cards the idea was simple: entice guests to Mexico with their senses. Guests were sent a small kraft paper box that when opened unleashed the smell of coconut. The Save the Date Card (as pictured) and a card with travel information were layered between delicate lace paper hiding the source of the lovely smell... a coconut scented candle in a coconut shell.