A design + analog printing studio in Los Angeles

journal

design + letterpress printing in Los Angeles, California

Posts tagged letterpress
Keeping it simple : Henslin prints
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Going inkless lets the impression of letterpress do all the heavy lifting.

Henslin, transforms vintage pieces into beautiful objects and gives them another life. Each piece is made is one-of-kind and with a life lived before. We had the pleasure of creating hangtags for these objects and business cards to jump start Henslin.

For this project, we gang printed on Reich Savoy 236# in Brilliant White, a favorite USA made paper. We mixed a dark grey ink for the information and punched a hole for the hang tags.

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Ashley Donohue's Business Cards

Well done business cards are an investment and you want to get done right. Interior Designer, Ashley Donohue, first came with a handful of color swatches to choose from. Instead of choosing one scheme to print, we chose them all! The trio of colors worked so well together. Put two creatives together (imagine us on the phone going back and forth on color + finishes), and this is what happens. We couldn't decide on only one.

During production, the logo side was originally slated for white ink on colored paper. The teal colored card shows this original idea with a silver - white foil with a subtle metallic sheen. For the other cards, we selected foils in a similar tone as the paper to match the dusty rose + marigold colors. The information side of the card has both a blind debossed logo + info in the coordinating ink. Both side were mounted together to make a sturdy card, about 200#, not too thick.

We went the extra mile for Ashley and the outcome is an inseparable trio of cards.

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IT House business cards

I've seen quite a bit of business cards over the years. Once in a while, a unique design will stop me in my tracks. When I open a file, I can typically see how to print the design right away. IT House's design made me pause which I hope will happen when someone receives this business card.

There's a play with texture. We create two versions in case the knockout of the letterpress didn't know and we pressed lines and the squares creating a design you can almost touch when you see it. To help the blind design pop, we added a touch of transparent ink. We foil stamped the information and mounted two sheets of Colorplan 130# for an extra luxe card.

Goodwin

One of the best parts of working with designers is getting to know them as a person first and to see them create a brand that is an organic extension of themselves. I met Elise Joseph, a stylist + tastemaker now based in Nashville, Tennessee, a few years ago and back then she had the vision to create Goodwin but it was a vision at the time. We shared a long coffee in Venice's Abbott Kinney area and even then she was longing to be in Nashville. She was outgrowing her blog Pennyweight and was looking ahead.

A few years later she reached out for some collateral for her new adventure, Goodwin, a curated capsule online shop based on the foundation of mindful women's wear. Her shop carries clothing from independent designers for a conscious buyer. I too have been trying to buy clothes with this ethos and ask myself "Where is this made? How and where was the fabric created?" As someone who works with my hands, I try to value the time and quality put into each garment. The effect of wearing a piece made with intention makes me feel beautiful and gives me a sense of pride knowing that I helped to support a fellow creative. I know the piece will last longer and plus there'll be no one else around wearing the same thing.

Elise partnered with Julia Kostreva to create her branding and logo. For her printing, we selected neutral toned papers milled in Germany. Her business cards are duplexed to about 200# and letterpress printed. The hangtags are also letterpress printed and triple-mounted with a black paper sandwiched in between for an extra thick tag. 

These projects are my favorite kind- there's fulfillment when unique prints are sent off to a place with heart.
I'm grateful to be a part of Goodwin's circle of designers even if it's only through paper. 

Kyly and Ryan's weekend of paperie

We did it all!

I love it when a bride is just as excited about paper as I am!

For Kyly and Ryan wedding in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of the few personal touches that could fit into a luggage was the wedding paper.  Earlier in the year, we designed and printed their wedding invitations far in advance for their guests to attend this once-in-a-lifetime safari wedding. As the wedding weekend neared we worked on various pieces to make each guest's experience extra special for making the long trip.

Throughout the design process, I kept the palette neutral in a "safari chic" style. To add texture, we played with different papers and mixed letterpress printed pieces with digital flat prints.  Each guest received a special note handwritten by the bride and groom upon their arrival on letterpressed stationery enclosed with a wax seal. The personal touches, all ideas from the bride, really made each guest feel the warmest welcome.

Keep scrolling to see paper details from rehearsal dinner, wedding program + menu and even down to the napkins.

This is a first for so much paper to go quite the distance from Los Angeles to Johannesburg.
I'm so honored to have been a huge part of their wedding in a paper kind of way. Thank you Kyly and Ryan!

 

Design, printing and calligraphy by Presshaus LA

PresshausLA for Kyly and Ryan
Wax sealed

Wax sealed

Pressed quote on envelope flap

Pressed quote on envelope flap

Custom letterpress printed stationery

Custom letterpress printed stationery

Foil stamped detail on natural napkins

Foil stamped detail on natural napkins

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Wedding menu + place card

Wedding menu + place card

Wedding dinner menu + place card

Wedding dinner menu + place card

Wedding program (letterpress)  / front and back

Wedding program (letterpress)  / front and back

Rehearsal dinner paper setup

Rehearsal dinner paper setup