Make It

Felt and Wire

A new blog from the folks at Mohawk Papers: Felt and Wire. While corporate blogs aren't new, it's rare to see such a nicely designed one. I don't use Mohawk, but I'm really drawn to the clean layout and big photos here. Send them a link to your shop if you use Mohawk papers in your work and maybe you'll get featured on the blog. (link found via Paper + Cup blog)

Felt & Wire is about paper in its many-splendored forms: from postage stamps to posters, from memorable mail to beautiful books, from invitations to artistic innovations. The site was conceived (our editor would say kuhnceived) at Mohawk Fine Papers, by people who love the feel of paper, the look of paper, the marvel of ink on paper, and the magic of what people do with paper. The papers we make at Mohawk are esteemed by designers, fine printers, and letter-writers around the world. Our relationships with the greater design community provide creative grist for our mill every day.

Felt and wire are used in papermaking to absorb excess water and to smooth the forming sheet. Feltwire can also refer to brains and connectivity. We will explore both sides of the papery equation – the tactile and the technical - and revel in the ways they contrast, converge, and complement. can also allude to softness and emotion;

We aspire to delight and inspire you. We also want to show (your stuff) and tell (your stories). If you’ve done great work on any of Mohawk’s fine papers, we hope you’ll share it with us.

On Stationery and Wealth

Via Linda and Harriett I found this NY Times article about custom stationery and the resurgence of letter writing. After finishing the article I was disappointed by its narrow-minded approach to the topic. Only wealthy society women were interviewed, leaving the reader with the impression that these are the only types of people who give a hoot about stationery these days.

That's simply not true, take a look at the 40,000 items tagged stationery on Etsy for starters. Yes wealthy women have lots of exquisite stationery, just like they always have and always will. But that doesn't mean paper-lovers don't come in all different socio-economic levels, especially given the recent surge in interest in all things handmade and the many blogs that promote them. Stationery is accesible to all people, the only hurdle is whether or not you decide that it's something you want to spend your money on.

Weekend Work

I've been working hard this weekend. In addition to putting together the Sampler package, I also started putting together some card sets and I think I may have perfected the technique for folding my own patterned envelopes. I picked up a bone folder which makes the creases much more crisp and professional looking.

I used a scrap piece of my "Dots" pattern on the box of Sampler packages. I think I'm going to start using scrap pieces to adorn all my outgoing mail for Rifferaff. (I don't think I've shown you this pattern in full, better shots of this paper to come)

I've got two cut-paper card designs that I will be uploading to Etsy later, here's one of them.

A set of patterned envelopes.

Another card set idea, patterned envelopes in the background. I lost my rifferaff stamp but I'm ordering another one so I can stamp the small white sticker with "rifferaff." Also, I'm using the backsides of misprinted papers to wrap up the card sets. Simple and eco-friendly packaging.

I'm not sure how much I'll get up on Etsy today because I've got a few more things to do before we head out to a Superbowl gathering but these will get uploaded within the next few days.

Inspiration: Perla Anne

Blockprinted journals and cards from Perla Anne.

Crafty Frenzy

I got a flurry of energy this morning to do some crafting. It started with a disappointing round of block printing,  so I moved on to something a little more satisfying. (I'm using a 12 x 12 block, which is bigger than what I usually use, and the linoleum is unmounted. I'm not getting good ink coverage/color saturation, but I'm hoping it's just due to the ink I'm using. I plan to retry this afternoon with a different brand.) At my job, we often have random scrap pieces of fabric and wallpaper left over from when we cut samples for customers. Sometimes we find creative reuse for these in the office and sometimes I take them home for my own creative reuse. Voila, one-of-a-kind cards using unwanted wallpaper scraps. It's so fulfilling to have an idea, and execute it successfully. Do you know what it feels like, after a disappointing crafting session, to just want to make something pretty?

Funny thing is, after taking a break from the block printing to work on something different, I had a brainstorm for a new idea. I came back to the printed kraft paper I had stamped this morning, and turned it into wrapping paper. Sometimes taking a break really does give  you a new perspective.

