This week is all about last month in Las Vegas. Stationery Trends just shared my official writeup, where I focused on shots I captured of makers and publishers in front of their favorite releases — as much as I love stationery, there is just something so special about capturing the interplay between people and their product.
Check it out to get facetime with preeminent paper nerds Bill Muller of Big Wheel Press, Chanamon Ratanalert of Maison Chanamon, BOTH Katie and Glen Biely of Biely & Shoaf, Kristal Bell of K+S Design Co., Lauren Harms of Next Chapter Studio, and Lindsay Warriner of Warren Tales. I even included my audience with one of my favorite gift power couples, Nora Fleming and Nora Fleming President Janice Christensen. Any surprise my voice was gone by the end of day 1?
But that doesn’t even begin to cover the hundreds of photos I snapped on the *Noted and larger Las Vegas Market floor. During market I shared a lot in my Instagram stories, which I put into a highlight on my profile and then in a reel, but I have so many more. I couldn’t not share a selection, with my editorializing of course. As usual, all wonky shadows and any weird effects are mine.
I was so thrilled to see Jan Golden of Age-Friendly Vibes a finalist for the Writer of the Year Louie! While her range aims to turn ageism around, clearly her writing chops extend far beyond that niche. Barone & Co. came out of the gate strong at Mary Hada with lots of cobalt (its signature color) paired with clever messaging and just the right amount of foil.Big Wheel Press always has the most interesting blend of letterpressed cards; I showcased its diametrically different from this Winnie the Pooh range in my ST writeup. You just never know what you’ll see!Get Well cards were once a small niche, but now that self-care and wellness are having a moment, the spotlight is on this space! BounceBack incorporates not just cards but journals and even an app to generate authentic recovery from all that collectively ails us.Sympathy (and for that matter empathy) are receiving a similar (and similarly needed) treatment. This design from Bromstad Printing Co. brilliantly articulates the enormous losses dragging so many down. You just know this front will inspire heartwarming, authentic messages inside as well.On a lighter note, I couldn’t not include a looong Bromstad Printing Co. risograph notepad. This promises to make errands fun again!Emily Taylor is the latest artist to join the Biely & Shoaf roster, and what a treat to see her designs in life! The delicate foiling elevates this card into mini-masterpiece territory. I am obsessed with the fanciful world of Hazel Mazel — which is sold wholesale only at Ivystone, sorry nerds in the wild! These dessert plates don’t only cleverly infuse the messaging of stationery into tabletop (and even appear letterpressed!), they seem to have stepped right out of Alice in Wonderland. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite hand-cut woodblock pattern from Heartell Press — I want them all. Those pretty red boxes meanwhile are not just plastic free, they can be broken down and upcycled into little photo frames/backers.Hitchcock Paper of Occoquan, Virginia, is both a store and a brand. To me these makers have an edge since they get to observe and interact with paper nerds in the wild — and that wisdom clearly comes through!It’s so wonderful to see Ink Meets Paper — and Allison and Jamie — back at market! They put so much TLC not only into their cards, but their envelopes as well. I agree, every envelope is a tiny gift, love to see them treated with the care and attention they deserve.As a free-range child of the 70s and 80s, my friends and I played House and Store (though Charlie’s Angels was my personal go-to!). I love to see Inklings Paperie bringing imaginative play to the table to spur open-ended adventures.Clearly I adore stickers, but there are good stickers and then there are great ones that just hit — like those at JaneLi.co for example!I nerd out on KANDS.CO every time I see them. While I also included Kristal in my ST write-up, I love seeing stationery makers play with different categories. In this case, an already smart air freshener gets the primo packaging treatment, replete with plaid backer and a scalloped edge across its top. When it comes to greeting card messaging, simple (and animated) is always best. Just ask Maison Chanamon!Marissa Kay Co is a fantastic new-to-me plantable range, with a strong undercurrent of nature and healing. Just think art, plants and slow living.Mary Draper Design comes from former teacher Mary Draper, who left her classroom to generate this heartfelt range. The embedded glitter gives every design subtle pop, and I’ve already shared my views on envelopes. The silver linings are just what the world needs right now (both literally and figuratively). The Noble Paperie has charm, humor, no shortage of empathy, and even the little black cat from Flow (although Kate told me that was unintended). If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re welcome!Remember what I said about a few feet up about empathy cards? Noteworthy Paper & Press has this category covered in spades (just hold on, clearly this is going to be a bumpy ride!).Pier Six Press — who just won Rising Star at the Louie Awards — is known for its dynamic color, but there’s a lot more treasure here than you think. It was such a treat to briefly catch up with Karen, though we kept getting interrupted by buyers, go figure!Pineapple Sundays Design Studio always captures the wonder of this world with such delight! I’m officially obsessed with all Lauren’s backers — hers are some of the best in the biz. You know you’re dealing with a talented letterpresser when you see a card with cross-outs and debossing like the bespeckled gem you see above from Porchlight Press. Heather also created this Farmer’s Market calendar which upcycles into postcards — both brilliant and tasty!
PresentCard is a card concept where you customize the interior with the experience/gift of your choice. Its founder Silvie gave me one on the floor redeemable for a hug — which I gladly accepted!
Quilling Card has really delved into the world of fine art, with predictably fantastic results!Redback was a few rows out of *Noted, but well worth the very short trek. Congratulations Sharon for winning the Celebrating Women Louie Award, now named for Bernice (Vickie) Gimbleman, co-founder of Designer Greetings. Rifle Paper Co. was in the Ivystone showroom, and was as always full of surprises. Check out this Halloween Advent Calendar — a product whose time has definitely come!Rock’N Paper and its founder Stephanie were both new to me — and the card community is so much better with her hard, smart edge.I have been swooning for Rock Scissor Paper designs since NSS days — sister set Heidi and Susie consistently brings fresh color and presentations to the card table (no easy feat!).SimplyMKO was another great (new) find! This Dallas brand is the brainchild of Megan Oshiro, whose designs are inspired by her Korean culture. Quite the entrepreneur, she started it while still in college and went full time after graduating!Smitten On Paper never fails to combine top-notch messaging with outstanding presentation — pulling this design from its envelope is akin to receiving a bit of sunshine!Sugarboo & Co. has a light-filled space in World Market Center, and I always visit whenever I’m in town for a big beautiful dose of inspiration. The brand’s nose for selecting quotes to live with on one’s walls is unparalleled, and the presentation is just as dynamic.
I love seeing more and brands — like Saturn Press — make the jump into paper (not plastic) boxes. Its new owners are putting so much careful thought and TLC into this letterpress range!
Talking Out of Turn is yet another wholesale brand with a store — in this case, in Dallas — and it is a stroke of brilliance to pair cards with themed stickers. Meanwhile ‘silly goose’ is a fun micro-trend! Also at Mary Hada, Ümlaut Brooklyn has an unearned reputation for lots of profanity. When it does appear, it’s appropriately smarter and prettier than you would think. Love those Japanese-esque florals! Warren Tales won the Writer of the Year Louie — and appropriately Lindsey said this very word on stage! I was there however, and I can testify it was not this drawn out. Wild Child Brand was another new-to-me discovery — and Rieke also took home a Louie. What’s not to love about her vibe? Clearly she was onto something with all that orange!
Thank you for reading this far, nerds — and for coming along with me on this virtual stroll!
Here and at top of this post: Even the reflection of this Heartell Press Indigo print (of a hand-carved woodblock print) is gorgeous!
