Tag: stationery

Mono-a-Mono

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

One of the best parts about buying handmade directly from the artist is the ability to collaborate on custom work. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive, overwhelming and relatively slow process, so I’ve been working on ways to make custom letterpress pieces more accessible. The solution? A customizable piece with a finite number of choices for each aspect of the design.

Introducing custom monogram note cards with the following options:

1. Choose your initials (2-4 characters):

2. Choose your design:

3. Choose a color from the palette:

Purchase the listing and wait just a few weeks for your cards!

Attack of the Bees!

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

I’m sure you all remember when I made this super cute bee stationery for Mollie Busby. Since then, that little guy has appeared on several projects, including these sweet little flat notes for an etsy client. Once I had the press cleaned up, I also embossed a couple dozen gift tags, sets of which are now available here!

New Work & Old Favorites

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

This Christmas, I gave myself a gift. The first part was to really, truly take four full days away from work. No email, no phone calls, barely a thought of the office. Sure two of those days were a weekend, but if I’m being honest, it’s rare that I even go a whole weekend without doing a little something for the magazine, so this really felt indulgent for me.

The second part of that gift was to spend much of that time printing. I had a few things I had to get done for Driftless Studio—a beautiful store on State Street in Madison owned by a talented photographer, writer and wonderful person named Anne. Her favorite design is my “Gone to Seed” dandelion print, so I printed up a bunch of those in light blue, plus some Happy Birthday bike cards, some blue and green grasses, love you. cards for Valentine’s and more.

Since the process of inking up, setting the plate and cleaning up is so labor intensive, I tend to print several different designs while I have a color on press. So while I was at blue and yellow, I also did a reprint of one of my fastest-selling designs that I’ve been out of for a while, “you are my sunshine.” I also did a run of a new “congrats” card that would work perfectly for a wedding or new home, plus started lots of recipe cards, limited edition prints and more.

R.I.P. U.S.P.S.?

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment
Vintage Air Mail Save the Date by Beth Cote

Depending on what side of the aisle you favor, the proposed cuts to the U.S. Postal Service are either a heinous attack on an American institution or a necessary step to balance the national budget. All I know is that if I have to stand in line any longer, I’m switching to Fed Ex.

No matter where you fall on that issue, everyone likes to get mail. I know I’ve waxed semi-poetic about the virtues of card-sending before, but really, is there anything better than the surprise of a hand-written note? At least one person agrees with me: Stefanie of Newspaper Taxi is holding a contest for lovers of letters.

Info on the image below, full details if you click on it! Enjoy and good luck!

Bus-beeeeee

~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

I hereby promise this will be my last post concerning Miss Mollie Shambeau Busby for a while! Last weekend was her ah-maze-ing wedding and I just have to brag a little about my gift! I went off-registry—gasp!—and printed Sean and Mollie custom stationery featuring their new family crest of sorts. I don’t often go so traditional when I design, but it felt just right for this occasion. I of course printed extras of this lovely note, so if you’re loving this look, pick some up right here!

I’m so sad I was too rushed to take a quick picture of the wrapping before heading out, but let’s just say, it was so cute! I picked up a kraft-colored papier maché box that matched the envelopes perfectly, nestled the stack of cards snugly in striped tissue and wrapped the whole thing in yellow, orange and light blue ribbon. While I was printing her cards, I whipped up a special envelope covered in bees and slipped that between ribbons. There’s something about a really well-wrapped present that makes the gift inside all the more special!