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New 2012 Stamps + Pricing

As of January 22, 2012, USPS Postage rates went up.  And with the new increase come new stamp designs.  2012 has some particularly pretty stamps coming out perfect for wedding invitations!

You should always {always!} bring a sample of your wedding invitation suite to the post office to ensure you have the correct weight and postage before you send them out.  Below is a quick guide to what typical pieces will cost in postage to send within the US:

- Save the dates, thank you cards, and a reply envelope with a single card inside - 45 cents

- Wedding invitaiton suite {invitation, reply card with envelope, and enclosure card} - 65 cents

- Postcard reply - 32 cents

Most of these new stamps are forever stamps.  Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate {so if you buy them for .45 this year and the First-Class rate goes up to .46 next year, they will still work!}.  You may purchase stamps at your local USPS or online.

1.  Cherry Bossoms; 2. Wedding Cake; 3.  William H. Johnson; 4. Love Ribbons; 5. Baltimore Checkerspot; 6. Garden of Love; 7.  Edward Hopper; Not pictured, but also like - Weather Vanes, Birds of Prey, and Dogs at Work.

Bon Appétit + Woodtype Inspiration

I recently started a subscirption with Bon Appétit, and after two issues it has fast become one of my favorite magazines.  While I am more of a baker than a cook, I find {most} of the recipes are approachable and sound delicious.  I also love the magazine for its beautiful design.  It is simple, clean, and so fun to read!  As a visual person, I find I look at all the photos in a magazine first, then go back and read the articles.  I loved Feburary's issue, all about Southern foods, for the woodtype-inspired typography throughout the main stories and recipes. 

I have decided the first recipe I need to make is the Coconut Southern Comfort Layer Cake.  Of course.  A dessert recipe first!

Vintage Secret Garden Letterpress Wedding Suite

Jen & Dave were married on Lake Sunapee in New London, New Hampshire this past fall.  Last Spring {which seems crazy long ago!} I shared their vintage postcard inspired save the dates and now I am finally sharing their gorgeous wedding invitation suite.  Jen has impeccable taste and knew she wanted a beautiful and coordinated suite that refelcted the elegant, secret garden inspired wedding she and Dave were planning.  

Their suite is another take on the Willow invitation, now available in my ready-made collection, and it included an over-sized 5.5 x 8.5" invitation, reply card with an envelope, a map of the area around the wedding ceremony and reception, accommodations card, welcome dinner invitation and map of the location, and an outer envelope.   Amazing, right?  I love a couple who looooves paper!  The envelope calligraphy was done by the ever-talented Jen of Pretty Pen Jen and worked perfectly with the invitation design.

All of the guests were invited to the welcome dinner, wedding ceremony and reception, and farewell brunch, so we were able to include everything on one reply card, including meal choices!

I love designing and printing maps and this suite had two!  I designed one for the area around the wedding ceremony and reception, and another for the welcome dinner.  The welcome dinner was being held on a private island that was a bit tricky to find, so the guests had a lovely letterpress map to follow.  I was a bit daring with the large flood of dark color for the lake, but it came out beautifully.

Each piece was letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper in pearl white.  The invitation was 220 lb. paper and the coordinating pieces were 110 lb.  All pieces were printed with a deep aubergine ink and then corner-rounded. 

Around the Studio

Printing a lot of cards, mixing pretty shades of pink, watching that wheel spin, & sorting through wood type.  Just a lovely little day in the studio.

Valentine's + New Wholesale Catalog!

Valentine's Day is just about a month away!  Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?  I have always been a believer that the day is not just for people who are dating, enaged, or married but a day to send a sweet card to your grandparents or to give a little box of homemade sweets to your best friend.  It is a fun excuse to bake brownies and bust out the glitter and construction paper hearts!  Or to send a lovely little letterpress card, of course!  There are a whole bunch in the shop perfect for Valentine's Day or any day you want to send a little extra love.

In other stationery-related news, Parrott Design Studio now has a wholesale catalog with a simple and lovely collection of letterpress greeting cards available to shops {both brick and mortar and online}, and we are adding more designs each week.  You may check out the online catalog below, and if you are interested in more information or placing an order, email me at sarah(at)parrottdesignstudio.com.  There is a quick turnaround for shipping right now to ensure those Valentine's Day cards arrive in time!

p.s. my 2012 calendar is on sale too!