A bit of eye candy for those of us who missed the John Baldessari show that just closed at the Met in NY this past Sunday...
Images via googleimages
1.17.2011
1.10.2011
Amish Homage
Just finished reading a book about the Amish and am inspired, particularly in light of the recent news from Arizona, by their peaceful ways and strong conviction to lead a simple "plain" life.
Central Ohio is home to the country's largest base of Amish and despite the pressures of commercialization- their communities thrive. Read more about the Amish here.
Central Ohio is home to the country's largest base of Amish and despite the pressures of commercialization- their communities thrive. Read more about the Amish here.
Their commitment to simplicity is ironic, considering our ever growing quest to lead a greener lifestyle. And the fact that SO much information and SO many photos are available on line is truly ironic as their very lifestyle represents the antithesis of both (and photography is forbidden).
Consider this an Amish homage- a gentle reminder of a gentle people from whom, we have much to learn.Photos: amishcountry.com, walnutcreekohio.org and google images
1.03.2011
Welcoming the New Year with Oprah
Happy New Year to all!!! How did you spend your holiday week?? WE were BUSY! We moved to our new and improved warehouse, which went amazingly well! Thanks to Bill's organized planning - we finished ahead of schedule - thus affording us all a few days off.
So when New Year's Day rolled around- I rolled out of bed to enjoy the day at home, in my PJs, to usher in the new year relaxing. Those who know me, know I am a huge Oprah fan. I spent New Year's Day, not only welcoming the new year, but as a couch potato glued to the TV, welcoming the new Oprah Winfrey Network - OWN.
So when New Year's Day rolled around- I rolled out of bed to enjoy the day at home, in my PJs, to usher in the new year relaxing. Those who know me, know I am a huge Oprah fan. I spent New Year's Day, not only welcoming the new year, but as a couch potato glued to the TV, welcoming the new Oprah Winfrey Network - OWN.
Despite that after several hours (yes really!), it began to run as one giant self promotional infomercial- I enthusiastically await the round the clock programming which promises to offer inspiration from wise people about wise subjects- most focused on the greater good and a spirit of sharing.Join the Oprah fest and start the new year by taking this fun and surprisingly insightful quiz: Who Are You Meant to Be?
Happy 2011 - may you "live your best life" and may it be your best year yet!!
Images via Oprah.com
12.27.2010
New Year's Resolution- ClimateCounts.org Shopping
If you have some time this week... here's a great tool to start planning for the new year: Spend a few minutes on ClimateCounts.org and track some of the companies you support. You can see a breif report on the strides (or back steps) they've made in 2010 and what companies you feel you'd like to begin to support or continue to support in 2011.
Companies are graded on three levels- Stuck, Starting and Striding. Stuck = channel your dollars elsewhere and send an email with the easy to use template provided telling them to claim corporate responsibility and start making strides.
Starting = the seed has been planted but still a long way to go before the flower blooms.
Striding = the best place to spend your hard earned dollars. Also a great place to email and let them know their efforts have been noticed.Surprisingly, companies like Nike, General Electric and UPS scored high on the list, which you can search by rank for a quick reference. Equally surprising, Google and The Gap ranked in the low mid scores and Serta, Liz Claiborne and several companies that specialize in product for kids fell at the bottom of the list.
Be it resolved: Consume thoughtfully and carefully in 2011.
12.21.2010
Happy Winter Solstice!
Solstice + Eclipse = an early Christmas present!Read more and see two videos here and bid a warm ;)
welcome to Winter!
Photo: AOLnews.com
12.16.2010
Dear Santa, Eco Friendly Gift Ideas
Looking for great eco-friendly gift ideas? There's still time to drop a hint to Santa with this wish list with a little something for every member of the family!
Charming Gifts- Trendy charms mix and match to create the perfect personalized gift. All the jewelry found on this site including diamonds, pearls and gemstones are ethically sourced, conflict free fine jewelry. From Brilliant Earth.
Organic chic- The fabric is 100% Certified Organic Cotton interlock in a beautiful tonal herringbone pattern that adds texture to to this pencil skirt. A perfect wardrobe staple from Jonano.
