Daily Paper: Cardboard Designs

Pop into your local modern museum shop and you are sure to find a Cardboard Design Liquid Cardboard Vase. Now, once you eye it, go pick it up and play with it. I guarantee you will buy one on the spot and never use this thing for what it was intended (the holding of flowers or some such things). This, my friends, is the slinky for today's design nut. It's going on my Christmas wish list...

Liquid No.2

Facebook 100 exclusive sale!

We have hit 100 Uncommon Envelope Facebook fans! As promised, we will be holding an exclusive 3-day sale for our fans only. Starting today, June 29, through Wednesday, July 1, you can grab our Hello. Collection cards (singles or sets!) for a whopping 50% OFF!

Hello. Collection four card set

Just visit our Etsy shop, drop what you want into your cart and check out and pay via Paypal. The 50% discount will be refunded to you via Paypal, so don't be alarmed when you are asked to pay for the full amount at first. You will be refunded after your order has been placed.

Blank inside, these make great cards to keep handy for any occasion, or grab a set and keep it on-hand as a last minute birthday or hostess gift. We can also put together custom sets if you are looking for multiples of one design or sets larger than 4. Just email me or convo me via Etsy.

If you are not yet a Uncommon Envelope Facebook fan and you would like to take advantage of the sale, we will also honor the discount for anyone who fans us in the next 3 days... we will be holding similar special events for future milestones as well. Don't miss out!

Clockwise, from top Left: Hello Lover, Hello Stranger, Hello Friend, Hello Freak

Happy shopping, and THANK YOU to all our fans for your super support!

Daily Paper: Andrea Dezsö

Andrea Dezsö is a true artistic genius of our time. If you are not already following her career, you should be. Dezsö works in many different mediums, but as this is a paper-based feature, let's focus on her cut paper and shadow book, The Day We Changed Our Lives Forever. Using the tunnel book form, hand cut and sewn and includng interactive LEDs (!), Dezsö creates an alternate universe that is truly a story created by you as you interact with the pieces in person. Just inspiring.
I am sure we'll be seeing a lot more of Andrea Dezsö on this blog in the future. Her work alone can keep me busy writing for months...

PS. Thank you, Janet, for introducing the work of this great artist to me!

Kiva Loan - Juan

So Juan, aka "La Gorda Bella," dreams of growing some primo coffee. Unfortunately, he also has to work a day job to pay the bills until his operation gets big enough. We kind of know what that's like here at UE. The UE business brain spends his evenings in an aircraft manufacturing plant repairing industrial electronic equipment. It's not the cleanest job and it's not very fun, but it comes with health insurance and a 401k among other things. Also, it is way better than driving a taxi.
Good Luck, Big Beauty!





Here are the details from Kiva:


Name: Juan
Location: Chanchamayo, Peru
Primary Activity: Taxi
Loan Amount: $1,000
Repayment Term: 12 months
Loan Use: Pay to process his driver's license and buy fertilizers

"Juan just turned 35. He has lived with the beloved mother of his two children for 15 years. They are the motivation for his efforts. They currently live in their own house.
Since he was little he helped his parents in the agricultural work. From then on he was learning farming techniques. When he formed his own family he started planting citrus and coffee. He does this with his wife’s valuable help.
Also, six months ago he started driving a taxi from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. They pay him 20 PEN a day. On the week ends he works until 11 at night plowing in order to get greater income to support his family.
During the coffee harvesting months he leaves aside his work as a driver and works on gathering his harvest to avoid loosing the coffee beans, which are so valuable for his family.
Juan feels very pleased with his farming, and while he is driving in his car he thinks about his crops. One time he was robbed because he was not there. Because of that his wife tries to go to the fields constantly to take care that they bear fruit. When the crop is sold, he gets very good earnings. His goal is to increase his coffee crop.
This is his fifth consecutive loan working with MFP. He makes all of his payments on time. Juan has an amusing nickname, which is always the cause for laughter with his colleagues in his community bank. They call him the “the big beauty”.
The money he is asking for is to process his driver’s license in the local town hall. With the rest of the money he will buy chemical fertilizers to fertilize his coffee fields." Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer

Please join our Kiva Lending Team

Etsy Treasury!

Our very special "Eat, Drink, & Be Merry" coasters have been included in an Etsy treasury, which is an awesome traffic magnet for our shop! Thanks so much to Jenny, otherwise know on Etsy as CowlickCutie, for thinking of us. Go check out Jenny's Treasury, It's 5 o'clock somewhere and see our coasters in all their glory!
By the way, Jenny makes great hair accessories for kids. They actually stay put (just ask for the no-slip grips)! Naomi owns these.

Daily Paper: Lisa Perrin

I never gave much thought to paper dolls before, until I came across the work of Lisa Perrin in her Etsy shop, LeLapinTriste. Lisa specializes in such macabre subjects as Marie Antoinette (complete with detachable head), Lizzie Borden (ax in hand) and Sweeny Todd/Mrs. Lovett (a la blood stained cloths), among others... Fantastic illustrations, Lisa! I am feeling the need to start a collection.

Also, just so you know, if you have always wanted to be a paper doll yourself, just ask. Lisa can create custom orders!

