InspIratIons & paper Love
Hannah Watt
Introduction.
Inspirations and Paper Love is a collection of some of my favourite stationers and studios working with the things that I love. Beautiful printed matter and the personality of hand created illustrations and type. In an increasing digital age the significance placedon an hand written card or letter means so much more and has te ability to say lots with very little words. From comical play on words to intricate and delicate illustrations each have a llighted hearted tone and aim to create a positive emotion wherever their paper goods may end up. I am not only inspired by their visuals but their studio ethos, environmentally friendly run business and stories of how they got where they are today.
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Rifle Paper Co.
1. Rifle Paper Co. is a stationery and gift brand based in Florida. Founded by Anna and Nathan Bond, it began as a small business run from their 1-bedroom apartment which has rapidly grown over the last four years into a worldwide brand. Their products feature Anna’s whimsical designs which often include hand-painted illustrations and lettering composing a style that is both nostalgic and timeless. Their studio 4.
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practice is environmentally and ethically friendly which ensures end results they are proud of. They believe that life’s stories and moments are best told through the gift of a hand written note or card and their goods inspire you to share this with others.
i.e.1 Rifle Paper Co.
i.e. 2 One Canoe Two
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One Canoe Two
1canoe2 Letterpress describe themselves as being the stuff dreams are made of. Carrie and Beth, are two childhood friends who always loved to draw, are now grown-ups working together as professional illustrators, designers and printers. The name ‘1canoe2’ originates from years the two spent dreaming up ideas around a campfire and floating
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in a canoe down the Missouri river. At the beginning of their journey as a letterpress company they asked Carrie’s sister-in-law Karen to join the team and now three women strong, 1canoe2 is chasing bigger dreams creating inspiring letterpress and cheerful art. 9.
Scouts Honor
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Scout’s Honor Co. is a stationery studio based in Burlington, Vermont. Founded by Annemarie Buckley, SHCo combines a love for vintage objects, classic Americana, and modern design. They gather inspiration from the world around them, Vermont, the beautiful lakes and mountains, road trips, signage, shipyards, the list goes on and enjoy seeking everyday adventures and celebrating the simple pleasures in life. They pride themselves on their process. Designs originate from pen and paper, ensuring that hand-lettering and illustration is at the heart of every piece. They ensure that their work is printed locally in Vermont using only FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper to fit with their eco-friendly ethos. 12.
i.e. 3 Scouts Honor Co.
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i.e. 3 Scouts Honor Co. 15.
Odd Daughter Paper Co.
4. Odd Daughter Paper Co is a stationery shop dreamed up by Katie Hart. It brings to life her mother’s middle school nickname – ‘Odd Daughter’ (a clever play on her surname, Evenson). Odd Daughter aims to return to the good ol’ days when mail correspondence was the norm. Katie 16.
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illustrates from her home studio in San Diego. She enjoys baking/cooking up a storm, running, collecting succulents, and decorating the home she shares with her sister.
i.e. 4 Odd Daughter Paper Co.
i.e. 4 Odd Daughter Paper Co.
i.e. 5 Berin Made 20.
Berin Made
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Berin Made is located in London but works with clients worldwide. Founded from a love of fanciful illustrations and beautifully crafted lettering, BerinMade makes beautiful paper goods for the loved and cherished. They specialise in social stationery, custom stamps and wedding paper goods and believe that the simplest things in life often hold the sweetest and most powerful memories. A simply folded greeting card, an intertwining monogram or a perfectly printed wedding invitation; these emblems can be savoured for a life-time and Berin Made are proud to craft such memories. 21.
Clap Clap Design
6. Clap Clap is a stationery brand created by graphic designer and illustrator Mimi Kim who was born in Korea. During her college years she dreamed of having her own brand and after working as a graphic designer for years she founded Clap Clap, 22.
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inspired by the surroundings of everyday life. Clap Clap brings fun and joyful imagery through cards, notebooks, calendars and other paper goods.
i.e. 6 Clap Clap Design
Jolly Edition
We make stationery and illustrations as unique as your celebration. Jolly edition create custom stationery and illustrations from their studio in Columbia, Maryland for clients internationally. Smiles nonnegotiable. 26.
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i.e. 7 Jolly Edition
Quill & Fox
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Quill & Fox is a paper design studio created by Yas Imamura, who, with her husband Andrew independently runs a small Oregon-based shop straight from their own home. The studio specialises in hand-designed cards and stationery that evoke a sense of nostalgia. As a small company, the studio is continuously expanding its line of paper goods and is always experimenting with different creative ideas to expand the medium of paper.
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i.e. 8 Quill & Fox
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i.e. 8 Quill & Fox
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i.e. 9 Lamplighter London
Lamplighter London
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Lamplighter London produces social stationery, branding and bespoke designs married with on-trend knowledge, strong attention to detail and luxury finishing touches. They create beautiful artwork and calligraphy for a wealth of stylish, discerning and celebrity clientele, appealing to social and business clients alike, offering a highly personal service to make any occasion a visual delight. 35.
