Video: Creative Capitol of the South, Baton Rouge

Ha! Bennet Rhodes made this super fun video for Baton Rouge as the Creative Capital of the South.  I can be seen printing on the trusted C&P 8x12 (treadle driven of course) at minute 1:19 (haha). And the background at the very end is in my studio, note the Ladies of Letterpress Member sign! There are two videos and you can see his other videos here. Thanks for sending it along Bennet! Enjoy a little taste of BR...

New building! video

It was an exciting day yesterday, we closed on a new building. It's been in the works for a while (some may say years) but finally we can jump into the renovations. There is much to be done. The bottom floor will house the Blackbird Letterpress printshop, and maybe a small retail space. The plan for the upstairs is to one day be our home. It's gutted at the moment which leaves us many possibilities. I'll share the progress as it develops. It's gonna take a while. It sits adjacent to the Catholic cemetery that was established in 1824. It is quite beautiful and I look forward to getting to know our neighbors. I'd like to say our neighborhood is up and coming (the printshop and my husband's metalworking shop is just down the street, so we know it well) industrial? not really. It's an area that thrived in the mid 20th century with car dealerships and the largest department store in this part of the state. Now there are vacant lots and buildings, though slowly some are beginning to be filled again. One day, on the deck, we'll be able to look out over the old cemetery full of cedar and live oaks with the tip of the capitol building peeking over the trees. Here is a silly video of David christening the new venture. (yes, the bottle chipped the brick, oops)

Stock Project or Adventures in Rogue Numismatics

Stock Project or Adventures in Rogue Numismatics

Roadside Attraction #3 - The Queen Mary

Wow, it's September already. Last month was a whirlwind with one event as a particular highlight. Not only did we get away from the Louisiana heat, but we stayed aboard the grand ocean liner, The Queen Mary.

Margie and her beau Morgen (my cousin & dear friends) decided to have a destination wedding on the ship. Now located and docked in Long Beach, Ca, The Queen Mary was quite glorious in her prime (though she is still stunning). In 1936, The Queen Mary, of the Cunard White Star line, left the port in Southhampton and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to New York. She was hailed as the fastest ocean liner of the time, arriving in a little over four days. During World War II, she transported troops until the end of the war (sometimes carrying 16,000 people-troops, crew, prisoners). In 1946, she made thirteen war-bride voyages transporting European brides and children to reunite with their husbands in the US and Canada. After the war, she continued as a glamorous ocean liner carrying passengers, up until her final voyage in 1967. She is now owned by the city of Long Beach and is a wonderful roadside attraction. The interior has been preserved and ongoing restoration projects keep the beauty of the ship intact.

Interior details. And I found the letterpress.....

Elements in our room and the elevators

Of course there were paper elements.... I was honored and excited to be Margie's personal printer. She is probably the best client I have ever had. She flew down to Louisiana for a weekend visit and we brainstormed the design. She came prepared with great ideas and I customized the ideas for letterpress and added a few design elements along the way. I'll post more photos of the entire invite suite and details of the other items soon. But here is a peek to a few.

 clockwise: Moleskine favors for the lady's luncheon, place tags/luggage tags, cake topper, coasters (Margie made the super fortune tellers)

 

clockwise: the guest book: coptic bound, with cotton pages. The pages each have two sets of photo corners & vellum envelopes-to insert an Fuji instant photo and to insert a typed slip of paper with well wishes etc for the bride & groom in the envelope. Table details.

 

 The bar was awesome! And on the weekends they have a quintet that plays 1940s standards. (David and I on the dance floor.)

 

 The loveliest couple, Margie and Morgen. And the always hungry seagull.

The entire wedding was so beautifully planned and put together, from the napkin wraps to the flags in the gazebo. Colors were unified and thoughtful. Can't wait to see all the photos of the day.

Wishing Margie and Morgen continued happiness and love and all the good stuff. Thanks for having us along on the Queen Mary adventure!

Stay tuned for more photos of the paper elements of the event, wedding suite, and all the small details.