Supplies for Cardmakers

Since I've started experimenting with block printing on fabric and paper, I've investigated some places to purchase cardmaking supplies. Here are some of my finds that I bookmarked:

Kraft Outlet for all things related to kraft paper. I love kraft paper because it's so simple, has so much character, but is less predictable than white paper, it also usually contains some recycled content. At Kraft Outlet you can purchase blank kraft cards, kraft envelopes, gift tags and business cards, among so many others. And look at these cool things: make your own Scratch-Off-Stickers! I imagine that these would be really cool for gift cards or coupons for customers! Everyone likes to feel like a lotto winner.

I'm lucky enough to live close to several Boston locations of Paper Source which is a crafty person's dream store. Everything is beautifully displayed and they offer both pre-printed cards and card blanks, so there's something for everyone. Their card blanks come in a huge variety of colors and sizes and they offer discounts on bulk orders via their website. The pricing also seems fair to me for the card blanks, 20 A2 size cards are $5.25.

When packaging your cards, check out the deals on cellophane envelopes at Blockheads and Clearbags.

Yesterday I walked to a local stationery store, Bob Slate, to order a rifferaff rubber stamp. Not only was the price totally resonable ($7) but I discovered that the store is a treasure trove of small business supplies. They offered bulk discount pricing on blank cards (cheaper than Paper Source even), envelopes, boxes, bubble mailers, gift tags, and business cards among so many other items. So in addition to checking out online resources I also advise you to visit a locally-owned stationery store in your neighborhood, their offerings may surprise you.

Dreams Can Come True

I'm a big fan of Port2Port Press. Maria/Mav, the founder, is committed to living simply but meaningfully and that translates to her design aesthetic in her work. This week she unveiled a big project, her first letterpress calendar. It sold out in a matter of hours after she posted it on her Etsy store and announced it via her blog.

If you want to see the power of how a blog can influence your sales, go to port2portpress.etsy.com, look at her sold items and scroll through and just check out how many items she sold on 11.15.06, the day the calendar was put up for sale. You will be awestruck. The power of the blog is intense!

Here are some of my other favorite port2port blog posts I've been hanging on to, regarding dream jobs:
http://port2port.visualblogging.com/archives/2308_1018582413/129239
http://port2port.visualblogging.com/archives/2308_1018582413/129465

Learn More About Letterpress

From what I'm seeing on craft and design blogs, letterpress seems to be everywhere these days. Before you start up a business selling printed cards and art, you're going to have to purchase a letterpress. Look no further than Kathleen's excellent tutorial on her blog cake+pie creative.

Read about her own experience purchasing a press and then click around on her links to learn more. A press is a significant investment - even used ones run in the hundreds of dollars - so educate yourself by reading this before before making a purchase.

Kathleen has a section on letterpress resources in her sidebar that is a great collection of information.

For inspiration, check out Port2Port press, which just started in January 2006 and has enjoyed wild success since that time. They have a blog too.

Reader Question: How to organize stamps and paper?

And while we're on the subject of paper crafts, take a look at this question from a reader named Donna and leave any suggestions for her in the comments:

I am looking to build a stamp/craft room and I am trying to find out the best way to organize rubber stamps and paper etc. I also scrapbook. Any help would be appreciated!

Donna, first things first, congrats on putting together a room totally devoted to crafts. Color me jealous. As for storage and organization, why don't you try using the plastic boxes made for jewelry/bead storage to keep your stamps. Most of these kinds of boxes have a clear top, place the stamps in rubber side down so that when you pull the box off of your shelf, you don't even have to open it up to see what is inside. Group the rubber stamps together according to subject matter. Keep all letters and numbers in one box, keep flora and fauna scenes in another, keep modern abstract stamps someplace else. Then you won't spend wasted time  digging around for that one great stamp that you really need.

Other suggestions?

A New Favorite: Five and a Half

I stumbled across my new favorite blog the other day and it was just too good to save for the Blog Dump.
Five and A Half is a business owned by Judy who produces handmade journals from pages of recollected papers. Judy's had great success with her line of journals since launching the biz this year. I'm loving everything about this business and blog: the web design, the eco-friendliness, the photos and the incredible info that Judy shares. On her blog, she has great information about running a small crafts business.

Everything in her business category is a great read. There's info on packaging, pricing, selling in stores and this ridiculously amazing roundup of online boutiques. Because Judy's interest is journals and stationery, the blog is heavy on paper crafts, but many of the posts are applicable to any type of crafts business. Five and a Half is roughly the amount of hours you'll spend on this site and blog. It's that good.