Supernova

So how's your Spanish?
A few weeks ago a lovely representative from Canson sent me an email with some questions about what I do, she wanted to include me in a Canson Newsletter. I can't read it and I hope they said a whole bunch of nice things. Can anyone help?

Letterpress elegance

A letterpress wedding for Jenny, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

When I work with brides we start by throwing around different ideas and these are mostly words or phrases to describe the wedding. On this occasion the key word was "elegance", this was to go with the gorgeous venue Jenny had chosen for her reception, the exclusive Melbourne Club. So the pressure was on, as we all know the invitation is the first impression for our guests on this very special day and Jenny's guests are in for something quite beautiful.

Will work for gorgeous clothing

Yeojin Bae, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

There's nothing like a good blind impression!

These cards are slightly bigger than business cards measuring at 128mm x 85mm, they are for fashion designer Yeojin Bae. I just wish I could survive on clothing because this could have been a sweet deal. Check out her clothing here and if your in Sydney this weekend, swing by her pop store in Potts Point to check our her cards...I mean her jumpsuits.

Catherine's concertina invitation

Catherine's Wedding, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I didn't post a very clear photo of this illustration, so I though I should show it off a bit better.

Double the letterpress

Troy and Liselle, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Troy and Liselle had to have this letterpress invitation double sided. I loved the pattern and so we decided to lightly press this pattern and really give a good impression to the invitation and it wording. We used a robust stock of 400gsm to give us a little cushion for this double sided work. I think it turned out beautifully and the colours were almost exactly as they had hoped. I really do love these simple designs, it really allows letterpress to do all the work.

Congratulations to both of you.

Looking for something a little different?

Rachael and Andrew, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Rachael came to me with her request and her own design - A letterpress invitation on a coaster! I jumped at the opportunity and the results, I hope, speak for themselves. The coaster board was perfect for this invitation and what a wonderful and unique idea.

So now I am looking for more adventurous brides who might want to make a round invitation on a coaster!

This a a one colour invitation and printed double sided. They came with little matching envelopes with a red lining.

Congratulations Rachael and Andrew can't wait to see the photos!

Jane's Port Douglas wedding

Jane's Port Douglas wedding, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Jane was a bride who knew what she wanted. Right from the start she selected this motif and the colour scheme - it was my job to make it work. I hope I did! This is a 2 colour square invitation with a beautiful musk and rich graphite grey. It's a simple design that lets letterpress do the work.

Jane decided not to go ahead with lining for her invitations, if she have of - this is the type of lining we would have used for her. I love this combination!

Jane's wedding is this weekend, I hope they have a blast and I can't wait to see the photos. Congratulations Jane and Chris.

Catherine's garden wedding

Catherine's Wedding, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

This was a most unusual request and because I find it difficult to say no, I said yes to this concertina invitation, with 3 panels and A4 finished flat card, it was a delight to work on this invitation and one of my favourites so far.

There were 2 types of green for this garden wedding, the bride wanted her floral design to look a little wild (a word she used) and I loved this.
I hope she does too and I hope she has the perfect wedding day.

Baby birthday

baby birthday, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Happy birthday Charlotte!

This invitation was a delight to work with, a simple one colour invitation sometimes is all that's needed - I think these are my favourite.

Then the entire card was complete with this fun little lining for the envelopes, it's the little things that make it great.

Inspiration in the suburbs

Inspiration in the suburbs, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I've made a few hundred of these cards now and I never get tired of looking at them, each time I put the combination together something very interesting appears. This one made me stop in my tracks - I loved this combination of road map and card! I dropped everything to take this photo and as soon as the photo was done I had to package it up for delivery.

I now I would like to welcome on board my new retailers and one lucky store received this most special little bundle. The new retailers are: Becker Minty, Finity, Form, Folio books, Four Stones designs, Merrigal gifts, State of Green and Whimsy Gifts.


I hope everyone loves their new cards and I look forward to many more orders to come.

I have been a very busy bee

I have been head down and bottom up for a while now and my blog has been a little neglected. My stockists list has been a little out of date for a few weeks now, so please do check out my lovely new shops. I have a few more to add this week too.

Also I have a heap of work that needs to be added to this page. I've had a lot of enquiries from couples about weddings, yes I do weddings and I have some lovely work I desperately need to post, the work that I do is custom and very personal to each couple and their special day.

As always, stay tuned...

VINCE goes international!

I am very excited to welcome on board a very special stockist. Yoshi from Habitat stopped by my display at Life in Style and a few of my cards are going to Japan. I hope they love my work. I can't wait to see how they go.

