The Trolley Tickets

The wonderful mother of the bride, Kathleen, contacted us a bit ago asking for a project I couldn't resist.  She wanted us to create trolley tickets for her daughters wedding.  Paper products of the unusual size intrigue me.  Additionally, the idea of something off beat was marvelous (I really enjoyed creating the drink tokens last year).  Ms. Kathleen asked us months ago, and a our busy schedule goes it go pushed aside for a bit (sometimes no matter how hard I try it seems impossible to get caught up).  With a gentle reminder and a bit of patience these little tickets made it to press, complete with a perforated ticket stub.

We perforated the ticket so that you could easily tear off the stub- it was so

much fun to perforate this extra thick paper...

In the background you can see the ink swatches that we create with each order, matching

it to the clients preference and to our Pantone book

Getting the press set for a new project.  Yellow seems to be the color right now....

A Few More Coasters

My how time flies.  We have been busy here crankin' out the coasters...
We had the lovely pleasure of working with Miss Angela and coming up with a wonderful save the date.

She wanted something in dark purple/plum and a a deep raspberry red.  She sent along her lovely wedding inspiration photos; these always help when creating a custom design.  She needed something elegant and regal...

The result was combination of multiple designs combined (and several revisions!).  The bride to be was pleased with the results (which always pleases us!)

Next we worked with Kara.  Simple. Direct. Lovely.  I am always fond of these.  Red is elegant and bold, the type is simple and direct.  Marvelous!

Something about that stymie font...

Ahh- it's that time of year again!  Everyone's getting ready for Christmas.  (I am running a bit behind this year- shh, don't tell.)  Last year I was so enthusiastic about getting those Christmas coasters out.  It was almost too much. I was so swamped that all the things I usually enjoy doing got swept under the carpet.  Don't get me wrong, the business was much appreciated. 

This year we are thinking about shutting down Vermilion Star Press for the holidays.  So that we can focus on what really matters.

This is the little coaster (in our tree last year) that made it in the treasury.

One Wondrous Little Coaster and a Whole Slew of Challenges

We print a great deal of coasters.  Just when you start to get ahead of yourself and think that it's going to be a breeze- you realize you were wrong!  The easiest project turns out to be a challenge.

First, the color stripes had to be printed.  Now, when I create designs for the coaster I work through the printing in my head.  I try to make sure that it is feasible.  Throwing a circle in seems easy, right?

Well- those little stripes go to the end of the coaster.  How does the coaster stay in place?  Usually we have little pins(affectionately called frogs) to hold the paper in place.  When a design goes to the edge, you can't do that.  It gets a little tricky.

Once the stripes are printed- it is time to print the black "cheers."

Not so bad?

Well, each little coaster has to be placed in the correct orientation. Vertical strips need to be 100% up and down. And this has to be done by hand.  Each coaster.  This isn't about speed- it's about accuracy.

Oh, and what happens when one of those coasters sticks to the form in the press?  The rollers run right over the back of the coaster- giving a solid coast of ink.  (that one did not get sent to Australia!)

Happy Halloween All!!!

Happy Halloween! 

 For all intents and purposes, our family looks upon this as a time to slip in a little creativity and fun.  A time to hit the pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins and create darling costumes for the little guys.

And as always, create some new coasters for the shop.  This year I wanted to make something  a little fanciful.  Last year my sketchbook was filled with ideas.  At one point I spent some time contemplating pointy boots with some old striped stockings.  Even though I wanted to create those they got put off to the side burner.  So this year I decided they were the ones.  Those sagging stockings and curved toes were going to come to life.

As far as the results, I couldn't be happier.  Being a lover of lines, I wanted something that really looked like it was hand drawn.   I whipped out the drawing tablet and worked a bit- referring to last years sketch.  And when I finally put them into the press, I must say that I smiled a bit at those witches shoes.

Then I printed up the tags and tied 'en up.

And then...

Well, they sat as I got extremely busy.  Neglected for a month and a half!  Everyday I would walk buy them and smile and say "tomorrow I will take your glamor shot."  Yet, these little guys sat around waiting for me to photo them and put them up.

Now as the pumpkin is roasting in the oven (to get turned into soup) and the kids are getting ready to go for their candy lap- Here I am putting these up.

So sad.

Oh well, next year. 

Moving into the new studio

Just a couple random pictures from the new studio.  Until there is more time...
New shelves for the ink- everything is so clean.  Until that first time I drop a gob of ink on the floor and track it through the studio (oh, wait- it happened last night!)

Our shop dog, Ronin, posing in front of our "new cabinets"- in the truest sense of Vermilion Star Press, these cabinets were taken from the location and refinished.  (By us- many long hours cleaning, sanding, priming and painting)  Rather than buying new ones we just made these work- and the hubby created the countertop for me- nice and shiny- a great "clean area".