as above so below // gems + business cards

At this point, I can say that I've printed business cards for a pretty wide range of creative types, but I've never met a client like this one I'm about to present.

Azalea Lee is not a paper person. It's just not her thing. Instead, ask her about mineral, gems, stones and she can go on for days. This is Azalea's element (pun intended). With her sleeves rolled up, she mines for each stone, brings them to a cutter coaxing out each stone's unique characteristic, and uses them for healings, sells them in their beautiful natural state and even makes jewerly from smaller pieces.

After printing her business cards, I hand delivered them during a family & friends pre-sale event and it wasn't until then that I understood her craft. I had no expectations during our first meeting, but was completely inspired by her passion and for showing me the beauty of these gems. It still astounds me that these rocks come from the earth just like this.

I picked up a sizable rock of pyrite (aka fool's gold) and it now shimmers in the center of my studio table. It's not only pretty to look at, but it helps increase energy, manage projects, and brings prosperity. Exacly what I need.

Fascinated? Me too. Visit them here.

The specs:

220# Lettra, fluorescent white
2/0 colors (blind deboss + black)
silver edge paint

business cardskristineMarch 11, 2014as above so below, business cards, edge paint, letterpress, los angeles, silver lake, crystal healing, pyriteComment

sutherland weaving

Craft to craft.
Weave to letterpress.

Sutherland Weaving is a humble custom weaving house in South Carolina run by two ladies sharing the craft of weaving. We haven't met but somehow while printing these cards, I was touched to be able to print these cards for someone who is also keeping alive a craft of the past - theirs weaving and mine letterpress printing.

They will most likely receive their cards sometime today. I can almost picture Barb of Sutherland touching the cards and rubbing her hand over the text. Her craft too, is tactile will attention to detail. She'll know. She'll understand. This is why I've enjoyed creating these cards for Sutherland.

business cardskristineFebruary 11, 2014letterpress, sutherland, business cards, los angeles, salmon, coral, full floodComment

individual medley

It's now way past the holiday season but I promise Individual Medley, a boutique store filled with curated designer goods in Atwater Village, got these gift certificated before the rush. I just forgot to make space for them here online.

Here they are. Just like that.

If you're in the area, take the time to drop in and check out their stuff. They have something for everyone even kids!

Individual Medley
3176 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles 90039

custom, printskristineFebruary 6, 2014letterpress, los angeles, Individual Medley, gift certificates, pillow box, atwater village, custom designComment

2014 in watercolor

To kick off the new year, I was so happy to be commissioned to create these calendars. Taskforce, one of favorite cleints to work with, let me let my hair down with this piece. At first, they approached me for a unique gift for about 10 people and then it ended up as 100 custom designed, all letterpress printed and watercolored calendar.

On this special project, we added a wash of neon watercolor over the blind debossed 2014 and even pulled off a gradient pattern. For the letterpress nerds, I had to make crazy layers of packing to pull it off. I had a trash can full of paper by the time I got it right.

To package it all up, I pressed a custom address area on the front of a kraft mailer and pressed a few notecards for a personal note.

Success and quite the unique gift for the new year.

Cheers!