My Dear Fellow
My Dear Fellow Co. is a paper goods brand based in Texas. It strives to produce paper goods of the highest calibre by maintaining a clear focus on detail and excellent design. All paper goods are hand crafted, printed, and assembled at the company’s studio in Dallas. My Dear Fellow Co. combines the 36.
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highest quality materials available to create the finest products. Samantha, an experienced graphic designer and illustrator, is the creative mind behind the matchless combination of design, colour focussing on creating whimsical and
i.e. 10 My Dear Fellow
original designs. She draws inspiration from the diversity around her, nature’s beauty, and the people she loves. My Dear Fellow Co. hopes to inspire, reach out and to share messages of love, appreciation, or joy by gifting a handwritten and personalised note on a unique paper product. 37.
Parrott Design Studio
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i.e. 11 Parrott Design Studio Parrott Design Studio is a boutique design and letterpress studio in Rhode Island, America, established in 2007. Their designs are simple and lovely, fun with a touch of whimsy, inspired by vintage ephemera, flora and fauna, and candy-colored hues. 38.
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i.e. 12 Ladyfingers Letterpress
Ladyfingers Letterpress
The design and printer duo Morgan Calderini and Arley-Rose Torsone met in 2007 while working at an arts non-profit called AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island. ArleyRose, a graduate from Parsons the New School for Design, had been working as the in-house graphic designer when Morgan, a recent Rhode Island School of Design grad, appeared on the scene to help start up acommunity printshop just down the hall. It wasn’t long before they started to collaborate on new print+design work, and they joined forces to become Ladyfingers Letterpress. Today
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their studio buzzes with the help of a creative and skillful production staff: a talented team of artists who diligently work to create truly one-of-a-kind invitations and stationery. Dedicated to the belief that a respectable workplace inspires quality work. In an age where it’s an anomaly to find design, printing, production and administration under the same roof, Ladyfingers Letterpress is proud to be a locally owned and operated business whose reputation is built on the quality- and creativity- of their product. 41.
Emily McDowell
Emily McDowell is an illustrator, designer, and truth-teller. She taught herself to draw bubble letters at the age of six. McDowell describes her story as starting when she took some wise person’s advice, and started with going back to the work she loved most, drawing, specifically, lettering and writing stories. She began to put her drawings up on a blog as a way to keep me motivated which then led onto a shop which led to her website and commissioned illustration work. She wants to pass on her 44.
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story for those of us who feel stuck, or unfulfilled, or like things could just be better; ‘To remind you that so much can happen in just a few years. If I can do this, you can too, whatever “this” is for you’ Emily McDowells work reflects a shared human experience, in all its different, messy forms, and feels most satisfied when something she makes helps somebody feel like someone else out there gets them. Other inspiraions also include letters, nature, folk art, geometry, cultural quirks, and the crazy urban landscape of Southern California.
i.e.13 EmilyMc Dowell
Color Me Carla
Color Me Carla began as a small blog in 2010. Carla is inspired by the simple life and drawn to timeless style, clean yet lived-in interiors and animals of all varieties . I delight in the inappropriate and the weird. Color me Carla currently offers a collection of hand painted and illustrated wedding stationery to happy couples around the world. Each suite is an expression of my Color Me Carla’s attention to little
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details that are unique yet timeless. All of her work is hand tailored and customized to create a finished piece of art that is truly reflective of the bride and groom. The couple is involved in the design process from start to finish to make sure no detail is overlooked and your customisations are executed perfectly.
i.e. 14 Color Me Carla
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Little Low Studio
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Little Low focuses on an illustrative, expressive, and charming style with inspiration from simple and clean color palettes, graphic prints, nature, music, vintage children’s books illustrations, and folk americana more like the personal style of owner and designer Caitlin McClain. Everything they try to create they try to pursue with the utmost integrity, eco consciousness, and reliability. 50.
i.e. 15 Little Low Studio
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Casual Fridays Paper
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i.e. 16 Casual Fridays Paper
Casual Fridays designs gift wrap featuring fresh patterns and fun message stickers to personalise gifts. The unique patterns are handmade and printed in bright colors onto 90 gsm paper. Their studio is based on designing products with an eye to sustainability. The patterns are printed on 100% recycled paper using non-toxic vegetable oil-based inks. The paper, stickers and package-cards are made in the Netherlands. 55.
Oh My Deer
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i.e. 16 Oh My Deer Oh My Deer was born out of a love for play-on-words and getting my hands dirty based in the USA. Her drawings, paintings and lettering is designed to pull on your heart strings. 56.
i.e. 16 Oh My Deer
Hannah Watt
Conclusion
This book has documented my sources of inspiration, ranging from individual designers to studios working with personalised stationery. I have selected these studios not only for their visual aesthetic but their methods and processes of working. They are ways of working and design ethos’s that I feel personally connected to and hope to emulate in my own work and design practice. One day I hope to take a lesson from each of the people who inspire me and make a career out of something that I love and enjoy.
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Inspirations & Paper Love