As May draws near, and with it, the euphoria that is news from the National Stationery Show, I’ve found another letterpress studio to admire. Sideshow Press is based in Charleston, SC, and run by three creative women: Virginia Gregg, Courtney Rowson, and Amy Pastre. I first learned of Sideshow via the May 2007 issue of Charleston magazine, which featured lots of pictures of their letterpress work in process. (There was video, too, but I can’t find a link for you now.) Finally, over spring break I picked up a couple of cards from their line while in Charleston walking and shopping the Upper King Design District. Their work is distinctive, the paper nice and heavy, and the press deep with gorgeous color. I just had to see more from Sideshow. Courtney was nice enough to forward the photos shown here. (Although I would run from bugs in real life, on the cards above I’m drawn in and loving them.)
Lovely colors, and I have that fern card, so this picture makes me smile …..
{plus, let’s face it, I want the charming basket to store cards in}
The softness of the paper and pretty color contrasts nicely with the “bricks and nails” details.
I adore this dress/pattern card. Want it!
Right now, Sideshow Press’ website is under development, but they hope to launch soon. As soon as it’s up, I’ll be sure to let you all know. For now, enjoy the photos and anticipate!
Thanks, Courtney! I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to eshop soon for some more of your work. Like that dress card, for starters ….
All photos for this post courtesy of Sideshow Press
And speaking of the Stationery Show: I’m on year 3? 4? who’s counting? of promising myself that this was the year I’d go to NYC for the show and yet failing to follow through. I’m like the girl who cried stationery! Anyone care to match my pledge for 2009 and hold me to it? We could meet and go to the show. And shop, and eat out. Heck, I’ll settle for someone promising to make me go! Except I still need to finagle a way in, too ….. ideas welcome on that front. (E, do you think you’ll show, or go, in ’09?)
Until tomorrow, from rainy/snowy? cold Chicago.
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Soccer tournaments can suck up all available weekend time. Thankfully, this weekend’s tourney was located in Hinsdale, IL, which has an ultra-charming downtown and tons of houses to admire. There were a lot of houses for sale, but the ones I liked were $2.0 million and up, so it’s not there was any seriousness to my admiration. After Saturday’s second game, we briefly hit the downtown to shop. Sweet William had an adorable, but wrong size, skirt from Mr. & Mrs. Macleod (a new to me line – and I’m adding it to my “follow” list) as well as some interesting scents from CB Perfume. My favorites? At the Beach 1966 and In the Library. Despite what you might think, it does not smell like musty books. I’m on a bit of a perfume binge of late, which is out of character. I recently added Ambrette 9 from Le Labo to my (small) arsenal, and am loving that too. A new obsession, perhaps?
After Sweet William, we wandered into Embrace: a boutique and restaurant tucked away down an ultra-charming walkway. I would have loved to eat there, but our timing was a bit off, and the 10 year old insisted that we could not eat dinner at 4:20. So, instead a quick stop at Blue Mercury for lipstick and soap, and we were back on the road.
Sunday was our anniversary, which we celebrated at yet another soccer game, and exchanged cards. My husband came home from work Friday with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from my favorite florist. Perfect.
See you tomorrow.
Good news on the magazine front: not only did I pick up the titles above to read over the weekend, but my bridal fixation from yesterday will be rewarded! Thanks to R, my local B&N will start carrying Wedding Style Guide soon. (And by soon, I mean between now and August, as the winter issue launches June 25 in Australia.) Happy am I.
On with the Five:
- little suns insidee the grass
- sweet peas
- Solace in Truth
- building corner
- rads
As I type this, a light spring rain is falling, and it smells heavenly. See you Monday …..
Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband as well! Let’s go to a soccer game to celebrate :)
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Wednesday was here and gone in a flash. I had a long list of tasks, starting with cleaning the windows in one room, as I slowly make my way through the entire house. Two rooms down, and most to go. (Tasks as thankless as that have to be broken up or I’d never tackle them.) Then, it was off for errands (return sunblock; pick up parchment paper and newly hemmed jeans) followed by Pilates, followed by laundry, followed by driving my son to soccer and baseball practices.
As I try to regain my sanity, I’ve been trying to dial back the amount of reading that comes into the house. My last issue of InStyle arrived on Monday. The New York Times is Sunday only, except I have to buy the Thursday copy at the newsstand. Can’t give up my house and style sections fix. I’m still making my way through last Sunday’s magazine section. Yesterday’s discovery in that section was fun: check out Walk Score. Enter your address and get a walkability score, which incorporates the closeness of parks, shopping, restaurants, and schools. Scores over 90 are optimal. Under 25? not so good. My current neighborhood has a walkability score of 28. Pathetic, and it explains a lot of my frustrations. I entered in hypothetical addresses for where I hope to be living in 10 years. Boston, Charleston, and Savannah (in-town locations) all scored over 95. Yeah, now that’s more like it. My son wanted to know how San Francisco and Portland ranked. I’m sure both are well above 28, and most likely in the 90s as well. Plan your escape from car reliance here.
On a totally unrelated note, and certain not to reduce the reading backlog, Chelsea featured an Australian bridal magazine (the website is gorgeous) that I’m now crazy to get my hands on! I need it, if needing something is defined by wanting it badly. No matter that our 17th wedding anniversary is Sunday. I need it! (R, is this something that B&N can get? You know I’ll be asking you about it today!)
See you tomorrow with the Five.
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I can tell putting this post together is going to be frustrating. I’ve already tried twice to upload a photo and been denied. Good thing I started extra early. Anyway, the end of April is rapidly approaching, and I’m starting to think about Mother’s Day. (Actually, it’s the retailers who are starting to think about Mother’s Day. I’ve received a lot of gift suggestions by email this week.)
I’ve already purchased presents for both mothers. (It helps when you buy the same thing every year.) But, after I clicked on the “order now” button at Shutterfly, (there’s no spoiling the surprise when you buy the same thing, either) I came across across the website for photographer Alicia Bock. Her photos are simply gorgeous, and each is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from notecards to larger prints. I am smitten with January’s Daydreams and Evening Comes, and I’m just getting started. This site requires a rainy afternoon to sit and peruse. While I wait for that day, I’ve added her blog, beautifully named “Bloom, Grow, Love” to my Reader.
Have a great Wednesday!
photo above is of our magnolia tree – loving the blooms this year even more than usual – last year we lost them all to late frost
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