things are better with a parrott

Vintage Ephemera Inspired Letterpress Wedding Invitations

Amanda and Seamus are getting married in June at the Aldrich House in Providence, Rhode Island.  A National Historic Landmark built in 1822, The Aldrich House is also the home of the Rhode Island Historical Society.  Amanda and her mother came to me with images from the Official Souvenir & Program from the 1907 Rhode Island Old Home Week, and wanted to incorporate them into the save the date and invitations. Being a love of vintage ephemera, old letterpress cuts, and Providence, I loved working on this design.  

The Save the Date included a fun and festive image of a parade of swinging lanterns with an image of the capitol building in the background. I kept the typefaces simple and classic. 

We carried the same typefaces throughout the the invitation and reply card, and used another image from the Old Home Week Program on a simple belly band.

Each piece was letterpress printed in a cool grey ink on 100% cotton paper in Pearl white with coordinating envelopes.

Ocean Inspired Letterpress Magnet Save the Date

I met with Briana and her mother late last summer at her family's beautiful ocean-front home in Rhode Island where the wedding will take place this August.  It was a warm, breezy summer day and we talked all things wedding and stationery on their porch watching the boats sail by.  After going through every idea from puzzle pieces to mini envelopes, Briana decided she would like a save the date based on my own save the date design.

Briana and her fiance, Grant, wanted to give guests a sense of the wedding location, so I created a custom illustration of Briana's parents' home with small sailboats.  We commisioned Grace Edmands for the calligrahy of "Save the Date" and their names.  The small card in the middle is a magnet that can be removed from the larger card and is "held" in place by two small gulls. 

We worked with Astrid Wendth on the addressing of the envelopes.  She calligraphed the addresses in a beautiful navy blue ink.  We finished the whole package with Edward Hopper stamps.

The save the dates were letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper in natural white.  The magnets were printed in navy blue ink and the flat card was printed in aqua and magenta ink.  We paired the save the dates with coordinating aqua envelopes.

Sebago Lake, Maine Save the Dates

Kristen & Rickie are getting married on one of my favorite locations in Maine, Sebago Lake.  I spent my summers playing and swimming there so I was excited to create a save the date reflecting that location.  Based on this design, we swapped the sailboat for a cute little pair of loons and added a heart for a bit of fun and whimsy.

The save the dates were letterpress printed in blue & pink inks on 100% cotton paper with rounded corners.  We also included a digitally printed information card for guests.

Erin Gates Design Letterpress Business Cards

Last fall I had the opportunity to work with super-talented interior and fashion stylist, Erin of Erin Gates Design.  Her blog, Elements of Style, is one of my daily must-reads, and I was so excited when she asked me to print her business cards, designed by Jessica Sutton.

The cards were letterpress printed in three colors on thick 220 lb. cotton paper then edge painted in a shimmery gold.  They are SO pretty in person!

{top photo by Erin Gates Design}

Parrott Design Studio Letterpress Holiday Goods

The holidays are here at the studio.  I am looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, & particularly 2012.  I am ready for a new year & a new start!  This holidays season I have a brand new letterpress calendar, a small collection of cards, & gift tags. 

I am excited because the calendar & two cards feature hand lettering by me!  The 2012 calendar is quite different from past years, but I really like the change.  Click on any of the photos to be taken to the shop.