Above: The Raven Doll Play Set

Unsolicited Blog Feature!

Related to our feature on Card Observer, Paper Shop ink just posted their discovery of the awesome CO site and called out some favorite cards that have made the feature... guess who was on that list...

Thank you 9SpotMonk!

Daily Paper: Notta Pixie Press

Seattle book artist, letterpress guru, librarian and, I am proud to say, FRIEND Jenny Craig is the brain, and usually braid (if you know Jenny, you'll know what this means!), behind Notta Pixie Press. Jenny is continually inspiring me with her lovely books and overwhelming kindness. Visit her on Etsy and you'll see why.

One of my favorite pieces by Jenny is her double accordion book called "Tail" - tail referring to her hair, one strand of which is sewn through the book. Simple, beautiful, worthwhile art.
Notta Pixie? I beg to differ...

Daily Paper: Celina29

I wish I knew more about Celina29 but her Etsy shop is pretty new and her profile is lacking more detailed information. Celina, if you read this, tell us more about yourself in the comments! We want to see more work because if you lamps are any indication of the aesthetic you bring to the rest of your work, you can count on us to be your biggest fans!
Also, can I be so bold as to make a suggestion? Create a "Make Your Own Origami Lamp" kit, complete with the papers, CFL light kit, and instructions and sell it in your shop. I would totally be down for spending an afternoon crafting a few of these to hang in a cluster!

Daily Paper: Javier Mariscal

Is it a toy? A 3-D coloring book? Furniture? A sculpture? A little of all of the above? Who really cares about defining it. What really matters is that it is PAPER. That's right. This awesome play house that is almost too cool to let your kids play in (No matter how tempting it is, DON'T COLOR ON THE WALLS!), is constructed of cardboard. Simply awesome.

Hey Javier, does the Villa Julia come in my size??

Daily Paper: El Jefe Design

I should actually be asking Jim to write this post since he is the one that is so intrigued by El Jefe Design. I am, too, don't get me wrong, but Jim was moved to buy not one but TWO silkscreen posters yesterday from El Jefe's Etsy shop. This is kind of out of character for the normally cash-conservative man I married. So when he splurged (And, really, at $20 each why not) I knew that El Jefe was worth a post! This is what he bought:

The LUCHA LIBRAry will be hung in Naomi's room so she can learn her alphabet properly. The Twin Peaks inspired A Damn Good Cup of Joe... And Hot! will, of course, hang in the kitchen.

UPDATE: These posters are WAY cooler in person - the color is awesome and the prints are near perfect. AND Jeff shipped FedEx... we feel so taken care of.

Daily Paper: Essimar

Print. Collage. Cut. How can you pass up that combo?! Check out Essimar's Etsy shop and pick up a gently handmade, delicate piece of art or greeting card at an affordable price. Heck, buy two!

Above: Lady

Daily Paper: Vantiani

Coming to us all the way from Jakarta, Indonesia are collages by Vantiani! I came across Vantiani on Etsy, of course. Her balloon series collages focus on using trash and scraps as the main material, which is a big reason why I love collage - such a great way to repurpose scraps and pretty packaging! Vantiani is a pro at this, and the original collages are afforable enough for everyone to own them.

Left to right: Peta Part Two and Oh She Just Loves Big Words

Daily Paper: Pattern Tales

Not afraid of busy wallpaper? Want something that is uncommonly beautiful and limited edition? Check out Pattern Tales. The Topo pattern (colorway AZUL shown below) was designed by Spanish artist Ana Montiel. This wallpaper is eco-friendly, too, printed on non-woven paper directly from sustainable sources in Finland. Can it get any more perfect?

Daily Paper: DIY!

Ever since my nesting phase when I was pregnant, I have been obsessed with decor ideas for kids rooms. Normally I would not use this blog as an outlet for this obsession, but JUST LOOK AT THESE HORSES! Forget the kids room, I want to create a stampede for MY room! They are made of cardboard, so YES, they count for the Daily Paper!

This DIY project has been brought to us by Design*Sponge & Ann Wood. Go here for details and directions.

Daily Paper: Casey Curran

Yes, I am posting video here. Paper-based art that requires video? Yes. Which is why I am featuring this artist. Casey Curran is a Seattle-based artist and recent Cornish College of the Arts BFA grad. I happened upon Casey's work at a recent First Thursday. It was total chance, and I don't even remember the name of the gallery I was in, but I remember scheming to figure out how I could possibly purchase one of Casey's pieces (still scheming, still dreaming). Then last Thursday I took a trip to the Bellevue Art Museum to catch my last shot at viewing "The Book Borrowers" - a book arts show - and there was Casey again. So much buzz surrounding such a young artist. Casey is living the dream...

Kiva Loan - Jeremy

Kiva has just expanded to provide microloans in the United States now. We're excited to make our first loan to a borrower in the US! Our first loan is to Jeremy, an entrepreneur looking to expand his BBQ business. Mmmmmm, BBQ! They specialize in a delicious looking tri-tip and anybody that grew up near Santa Maria, CA has to love that. Good luck Jeremy and Emergency BBQ!






