Thursday, July 31, 2008

Three Days Worth of Weather Letterpress Print


I love this letterpress print by the talented I Am Still Alive Studio in New York. Beautiful typography, gorgeous colours and uber sexy stock. Beautiful!!!

I love the concept - three individual response to the weather over three consecutive days resulting in -“Entirely cloudy and somewhat cool”, “It’s raining, motherfucker” and “It’s seventy and bright out – married”. One gorgeous clever and somewhat cheeky print!


You can buy them here for the incredible price of Us$30! Now where is my credit card...

Brass Restoration


Our Queenslander was built in 1935 and although was in not such a pretty condition when we bought it had some great original Art Deco features which we have given a new life.

The Silky Oak Interior Doors were in a terrible state - I tossed and turned for months deciding whether to paint them white or varnish them and restore their orginal timber. Many months and a tin of estapol later the doors have come up a treat.

We took all our original brassware to S Cook & Sons here in Brisbane. Originally established in 1890 they have been in operation for 4 generations! I love that our handleware not only has a history that spans time but has now been restored and given a new life by a company that has been around for even longer. It wasn't cheap to have done - but was well worth it, and was a much nicer alternative then purchasing new handleware.

The brassware now sparkles and contrasts wonderfully with the freshly renovated doors!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Mirror Splashbacks



We are contemplating mirror splashbacks for our kitchen. Our kitchen isn't all that big and gets the least amount of light in our house. We are thinking mirrors to brighten it up and make it look bigger. Any thoughts?

We have never actually seen it done before except for a few pictures in magazines. I would love to hear peoples experience with using mirrors within the kitchen?

Monday, July 28, 2008

Unni Virka throw rug


I recently bought this Unni Virka throw rug from ikea ($45) and Im absolutly loving it!!


It has brightened up our bedroom wonderfully and is such a happy winter rug. Who said winter had to be dull and miserable!!

White Kitchens





We are just in the process of finally choosing our new kitchen! Very exciting as I am very over our three cupboards and no pantry!!

We don't have much of budget (8k including benchtops and appliances!) so are working our way through the flat pack options available.

I would love a kitchen like any of the above - especially those with full height glass cupboards! Now I just need to figure out how to push our 8 grand that far!!!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Blind Impression vs Printing with colour



One of my favourite ways to print is infact with no ink at all!

A Blind Deboss or Blind Impression is printed without any ink or rollers. The impression of the plate leaves a crisp clean sharp impression. Our thick 100% cotton papers have a beautifully pillowey feel. Once the impression has been made the contrast between the pillowy exterior and crispy sharp impression is just gorgeous!

These prints above are test prints for a wedding invitation we are currently printing.

The other way to print is of course with colour. After a pantone colour is chosen, it is handmixed and then applied to the press and printed! The impression is still just as crisp and beautiful - just a little more colourful!



Friday, July 25, 2008

The story of the filing cabinet kitty



The other morning my husband and I were woken at 5am by the sounds of Ruby our dog running berserk around the house slipping and sliding her way on our floor boards. After much investigation we decided she had suffered from a momentary lapse of early morning judgment and we went back to bed.

However, the following night I am working away on my computer and Ruby cannot take her eyes of the filing cabinet - she is absolutely perplexed. Not even her dinner could distract her eyes away, she was obsessed with the big black 4 draw filing cabinet.

I decide to investigate to find out why the filing cabinet is so suddenly the most interesting thing on the earth - it turns out the filing cabinet has infact grown itself a little kitten and it is wedged in the tiny space between the cabinet and the wall. Poor little thing, it would have been there a whole day and night (since the 5am episode).

I managed to get the poor little thing out, but it was absolutely petrified - We kept him in a nice big box overnight and a trip to the vet the next day revealed that he had not been microchipped and we could not contact the owner. The poor little kitty is now at Peninsula Animal Aid hoping his owners come looking for him!

If anyone has lost at 12-16 week ( approx) Blue & white kitten in the Redcliffe Peninsula please let me know as I would desperately love to send this little sweet thing back to its home.

In the meantime, Ruby is still perplexed by the filing cabinet... She spends each day sitting and starring, sniffing and then sitting and starring some more. Poor thing, I must wonder how long she will believe that it is a kitten producing machine!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Joanne & Steve Wedding Invitations


Images of Joanne & Steves wedding invitations for their wedding next January. This package includes Square Invitation, Custom lined Aqua Envelope, Reply Card, Menu Card & Placesettings using Aqua and Fire Engine Red.

A bright bubbly invitation set, lots of fun to design and will be lots of fun to print on our letterpress!


Bespoke Press is currently looking for more couples who are tying the knot! We will be featuring these couples on our upcoming website and offering 20% off our letterpress invitations as a way to say thankyou! Please drop us a line at info@bespokepress.com.au for more info.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Pick Me - Paper & Ideas Studio


I have just had a lovely email from a local girl Sabine at Pick Me - Paper & Ideas Studio based in Byron Bay, Australia.

As well as also being a letterpress girl, she also has incredible calligraphy - How beautiful are the images above - I love beautiful typography!

Sabines writing would look gorgeous on letterpressed invitations, so im hoping to have her design some type for some wedding invites coming shortly. Lovely to meet you Sabine!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Samantha & Mike Wedding Invitations


Also designed this weekend are Samantha & Mikes Wedding invitations. Featuring hot magenta pink and gorgeous green lime these invites feature a sparrow with tail feathers of flourishes which I illustrated recently - I love birds and flourishes so its a perfect combination!



