Good Morning Ohio: Cranky Pressman

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Good morning to Salem, Ohio's Cranky Pressman!

{images courtesy Cranky Pressman + flickr}

I love everything about the Cranky Pressman, but I especially love this quote: "This is not some cute boutique. We offer full letterpress production for creative professionals." I'm as guilty as the next girl for fawning over pretty shops and the tactile nature of letterpress in general (hello, wedding invitations), but as a design pro, I gravitate towards  the no-nonsense approach when it comes to getting my work printed because, ultimately, I want to know...are you spending time making your shop look pretty or are you busting your rear to produce the best damn product possible? Something tells me Cranky Pressman falls into the latter category. With ink under their nails, this shop is run by "Cranky Bros." Keith and Jamie Berger in small-town Salem. So...crazy-mad letterpress skills? Check. Ohio small town? Check. Family-run business? Check. What's not to love?

"Design is art that makes itself useful."

Die Neue Sammlung poster.  Mendell & Oberer, 1984. + "Morse Alphabet". Konst & Teknik, 2006.

{images via Konst & Teknik}

Rehabilitated Dishware.

{image}

This is my kind of recycling.

Sarah Cihat's Rehabilitated Dishware collection breathes new life into orphan plates.

I'm with Stupid. Are You?

{diesel + youtube}

Have you seen Diesel's new campaign? Just another reason why I love their ever-evolving branding. If I'm going to spend $150 on denim, at least it's going towards paying for creativity like this...because this is just plain clever. And the song is catchy, too. And I've loved their jeans for the last decade and have mad love.

So today, I'm going to be stupid. Because stupid has the balls. Thanks, Diesel.

Start productivity in 5...4...3...

art's cool/ART SCHOOL

Now here's some real stuff to dress up those drab dorm room walls, kiddies.

Trust me. I know these things. I went to art school.

Buy these and lots more at The Little Friends of Printmaking Ye Olde Shoppe.

{all images: The Little Friends of Printmaking}

There is Always Hope

{Courtesy Banksy}

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realised God doesn’t work that way, so I stole
one and prayed for forgiveness.

-- Emo Phillips

Calling All Cards

{Top L to R: Thoroughly Curly, Candice n Katie's Art, Pasaii Paperie}
{Center L to R: Vince Letterpress, Avie Designs}
{Bottom L to R: Fourteen Sisters, Camille Bellet}

My ever-so-cool mom was the first person I know to resurrect the Victorian tradition of the calling card many years ago. Hers was so girly and cute and so tremendously her, with purple and white flowers and teeny tiny swiss dots and stripes. I found one of her calling cards the other day while I was sorting through some papers and it got me thinking what a great bridal party gift it would make. It creates an opportunity to be creative and inject some personalization into it, but most importantly, it serves a purpose -- trust me, we do ourselves no justice when we run into someone we haven't seen in ages and we exchange numbers by calling one anothers' cell phones. That only cuts it in the most casual of circumstances and business networking isn't one of them. If you aren't a student, it's time to consider the calling card as your passage into adulthood or maybe a simple way to make a great first impression. Maybe you're a mom with a busy schedule (and what mom doesn't?) Set up your calling card to have your name as well as your kid's names and setting up play dates or teacher's meetings just became that much easier.

Here are a few of my faves on Etsy right now. Some are personalized, some are write in. Either way, it's win-win (and best of all, you won't break the bank.)

I'd Know That Silhouette Anywhere...

Though I'm jumping on the bandwagon a little late with regard to the weddings avec silhouettes trend, I just had to post about it. Maybe it's the nod to stuffy Victoriana that I love or the simplicity of a built-in, custom design element but I love it. Just love it. While browsing through one of my beloved Martha Stewart Wedding issues awhile back, D. saw her silhouette cookie picture and mentioned how much he liked it, too. Perhaps this needs to be revisted and reconsidered for our own wedding...hmm...

Custom Victor Trading Co. cookie cutters
{Courtesy: Martha Stewart via Apartment Therapy}

Circular return address labels
{Courtesy: Simply Silhouettes}

Silhouette Save the Dates
{Courtesy: SimpleSong Design}

Christian & Stephanie silhouette benefit cookies
{Courtesy: The Good Apple}

Silhouette escort cards
{Courtesy: Mr. Boddington's Studio}

What a darling photo op!