designer's library

You Work for Them - Limited Edition Journal

I'm officially out of my limited edition silk screened journals! But don't despair, You Work for Them recently asked me to make them a limited number of the Pleat Journal in a special color way: yellow, blue, and red (primary colors, my faves). The original journal was in orange instead of red (but it looks similar on-screen). It's just $32.00, comes with a hand-screened cover, and 144 pages (textblock from Italy). And there are only 20 available. I will likely do more limited edition work this year, but not journals like this any more. So get one before they run out!

Kanye

I know, two posts in one day. What the heck is going on?! I just remembered that Tootie (one of the owners of Reform School, not Kim Fields) ran into Kanye at Barney's in New York last week. And I am totally jealous. Not because his songs are hot or that he talks smack about everyone and doesn't care, but because he's such a friggin design nerd. Just check out his blog. I'm guessing he's probably the only rap artist who knows who Rem Koolhaas is.

Post Stationery Show

I know, I am much slower to post than some people. But nevertheless, here is an image of the Mixed Co. booth last week. The Stationery Show (which we've affectionately dubbed "Summer Camp") was really great! In addition to the all-important store orders, we made good contacts with press, publishers, and other designers. It was validating to see the fruits of our pre-show marketing push with stores and press coming into the booth telling us they came specifically because of the mailer we sent out.

And it's always so much fun to meet with other designers (especially ones you've only "known" over email or blogs) and this year it seemed like there was more indie designers. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go around the Javits and visit as much as I wanted to...I kept feeling ill off and on. Maybe it was allergies or the dang air conditioner blasting in there! Overall, it was a really worthwhile show. And I seriously enjoyed all the laughs with the good company in the booth. Looking forward to next year!

National Stationery Show, May 18-21 (Booth 1448)

At the beginning of this year I started a new project/division called Mixed Co., which provides grassroots marketing and representation for independent designers. The first of several shows planned for 2008, we'll be at the National Stationery Show (Booth 1448) from May 18-21 at the Javits Center in New York City representing a talented group of designers including Allymoon, Good on Paper, Linea Carta, Laurel Denise, Nantaka Joy, and, of course, my company Mateo Ilasco. If you'll be visiting the show, do stop by and say hello!

Lines & Shapes, Vol. 2

I'm so happy to be a part of Maria & Lena's Lines & Shapes, Vol. 2. Other artists featured in the book are: Jim Green, Maditi, ThussFarrell, and Stephanie Waddell. It was great exploring the book's theme, "Block". I decoupaged wood blocks with graphic symbols and strung them together to create flexible wood block sculptures (see image above for one of the sculptures).

Below is an image that didn't make it into the book which shows almost all the blocks.

This image is in the book. I share a studio with a 3 other artists/designers, including Lisa of Good on Paper, and this is an image I shot of the blinds on her front window. I love black and white stripes!

The book is only $21 plus shipping or you can get a subscription so that you get all volumes. If you need visual inspiration, you should definitely have these on your bookshelf!

Greg Lamarche

With the Stationery Show coming up, it's been pretty busy over here and blog neglect has totally set in. But I did want to post about Greg Lamarche, a collage artist, whose work I saw on White Walls, an urban art gallery, in San Francisco. I can't believe I haven't been to this gallery yet. And I'm bummed I missed the Ian M. Johnson show back in February. I'd love to get one of his pieces for my home.

On a happy note, I was able to get tickets to the Flight of the Conchords show in SF. Thank goodness they added another date.