Ski & Snowboard Pant- Hitting the slopes this winter? The two-layer recycled polyester fabric was developed with ECOCIRCLE® technology, which weaves stretch fabric from post-consumer and post-industrial polyester waste. Closing the loop, at the end of its long life the Bender Pant can be recycled once again into polyester fibers for reuse. Bender pant from Nau.
In the bag- a perfect all purpose bag goes from commuter to computer, moms to market, dads to diapers! The shell and taffeta lining are all 100% recycled polyester. All buckles are made with recycled aluminum. Shoulder pad is recycled wool felt. Shoulder webbing is 100% recycled polyester. From Nau.
Baby Fine- Swedish inspired kidswear available online and in local shops from Hanna Andersson. A great selection of organic cotton and eco materials are used in many of their products.
K Studio Pillow- At Shelly and Mary Klein's studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, each product is made by hand. They start with fabric made from some of the most sustainable materials available such as hemp, organic cotton, and recycled wool. K studio designs are generated in house and are then embroidered, assembled, packaged, and shipped by their skilled team. Purchase from Design Public.
Driftwood Candles- Made from found pieces of driftwood these candles have a rustic, organic style that complements any home decor. From Natures Cabinet.
Good Energy- Give a charitable micro donation specifically targeted toward energy projects within communities. For example: adding insulated thermal windows to a community center in Somerville, MA. A great gift, especially if you reside in the great state of Massachusetts (or can spell it!) ;) Donate here.
Penguin Home Soda Maker- Refreshing, convenient and eco-smart. Use your own water and The Penguin reusable glass bottles to create bubbly beverages. No resources or energy wasted on producing and disposing of bottles nor energy wasted on transporting and distributing the water from the source to you. From Twig Living in Chapel Hill, NC.
The Write Stuff- Eco conscious colored pencils from Faber Castell have an easy to hold ergonomic shape and are made from reforested wood, preserving natural forests. From Moolka, on Amazon.
Green Paper Studio- The online store of Creative Parties in Bethesda, MD stocks almost the entire line of Green Paper Company stationery and bulk papers. They can personalize notes cards and create magnificent invitations for upcoming parties you have on deck for 2011. Shop here.
Repurposed Slate Coasters- These coasters have graduated from the blackboards of an elementary school in Illinois are now working overtime as coasters. Reclaimed wine cork feet keep them in their place. Handmade in Wisconsin. Buy at Uncommon Goods.
Toto Too- Reduce your carbon pawprint and stay out of the dog house! These beds are covered with Hemp fabric made with azo-free dyes which are non-chemical, earth friendly dyes. The hypo-allergenic bed inserts are "green fiber" made of recycled post consumer plastic bottles and covers are 100% Hemp. From Harry Barker.
Charming Gifts- Trendy charms mix and match to create the perfect personalized gift. All the jewelry found on this site including diamonds, pearls and gemstones are ethically sourced, conflict free fine jewelry. From Brilliant Earth.
Organic chic- The fabric is 100% Certified Organic Cotton interlock in a beautiful tonal herringbone pattern that adds texture to to this pencil skirt. A perfect wardrobe staple from Jonano.
Ski & Snowboard Pant- Hitting the slopes this winter? The two-layer recycled polyester fabric was developed with ECOCIRCLE® technology, which weaves stretch fabric from post-consumer and post-industrial polyester waste. Closing the loop, at the end of its long life the Bender Pant can be recycled once again into polyester fibers for reuse. Bender pant from Nau.
In the bag- a perfect all purpose bag goes from commuter to computer, moms to market, dads to diapers! The shell and taffeta lining are all 100% recycled polyester. All buckles are made with recycled aluminum. Shoulder pad is recycled wool felt. Shoulder webbing is 100% recycled polyester. From Nau.
Baby Fine- Swedish inspired kidswear available online and in local shops from Hanna Andersson. A great selection of organic cotton and eco materials are used in many of their products.
K Studio Pillow- At Shelly and Mary Klein's studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, each product is made by hand. They start with fabric made from some of the most sustainable materials available such as hemp, organic cotton, and recycled wool. K studio designs are generated in house and are then embroidered, assembled, packaged, and shipped by their skilled team. Purchase from Design Public.