Here are the details from Kiva:
Name: Jeremy
Location: San Carlos, CA, United States
Primary Activity: Catering
Loan Amount: $10,000
Repayment Term: 38 months
Loan Use: Furnishings and cooking equipment for retail store

"Jeremy is a former ambulance driver and a high-energy entrepreneur. He runs Emergency BBQ, a mobile catering company that serves up barbecue favorites in a style Jeremy calls California Beer B-Que. Jeremy is ready to take his business to the next level.
With this loan, Jeremy will expand his business beyond on-the-go catering trucks and open up a retail store in San Carlos. He will be able to cater a greater number of lunch and dinner events from his shop, as well as serve lunch to local workers in San Mateo. He will also be able to create full-time employment for his three seasonal employees.
Visit http://www.emergencybbq.com
Watch a video of Jeremy at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6g4dz3r_yo&feature=channel_page"

Please join our Kiva Lending Team

Daily Paper: Faceout Books

Faceout Books is a blog we all ought to be following. Similar to the aforementioned Card Observer, but for books. How perfect! Jason Gabbert and Charles Brock, both of The Designworks Group (of course, book specialists!), take time out of their busy schedule to feature the art of the book jacket.

I sincerely believe it is the book jacket that can save the publishing industry. Design the jacket, and they will buy...

A couple they recently featured that, I agree, are spectacular:

The Perforated Heart, Peter Carey Backlist

Daily Paper: Seattle Center for Book Arts

I admit this is a plug, but I only plug the things I love. At the top of the list is Seattle Center for Book Arts! I have been a board member with SCBA for a year and a half now. This year we started a new Special Edition Print program. It is a fundraising effort that we hope will not only give print collectors a way to support us and get something in return, but also a way for us to support local book artists and market their names a little.

The 2009 SE print was created by Carl Montford of Montford Press in Seattle. Carl is a favorite in the local book arts scene. A nicer man you have never met! And an amazing artist to boot.... all of his work is ironpress printed from hand-engraved wood blocks. The detail is just stunning.

SO, here is your chance to own an original Carl Monford print and support a non-profit that is making a big impact within the community. Buy yours here, and if you do attach a comment to this post. Once I confirm your purchase through SCBA, I'll send you a little thank you gift from Uncommon Envelope, too!

Special Edition Print No.1, 2009 Edition, "Unbound"

Daily Paper: Shira Shechter

Collage is one of those mediums that makes art accessible to anyone. Grab a stack of newspapers and magazines, cut, reassemble. Mix your media, do it by hand or by computer. Collage just gives you permission to play and have fun in a freestyle fashion without worrying about making a perfect composition. I really believe this can be the gateway to art for those who feel they don't have talent!

On the other hand, there are some collage artists out there that just seem to have a knack for mixing the unexpected and creating perfection. Shira Shechter one of these artists. Identity guru by day, mixed media artist by night, Shira breathes life into the Tel Aviv art scene.

Afternoon Cafe

Daily Paper: a. favorite design

I once received a letterpress postcard from a friend in Vermont. The front of the postcard had about a dozen little typewriter images acommpanied by the words, "If typewriters were men, I'd be a whore." That was my introduction to a. favorite design. You gotta love it.

Their etsy shop is full of awesome. My current fave:

Letterpress Ligature Connection

Mmmm.... ligatures.... you get it, right? Please tell me you get why I love this shop.

Daily Paper: Crafterall

I am a shameless fan of paper cuts. On top of that, I have an unnatural affinity for great color usage. So my featuring of Crafterall should really be of no surprise. Marnie creates amazing Topo-inspires papercuts in such inspiring colorways. Intricate and quiet all at once! Love, love, love.....

Visit the Crafterall Etsy shop to peruse Marnie's work. Or, if you have a custom order in mind of your favorite location, just ask!

Wall Topo in Aqua No.13

Daily Paper: Uncommon Envelope

That's right - doing a little self-promotion here! Consider our Rad Dad Father's Day card this year to let your old man know how much you appreciate him. This card is a flat card, letterpressed to perfection and backed with a steely metallic blue paper hits a slick aesthetic balance.

We only have THREE left in stock! Order yours today at our Etsy shop.

Daily Paper: Steppie

I'm feeling Giddy today. And when I feel giddy, I like to look at work by Steppie! Without missing a beat, Steppie is consistently churning out simple yet amusing hand-stamped designs. May I suggest a journal or art print to brighten your day?

See all of Steppie wares in the Etsy shop, and follow the Steppie blog, too!

Daily Paper: Beautiful Angle

Beautiful Angle is in love with Tacoma, and so am I. Lucky enough to live in this town, I get giddy every time the boys have hit the streets on a wheat paste run and plastered T-town in new, always poignant art. The first time you spot a new Beautiful Angle poster is always unforgettable.

The final posters that come of the press are always a collaborative process, most feature the words of Tom Llewellyn and the artwork of Lance Kagey. There are so many favorites in the collection it is hard to choose which to highlight here. Start your own collection and buy your prints right off their website.

(Clockwise from top left: Golden Ticket, Hole, Steamroller, MLK Way)