Long time, no see: the National Stationery Show edition

So...I've had this dream, for almost as long as I've been printing, of doing this:

Linoleum block-printed gift wrap! Two patterns, 18x24", available in five colors, and the only place you can get it (for now):

my super-duper new booth at the National Stationery Show! The show opens tomorrow, and I'm so excited about all of the new products I've been added to my collection. If you're walking the show, stop in to booth #2144 and say hello!

hello new york!

Please join Albertine Press, Carta Inc, and little ol' me at this season's New York International Gift Fair! We've got a new look, and lots of new pretty things made of paper and cotton. We'd love to see you!

saturday edition: hard at work

So, here I am again: New York City. I had an "is this really my life?" flash this morning, as I was eating brunch in Central Park with the Pistachio Press crew.  The answer: yup.

Shelley from Albertine Press and I finished almost all of the setup for this summer's NYIGF yesterday, but I went back in today to finish a little labeling.

I'm trying out a new setup, color-coordinated this time, and highlighting my 2012 calendars, which I think are super-cool.

finished fridays: sunshine on a cloudy day

Friday I spent printing and packing -- a new edition of the Sunshine prints (we're up in the 100s now!), each one hand-signed and numbered, and then packaged pretty for the stores!  I'm so excited about the shops across the country that stock May Day Studio goodies--here are the most recent:

The UPS Store, Burlington, Vermont

Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont (they picked up some new cards and prints this time!)

Clementine, Middlebury, Vermont (Emily took nearly my whole catalog!)

Terrain at Styer's, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Rock Paper Scissors, Wiscasset, Maine

Twosided and Foursided, Chicago, Illinois

Cursive New York, Amagansett, New York

finished fridays: the finish line is just the beginning

So, I've been AWOL for a little while...and this little blog has been on my mind.  Not that I got to take any pictures before shipping out big orders to four(!) stores--just the aftermath.

Not much bubble wrap or tape left.

Empty boxes, for storing and sorting between steps.

Empty sheets of labels.

Leftover strips of paper--nothing wasted!

I had hoped to give you a sneak peek at some new product before it arrives in stores, but I ran out of time.  Instead, you'll have to come out tomorrow and see them for yourself!

I'll be at the Queen City Craft Bazaar, along with dozens of other brilliant and talented crafters--and I'll have loads of new stuff to show you!

finished fridays: when a picture turns real

I saw this in my facebook feed last night:

And thought: Trash?  That looks suspiciously like a printing press!  A few emails (and not more than 18 hours) later:

Ta-da!  A slightly scruffy, but completely functional Vandercook No. 1!  It landed in my studio this morning, after a trip to the high school in the next town, and much help from one teacher (thanks, Marissa!), three custodians, and a bored student to get it into my car.

It came with the original cabinet and ink stand, too!  Here's the catalog photo from the Vandercook Press website.

P.S. You can now find May Day Studio on Facebook!  

on the bench: the mad dash

It's amazing to me that after cleaning my studio so thoroughly for this past weekend's workshops, the piles still seem to multiply on their own.

Today I'm working on the last few things for an order shipping out to Rock Paper Scissors in Charlottesville, VA.  Above, piles of paper for journal and guest book pages, ready for sewing.

Notepads (their inky backs drying) need corner rounding and belly band labels.

And guest book cases just waiting for pages!

on the press: red

Here's a sneak peek at one of my new cards!  A little addition to the lunchbox notes family: awesome!  I had red ink on the press all day (printing lots of cards for two new stores)--and it just so happens to be winter colors week over on Poppytalk...and guess what today's color is? 

finished fridays: new new new!

I'm so excited to share my newest pattern:

(I'm still looking for a name, if anyone has any suggestions....)

I'll be debuting the pattern (and its five colorways) at the NY International Gift Fair, which opens January 30 in New York City. Visit me at booth number #4124 in the Studio Division--I'll be there with the lovely and talented ladies of Albertine Press and Carta Inc.

workbench wednesdays: one year later + new and exciting

Yup. I was looking at my 2010 calendar earlier, and I've had this project on the calendar since last January. One year! It hasn't been worked on continuously, but it's been on the top of my projects list for the last twelve months.  And today, I packed the last four boxes and sent them on their way.