All my stockists are special and I love exploring these new stores and meeting new people, there are some very creative folk out there. Another exciting announcement is this little shop called William Topp in Perth, not only do they have some great broaches, but they are also stocking my cards.

Enjoy!

In the suburbs

In the suburbs, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I love the suburbs and I love the shapes and colours that fill the landscape, when I look up this is what I see. These powerlines are what fill the sky and I just adore them.

This card has been a hit!

It also comes with an envelope made from old road maps.

I can't believe it's all over now!

Life in Style, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of trade shows. I have met so many lovely shop owners and amazing creative folk!

I have so many exciting things to share over the coming weeks and a whole heap of new stockists to welcome on board. Stay tuned!

Big week this week!

I am off to another trade fair this week. Life in Style. So please be patient with me. I do read all your enquiries and I'll do my best to get back to you with a response as soon as possible. I love my iphone and I'll have it on hand to check emails regularly throughout the show. Hope you can come by for a visit.

Text messages worth saving

Advertising for my business, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Advertising for my little business, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I submitted this ad to Dumbo Feather a couple of months ago now, I asked if it could go on a right hand page as I thought this would be the best place for it and would be easy for people to see, I also wanted to create something that would catch the readers eye, I was thinking there is a lot to see in some magazines and wanted to do all I could to get noticed, but boy was I wrapped when I flipped over my copy of Dumbo Feather this month, my ad was printed on the back cover - thank you Kate.

Please let me introduce the first of (I hope) many advertising campaigns that I will run for my little business. This little owl is kicking it off for me and the message is simple "Text messages worth saving". With these particular cards comes a little handmade envelope made from upcycled children's book pages, each one is fun and unique.

Loving you is easy

Loving you is easy, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I really did love making this card. It is a little less obvious than the dice card. The response to this card has been lovely to witness, most take their time to try and join the dots with their imagination, while others screw up their faces and a little confused, that's when I jump in and give it away...the end result is a love heart and this card is called "Loving you is easy".

Thank you Vanessa and Home Beautiful

Home Beautiful, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Home Beautiful August issue did a little feature on the revival of handmade and craft in Australia - how lovely and I'm in it. The writer Vanessa Keys stopped by my stand at the Stitches and Craft show and with a few nervous giggles from myself, I must have been able to get a few words out about my business and what I do as she wrote a lovely piece about my letterpress adventures.

Hail cards

Jason's cards, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Here are some business cards I did recently. I do like working with other designers, they challenge me and sometimes their requests push the limitations of the press. Jason from Hail asked me to print some silver and green on black for his business cards. The silver looks amazing and this stock was gorgeous to work with - I think I might do some for myself on this paper.

A little like chaos

Design Made Trade, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So the last few days have been a whirlwind of activity, preparing and then setting up a stand at Design Made Trade. I met some lovely people today and generally the response to all the new cards was very positive. I will show more images of these little cards and writing sets, OH! and then there is this article in Home Beautiful I have to tell you about, a little book called Handmade in Melbourne and a beautiful ad printed on the back cover of Dumbo Feather - very exciting times.

Dot-to-dot cards

Dot-to-dot cards, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I had been thinking about the idea of a dot-to-dot card for ages now, and with Design Made Trade show less than a week away, I desperately wanted to have these cards finished in time, now with a fancy kraft paper envelope - that I made myself and finished with my signature. I am so proud of these little embossed envelopes.

Heide Museum of Modern Art

Heide Museum of Modern Art, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

My cards have found a new stockist this week and moved into the Heide Museum of Art shop. Boy! this is incredible and I am so honoured to be amongst some cool stuff and more importantly some amazing art and even better still - this place is fundamental to Australian art history and people who love art will see my stuff...I am so excited, I can't even find the words to write!

Birthday invitations

Tim's 40th Birthday, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

This was a fun and quick job for a very enthusiastic customer. I love the simplicity of colour and really using the materials to compliment letterpress.

It's all about the paper!

It's all about the paper!, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So it can be done. A few clients have asked me to use black papers and curiosity and the sense of challenge got the better of me. This is silver on black paper. with only one pass through my Hiedelberg, I am pretty wrapped with the results, I can't wait to see how far I can take it.

Origami inspired

Origami inspired, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

These cards are a little special. I felt inspired by the idea of the focus being on the packaging, in this case this is the envelope.

I used the Japanese papers to cut the envelopes, they come with this card which is essentially the instructions for making a crane. And the envelope is only creased and not glued.

