Grey Moggie Press

welcome, baby letterpress cards

we are so excited to be expecting a baby girl in a few months! being parents was always part of the the plan, but so was spending a few married years on our own first. part of the decision to wait was based on the fact that i was in law school for the first three years of our marriage. whatever the reasons, i'm so glad we waited, because you really can't prepare for the changes that happen even before the baby arrives. we are trying to retain as much of ourselves as possible, which is a difficult task for parents-to-be. do you know how many people give me advice on a daily basis now that i have a big belly?

one piece of advice i appreciated, and it didn't have to do with my own pregnancy, happened at crafts n kisses in February. a shopper asked if we had any baby cards and suggested we print some. i loved the idea so i designed a baby card in time for the adams morgan pop-up shop and spring bada bing in richmond. they're in my etsy shop now, or you can catch them at dc craft mafia's spring thing on may 21st!

speaking of spring thing, for the next few bloggy days, i'll try to post some new items that will be in our booth (i'm sharing a booth with julia from orange tabby press). most of them are already available in my etsy shop but they'll be new to the blog! after spring thing i'll share some custom orders i've been working on and some new personal stationery styles.

Etiquette in a Post-Emily World

I traveled a whole lot for work in the fall, and everywhere I went I'd find a used book store and search for etiquette books. New ones, old ones, trusted books, hokey books, paperbacks and hardcovers (a pain to add to already overstuffed luggage). When I first mentioned my fascination with etiquette here on the blog, I threw out the idea of maybe trying to come up with my own definition for etiquette. I'm not there yet, but I have come up with a few of my own rules of etiquette, adapted for today's life and printed on bookmarks. A few people have suggested I just start leaving the bookmarks in books at libraries and bookstores, or on tables at coffee shops. If seeing these bookmarks reminds people to be thoughtful and kind, then I'm all for it!

i <3 dc

I really do love my city, but it's not for everyone and there were times I thought it wasn't for me. The politics, the humid summers, the crowded Orange Line trains at rush hour; seriously, what's to love? Well, lots. Like the music scene. Some of my favorite moments in DC have been during live shows. I saw Shout Out Louds at the 930 Club on a Sunday night before lots of other people had "discovered" them. I loved watching Torquil Campbell hang from the rafters (or pipes or something) when I saw Stars at The Black Cat. And back when I was a Howie Day fan, I think I was able to see him live four times one year.

I've also been able to take advantage of the arts and the outdoors in DC. I loved the Hirshhorn After Hours events I got to attend. Skating in the sculpture garden always makes me happy. I met my husband when we were both Sunday morning volunteers with the golden lion tamarins at the National Zoo. I've had countless heart to heart conversations with one of my best friends in the park at Logan Circle, many lazy days with a good book and a picnic blanket in Dupont Circle, and I loved walking home through Rose Park when I used to work in Georgetown.

Oh, and the coffee shops. It's not technically in DC, but I spent many hours at Murky Coffee when I was in law school which has led to my love of busy afternoons with good caffeine and good music at Peregrine and Mid City Caffe, and drawn out Sunday mornings with vanilla lattes and magazines at Sova or Big Bear. If you've been in DC a while and you still haven't found your place, I'd suggest giving one of these coffee shops a try. There is an intense sense of community in each one. 

And community is where DC really shines. I've never felt more at home in the city I call home than I have since we moved to our neighborhood last November. I love our block and all the people who live here. And beyond the houses on our block, I love that sushi and karaoke at Sticky Rice or mussells and fries at Granville Moore's means just a short walk.  My long runs on the weekends take me through Eastern Market, Lincoln Park, past the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. Concerts at the Rock & Roll Hotel are even better when you don't have to take a cab home. It's great seeing familiar faces at all your favorite spots, and feeling like a familiar face when you're there.

