Show

For some reason every year it is weirdly difficult to write about the Stationery Show. I always take pictures at the show with the intention of posting them, but they are just snapshots of things that I like, and I feel like a lot of other bloggers do a much better job at capturing the gems of the show than I do. I often feel self-conscious asking exhibitors if I can take photos, even though I myself never have a problem with it when someone asks me. I also feel like there's a bit of pressure- do I only feature my friends, and if so, what if I miss someone? This year, one of my favorite new booths was Pawling, but I didn't get any pictures of them. It was an interesting show for me this year, since I wasn't exhibiting and neither were a number of my friends. I loved seeing how much color there was, and how many people are doing letterpress involving large fields of ink like I do.

In any case, without any further commentary, here's what I snapped this year.


left field cards




hammerpress


beau ideal editions


gold teeth brooklyn


swag bags at azuline


linda & harriet


printerette press




anemone letterpress


the social type




one canoe two


wild horse press


banquet


belle & union




the great lakes

On the Continent, 1936

In 1936, when my grandmother was 28 years old and working at the Chicago Tribune, she and her best friend planned a trip to Europe. At the last minute, her friend got cold feet and decided to stay home; my grandma went anyways. While abroad, she collected all kinds of ephemera- postcards, menus, hotel stationery- and kept a journal of all her adventures, one of which was befriending Jesse Owens (who was headed home to the States from the Berlin Olympics) on her return voyage aboard the Queen Mary. The two of them played bridge together often, and apparently he was the subject of much talk amongst the ladies on the ship. Here are some of my grandma's treasures from her trip. Ever since David Leibowitz posted about sailing on the Queen Mary last year, I have been dying to recreate my grandmother's trip. Maybe one day...

this reads: "The Plane Trip: Left Chicago via Amerian Airlines 1:30 #17 July 11, 1936. Most thrilling experience. Best mode of travel. Clean, fast, comfortable. Sailing through the clouds was glorious- like castles. Landed at 6:AM in Newark- hated to leave the plane for the sordidness of New Jersey and New York. Trip took about 5 hours. Only uncomfortable sensation was ringing in my ears, which was stopped by yawning and swallowing."

I may share more bits and pieces as I read through the journal, so stay tuned!

Ephemera

Today was the semi-annual Vintage Paper Fair in San Francisco, and not only was it an amazingly gorgeous day to be in Golden Gate Park (85 degrees out!), there were also tons of wonderful paper finds to be found. Even though Oakland is absolutely "good enough for me," I have to admit that a beautiful day like this makes me appreciate why people love to live across the bay. Here is my haul from today.

i love that is inscribed with "let us be like the moon and spoon"