BESPOKE CARD DESIGN

I love the beauty of words and experimenting with typography. . .

UNUSUAL WEDDING STATIONERY ITEMS

I thought I'd show a few items we recently devised and completed for an imminent wedding in our very popular "Arboris" style.

To save money and space for a couple's reception, we combined 3 items in 1 - a place card, menu and favours and came up with this dinky little wallet for each guest, suitably sized to hold a lottery ticket favour . . .

Incorporating the couple's reception theme of their favourite movies, we were asked to come up with a special quiz card for each film named table. These are slider quiz cards - each question of 10 is shown in a window at the front and the corresponding answer in a window on the reverse side. The finished size is approx 30cm x 10cm. It was certainly a design challenge as we needed to ensure the windows and text fitted comfortably and lined up equally on each card but still within a uniform and elegant style . . .

ALICE IN WONDERLAND THEMED WEDDING

Following the invitations I designed and produced for this wedding, we were recently requested for a post box, guest book and Wedding Souvenir booklet keeping in the same spirit of the original booklet style invitations but with a slight colour change to black and teal. 

I thought it would be a nice idea to incorporate as much information as possible but in a slightly unusual page format. The booklet was divided into 16 pages between 3 sections - welcome information, the church service and the reception. Each section's pages were different sizes to make a self tabbed index. 

The design on the cover was developed from the invitations and the monogram I created from the couples initials (they both shared the same initials single and married!) The L's were positioned back to back like a little mad hatter hat.

**********IMPORTANT NOTICE**********

We will be closed between 1st -10th August for a short summer break and battery recharge!

We are currently fully booked until mid October 2009 but we are taking bookings now for then onwards and into 2010/2011. For this reason we will be suspending the sample service until September to allow us to concentrate on this summer's weddings - reception stationery orders, which have grown much larger and more elaborate than we anticipated earlier this year!

LETTERPRESS PRINTING WORKSHOP - HARRINGTON & SQUIRES

I had the most fabulous day in London today attending a one-to-one workshop for letterpress printing. It was run by Chrissie and Vicky who own a letterpress studio in Tufnell Park

www.harringtonandsquires.co.uk

I learnt to set traditional hot metal type and prepare a chase ready to print from, as well as the basic operation of the press and tips to get the best result from it. And I even got to prepare a little trial project of my own to take home with me. 

I couldn't have had more patient and helpful teachers, Chrissie and Vicky made me feel very welcome and were so helpful answering my (probably quite daft) questions. They showed me their gorgeous work, so tactile and inspiring as only letterpress really is that - I can't wait to get started again! Thank you Vicky and Chrissie! x

40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MOON LANDING

Time sure flies! I was just a one year old when the Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon so although I didn't watch it actually happening it is part of my generation's life.

However, I recall a lesson at primary school some eight years later when the teacher asked us who was the first man on the moon. I thrust my hand skywards desperate to answer . . . "Sir, sir" I cried, "it was "Louis Armstrong!" 

Oh the shame! - I'm so sorry Neil. Happy Anniversary!

THE KENT COUNTY SHOW

We spent a lovely day yesterday at the Kent County Show near Maidstone. It's mainly a livestock exhibition but also large market and fair and general exhibition of country pursuits. 

I feel madly in love with the alpacas. They are from Appledene Alpacas on the outskirts of my village, Marden. They are the most gangly, odd looking creatures - as if they are modelled on some 50's style kitsch bambi toy and of course I'm smitten!