I'll say that my little corner of Northeast DC is the best, but I know others feel just as strongly about where they live and work and play. And in honor of that love I know we all feel for our neighborhoods, I tried to include a whole lot of them in this new DC flag print. E and I are in the process of purchasing our first house, about 100 yards from where we currently live. I can't wait to hang one of these prints in our new home in our favorite neighborhood.

and now it's March

Has it really been a whole month? I've been busy, but now I'm ready to share all the fun things I've been making and doing. First up, because it can sometimes feel like springtime in March, are these new thank you cards in spring colors.

I have been impatiently waiting for warmer weather and made these cards in sunny apply and spring green, hoping mother nature would get the hint. We've had a few very warm days since then; maybe the cards helped!

 

happy february

Can you believe it's already february. I think I had a lot of stuff going on in January and now I can't remember any of it! The memory loss is probably due to the cold weather we've been experiencing; my brain doesn't function at full capacity below certain temperatures.

To keep myself warm, I've been working on Valentine cards. I'm participating in a few Valentine card swaps with them and I have a few cards left in my etsy shop. Enjoy!

Letterpress returns, I promise!

I'm hoping to have a bunch of new letterpress items up in my etsy shop tomorrow, along with some highlights here on the blog. Please check back! I apologize for being absent through the holidays and the start of the new year; I've been very busy printing and printing and printing :) Publish

letterpress calendar sneak peek

It's Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Calendar time again! This year I'm printing September. Here's a sneak peek at my day in the studio working on my 2011 page.

Once I had the idea (Write a Letter Every Day in September) I found the perfect Emily Post passage.

 

 

letterpress + pink

Just a little update to share what’s been going on in my printing world. I’m working on a lyrics poster and I brought in some friends to help me set type this week. It was the first time Eric had seen me print and I think he’s gained a new appreciation for the art.

It was mostly an educational/test print session so we used fun magenta ink. I want to make a million of these cards with the fancy lady on them. Perhaps some new personal stationery is in order.

the aftermath

After baking cookies, making caramels, and drinking hot chocolate for 10 days in a row, and after spending the last few days with a house full of family and many visits with friends, today was a little more difficult than planned. At least I got to put it off for a few hours because my parents’ 8am flight was canceled and rescheduled for 3pm. We went on a long family walk with the dog and stopped along the way for pastries and coffee.

Then, on a stroll through Eastern Market, I finally caught up with the mysterious letterpress man. I picked up a few beauties that will be perfect for printing Valentines (thanks, Dad!). Wooden case upon wooden case of type will keep me coming back every once in a while. Or maybe every week.

Weekend weekend weekend weekend

If you’re in DC tonight, please stop by and say hello:

DC Rollergirls Craft Fair & Holiday Bash

December 12, 8pm-11pm

McFaddens (2401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW)

I’m putting finishing touches on stuff for the craft fair tonight. I spent the day printing on Wednesday and came up with these prints. I love what they mean to me. I’m always trying to create something new to show my love to friends and family or make my little world more beautiful. Eric does the same with food. So I thought up these coordinating prints. I can’t wait to frame them!

I’ve also been working on some new birthday cards. Mostly, I’ve just loved printing with my two wood type alphabets lately and wanted to make beautiful words with them.

a splash of color

 
I wanted to print a variety of gift tags for the craft fair on Saturday. These bright orange literal “gift” tags make me smile and will brighten my table on Saturday night. Now to dream and scheme other ways to make my table pretty pretty.

new letterpress cards

I’m doing my first craft fair this weekend in DC. If you’re in the area, please stop by the DC Rollergirls Holiday Bash at McFadden’s on Saturday night and say hello. In preparation I’ve been printing lots of new cards. Here’s a peek at what I’ll have on my table. I love the way mixing these two wood types looks on the beautiful Arturo paper. I've put a few of each of these cards in the shop if you want to grab one before the craft show!

new shop!

