Roses Reign

March 21, 2016March 21, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

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I’ve figured out how to make lots of crepe paper flowers—peonies, poppies, daisies, tulips, crocuses and lots more—but I’ve put off classic roses. They’ve never been one of my favorite flowers because they seem to be a sort of default buy (When in doubt, go with a dozen red roses, right?), they seem almost ordinary in my mind. That was, until, last weekend.

I was recently asked to contribute to an Alice in Wonderland themed styled shoot, so it was time to finally tackle the rose! It took me a few tries, but once I got it, I REALLY got it. And now I’m in love with roses!

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The spiraling center, radiating delicate curled petals… I just love everything about them. Of course my favorites are the unexpected colors though! These yellow beauties are my favorites, but orange is next on the docket, so that may change. You can order yours here! rose_yellow_5R0A4067

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rose_yellow_gradient_1656 Once I had the basics mastered, I started experimenting with mixing petal colors, and even made one very special hand-painted rosebud for the Alice shoot (remember that about a hundred rose photos ago?). rose_dipdyed_1596

When I was finished with my rose production extravaganza, I asked my photographer friend Adi to come over and snap a few pics. He took the shot of the white bouquet at the very top of my post as well as this one below! Check out more of his work on his newly launched website! roses_red_5R0A4052

Save the Date: Abi & Spencer’s Art Nouveau Wedding

February 12, 2016February 10, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

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Just before the holidays, I finished up a save the date card for the boyfriend’s sister. Abi and her fiancé are planning an Art Nouveau themed soirée this fall and wanted their invitation suite to give guests a peek at what’s to come.

Once I saw Abi’s Pinterest board—full of soft candlelight, sparkling chandeliers, swirling illustrations and hues of cobalt and gold, I knew I had to use this amazing shimmery paper I had experimented with a few weeks prior. I love that while it definitely reads gold, the paper is actually more of a champagne hue, free of the brassy or yellow hues that can make gold look cheap.

I created a two-color design inspired by motifs of the era: vaguely nature-inspired, but stylized into pure decoration. The white ink I used to print it plays beautifully off the iridescent paper.

I struggled quite a lot with the typefaces for this project, primarily because I don’t particularly like fonts from this era. I offered several more modern options that fit with with the design motif, but in the end, Abi and Spencer preferred typography that was historically accurate, and I was able to find several typefaces that I liked and worked well together!

I’m so pleased with how the save the dates turned out and can’t wait to get started on their invites, stay tuned!

A Year of Letterpress

January 23, 2015 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

When I redesigned my website a few months ago, I gave my card-of-the-month club a bigger presence. I love the idea of creating a relationship with stationery lovers and sending them a little something special each month.

However, the card club does skew toward gift giving, and if you know you’ll be moving sometime throughout the year, or you just want everything all at once, it wouldn’t work for you. So, I recently created a listing for a year’s worth of cards. The collection covers major special occasions—birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc.—and a handful of holidays, plus thank you cards and greeting-free notes you can use for any occasion.

Truth time, folks: I also have an ulterior motive with this one. I’m hard at work on a new collection for spring and I’m running out of space for all my inventory! So, for one more week, a set of 40 cards will run you just $80! Once things settle down and I find space for everything, they’ll go up to $100, so get them now! Go! Go buy them!

New year, new everything!

January 3, 2015January 2, 2015 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

Happy 2015, dear readers! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, Solstice or Eighth Night, and a fabulous New Year’s eve! I got to spend 12 lovely (if cold) days in Wisconsin visiting friends and spending quality time with my family. It was a much needed visit—I’d been pretty homesick throughout December—but now I’m glad to be home and getting back to work and a normal routine.

I did use the two days I spent in airports to design some readymade wedding invitations. I’ve always created completely custom pieces up till this point, but I understand that can be overwhelming for some couples, and sometimes they get in touch too late and there just isn’t time for several weeks of design. Look for those to be unveiled soon! (And if you’re getting married this summer, don’t wait to get in touch!)

Shipping to Bermuda is suuuuper pricey, so I sent a bunch of supplies to my parents’ house while I was there—including printing plates for a new collection! I’ve decided to freshen things up with two big collections this year, and a few smaller releases for holidays in between. I’m hoping to expand my wholesale market, so if you know of any locally owned shops that would be a good fit for 622 press please let me know so I can send them some samples!

Speaking of fresh—I also ordered new paper to print myself new business cards and note cards featuring 622 press’ new logo, plus new packaging for stationery sets. It was a little bit of an investment, but I’m so excited to finally be bringing the business up to the next level.

And finally, I brought back a few things that I didn’t have space for during the big move, including cards and prints. If you had your eye on something that disappeared last fall, check in to my etsy shop or get in touch, it might be in stock again!

Radiant Orchid

November 3, 2014November 3, 2014 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

Last week I had my annual order from long-time client Jen, who stocks up on monogram stationery every year around this time. I’m honored that she likes my work enough to re-order time and time again, and dazzled that she writes so many cards throughout the year!

As you know, it takes quite a bit of time to set up and then clean up the press, so I usually try to print several designs per color. I started some new holiday cards (stay tuned!) and knocked out a few designs from the running list I keep of future ideas. My favorite? An old-timey saying appropriate for myriad occasions paired with my sweet little bee illustration. Like it too? Get it here!

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