IN THE STUDIO // S A L E !

I am offering customers 10% off of my customizable letterpress holiday photo cards through November 6th, 2011. These cards are letterpress printed on 100% cotton card stock with choice of color, font and greeting and include white envelopes and self-adhesive, beveled photo corners. Check out the entire selection here.

Wouldn't these make a great engagement announcement or first-Holiday-as-a-married-couple card? Letterpress is a wonderful match for the artful photography that couples get for their engagements and weddings. Those photos are so special, couples want to share them and a luscious letterpress holiday card is a great way to honor the beauty of such a special time in their life together.

I have also had a number of people use these as a combination baby announcement/holiday card. At such a busy yet exciting time it is a great idea to send one card for both occasions.

These cards are especially nice for two reasons: first, they're letterpress. In a sea of canned photo cards it is so lovely to pull a hand printed piece of cotton paper out of an envelope. It's the best way to express warm wishes, I think. Secondly, and more practically (especially for engagement/wedding and baby photos), the photo is removable for use past the holidays. No more holiday cards stuck on the refrigerator taking up too much space, just the photo. And in the case of the reverse mounted cards the photos are frame size. The sender is not only sending a card but a small photo gift.

To get this great deal order at my etsy shop and then use the coupon code FACEBOOK. If you need larger quantities than what is there feel free to contact me at amy{at}armatodesign{dot}com.

Photo mounted on reverse of card.

Wallet size photo mounted on front of card.

IN THE STUDIO // THE MINUTIAE OF LETTERPRESS

Letterpress // Makeready, Printing, Clean Up from Armato Design on Vimeo.

This time-lapse video shows our pressman, Tim, as he gets the press ready for printing, prints and cleans up. Approximately 70 minutes are collapsed into less than 3. {There is no audio.} The most interesting part of the video is noticing the small things he has to do to print these business cards. The little adjustments to the plate and the ink are all what makes the hand made result so beautiful and so "boutique".

{A GIRL} YOU SHOULD KNOW // ROSANN KONIECZNY

I love letters. Their form, their design, their shape as an object, their way of conjuring complex emotions with their simplicity. When I get a new font specimen book in the mail I pour over it like it's a long awaited love letter. I. Love. Letters. I have always wanted to try my hand at calligraphy and, believe me, someday I will. But for now I will leave the beautiful art of hand lettering up to people like Rosann Konieczny.

Rosann began her career as a graphic designer specializing in hand lettering and type design. Then motherhood called and her career took a different path. She was able to pursue her passion for hand lettering and her desire to provide a unique and personal service. Rosann is a Minnesota based artist who has clients from around the nation. She specializes in wedding stationery, but also has clients like The American Institute of Architects, Minneapolis Saint Paul magazine, Twin Cities Business Monthly, Carlson Companies, and Fantasy Flight Games.

I am just waiting for a client to come to me wanting a letterpress hand lettered invitation or business logo. I know just where to go.

P.S. {A Girl} You Should Know is a new post category highlighting a Minnesota wedding professional. And yes, sometimes it will be {A Guy} You Should Know.

IN THE STUDIO // PHOTO STYLING

I was lucky enough to spend last Thursday and Friday with the talented Erica Loeks of Erica Loeks Photography styling some photographs of my wedding invitations. I think both Erica and I learned enough to fill a book. Styling, while fun, is so very time consuming. I have some experience with photo styling in my previous life as a creative director for a small company, but there I was working with a pro. When it's your work and you're not a pro it just takes so much more time and the stakes are so much higher. Of course it helps to be working with a creative photographer (something that all brides should consider when hiring one for their wedding).

Here are a few things we learned:
1. It's a really good idea to do your research beforehand. This means finding out what style you are interested in for the shots, thinking about how you are going to use them, considering layout of the pieces, and
2. Be willing to go off script. You can plan and plan and plan but sometimes the best ideas just come to you on the fly.
3. Restraint. In this situation where we didn't have the use of a full studio and didn't know all the tricks of the trade, it really was best to practice the old adage "less is more".
4. Work together and plan your time. While Erica set up the lighting, I played with layout and props. Then we would come together and critique and rearrange. It was a good set up. Still each shot took and average of 2-3 hours to complete. That's right 12 or so hours for 4 final shots. I think this is to be expected for such styled shots but still it's more time than either of us thought it would be.

I suspect these are good things to keep in mind when you are thinking about your wedding shots as well {with the possible exception of number 4). I will receive the final photos in a couple of weeks and will post then. In the meantime here are more shots of the shoot {Disclaimer: I took these with my phone so the quality is what it is}.

Above: a layout that came on the fly. I love it!

A flowery layout where we had to figure out how to get large and small blooms to stand up and show themselves off.

Getting the lighting right any way we can.

Getting those small kermit mums to stand at attention with sticky gum and small pieces of card stock. Hey, it worked.