And then I had to open up one of the boxes--I forgot to take photos of the finished books!

In other (super fun) news, I'm offering a make-your-own valentines workshop--as featured in the February issue of Country Living:

And now, just one more picture:

I love piles + rows of things...and this is one of my favorites.  Ropey, delicate linoleum shavings (and a brand new pattern is born!).

finished fridays: off to boston!

Today I was so busy I didn't even get to take pictures!  But two (big!) boxes went out the door, lots + lots more paper was cut, and the car was loaded up for a big weekend!  Join me tomorrow at...

Paper & Chocolate!  Chez Albertine Press, with special guests both papery + chocolatey.

And then on Sunday, come on down to...

Bazaar Bizarre!  It'll be my first year at the BBB, so stop by to say hi and check out the new stuff!

finished fridays: well, hello there!

They're here!  I finished folding and sorting last night, and this morning printed the bands and hangers:

My first-ever calendar...in a very limited edition, and available this weekend at:

I'm sure I'll get around to putting it up on etsy next week...if they're not all gone!

on the press: eleventh-hour inspiration

So, at five o'clock yesterday, inspiration hit.  Hard.

It's not mind-blowing, or earth-shattering even, but I finally came up with a design for (drum roll, please):

May Day Studio's first ever calendar!  I am really excited about this, folks, and I hope you are, too.

But why eleventh-hour, you may ask.  Because we're already into the swing of the holiday season, and gosh darn it if holiday fairs and custom orders haven't started rolling in, leaving me little (if any) free time. 

Speaking of which, here's a peek at my table from Saturday's Queen City Craft Bazaar.

And my goodness! The fairs!  The full list is a sight to behold:

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 26-28
Women's Festival of Crafts
Burlington, VT

Saturday, December 4
Paper & Chocolate
Somerville, MA

Sunday, December 5
Bazaar Bizarre Boston
Boston, MA

Saturday, December 11
Touch of Vermont Holiday Market
Montpelier, VT

Sunday, December 12
Bust Holiday Craftacular
New York City

Friday and Saturday, December 17 and 18
Burlington City Arts Holiday Artist Market
Burlington, VT

Recently added to that list are this weekend's Women's Festival of Crafts, in Burlington, as well as the Bust Holiday Craftacular in New York City!

And my personal favorite, the Paper & Chocolate open house at Albertine Press.

finished fridays: one small step

Well, I did accomplish a few other things this week, but this is the only one that I got to keep.

It's still just a prototype, but it's got a really nice size and weight in the hand.  More to come soon!

P.S. It's almost craft fair time! Get out your shopping lists, and meet me at the Queen City Craft Bazaar next Saturday!

on the press: one week is all it takes!

So, one week ago, I started designing my holiday card line.  And this week, here they are:

Visit my table at Poppytalk Handmade--and buy your holiday cards now!  As a special for my blog readers, get free shipping on everything at my Poppytalk table.  Just enter "blogfreeship" in the notes to seller!  Valid through November 15, 2010 only.

on the bench: getting dirty

The bench today:

No journals or albums, just mockups of holiday cards waiting to be proofed!  And as a bonus:

Mmm...a lovely olivey green ink!

finished fridays: making room

Every day this week has felt like Friday, and now that it's here, I really want to veg.

But I spent the day moving the studio around, sweeping underneath everything, and making room for my special delivery--arriving this weekend!

on the bench: annotated

It was a quiet day in the studio...just finishing up on casebound journals for another wholesale order. Click on the picture to see notes!

finished fridays: the big reveal!

I've had to keep this under wraps for so long! And I'm really a very good secret keeper, but this has been bursting out of me, especially since my copy came in the mail Saturday.

I'm in the newest Martha Stewart Living!

The section called "Great Finds" is all reds & purples for October.

And my little journals and decorative sheets made the cut!

Hooray!!  The issue should be in subscribers' hands any day now, and on newsstands shortly.  In the meantime, all of the featured items (and more) are available in my etsy shop!

on the bench: so clean!

Possibly the cleanest you will ever see my table--packing the last of this batch of wholesale orders.  These beauties are my new photo albums, and are on their way to the classy shelves of Bowne & Co Stationers at the South Street Seaport Musuem.