Driftwood Candles- Made from found pieces of driftwood these candles have a rustic, organic style that complements any home decor. From Natures Cabinet.
Good Energy- Give a charitable micro donation specifically targeted toward energy projects within communities. For example: adding insulated thermal windows to a community center in Somerville, MA. A great gift, especially if you reside in the great state of Massachusetts (or can spell it!) ;) Donate here.
Penguin Home Soda Maker- Refreshing, convenient and eco-smart. Use your own water and The Penguin reusable glass bottles to create bubbly beverages. No resources or energy wasted on producing and disposing of bottles nor energy wasted on transporting and distributing the water from the source to you. From Twig Living in Chapel Hill, NC.
The Write Stuff- Eco conscious colored pencils from Faber Castell have an easy to hold ergonomic shape and are made from reforested wood, preserving natural forests. From Moolka, on Amazon.
Green Paper Studio- The online store of Creative Parties in Bethesda, MD stocks almost the entire line of Green Paper Company stationery and bulk papers. They can personalize notes cards and create magnificent invitations for upcoming parties you have on deck for 2011. Shop here.
Repurposed Slate Coasters- These coasters have graduated from the blackboards of an elementary school in Illinois are now working overtime as coasters. Reclaimed wine cork feet keep them in their place. Handmade in Wisconsin. Buy at Uncommon Goods.
Toto Too- Reduce your carbon pawprint and stay out of the dog house! These beds are covered with Hemp fabric made with azo-free dyes which are non-chemical, earth friendly dyes. The hypo-allergenic bed inserts are "green fiber" made of recycled post consumer plastic bottles and covers are 100% Hemp. From Harry Barker.12.03.2010
Practical Tips to Green Your Home for the Holidays
Read our {practical tips to} Green Your Home for the Holidays posting HERE. If you don't already receive our occasional e-messages you can sign up there as well.
Special thanks to Monique and Keith Keegan for sharing their photo of their magnificent property- Summer Haven, (a winter wonderland as well) an amazing photo for this winter-y post! You can see more of Monique's interior design splendor at Enjoyco.net and on an earlier post of ours here.
12.01.2010
Customer Profile: Karen Battles - B Designs
We are always so honored when designers select Green Paper Company as a supplier. This season we are especially honored B Designs, a long time leader in the letterpress community, is using our Monarch envelopes for a new line of note cards.
When I opened my retail store On Paper, more than thirteen years ago, B Designs was a must have, go to studio for impeccably printed, clean vintage designs. It still is. Their thank you notes are still a proverbial best seller. Started in 1995, B Designs is a husband and wife team- Karen Battles and James Shanley. Karen was kind enough to share some thoughts on business and printing in an interview. Thanks Karen for your patronage, and your artistry!
{B Designs is one of the original letterpress printers that helped revive the craft, bringing letterpress to the forefront of design. How have you seen the market change, and how is it similar?}The market change in a nutshell:
More letterpress studios, less stationery stores and the advent of email changing peoples writing behavior.
The longer answer:
At the time my husband James and I started B Designs in 1995 there were about a half a dozen companies producing letterpress printed greeting cards. There were other letterpress studios at that time, but most were focused on publishing limited edition books. It was funny because for the first several years we attended the Stationery Show, we had to explain what letterpress was and even produce sales materials geared towards educating store owners and our sales reps about the process. Then Martha Stewart started featuring letterpress printed wedding announcements in her magazine and we didn’t have to explain anymore--she really put letterpress back on the map.
I’d say many of us in the first wave of letterpress stationery companies were graphic designers starting second careers. When colleges and art schools started teaching letterpress in their graphic design and printmaking programs, a whole new generation of printers were born. Young printers have pushed letterpress into being the most design-driven segment of the stationery industry. Being able to design on a computer and then print the images letterpress, as B Designs has done for about dozen years, has revolutionized letterpress. There seem to be hundreds of small presses spread out over the country. It’s an exciting time for letterpress.