If you're in the DC area, you can catch me and my letterpress cards at the DC Rollergirls Holiday Bash & Craft Fair on December 12th (McFadden's | 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW| 8-11pm) Or you can get letterpress holiday cards and tags or a new 2010 mini calendar/planner in my new shop.  Enjoy!

pyramid atlantic 2010 letterpress calendar

I am so excited about this calendar. Several of the letterpress printers from Pyramid Atlantic got together to print an edition of 99 2010 calendars. The project was so much fun. I learned a lot from my own print work – it was the first time I used photopolymer, the first project I completed in Illustrator, and I think it was also the first time I printed in multiple colors. And it was wonderful meeting some of the other printers during a calendar assembly/pizza party last week. Thanks to Moira for organizing!

Keep an eye on Moira’s blog if you want a calendar. She’ll be selling them for $40 there.

And if you’re in the market for holiday cards or gift tags, I’m finally re-opening my shop tomorrow.

letterpress update

I’m hoping to reopen my etsy shop soon and when I do, I want it to be full of pretty letterpress goodness. I spent Monday working on that goal and printed lots of holiday cards and gift tags and some custom stationery.  Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming. 

 

friday favorites: the random edition

it's been a good week for us. a new kitten joined our family, i spent some time in the letterpress studio, and the rain finally stopped. here are some of my favorite things right now.

i can’t wait to turn this paper goodness into paper goodies. they will be gift tags soon.

letterpress. i  printed holiday cards and personalized stationery on a sunny day in the studio. it made my week.

my one canoe two calendar. my favorite months are december + june because i love those colors on the grey paper, september because bikes are awesome, and october because vintage chairs are spooky without being creepy.

handmade soap from union street soapworks. picked up at the clarendon farmers market on wednesday. toasted coconut + lavender oatmeal.

my kitty cats starting to get along. maybe.

happy weekend!

the triumphant return of letterpress

oh? you thought this was a letterpress blog? it certainly had been a while since i printed anything. i’ve been volunteering at pyramid often but it’s difficult to share fun photos of me redistributing type or recount tales of cleaning a Vandercook with q-tips and a toothbrush.

yesterday? yesterday was different. i printed for the first time since june. and it was wonderful. several of the letterpress printers at pyramid are collaborating on a calendar to raise money for the studio. i taught myself how to use Illustrator and designed a calendar page for february. it was my first two-color job and all that quiet time in the studio with my design made for a fabulous day. also, did you know that the color combination of red + aqua is known as rockqua? (thanks, haley!)

yay! letterpress is back at grey moggie!

letterpress workshops

If you've ever thought you might want to letterpress, Pyramid Atlantic is offering two workshops with Moira in the next couple months. Both are suitable for beginners.

Saturday 10.10.2009: Intro to Letterpress

Saturday 11.14.2009: Letterpressed Holiday Cards

I'll be helping out with both workshops. More info on Moira's blog here.

Summer Wedding #2

A friend from school is getting married in Chicago later this year. She's having lots of fun planning most parts of the wedding, but she was having trouble when she had to make decisions about her invitations. A mutual friend told her I might be able to help, and she gave me the opportunity to put together a wedding paper suite for her.

I was beyond thrilled just to have box upon box of Arturo delivered to my door for this project. Add to that the joy of spending a day in the studio printing these lovelies and it might make up for the fact that I can't get back to the studio until August because of the bar exam study schedule.

The bride wanted something clean and simple and the wedding colors are burgundy and cream. After I got a feel for what she was after, I designed and letterpress printed invitations, RSVP cards, reception cards, and printed some envelopes. I have to thank Mr. Moggie who helped me to tie ribbons around the invitations.

Letterpress thank you cards

After graduation, I had a mile-long list of people to thank for gifts, support, and thoughtfulness. I wanted to check out how my new silver ink would look on kraft paper, since that's the combination I'd be using for these wedding invitations. So I cooked up these little thank you cards in the studio.

Thank goodness for the kindness of people like you.

I picked up some fushchia envelopes at Paper Source to give the cards a bit more character and then used some address label wraps from TapeSwell to finish off the package.