ready made party invitations

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Here's a new idea I've been working on: ready-made invitations and matching thank you cards – letterpress printed, but affordable, no fuss, good for girls and boys alike.



The pig with candles was something I drew for Liam's third birthday party at his request. I think it's really cute for boys and girls ages 2-4. After 4, Liam drew his own birthday invitations that I scanned and then printed off the computer, but I think the flag banner would be really sweet for kids up to 8 or 9 years old.



And then there's the who-what-where-when-why invites. Fill in the blanks, use them for any sort of get-together you like. Maybe, though, people wouldn't want to fill out all that information. Maybe it should be more specific (i.e. date, time, place – not as catchy this way, though.)

I'd like to sell these ready-made in my online shop in sets of 10 invites + thank you cards (for the little kid series) and sets of 10 for the who-what-where-when-why invites ... A6 flats with corresponding colored envelopes. For these, I'd just pick color combinations I like, but for orders of 25 and up people could choose their own colors. That would be the only customization though – just the colors, no change to the text.

I guess I should mention that part of my hesitation to offer the little kids' invitations – at least as they are now – is that while I think they are CUTE, I'm not sure they stand out as anything special. I have been really careful thus far to only offer designs that I think really reflect my aesthetic; this is not the same as not branching out, just keeping a certain design sensibility. I feel more confident in the ready-made who-what-where-when-why invitations which use my existing work. Do you think the little kid ones make the cut? I'm not sure yet.

What do you think? All this comes about as I continue to try to make my work affordable for others yet sustainable for myself. Speaking of which – oh, the wedding line. I get so many requests but not quite enough follow through. Should I lower my prices? I don't think they are at all out of line with other similar printers, but maybe I should try to get more steady work ... I barely have enough hours in the day as is, though so I'm not sure exactly how I'd take on more. I still need to find time to work on the 2011 calendar!

i'm back

I'm sorry for the radio silence. My father-in-law passed away unexpectedly on July 19th and we have been gone since then to be with family.

We just got home yesterday after 8 days away, so I have a lot of catching up to do around here, both in the house and studio. If you've emailed me or placed an order – or are waiting for Mailbox Monthly – please know that I'm doing the best I can do get everything back on track. I don't know how – and didn't have time – to figure out how to make my email generate an auto response so I have more than 100 emails to reply to now. I tried to reply to some with my iPhone, but they don't always go through. So thanks for your patience ...

Some days the Heidelberg just sings. It works like a charm. (Other days it's a total beast and I spend many hours pleading for cooperation.) Today, though, was sweet. I don't actually use this press all the time; I often choose to use my Vandercook, particularly when the run is anything smaller than 100 or if I'm not up for the temperament and speed of the beast. Yet today the Heidelberg was humming right along – well, not humming, more like an insanely fast fiddle – and I got so much done. Today, though I woke up at 4:30 am. I know – that's insane – but I couldn't get back to sleep and my alarm was set for 5:00 anyway. I went to my crazy exercise class at 5:45, got home by 7:00 and was in the studio – belly full, totally caffeinated – by 8:30. I got to cross so many things off the to-do list, some of which have been on there for a VERY LONG time – yes!!

We're heading up to Portland tomorrow for an evening out and then we'll pick up the kid on Saturday morning. He's been at MDA camp all week long. And loving it. More about all that over at we love liam. I'm thinking about where to eat tomorrow night. Last weekend when we took Liam to camp – just 90 minutes or so outside of PDX – we managed to eat, with him, at Olympic Provisions for lunch and Toro Bravo for dinner. And Ben and I ate at Pok Pok the next day for lunch. Pure gluttony, but oh-so-tasty and good.

love this

I love this scarf from Madewell. It's well established that I love the combination of gray and yellow so to me this is perfection.

I know I mentioned this song, Mexican Home – written by John Prine, performed by Josh Ritter on the album Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows before, but I've been listening to it almost every day, more than once. (It's a true fact that I could and do listen to songs I love obsessively.) It's cooled down here in the past couple days but it was so hot before and these lyrics really stuck with me:

It got so hot last night, I swear
You couldn't hardly breathe
Heat lightning burnt the sky like alcohol
I sat on the porch without my shoes
And I watched the cars roll by
As the headlights raced
To the corner of the kitchen wall.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

stationery catalog

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I've been working on the wholesale stationery catalog. It's been on the to do list for a ridiculously long time, but now I've got it done and I'm pleased. There is nothing quite like crossing off that task that has been haunting you for ages. Do you own a small shop (or even a big one) that would be a perfect match for Satsuma Press stationery? I'm looking for just a few more stores to carry my line.

Email me if you would like to receive the wholesale line sheet.

poppytalk handmade

The Oil Spill Response Market over at Poppytalk Handmade began today and Satsuma Press is part of it. There are lots of great vendors and we are each donating the proceeds from one item at our virtual table through Oxfam America. I am donating the feather stationery above.

My favorites from the market – this, this, this and this. Please go take a look.

From Jan and Earl at Poppytalk ...

As we are all sadly aware, the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf have been devastating and with the continued crisis we have created our newest market (which is launching today) as an online virtual fundraiser we're dubbing the "Oil Spill Response Market". Approximately 70 designers, artists, artisans and vintage shop owners are each donating one item from their "virtual tables" here at Poppytalk Handmade to help the cause. We as hosts will also be donating to the cause offering $1.50 from each table participating. To support this cause each vendor will have an item listed "oil spill item" at their virtual tables (many of these items were specially made for this fundraiser). Once sold, they will be donating the proceeds of that sale to help the vulnerable communities threatened by the oil spill through Oxfam America who has a special online donation section. Click here for more info and here to visit the online fundraiser.

The oil is expected to cause extraordinary damage to Louisiana wetlands and marshes – a vital source of livelihoods and the first lines of defense for coastal communities against damage from hurricanes. Oxfam has been working hand-in-hand with low-income communities along the coast since Hurricane Katrina – and with another hurricane season looming, it is vital that vulnerable populations receive support immediately.

Thank you for your support and visiting our handmade community at Poppytalk Handmade. The market will run July 5th - July 30th, 2010!

Thank you, Jan and Earl, for putting this together for such a good cause.

P.S. I created my first treasury on etsy – some of my favorites ... Check it out here.

SEVEN

I know I already used this image in my last post ... but I just decided to put this in my shop and I think you'll like it. It's called SEVEN – you get seven assorted letterpress cards from me for just eleven dollars. Many of the designs are being discontinued, so it's a way for me to clear space and for you to get a great deal while supplies last. To be clear, the selection is a surprise, but all lovely.

newsletter, etc

Are you on my mailing list to receive the Satsuma Press Newsletter? If not, you might want to think about it ... I don't send too many of them out, probably 10 a year or less. And the one I sent yesterday? It included discount codes for stationery and the new customizable calling cards. Would you like to receive the newsletter and the discount codes? Shoot me an email or sign up here.


I've been trying for a long time to figure out a way to offer simple, lovely and affordable customized business and calling cards to folks. Here's what I've come up with – nine different original SATSUMA PRESS designs, all customizable with your choice of ink colors, fonts and texts. Ready for you in just two to three weeks, all at an affordable price. Get more details or order yours here. I'm still working on ways to make letterpress wedding invitations more affordable without sacrificing quality or design ... More thoughts on this to come, including tips on how to keep your costs down and still have letterpress pretties.