With a hot pink magenta envelope and printed on 100% Cotton tree free paper these invites are fresh and bubbly perfect for this adorable couple!

Amy & Matthew Wedding Invitations


Its been a busy busy weekend here at Bespoke with lots of wedding invitations being designed. The above designs are for Amy & Matthew, two colour invitations, envelope, reply card, table settings and place cards.


The files have now gone off be converted into plates ready to be printed. Will keep you posted on these once they have been printed on our 1893 Antique Letterpress as they are going to print beautifully!


I love weddings!

A name for this little man?



My little sister Hayley has always loved teddies. Her favourite ones growing up were called Old Man Ted and Sad Ted. Over the years she has made quite a few teddies for gifts, but this gorgeous teddy she designed and sewed today wins the cake! Such a cute little fella - Im smitten and very proud of her!



She has yet to give this little guy a name - any suggestions???

sunday mornings


Happy sunday morning!

My weekend mornings without fail go in this order
1. Wake up, gaze at the clock and be thankful its not 6am and a weekday morning.
2. Put on my grandma green slippers and walk around the house and open up every single one of our 18 casement windows and let the sea breeze in.
3. Turn on my mac, check emails, gaze out the windows admire the way white windows compliment the green palm trees
4. Turn on itunes as loud as it goes and wake up the neighbours.

I love weekends. Hope your having a glorious one too!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Chocolate, pistachio & orange cookies


I have always liked to bake.

As a kid my favourite thing to cook was chocolate chip cookies and I must admit, I really don't think I ever grew out of it! Today I decided to tweak the tried and tested recipe and added in some extra ingredients for a more grown up version - one orange and a bag of chopped pistachios later, i think I might be converted!

Chocolate, Orange & Pistachio Cookies
125g Butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 Self Raising flour
3/4 cup chopped chocolate
rind of one orange
1/2 cup chopped pistachios

Cream together butter, sugars, orange rind & vanilla
Add beaten egg gradually
Mix in sifted flour
Add chocolate & pistachios, mix well
Bake at 180' for 10 - 12 minutes.

Delicious!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Italy inspiration?

My husband and I are traveling around Croatia and Italy in September & October and would love to know of any travel tips and locations which you might know of.

We are planning 10 days in Croatia ferry hopping up the Dalmatian Coast and then a Ferry over to Venice and working out way down through Italy for three weeks. We are thinking of doing a 5 day walk through Cinque Terre (gorgeous image above by Tony Helsloot) and a 5 day cycle through Tuscany, after this we are still looking for ideas which are a little off the beaten track! Any suggestions?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

bookhou



Today I am featuring Bookhou - a Canadian duo who create gorgeous pieces which emphasize handmade natural materials and small production pieces.

How adorable are the children's felt chairs above! These chairs are made from steam bent ash wood child's chair with removable industrial felt cover. So simply beautiful!


I absolutely love linen and handbags, and this handprinted Green Blot Bag is just gorgeous.



This sweet as sugar Field Dress is currently out of stock but its incredibly cute - worth waiting for I think!!!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Little Factory - Number Scarf


Here in Brisbane, it doesn't get too cold during winter - But its still nice to rug up and pretend that its cold - it makes that moment it becomes spring just so much more joyful!

The perfect thing for this not too cold winter would be one of these fabulous laser cut suede scarfs by Little Factory. I love it, such a great idea and perfect for the typographer within all of us!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Kareena Zerefos



Kareena Zerefos would have to be one of my all time favourite Australian Illustrators. Her illustrations are conceptually based around memories, dreams and nostalgia using a variety of media and often combines traditional drawing with digital graphics.


I am totally in love with her work and her gorgeous website - it evokes such lovely feelings of my own memories and blissful childhood. Simply delightful!


You can buy prints online at her corner store, its so difficult to fight the urge to buy them all!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Night boats!


















My husband and I are off overseas in September - lately we have been dreaming about walking the Amalfi coast of Italy. This gorgeous photo by Julia Claire Jackson (taken in Greece) is simply beautiful... my dream continues!
Night boats!
Originally uploaded by juliaclairejackson

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Felt Pets



We have a very spoilt Dog called Ruby and I am so excited as I have just discovered Felt Pets and cannot wait to get a miniature felt portrait created of her!

Made by Glynis of Melbourne and no doubted assisted by her Jack Russell Terrier Marlee - These gorgeous little sculptures are hand sculpted with unspun wool - incredibly clever, each one fits in your hand. Simply adorable!

Felt pets have an online store here or you can visit their website or blog for more information.


And how gorgeous is the Lazy Daze bear above! Oh so sweet :)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Messenger Bird Press

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A lovely exstudent of mine sent me through this gorgeous card by Messenger Bird Press - so very divine and very much my style, she knows me well!! You can buy here and here.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Sugar Loop

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From New Zealand across the Tasman Sea the lovely Bernadette Sipkes from Sugar Loop has just released a new limited edition gocco print into her etsy store. Love it!

Ode to Owls

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I have been illustrating like crazy for my first series of art prints to be launched soon. Yesterday saw me having an Owl kind of day and amongst procastination about the owls I managed to find these gorgeous owl inspired products off etsy. The Owls on Yellow Clutch purse above is by Wisconsin girl Jennifer Ladd.
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This O is for Owl is screenprinted by Allison over at Strawberry Luna
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This gorgeous sleepy eyed owl is a print of an original mixed media illustration including pages from a 1892 book! Made by Annette Mangseth from Norway, you can find her etsy shop here

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Edmund the Passionate Owl is a print of a gorgeous illustration by Able Design, Inc. I have a secret crush on Edmund - such a cute little fella!

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