It is not a hard business to start, but it is a difficult one to stay in. The modern letterpress stationery company is a hybrid between the old “job shop”, doing custom projects of all kinds as they come in, and a greeting card publisher, producing paper products for a huge national marketplace. It’s an exciting way to make a living, but the necessity for a constant stream of new designs, turning jobs around quickly, dealing with both wholesale and retail customers and securing good supplier terms make it a challenging business to run. James over the years has developed ways to overcome the inherent inefficiencies of letterpress printing by creating unique press room procedures for production.
History shows us that the market has always had design cycles, swinging between flamboyant design and the simple and pure--from Baroque to Arts & Crafts. At B Designs, we made a very conscious decision early on to stick to our knitting, that is, remain true to my very simple design aesthetic, use high quality materials, keep all of our production in-house and offer excellent customer service.
{What's your favorite part of your work?}
I'd have to say digging through old books and ephemera to find new imagery. I'm always on the lookout. There is something about the thrill of the chase at flea markets like Brimfield, or at a paper show that really makes me love what I do. I started antiquing in high school so I’ve always loved the idea of hunting for a treasure. I collect great imagery and then when the time is right, I edit it and put in into a context that is meaningful to our customers. I really try to anticipate the needs of our customers. How do we make a beautiful, useful and meaningful product that someone buys because it reflects their interests and values? Nowadays when someone actually hand writes a message, the act itself shows a level of caring (email is so easy) so we try to provide an image that sets the stage for a personal message.
Another thing I really like about designing for B Designs is working with Katey in the pressroom. Ours is a collaborative effort in trying to get the design and printing just right. We have based our business on the notion that written notes bring more than news or appreciation, they provide an experience.
{Can you tell us a bit about the eco practices in your studio?}
We have always printed on recycled paper with a minimum of 30% post consumer waste content and recently we have also started offering a beautiful paper made of bamboo for our custom customers. We also recycle all of our paper and cardboard. Over the years we have given numerous tours to local school kids to show the closed loop of recycling in practice. Letterpress is very eco-friendly compared to other printing practices; very little ink is used, our printing plates are washed out with and the solvents that we use are very low VOC.
{What made you select Green Paper Company as a supplier for your prestigious product?}
I was really impressed with the wide range of colors and sizes the Green Paper Company offers. I visited the booth at the National Stationery Show the year the company first showed there. I'm always looking to create products that are a little different. The long and thin monarch size offered the opportunity to create a large graphic along the side of the paper and pair it with a colorful and unusual envelope. The combination has proven very popular with our customers and I plan on expanding the line. Using Green Paper Company products gets back to that issue of making sure our customer has a product that delivers a message of caring and taste. Using high quality recycled paper is definitely something our customer cares about.
{What is inspiring you for 2011?}
I am inspired by combining quotations and imagery. Words of wisdom are a comfort in tough times. Pattern continues to be of interest—if it’s an interesting image, what happens if you group a number of them into patterns? Also, I’ve collected a bunch of beautiful old penmanship and lettering books that I’d like to incorporate into the line. Where we live, Newburyport Massachusetts, is always an inspiration. It’s full of beautiful Federal architecture, surrounded by marshes and woods and an incredible beach. Letterpress itself is an inspiration—“how will this look pressed into the paper”?
More letterpress studios, less stationery stores and the advent of email changing peoples writing behavior.
The longer answer:
At the time my husband James and I started B Designs in 1995 there were about a half a dozen companies producing letterpress printed greeting cards. There were other letterpress studios at that time, but most were focused on publishing limited edition books. It was funny because for the first several years we attended the Stationery Show, we had to explain what letterpress was and even produce sales materials geared towards educating store owners and our sales reps about the process. Then Martha Stewart started featuring letterpress printed wedding announcements in her magazine and we didn’t have to explain anymore--she really put letterpress back on the map.
I’d say many of us in the first wave of letterpress stationery companies were graphic designers starting second careers. When colleges and art schools started teaching letterpress in their graphic design and printmaking programs, a whole new generation of printers were born. Young printers have pushed letterpress into being the most design-driven segment of the stationery industry. Being able to design on a computer and then print the images letterpress, as B Designs has done for about dozen years, has revolutionized letterpress. There seem to be hundreds of small presses spread out over the country. It’s an exciting time for letterpress.
