The Letterpress Love Low-down

Wedding season has definitely taken over our lives. Well that is a bit of a strong statement but you get the picture. I just wanted to report that we are definitely in the thick of all things wedding here at Spark.

Jim and I are in the office this morning printing a few more things before lunch with our family. We've been working double shifts seven days a week for so long I can't remember when all of this craziness started. I'm happy to report that there are a lot of happy couples out there though thanks to the extra effort our staff has been putting in to make sure we get orders out as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality.


So I bet you are wondering what we've been printing - what trends we are seeing:
Purples in amethyst, aubergines, eggplants and combined with transparent silver, garnet, french blue and taupe.

Bright greens are still hot - especially when paired with charcoals, black or chocolate for that extra bit of dramatic contrast.


One thing that has surprised all of us at Spark is the demand for our pocketfolds. They are an affordable add-on while still fully customizable. We are seeing all-over patterns used on the pockets and then some with more restraint. All of them are turning out stunningly!

Retailer Profile: The Village Invites

The Village Invites
New York, NY

Owner: Jaye Kotze
Length in business: 4 years

Why did you choose to carry the new Spark albums: loved the custom options, pricing, designs, whole suites shown, printing is good...
Favorite design from new albums: Natalya

Website: www.villageinvites.com

Average client: No average client!
Strength as a retailer/store: personalized service, experience, and good aesthetics

We have been working with Jaye and Linda at The Village Invites since 2005. They offer savvy design sensibility and personal service for creating beautiful custom stationery. We have enjoyed the custom projects they have sent our way and look forward to future creations!

Retailer Profile: Sweet Bay Prints

Sweet Bay Prints
Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Owner: Sheri Scruggs
Length in Business: 3 years this April, but just opened retail store in Jan. 2010

Why did you choose to carry the new Spark albums: I needed a letterpress line, and did research and thought that Spark was a great fit. Spark seemed to be the nicest to work with, especially your willingness to do custom work.
Favorite design from new Spark albums: anything circular, I love circles!!!

Social Media
Facebook: Sweet Bay Prints
website: www.sweetbayprints.com
blog: off of website

Average client: the client "in between" traditional out-of-the-box
Other thoughts on albums: I work with a lot of businesses and they really like letterpress as it stands out from the rest.
Strengths as a retailer/store: There are 4 other businesses under our roof. We all collaborate and bring clients to each other.

We were excited to work with Sheri and wish her well in her new retail location! She is a vibrant store owner with a flair for personal and business stationery. Welcome, Sweet Bay Prints!

Calling Cards Anyone?

Pictured above are all of the calling cards featured in our Stationery Love album. We hope you'll find a variety of shapes and sizes, papers and designs to suit your personal style. Our cards may be customized as follows:

• choice of Spark artwork - change and style as you please
  
• variety of paper options in 1-ply and 2-ply weights
• variety of die cut shapes and sizes, custom shapes available
  
• rounded corners
  
• we accept your artwork in adobe formats
• affordable pricing for printing multiple names

The one thing you'll notice about our calling card designs is that we made them all one-sided. This is not to say we won't print double-sided calling cards, we certainly will! It was our intent to provide our clients with stylish calling card designs that won't break the bank.

We offer personal and small business stationery packages, so contact a Spark retailer for more information. If you do not have a retailer in your area, please email us at spark@letterpresslove.com.

Retailer Profile: Studio Two Sixteen

Studio Two Sixteen
West Bay, Grand Cayman

Owner: Tina Said
Length in Business: 3 years

Why did you choose to carry the new Spark albums: quality of line, love letterpress, printing outstanding, and Spark really fits my business goals and where I want my business to go.
Favorite new Spark design: Sarah and Isabel

Social Media
Twitter: @studio2sixteen
website: coming soon!

Other thoughts on albums: people have really taken to them well on the island
Average client: They vary a lot, traditional to modern
Strengths as a retailer/store: only letterpress on island, which is different for people around here.

We were thrilled when we first heard from Tina about carrying our stationery. Tina has an upbeat personality and keen sense of style. It is great to have her represent Spark in the Cayman Islands. Now if only we can plan a business trip!

