Blog

If you’re nuts for pretty coffee table books, then we’ve got a new one to add to your collection! Kseniya Thomas and Jessica White, the original ladies behind the Ladies of Letterpress, have published a beautiful compilation of print work among their members. And Smudge Ink is lucky to be among its pages! I finally had a moment to flip through the book with a cup of coffee the other day. (Thanks to my husband and Kate's dad who both saw it at a book store and promptly bought us copies because it’s not every day you see your name in print. And plus, they are our personal PR assistants).

I really enjoyed seeing the range of styles and designs and learning about the other 80+ artists and studios who also contributed. One of the great features of the book is that each featured printer has its own perforated page that it can be torn out and used as a poster for framing and hanging. This book truly celebrates the supportive and enthusiastic community of women printers to which we are proud to belong.  

(image: Look, Heidi, Handsome, and Cookie's names are in print!)

(image: our featured greeting cards and custom projects)

(images left to right: wonderful work from printshops, Letterpers, The Permanent Collection, and Constellation & Co. that caught my eye)

(image: our signature poppy design ready to be turned into wall art)

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Wow, it’s hard to believe that the National Stationery Show has already come and gone! This trade show is our biggest one of the year and something we start preparing for months and months in advance. So when I say we spent all of 2015 so far gearing up for 3.5 days in the Javits Center, it's no joke!

Knowing all of the sweat and tears that goes into a trade show, first thing you want to do is get retailers and potential customers excited about coming to your booth. The pre-show mailer is an excellent opportunity to do just that. This year we decided to give attendees a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the days leading up to the show. The idea came about after Clayton, having never experienced a trade show himself, wanted to know what actually goes on in preparation. We told him all about the good, the bad, and the ugly, and then he turned it into a mailer.

RECAP: Everything fit in Kate's hatchback (and Deb's mom's SUV). It was fairly quick drive to NYC, only to get stuck in a street demonstration as soon as we hit the car dealerships along 11th Avenue. When we arrived inside the Javits, crates completely overtook our aisle but fortunately none had been left in our booth. But it still made for a good photo op. Kate and I got started on the booth before Deb arrived with her to-scale booth plans. We messed up and had to start again. That's what happens when you veer from the map.  

RECAP: We still only have one step stool (gifted to us by our friends at flip & tumble). But fortunately we replaced the rickety IKEA death trap—I mean, chairs—with something more sturdy, upping the safety factor. After a long day, everyone retired to their couches. Well, some of us have graduated to actual beds now. Both Kate and Deb enjoyed their morning runs; Deb in Central Park, and Kate in Brooklyn Bridge Park. I enjoyed my snooze button.   

RECAP: We've finally learned to avoid the Starbucks line in the Javits at all costs. Instead, we rely on an extensive call tree where the first person to come across a Starbucks on his/her commute gets everybody's orders. This often leads to confusing texts and having no idea why there is a Mexican hot drink waiting for you. (Wait, I thought you wanted an olé, says Clayton.) Caffeine aside, I have to say we were thrilled to show off our new corner booth! It filled up with customers pretty quickly, and I didn't even have to wear the sandwich board!   

RECAP: Oh So Beautiful Paper hosted another amazing rooftop party (thanks, Nole!). That's how the crew looks like after being in the Javits for an extended period of time. We're hoping the effects are not long term.   

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We like to joke that Smudge Ink has a satellite in Mexico City. We were (and still are) in major denial when Sanya moved there for the adventure of a lifetime. Even more than three years later, we meet and talk about Sanya as if she’s cranking the presses right alongside Emily and Margaret. 

So you can imagine our excitement when Sanya emailed saying she had found and moved her first Heidelberg press into her studio space. It was official —Heidi here at Smudge Ink had a sister! The photos of the move are pretty incredible (and so is that graffiti). Here’s what Sanya had to say about it:

I found the Heidelberg in good condition through old-school printing connections here in my neighborhood. It’s been great meeting these old guys, who although they are seeing their craft dying, are really passionate about sharing knowledge and keeping it alive. I'm on the look-out for a Vandy look-a-like as well. Vandercooks are few and far between down here, but there are other "rol de pruebas" that do the same thing, so hopefully one comes my way. (Another crane? I hope not!)

Sending warm sun-rays y abrazos grandes,
Sanya

We'll keep you posted as Sanya sets up Santa Rosa Letterpress (website and more to come!). For now, welcome to the family, Haidee!

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Are we the only ones who can't wait to open up a brand new calendar at the start of a new year? Along with this simple change comes a sense of excitement about the possibilities and adventures ahead. Don’t get us wrong, 2014 was a good year for many reasons—we launched a brand new website, welcomed Margaret and Clayton to the team, brought back the Holiday Sip & Shop, proudly supported the #5DaysofEquality campaign, and gave our studio a facelift just to name a few. But we’re pretty darn excited for what’s ahead. Sure, there’ll be some overwhelming and stressful days in the mix (the nature of the small business beast!). That’s when we remind ourselves that our products won’t make people smile and write more unless we’re happy too. So in 2015 we’re going to try some new ideas (hint: see photo for a sneak peek) and have fun along the way. That’s a resolution you can hold us to!

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Smudge Ink is proud to announce our involvement in GLAAD’s 5 Days of Equality, a global campaign for marriage equality. Calling Massachusetts home, the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, we were moved by the stories of 31 couples in Australia whose marriages were nullified by the government only five days after getting married. These marriages happened during the brief window of December 7-12, 2013, and one year later, we stand with others around the world to recognize and celebrate their first anniversary (traditionally the paper anniversary!). 

Inspired by this remarkable initiative, we designed a collection of anniversary cards commemorating the couples' unions. Smudge Ink has donated 6,000 cards in which your messages of love and support will be written and sent to the couples. On December 14th, GLAAD will hold a public celebration where the couples will open and read their cards. (The video of the event was released after this initial post and is shown above).

Between December 7-12, we invite you to support marriage equality and send anniversary messages to the couples by posting a message on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine, using the hashtag #5DaysOfEquality.

"It's about celebrating the love we have for each other. I get a bit teary about it. Love is love and love will win."  —Joel Player (Joel and his partner Alan were the first same-sex couple to marry in Australia during the 5 days)

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