It is not a hard business to start, but it is a difficult one to stay in. The modern letterpress stationery company is a hybrid between the old “job shop”, doing custom projects of all kinds as they come in, and a greeting card publisher, producing paper products for a huge national marketplace. It’s an exciting way to make a living, but the necessity for a constant stream of new designs, turning jobs around quickly, dealing with both wholesale and retail customers and securing good supplier terms make it a challenging business to run. James over the years has developed ways to overcome the inherent inefficiencies of letterpress printing by creating unique press room procedures for production.
History shows us that the market has always had design cycles, swinging between flamboyant design and the simple and pure--from Baroque to Arts & Crafts. At B Designs, we made a very conscious decision early on to stick to our knitting, that is, remain true to my very simple design aesthetic, use high quality materials, keep all of our production in-house and offer excellent customer service.
{What's your favorite part of your work?}
I'd have to say digging through old books and ephemera to find new imagery. I'm always on the lookout. There is something about the thrill of the chase at flea markets like Brimfield, or at a paper show that really makes me love what I do. I started antiquing in high school so I’ve always loved the idea of hunting for a treasure. I collect great imagery and then when the time is right, I edit it and put in into a context that is meaningful to our customers. I really try to anticipate the needs of our customers. How do we make a beautiful, useful and meaningful product that someone buys because it reflects their interests and values? Nowadays when someone actually hand writes a message, the act itself shows a level of caring (email is so easy) so we try to provide an image that sets the stage for a personal message.
Another thing I really like about designing for B Designs is working with Katey in the pressroom. Ours is a collaborative effort in trying to get the design and printing just right. We have based our business on the notion that written notes bring more than news or appreciation, they provide an experience.
{Can you tell us a bit about the eco practices in your studio?}
We have always printed on recycled paper with a minimum of 30% post consumer waste content and recently we have also started offering a beautiful paper made of bamboo for our custom customers. We also recycle all of our paper and cardboard. Over the years we have given numerous tours to local school kids to show the closed loop of recycling in practice. Letterpress is very eco-friendly compared to other printing practices; very little ink is used, our printing plates are washed out with and the solvents that we use are very low VOC.
{What made you select Green Paper Company as a supplier for your prestigious product?}
I was really impressed with the wide range of colors and sizes the Green Paper Company offers. I visited the booth at the National Stationery Show the year the company first showed there. I'm always looking to create products that are a little different. The long and thin monarch size offered the opportunity to create a large graphic along the side of the paper and pair it with a colorful and unusual envelope. The combination has proven very popular with our customers and I plan on expanding the line. Using Green Paper Company products gets back to that issue of making sure our customer has a product that delivers a message of caring and taste. Using high quality recycled paper is definitely something our customer cares about.
{What is inspiring you for 2011?}
I am inspired by combining quotations and imagery. Words of wisdom are a comfort in tough times. Pattern continues to be of interest—if it’s an interesting image, what happens if you group a number of them into patterns? Also, I’ve collected a bunch of beautiful old penmanship and lettering books that I’d like to incorporate into the line. Where we live, Newburyport Massachusetts, is always an inspiration. It’s full of beautiful Federal architecture, surrounded by marshes and woods and an incredible beach. Letterpress itself is an inspiration—“how will this look pressed into the paper”?
11.29.2010
E Waste
In honor of Cyber Monday- thought we'd interject a bit of a reality check...
Think all of that email marketing is really great for the environment? Think again. As this powerful graphic (a collaboration from Good and Column Five Media) illustrates, global electronic waste is a mounting problem.
Each year in the U.S. alone we throw out 47.5 million computers and 100 million cell phones. Globally, electronic waste is mounting up to 40 million TONS per year, and much of that waste is cargo-ed to foreign countries for disposal.
Unfortunately- there's not an Ap for that- so next time you think you need the latest and greatest new model phone, pad, pod, puter- consider hanging on to that device for at least another 6 months. Less waste = yep, less waste!
Image/eco specs via Goodis.com
11.25.2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
A perfect time of year to take a moment to offer our humble thanks for your support, patronage, follows and friendship. We wish each of you a beautiful and gracious day.With much gratitude,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photo 1: Photograph by Kevsyd via Flickr
Photo 2: Google images
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