Retailer Profile: Paper, Rock, Scissor

 

Paper Rock Scissor
Minneapolis, MN

Owners: Patty Boots and Erica Marsden
Length in Business: 5 years

Why did you choose to carry the new Spark albums: Great pricing in this economy, their style, of course, and we love our Midwest connection.
Favorite design from the new albums: Lily

Social Media
Facebook: Paper Rock Scissor, LLC
Website: www.paperrockscissor.com
Blog: through website

Average client: traditional
Other thoughts on albums: love them! We try to help people see the designs in a different way.
Strengths as a retailer/store: customizations, offering unique things to area, flexible for customers

The Spark dynamic duo, Valerie Carlson and James Watne, started printing custom letterpress invitations back in 2003 in Minneapolis. They met Erica and Patty at the national stationery show in 2005, just as they were opening their store. We can attest to the fact that these ladies enjoy what they do, and offer excellent service at their studio. As natives to the Twin Cities, we would would like to add that their location in the trendy, East Harriet neighborhood of south Minneapolis is worth visiting! Stop in and see what they have to offer!

Amelie Wedding Suite - How about other cities?

The Amelie wedding suite has been a popular choice for urban areas. This suite features a New York City wedding with a vintage city map, wood type and an adorable cartouche frame.

We have received requests from our retailers to show this suite using a vintage map of their area. Below are quick views of the Amelie pocket for Seattle and the envelopes for Washington, DC. We are showing the maps in raw format, so some of the details can be cleaned up and changed before going to print.



Creating custom stationery is a fun process, one that we truly enjoy and encourage! Visit a Spark retailer near you to get started!

Photos and More Photos...

Check out our flickr photo page to view our latest photos of our wedding love designs. More photos will be made available in the next couple weeks. Many thanks to our staff photographer, Alyssa McDowell, for her hard work! Enjoy the weekend - the sun is out and snow is melting.

Retailer Profile: Chirps and Cheers

Chirps and Cheers
Edmond, OK

Owner: Susan Kroop
Length in business: Since October 2009 (Congratulations!)
Why did you choose to carry the new Spark albums?: I'm obsessed with the line! Innovative work, all the extra offerings, the great quality, fun designs- traditional to whimsical
Favorite Spark design from the new albums: the Lucinda wood grain! Erin and Amelie

Social Media
website: www.chirpsandcheers.com
Facebook: Chirps & Cheers
Twitter: @chirpsandcheers
Blog: chirpsandcheers.com/blog

Average client: I'm working on introducing letterpress to my area....traditional
Strengths as a retailer/store: offering new things to the area and thinking outside the box.

It's quite obvious that Susan put a lot of thought into the design and layout of her store. It is simply beautiful! All of us at Spark find her to be a delightful, energetic person. She is passionate about stationery and loves to create custom designs with her customers!

Window Candy at Epitome Papers

Many thanks to Epitome Papers in Edina, Minnesota, for featuring our wedding invitations in their store window. The staff at Epitome Papers offer outstanding customer service and products. They are also the recipient of Minnesota Bride Magazine's "Best in Invitations" for 2007 and 2009. Way to go!

Luxe Expressions - CBS Atlanta Giveaway

Debra Saba, owner of Luxe Expressions in Atlanta, Georgia, participated in the CBS Atlanta Wedding Giveaway. She partnered with Spark to offer the lucky couple letterpress save the dates and wedding invitations. In addition to their wedding stationery, they also received an entire wedding day package from premier wedding vendors in the Atlanta area. Visit the link below to see the CBS Atlanta clip:

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/22713028/index.html

The pics below show the happy bride and her letterpress invites, courtesy off Blue World Studios in Atlanta.

Stationery Love Album Ships!

All of us at Spark, as well as our beloved retailers, have been anxiously awaiting our Stationery Love Album. We are proud to announce that our tireless workers have finished all the printing, die cutting, positioning, gluing and packing!


It will be very exciting to have some more work space, but especially we look forward to hearing your reactions to our new stationery design suites.

Some exciting options coming with the Stationery Love album:

- fun die cut shapes for calling cards
- plentiful variety of flat and folded notes in a variety of sizes
- baby announcements and invites included
- package pricing for the letterpress enthusiast

Thanks for being so patient. We can’t wait to see how you letterpresslove them! To find a retailer near you, visit retail store locator on our website, letterpresslove.com.