Do with it what you like.

I am unofficially launching this series over the weekend at Rose Street Artists Market and then I'll take the whole series to Design Made Trade in July and First inStyle later that same month.

A little obsessed!

A little obsessed, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I have so completely fallen in love with paper and am always on the look out for something special, and boy...do I have something special in mind for these papers! Launching a bunch of new stuff for both trade shows in July - I am sooooo busy and very excited all at the same time.

A letterpress wedding

Olivia and Steve Letterpress, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I did these invitations a little while ago now.

Olivia and Steve wanted something special. When it comes to letterpress, it really is difficult to go wrong, so it was my job to create a design that was truly special, something that was very personal to the couple, something that would reflect the season and something to make a spectacular first impression to family and friends.

We created this small replica of the church on their invitations and the city is dwarfed around it.

Thank you Olivia and Steve and I wish you both all the very best.

Scarlet

Scarlet, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Another baby announcement. I love this design and I have used it for a couple of occasions now, and it works every time. This announcement is for Scarlet and she was born on the 1st of May this year, her parents decided to get this made to welcome her arrival. Thank you Raina and Will for working with me on this.

NEW STOCKISTS

Calling birds, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I am very happy and proud to bring on board a new stockist. Brunswick Bound in Sydney Road Brunswick. This is a great little bookshop full of a world of creativity, the operator Susie is also a wonderful lady and I can tell - she really loves what she does.

Thank you Susie for having me in your store, I hope your customers love the new cards. Oh and she bought a couple of the writing sets - this one (calling birds) and the army men. So for your stationery fix, you know where to go.

In the studio

In the studio, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So my week started out to be a very busy one. My first day working for myself full time...was caos! I loved it!

Design:Made:Trade

Design:Made:Trade, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So, I am officially involved in Design:Made:Trade 2009 trade show. I visited the event last year and hoped that one day I might be able to go with my cards - and as usual I threw myself into it this year and decided to make myself ready...now. I have decided to dedicate a lot of time and effort into the show and will be bringing a wide range of new pieces to this event and I can't wait.

Will be making regular updates on progress and look forward to receiving your feedback.

Limited edition prints

My daisies, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Ok...so the prints are finally up online for sale. I look forward to learning what you think and really do welcome the feedback.

NEWS FLASH!

I have been trying to find the time all day to come up with a cool graphic that says "NEWS FLASH!" so I have run out of time again and this is the best I can do.

ANNOUNCING...I will be at Rose Street Artists Market every Saturday from now on.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Ideas

Ideas, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I got some good photos of the journals today and so I am one step closer to putting these little puppies up online and for sale.

Autumn close up

Autumn close up, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

The newest and most exciting development. LIMITED EDITION PRINTS! I took these to Rose Street on the weekend and it was an amazing response it was so wonderful to see people stop to look at them, come back with their friends and then finally decide to buy a print.

It was so lovely.

These are limited edition prints and will be available for sale online shortly, so there'll be announcement online when they are ready.

Yay!

Rose Street Artists Market, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Like little soldiers all in a row, these are my journals, lovingly made by me from start to end. After having a little fight with my new sewing machine, everything turned out almost exactly as I had hoped.

I love making these journals and will continue to feature them at markets. They will be available for sale online soon...I promise :).

Saturday morning at Rose Street

Saturday morning at Rose Street, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

It was a beautifully sunny day I got in early and found myself in a lovely spot! I had such a wonderful day at the market, this was a completely new display and so after torturing myself for months over it - I think I got it! I really am very happy now with the way it looks and everyone responded so well to it. There are only a couple of finishing touches I would like to add to it now...and I am done!

Woodland set

woodlands cards, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

After way too much time spent in front of the press and not enough sunshine to take these photos...may I introduce my first official series of cards...Ta-Daa! The woodland creatures is a series of 3 cards, this one, and a squirrel version and a deer card - for the dear in your life.

I have pledged my commitment to Rose Street for the next 4 months, so these will be available for sale for the first time at the market this weekend...I hope people love them.

There are also some other goodies that I would love to share, if only there were a few more hours in the day!

See you on the weekend!

Typography for journals

Typography for journals, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So...there has been some more progress with the journals. Here are some covers with typography added. I love journals and I love typography and the combination of these things is almost too much! I bought an industrial sewing machine, it arrived today, and this will be put to good use to decorate and bind these little pages. I will be taking these to Rose Street Artists Market from the 2nd of May as a way of launching my new line of stationery - journals.

