Insanity!!!!!!! | July 28th, 2010

As you know, we at Alee & Press have been working on our fitness. In honor of bathing suit season, we gave up our “working lunches” of beer and pizza and decided to have “workout lunches” instead. Specifically we have been torturing ourselves with Shaun T and his INSANE Insanity workouts. Let me just say, this is not for the faint of heart. One day we were faced with a dilemma. Workout clothes in the car. Hurricane in progress. No raincoat or umbrella. Now some people may just bag it and call it a day…but not us. Oh no my friend, if this isn’t dedication, I don’t know what is!

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categories design, studio, things we love

Our New Motto | July 21st, 2010

We just got this poster and we think it’s awesome. Special bonus that it’s letterpressed to boot!

image courtesy of Baltimore Print Studios http://baltimoreprintstudios.com/2010/04/posters-for-sale/

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categories design, things we love

Inspiration: Type Installations | July 19th, 2010

We stumbled upon this designer’s website and all we have to say is WOW. These typographic installations are incredible. We are truly awe inspired. Ebon Heath, you are our new hero. If you want your mind blown, go here: http://www.listeningwithmyeyes.com/stereotype.html

image © 2008 Ebon Heath

image © 2008 Ebon Heath

image © 2008 Ebon Heath

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Equally Wed Launch Party | July 16th, 2010

Having already printed quite a few invitations for same sex unions, we were thrilled to hear about a new online magazine geared specifically toward same sex weddings. The magazine was founded by two amazing women, Kirsten and Maria Palladino, after finding a severe lack of resources when they were planning their own wedding. We had the privilege of meeting them and being a part of the magazine’s launch party. Signature cocktails, yes please! Wedding cake, don’t mind if I do!

image source: http://atlanta.metromix.com/events/essay_photo_gallery/equally-wed-launch-party/2028565/content

Laura learning how to pose. Classy!

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Our new studio | April 5th, 2010

For the past year and half Alee & Press had overtaken all 700 square feet of my hubby’s & my condo. It grew gradually, but for more time than I like to remember, we had a bed in the corner and were living in a letterpress studio. IT WAS CHAOS! It definitely had it’s upsides but many, many downsides. At the start of 2010 I was dying for a home that we could relax in & that I could start designing. We were out of room for the growing business, even with all my clever storage & shelving. With the need for some full time help, we decided it was finally time to move the business on out! On moving day it was a little bittersweet. I cried as I looked at everything all boxed up and ready for the movers & continued to until the next morning when the movers arrived. It was a bit surreal that it was actually happening and I was overwhelmed with how much we had sacrificed and how much I had achieved in such a short amount of time. I’m sure I was stressed out too, as moving is not fun. The movers took EVERYTHING except the bed and 2 boxes with books and dvds!!! I’m now learning how to leave work at work (it’s hard) and enjoy making small messes at the studio that I don’t have to stare at while I’m laying in bed at night! I’m probably a much more pleasant person to live with these days. My husband is a saint!

I will miss printing looking out to this. It never got old.

Ready for the movers.

The new HUGE studio. I’m in love with the archway!

I’ll post pictures once the studio is camera ready. We’re still in the process of unpacking and getting it how we want it.

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categories invitation, Letterpress

6 months later… | April 5th, 2010

YIKES! Time has flown. I don’t know how people keep up with their blogs, it’s seriously a fulltime job! Never the less, we’ve been delightfully busy around here and moving forward we will be posting much more regularly. The 2 major happenings since October have been having an invitation suite featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine in December (YAY!!!!) + moving into a MUCH larger studio space in Candler Park which we are loving.

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categories things we love

Pretty Bows | October 14th, 2009

I just finished wrapping a wedding gift and realized that I do whatever I can to get around the task of tying a bow. I would rather just tie a knot. Most times the aesthetic I’m going for doesn’t really make sense for a bow and a lot of the times I think bows can be tacky, but that’s only because they haven’t been done right. With the right material, a bit of skill and a play with scale, this shouldn’t be too hard right? Great tutorials here and here. Maybe my next wedding gift wrap job will have a pretty bow.

[image above, top row from left: yellow bow from band.do, napkin bow from martha stewart, figure eight bow from Martha Stewart, tuxedo bow from Martha Stewart, headband from ban.do]

[image above, top row from left: medallion bow from Martha Stewart, recycled paper bow from The Spotted Sparrow, recycled map bow from How About Orange]

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categories paper love, things we love

Build your own letterpress | October 8th, 2009

It doesn’t get much better than finding a template for a mini Vandercook paper press! I immediately stopped what I was doing (anything for a distraction) pulled out my exacto knife, ruler, bone folder, and glue. Those 15 minutes were heaven and now I have the cutest press ever. I wonder if Justin would mind if I decorated our Christmas tree this year with multi-color mini Vandercooks. Thanks to those over at Baltimore Print Studios for the diy… you guys rock & definitely just made my day!

If I only had this Coccoina glue to put it together with. Isn’t this the most beautiful packaging for glue? It’s made from potato startch + its suppose to smell like Marzipan! Might be worth a little taste…

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categories invitation, Letterpress, paper love

She said yes… | October 7th, 2009

We designed and printed these for my engagement party that my parents threw. It wasn’t just any engagement party either. It turned into a 3 night escape into the mountains, in Idaho, at some of my families cabins. They hosted 85+ guests in cabins and took everyone white water rafting! It was incredible to say the least, and one of the most memorable weekends we’ve ever had. How cute are these invite postcards? They were duplexed (2 different sheets glued together) and went through the press more times than I want to remember.

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categories design, things we love

destination pillows | October 2nd, 2009

Cat Studio makes these hand embroidered pillows (all from original art) of different states, regions, cities, parks & countries. Wouldn’t these make the best gifts for a bride or couple? They’re so fun and unexpected! For a destination wedding they’d be the perfect gift for the wedding party or as a thank you for loved ones to remember your special day. Check out the entire collection here.

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