IN THE STUDIO // ADP CARDS @ MITREBOX FRAMING STUDIO

I'm so pleased to announce that Armato Design & Press cards are now going to be featured in the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Mitrebox Framing Studio. Look at this shop. Simply gorgeous, or should I say g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you're in the neighborhood and need to retreat from the oppressively cold weather, this store seems like the perfect escape. Here are a few of the ADP cards they will have as a part of their collection:

INSPIRATION FILE // MARGARET KILGALLEN

I have always wanted to try my hand at hand lettering and Margaret Kilgallen's work is perfect inspiration. So off to take yet another look at the REDCAT Gallery's exhibition catalog of their 2005 exhibit In the Sweet Bye & Bye. From the REDCAT web site :

“Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye presents works by the influential Bay Area painter. Kilgallen’s unique re-sourcing of sweetly familiar and non-hierarchical everyday places, markings and people was in large part inspired by the wandering culture of immigrants, railway workers and dreamers. She was especially interested in evidence of a maker’s hand—in seeing traces of the maker in her work.”

That, in a nut shell, is why I love, love, love her work – the importance of both the everyday and the hand! If you want to see more images from the exhibit go to Flickr where sketchypad.annex has a great photo set from the exhibition itself. It will give you a taste of her work and make you order the book as quickly as I did.

Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye at The Curiosity Shoppe.

INSPIRATION FILE // FALL LEAF ROSES

Love this for a fall wedding. Great for your bouquet, boutineers, centerpieces, favors, your hair. There are really so many uses for something like this. Find the directions at iDIY.

IN THE STUDIO // PAPER TOYS & GIFTS

With Christmas and the holidays coming up very quickly, I've been thinking about paper gifts as well as cards. Top is a thaumatrope which is a Victorian spinner toy. It will be available in the shop in October. Bottom is a cd sleeve complete with blank cd, ready for you to burn your tunage to. Available here, oh and here is another one.

SHOP // ADRIFT DESIGNS

Though I'm not a big gold person normally, I just adore this ring. It just looks like it wants to be worn for a really long time, forever, in fact. Comfy, warm, inviting...just like your to-be-wed. Find it here.

SHOP // AMBER SKY

If you are the vintage bride type this necklace is for you. It's new yet it looks old and it's blue. You're almost set. You can find this one at the Amber Sky Etsy shop. Really, you couldn't go wrong with any piece in the shop.

IN THE STUDIO // BAD BLOGGER

I was on such a roll with this lovely blog and then one long weekend later {oh yeah, and the Minnesota State Fair} all my consistent posting is *poof* gone. But I'm back on track now and ready to share what's going on in the studio right now: a couple of new mini card designs. Both available in my Etsy shop, here and here. Back next week with a bunch of new ideas for inspiration and shopping. Have a great weekend.

SHOP // MAKING THE KIDDOS FEEL SPECIAL

Today is my son's first birthday. I just had to get him a special party hat to wear for the countless pictures that will be taken of him today, so I got him the crown in the photo above. He looks so sweet in it. I was thinking however, that these would be great gifts for any kids in your bridal party or for kid guests to wear at the reception. They would make an older kid feel special and may entice him or her to behave while mom and dad have one more dance before hitting the road.

Available at Nifty Kids Stuff.

IN THE STUDIO // JUST IN TIME FOR SCHOOL

Admittedly these are probably better for that college age student in your life or for yourself to protect against that lunch nabbing co-worker. In any case they're pretty funny and available here.

SHOP // PEACOCK HEAD PIECE

This peacock head piece by Portabello is so lovely for a fall wedding and for that fun evening out with the girls or to wear for your first anniversary. I love wedding accessories that have future function and are not too precious to wear again after the wedding. They are nice reminders of your day without screaming W-E-D-D-I-N-G! Get it here.

SHOP // RINGS

These rings come from Elizabeth Scott Botanical Jewelry. I adore the organic shapes, the delicate qualities and, most of all, the non-wedding ring-y appearance of all of these. They don't smack you in the face saying "Hey, look at me! I'm big! I'm expensive! I am a wedding ring. ". Rather they claim a subtle awesomeness that says it's wearer appreciates the unique and the handmade.

SHOP // ME & MATILDA

Wedding party ties from Me & Matilda are simple perfection. I love the thought of these at a casual wedding or maybe a fancy wedding with a quirky and casual guy who wants to stand out just a little next to his bride. These are great and not too dressy for a day at the office. They also offer ring bearer pillows and the cutest bow ties for big and little guys alike.

SHOP // ETSY WEDDING ATTIRE GUIDE

Etsy has a fabulous series of gift guides including the wedding attire gift guide. Could it be easier for you to have something totally unique for your wedding and beyond? Now get out there and shop!

IN THE STUDIO // NEW MINI CARD DESIGNS

New mini card designs are now available at the Armato Design Etsy shop along with this and this design. Just let me know which one you want, what color, what font and what information and you're set with 100 cards for just $85 {plus shipping and sales taxes if you are in Minnesota}. All letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper measuring 2" x 2".

IN THE STUDIO // CALIGRAPHY TIPS

I am deep into a logo redesign for Armato Design & Press. I've got the bug. So today a quick link to a great Handmade Weddings post on calligraphy: different ways to use it and tips on working with a calligrapher. Happy weekend all.

SHOP // CAKE TOPPERS

I'm highly in favor of buying things for a wedding that also serve a purpose after the wedding, even if this means they will just sit on a shelf quietly reminding you of your great and wonderful day. Enter these very sweet cake toppers from Goose Greese. They can be purchased as a pre-designed set OR {my favorite} you can order a custom set and send them pictures of you and your to-be-wed. So nice.