Turntable Tuesday : Taming Neenah, Menu Design

Here is a paper sample booklet by NEENAH PAPER COMPANY. I’ve had it for about 15 years, so a bit tattered. I’ve permitted myself to cut out just parts from a few pages and even brought it over with me to Italy from America. It goes to show how much I love this...well, object.

Writing, Design On Your Desk

This is a late post, at least relative to when the event actually occured. Nevertheless for those of you in Milan area next year in May, WRITING, DESIGN ON YOUR DESK  is free and worth a visit. This was a 1st. ed. stationery fair in Milan for paper designer enthusiasts held this year last May. There were print demonstrations, paper “rendering” workshops, booths by small and large studios and inspirational talks about concepting, bookbinding, print in todays marketplace and letterpress as a viable medium in the design arena.

FONTEGRAFICA (upper-top and bottom images) designs for artist gallery shows

THYPE Turin based Cultural Association (center-most image)

 participants final work at their paper rendering workshop 

Tuntable Tuesday : Beauty On The Page - Food Photography

I’ve started "Turntable Tuesday" to edge in a word wise about food and lifestyle and spread the awesome tunes I hear on my favorite podcasts etc.. For me, these things are an integral part of living well and moving forward with projects and plans in my letterpress studio. Music is the obvious in most people’s lives and it takes little effort to plug in our mp3 player, but eating well isn’t so straightforward, I think. These images are from photographers, artists, illustrators, cooks who all have the scope of designing beauty on the page.

Off the Vine : Letterpress Business Cards

Great fun printing these cards for "Italianna”. Anna Savino, specializes in food and wine tours in the beautiful Langhe hills of Italy, where the famous Barolo and Barbaresco come from. The cards were meant to be simple but elegant, something I think reflect the wines of the Langhe.

 

Two sided letterpress business cards - deboss | two color eggplant and vine green

hand pressed - vegetable based ink

Turntable Tuesday : Anarchic Pasta

All pasta isn’t the same in Italy and if you’re in Genova, it’s handmade trofie (troh/fyeh) with pesto (most likely) or a seafood mix. I was hosted by friends Manolab for the weekend to learn some bookbinding techniques and we had the lovely typical Ligurian dish for a Sunday lunch. This short and twisted (by rubbing motion) pasta with a lost history is made with no eggs--kinda an anarchic pasta, huh?

Studio Tunes 

(something uncomplicated that goes well with some seaside vibes)

Stir It Up by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Social Living by Burning Spear

Perpetual Motion Machine by Vibrasonic

Turntable Tuesday : Guerilla Gardeners and J Dilla

First thing about this image to set the mood in motion is the chalkboard style lettering Food Is Free on the side panel of the minivan.  First heard about these community style gardens by way of  Ron Finley’s talk at TED and his giant effort in south central Los Angeles. Wicking bed garden technology (self watering gardens) makes community gardens sustainable and a good way to connect with people and create green edible landscapes where non would otherwise exist.

Studio Tunes: 

Very Busy People by The Limousines
and a few by Detroit’s late Hip Hop extraordinaire J Dilla

Time: The donut of The Heart  
DeWitt To Do It: J Dilla Lost Scrolls Vol.1
Ruff and Rugged 

Corsivo Inglese :: Cusive English video short

Anyone remember grade school with a Big Chief pad learning cursive writing? Rumor has it cursive just isn’t part of the curriculum in the States now. Here’s a playful reminder: cursive lettering short video by Italian Calligraphist Barbara Calzolari. 

VIA BARBARA CALZOLARI’S FLICKR PAGE

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