Filed under: Fun Stuff, Parties & Entertaining, Design, etc, News & Trends
Just some of our winners. Photos: 9SpotMonk; Green Stationery; ShelterPop (2).
For anyone who gets a mini thrill from stroking a letterpress card, or feels the need to send a thank you card for even a car ride home, the National Stationery Show is a dream come true -- a giant convention center filled with sentiments that range from snarky to sappy, illustrations of gorgeous engraved flowers and quirky cartoons and everything (oh, everything) in between. We spent the day sniffing out our favorites, and are awarding ten of them the first ever ShelterPop Stationery Awards. Congratulations, you guys!
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Don't be fooled by the lackluster recycled paper of 9SpotMonk's Recession line -- its witty letterpressed messages are sure to impress and crack up any recipient. And way more creative than "Congrats on the new baby", right?
$3 each, 9SpotMonk.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Reusable placecards from Any Random Jane come with sweet caning on the side and a dry-erase marker so you can easily scribble new names for every party on your agenda -- from tea to cocktail.
$20 for set of 10, Any Random Jane.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Half moons of exotic patterns, taken from the photographs and designs of Fine Day Press founder Ashley Austin, come together to form a card that's disarmingly chic, yet totally charming. Who knew bold stripes and delicate blooms worked so well together?
Cards not yet on site, Fine Day Press.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Yes, paper giftwrap is gorgeous, but trashing all the scraps at the end of a party is such a shame. So we're over the moon for Chewing the Cud's organic fabric wraps. Wrap your gift in it and the lucky recipient gets to pocket the cheery printed wrap...until they give their next gift!
$12, Chewing the Cud.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Want to give a card that offers, well, just more? Elum's new line has a delicious recipe letterpressed on the back. Totally sweet.
Cards not yet on site, Elum.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
It was hard not to love stationery industry vet Marianne Cook's story: after learning that the average adult uses 745 pounds of paper in their lifetime, she started Green Stationery, which uses 100% recycled, FSC-certified, chlorine-free paper printed with soy inks, all manufactured with wind power electricity. (And it doesn't hurt that her patterns and colors are fab.)
$17 for set of 12, Green Stationery.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
We simply could not contain our excitement over Lifeguard Press' new summertime additions: personalized acrylic trays from Jonathan Adler (pictured) and Lilly Pulitzer. As if we needed a new reason to be gaga over all things Jonathan & Lilly, we're daydreaming about a different-patterned tray in every room.
Trays not yet on site, Lifeguard Press.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Yes, we saw both the process and the finished product of the Epic 6 letterpress machine from Lifestyle Crafts and we were floored. The starter kit will only run you $150, which is less than serious stationery aficionados' annual paper budget.
$150 for Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo Kit, Lifestyle Crafts.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
Never thought there'd be a place for seahorses and airplanes on a formal table? Pennsylvania-based Timeless Paper's new line is all about adorable and unexpected shapes. The cheeky forms contrast with the elegant script and make for a fun -- but never wacky -- take-home conversation piece.
Starting at $1 per card, Timeless Paper.
The ShelterPop Stationery Show Awards
The wildly bright patterns from MacBeth Collection have appeared everywhere from buckets to flip flops to paperweights. So we shouldn't be surprised that they're now gracing mini paper speakers that will out-cute your iPod before you can say Beyonce. Speaking of B, wouldn't she love the flame stitch ones on the left?
Speakers not yet on site, MacBeth Collection.
Craving more stationery goodness? Our sister site AisleDash was also there, and spotlighted all sorts of fabulous companies like Rifle Paper Co., SusyJack* and more.