Yes

Yes, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

May I have your telephone number?

The perfect accessory for every modern boy or girl. Calling cards for sale in bundles of 250 available now on Etsy, customise your colours and contact details for the perfect statement in your handbag.

Making a statement

Making a statement, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Business cards and calling cards have been very popular and I receive many requests for this type of work. I love making these little cards and I have just released some card designs for sale on Etsy.

Some business cards

More business cards, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I finished these business cards and wanted to give Kali a preview. Kali is a wedding and portraits photographer and wanted to make a statement to potential clients with something classy and sophisticated. I think this will do the trick and I hope Kali loves them.

I heart you

I love, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I make my cards because I love what I do and most of the time I wonder where they go and what people might use them for.

When I sell my cards at the market there are many opportunities to ask my lovely customers what their occasion might be. On this day a lady walked by my market shop and this particular card caught her eye, she just had to have it, she went on to tell me a story about how her daughter never says, "I love you", but she makes this very shape with her own hands and puts her hands on her mother's chest, so she bought the card to give to her daughter for a special occasion, she didn't have one yet and suggested she would wait for the right time. This was such a lovely story.

Hot off the press!

I am very thrilled to announce two more retailers are on board and are selling my cards. They can now also be found at Ariel booksellers Oxford Street Paddington and Metropolis Bookshop Swanston Street Melbourne. This is soooo wonderful and I am so grateful to have them on board as new retailers. Please do stop by and check out the selection if when you can.

handmade up-cycle envelopes

handmade up-cycle envelopes, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

These envelopes are becoming very popular and I am really enjoying making them. I have a heap of magazines as resources and the other day I found some extra special paper to recycle, so special I have decided to make a range of cards to go with the envelopes! More on this later...

Letterpress journals

Letterpress journals, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So, it's been a while and I have been busy with weddings and my own projects (this is the most fun) I am really enjoying finding new ways to make letterpress, I have always loved journals and I have been thinking about making these for a while now, here is a little preview of what they look like.
I have decided to stitch the spines like this and I am really loving this look. They aren't quite there yet and I am just fiddling with the final touches but I am totally happy with the direction and can't wait to hear what people think.

Letterpress baby announcement

Letterpress baby announcement , originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Raina - this one is for you. As promised here is a little sample of the announcements I do as "off-the-shelf" items. I have these 2 designs. This one is where I take an impression of the babies hand and make a plate from this and press it into the paper - I love this one!

Letterpress baby announcement , originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Then I have these generic ones that you can fill in - this would suite someone who enjoys handwriting.

Custom sip n' see, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

Then I had this order to customise the generic item. I had so much fun doing this job and it was great to be able to use this design and make it work for the client.

letterpress baby announcement, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

And this is the boys version - snails are that attractive but they do press very well!

hello

hello, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I am going to be at Rose St Artists Market this weekend. If you would like to stop by for a visit.

Daisies

Letterpress writing set, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

I love daisies. And before I loved letterpress I loved taking photos. I just really like this photo and it is my favourite writing set - so far.

Letterpress writing set

Letterpress writing set, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

So...I went to Metropolis bookstore today to show off some cards. Molly is so lovely and the store looks great. I am totally excited that Metropolis will make home to some of my stationery. Including a couple of these army men writing sets. I will make a delivery of cards in about a week...I need to fire up the press and get some printing done.

oobee

oobee, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

This is Jerry. He is an oobee made by Leslie Keating. Leslie was my neighbour at the Stitches and Craft Show. When I first met Leslie, she had the most adorable child strapped to her and they both looked like pretty cool chicks. When I got to find out more about Leslie, turns out she is also very talented lady and she knows what she wants.

It was so lovely to meet her, and more than she knows, meeting her inspired me to further pursue my journal making. I have made a few already but I haven't given them much time as my cards have been the focus.

Actually, I loved her work so much, it made me want to drop everything and start sewing. In fact all the crafty ladies that I met at the show made me want to start sewing or silk screen printing or something else - I think I am having a crisis over my direction!

Stitches and Craft Show 2009

This is my stand from the show. I can't believe it has taken me so long to put this up and now it feels like it was such a long time ago. The show was amazing and we met so many amazing people. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for us.

Stitches and Craft Show 2009, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.

This is a close up of the cards. I had so much fun making my stand and I am so very pleased it all came together, and almost exactly as I had hoped. Everyone loved my clock. I was devastated to learn that it doesn't work anymore.

Stitches and Craft Show 2009, originally uploaded by vinceletterpress.