from the studio

New Stationery

Vintage Bike Posters

Linda Benglis at MOCA

Flora and Fauna Press on Style Me Pretty

I had the privilege of creating an invite ensemble for another lovely wedding at the Condor's Nest Ranch. The wedding was posted today on Style Me Pretty, have a look!

{Photo by Jackie Wonders Photography}

From the Studio: Business Cards

I created these cards for my husband for our 1st wedding anniversary. The traditional 1st anniversary gift is "paper". Little does he know, it will most likely be the next 49 years' gift as well. The bikes are from a pen and ink drawing I made of a vintage racing bike, as my husband is an avid cyclist.

The Melvins Letterpress Box Set

I was so excited when I heard the Melvins were issuing a limited edition (of 200) letterpress box-set. Designed and printed by Mackie Osborne, the wife of front man Buzz, the box-sets were hand assembled by the band, edition and autographed. My husband and I just had to get our hands on one of these gems. Anyone who appreciates letterpress and the work involved understands the $200 price tag. Judging from the line at the merch booth, (box-sets are only available at shows) Melvins fans don't seem to mind.  

Little Book of Letterpress

Flora and Fauna Press is pleased to announce our inclusion in the wonderful book, the Little Book of Letterpress by Charlotte Rivers. Filled with beautiful pictures from some of the best letterpress designers, it is quite a privilege to be included. 

Other People's Presses: Hatch Show Print

I've decided to start featuring some of the wonderful presses and designers creating letterpress and paper ephemera. Why not start with the Press who started it all for me, Hatch Show Print in Nashville, TN?

Living in TN for quite some time, Hatch Show posters are ubiquitous in the area, and a visit (way back in 1994) to the Nashville shop turned me onto letterpress forever. Hatch Show is a true printmakers mecca, a shop filled to the brim with wood type and block, prints, presses...

Hatch show has been cranking it out since 1879, creating posters for some of the biggest acts in country music not to mention newer acts and adverts. 

From the Studio

A variety of custom save the date cards we've created over the last year. 

Made by Hand

The editor of Make Magazine has a new book out today, "Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World". For those of us who make stuff by hand, this couldn't be a more profound publication.  Seth Godin aptly and eloquently describes the book "...is about the increasing insulation between modern life and the idea of actually making/growing/fixing things. As Mark chronicles his journey into the world of tinkering, I realized that this is a spiritual journey, not merely a hobby. Tweaking, making and building are human acts, ones that are very easy to forget about as we sign up to become cogs in the giant machinery of consumption and production." {I appreciate Grodin referencing Marx's theory of alienation.} Buy one at your local {mom & pop} bookseller today! 

...from the studio

Some of our new products for the National Stationery Show. 

"Adopt a Shelter Pet" Stamps

Halo will be donating a million meals to shelter pets, and raising awareness with these adorable stamps. All the photos were taken of adopted animals from a Connecticut shelter. Purchase online or at your local Post Office.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A recent project from our studio. I like the idea of sending a "holiday card" on St. Patrick's Day. 


I'll leave you with a quote which is hanging on a plaque in our kitchen: 
'Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.' W.B. Yeats

Charles Burchfield Exhibit

I finally got around to seeing the incredible Charles Birchfield exhibit at UCLA's Hammer Museum, on the closing day. Birchfield mainly worked in watercolor, depicting Americana and Nature-- I found it very interesting that he worked for Birge Wallpaper Company and American Greetings early in his career. During his illness at the end of his life, his paintings developed into  landscapes of a much looser unfinished quality, conveying a sense of freedom if you will. 

{above: artworks by Charles Burchfield}

are you gonna be there (at the craft fair)?

We like to participate in one good craft fair every year around the holidays. Since Felt Club is no longer in operation (???) BUST magazine's Craftacular has decided to stop in L.A. I think this is a worthy substitution. Right in the center of Echo Park, the Craftacular will take over the Echo and the Echoplex this Saturday. Come for the handmade goodies, stay for the Grilled Cheese Truck.

font of the week-odstemplik

Seeing as it is officially a recession, we've decided to highlight a free font we've been loving over here at Flora and Fauna. We never have enough scripts, and it's nice to find one that is not to 'flourishy' yet still retains the elegant qualities of a script. 

Download it here  for free.

blog of the week

Cat ladders. One of the few things in this world that truly fill me with a sense of hope and joy towards humankind. If my cat had any interest in the out-of-doors I would build her one.

Animal Instinct

Anyone who has visited my home knows what an animal lover I am. So I am so proud to be part of the "Animal Instinct" benefit show for the Humane Society this Saturday (11/07)  in the O.C. Furthermore, I am excited to see the ARTery, described as "a series of steel shipping containers transformed into a walk-through community art exhibition space." More information on the exhibit can be found on the Animal Instinct blog. 

{click picture for larger image}

The print will be on exhibition Nov. 7th-15th, and more Limited Edition hand-colored letterpress prints are available here.

Afterwards...

It is always satisfying to see what happens to the stationery we create after it leaves the studio. {Hint, hint, send us your pictures!}  These are programs and menus, we created for a lovely bride Christina earlier this summer. You can view the entire stationery collection here. 

 

By the way, you should have seen this amazing menu! Her parents spent "countless hours preparing the sauce, meatballs and ravioli." Yum.

Programs and Menus, Flora and Fauna Press. Photography, Michael Wilson at Daylight Portrait.

Small Business Spotlight

When I was a child I was given a Christmas gift of a couple pounds of homemade Peanut Brittle. Being a child with no self-control, I ate so much I made myself sick. It took me about 20-some years before I could indulge once again in the salty-sweety goodness of Brittle. Just in time for me to savor a few of the unique and delectible flavors of "Artisan Brittle" created by our friend Max of Morning Glory Confections. (I love having friends making delicious things!) I have to say, as one who enjoys spicy, the "New Mexico Chili & Pumkin Seed" is my ultimate favorite, but honestly they all are delicious.  Send a sampler box to a loved one and it includes a lovely letterpress card, printed by yours truly.