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Beyond Paper: The 59th National Stationery Show News flash for anyone who thinks stationery means paper goods - it does, but at least under the roof of the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on May 15-18 when the 59th National Stationery Show was held - stationery not only encompasses cards, writing and wrapping paper, but includes pocketbooks, T-shirts, bath products, jewelry and books, too. Yes, if a product could be sold in a gift shop, it was on exhibit at the show. The prevailing style for the paper goods, was modern. Like the turn toward contemporary design in furniture and apparel, the look in stationery reaches back to a time when the criteria for good design meant simplicity. Illustrators in the fifties, sixties and seventies, who rendered cards, and textile artists who designed wrapping paper, chose colors carefully and kept line work down to a minimum. In nearly every paper collection I visited, there was some variation of pale olive, cocoa, beige-toned pink and cream, a colorway with a strong sense of nostalgia. Acid free, natural paper stocks with raw edges, often with a rough, highly textured surface trumped glossy paper. When they were employed, frou-frou like glitter, lace, buttons and ribbons, were used sparingly. Some designers were inspired to transform torn paper into elegant collages. While some of the items were commercially printed, other vendors explored hand pressing and stamping, often using old engravings for their imagery. A few artists moved antique presses into their booths for demonstrations. Natural organic shapes - flowers, animals, fruit, insects - were seen as a flat silhouette, opposed to the realistic floral watercolors that were so popular some years ago. Composition is more important than ever. Instead of a flower plopped front and center on the surface of a card, a gently waving blossom may peek from the corner, allowing the space around the motif to create an impact. Below are a few stationery designers (by stationery I mean paper goods) and vendors with fun products for kids that possess a unique style that seems fresh right now.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS BLOCK PARTY CARDS DESIGNER: Camille Esposito Wholesale Price: $10 for set of eight cards
Camille Esposito hand-blocks each card with naïve imagery such as safety pins, cupcakes and a clothesline festooned with clean laundry. Tel: 323-893-7361 email: blockpartycards@yahoo.com
PAPER + CUP DESIGNERS: Minhee Park and Truman Cho Wholesale Price: $2 per card
If Donna Summer sent out a baby announcement, it would be Paper + Cup's "Drip." The graphics have a "Love to love ya baby" vibe. Tel: 718-237-0206 email: info@papercupdesign.com
PERLA ANNE DESIGNER: Stacey Bradley Wholesale Price: $2.50 per card
Bradley hand-blocks vintage inspired patterns onto richly colored paper then cuts the pieces into collages of storks, baby carriages and other child-friendly motifs. Tel: 843-367-6222 email: stacey@perlaanne.com
RED CAP CARDS DESIGNER: Carrie Gifford Wholesale Price: $3.45 single, $41.40 dozen
The birth announcements in Gifford's "Handmade" series resemble the careful pen and ink illustrations that were de rigueur in the sixties. They're just as fabulous today. Tel: 323-512-2646 email: carrie@redcapcards.com
R. NICHOLS DESIGNER: R. Nichols Wholesale Price: $8.50 for box of 10*
* both cards available in pink and blue. Blank card also available in sage. You may recognize Nichols' elegant collages from the best seller "French Women Don't Get Fat." His birth announcements possess the same élan. Merci. Tel: 407-628-4899; 800-274-1811 email: r.nichols@mindspring.com
SPOTBEAR PRODUCTIONS DESIGNER: Lynne Willis Wholesale Price: $1.75 per card or $10.50 for a box of six
The Art Deco movement inspires Willis' playful yet sophisticated cards with their curved organic shapes. Some designs are sprinkled with rhinestones. Tel: 415-885-4556 email: info@spotbear.com
BIRTHDAY MIYA & ME DESIGNER: Sally Matsuishi Wholesale Price: 12 cards for $13.50
The smiling pig with a sweet tooth asking, "Did someone say cake?" will have kids of all ages grinning. Tel: 415-460-1658 email: sally@miyaandme.com
SMUDGE INK DESIGNERS: Kate Saliba and Deb Lavoie Wholesale Prices: $1.85 each; 8 cards for $7
They're big. They're bold. They're Smudge Ink's birthday cards. The graphics are too assertive to ignore. Tel: 617-242-8228 email: info@smudgeink.com
NOTES CAT SETO DESIGNER: Catherine "Cat" Seto Wholesale Prices: 10 cards for $8.00
Cat Seto's boxed sets of cards, with themes such as "Can Monkeys have poodles as pets?" are as adorably illustrated, as they are clever. Each card has a different answer to the question - "Only if they kiss their moms goodnight and go to sleep" - is one of them. Tel: 415-753-2909 email: jason@catseto.com
KSA CREATIONS DESIGNER: Karen Sorli Alexander Wholesale Price: $2.25 each
While simple graphics with a retro feel prevailed at the show, Alexander's multi-patterned, lushly colored illustrations of cats stood out for their originality. Tel: 978-399-4275 email: karen@ksacreations.com
PINWHEEL PRESS DESIGNER: Bethany Plath Wholesale Price: Contact manufacturer
Kids will love Plath's bold color choices and energetic insects. Parents will respond with nostalgia to the seventies' style images. Tel: 646-335-5643 email: info@pinwheelpressdesigns.com
ROCK SCISSOR PAPER DESIGNERS: Heidi and Susie Bauer Wholesale Price: $25.50 per dozen
The Bauer sisters are fabulous colorists as well as graphic artists. To see a wall of their "Crafty Collection" is to swoon over the animal motifs and their palate of cocoa, peach, olive and rose. "Crafty" animals are available as notebook covers, too. Tel: 818-361-1142 email: orders@rockscissorpaper.com
SATURATE DESIGNER: Kate Lydon Wholesale Prices: $3-$3.50 depending on card stocks
Saturate is the perfect name for this silk-screened collection of cards, journals and notebooks. The images are layered over one another and so richly colored they vibrate. Tel: 510-644-2857 email: info@saturatedesign.com
NOTEBOOKS, ADDRESS BOOKS AND ALBUMS AIMEEJ DESIGNER: Aimee Jacobson Wholesale Prices: Brag books $9, keepsake box $18
Aimeej photo albums, scrap books and keepsake boxes are for parents who want to document the special moments in their children's lives, but wouldn't dream of using an ordinary product for the purpose. The new Brag Book holds 36 photos, is covered in hand-dyed paper and edged in coordinating suede. The keepsake box is silk. Tel: 913-897-0449 email: aimee@aimeej.com
BINTH DESIGNERS: Linnea Gits and Suzanna Bierwirth Wholesale Price: $55 per book
Binth designs are like poetry, their imagery tells an evocative story, but instead of employing words, the designs rely on a few carefully chosen colors and motifs. The cover of the Baby Binth album features the silhouette of a rabbit; its pages carry on the elegant hare motif. Tel: 312-243-7326 email: order@binth.com
MIQUELRIUS DESIGNER: Jordi Labanda Wholesale Price: $4 per book
Jordi Labanda's address book, illustrated with trendy young fashionistas, is a "must-have" gift for tween and teenagers. Tel: 610-954-8893 email: dshields@miquelriususa.com
BATH PRODUCTS MICHEL DESIGN WORKS (formerly Michel Publishing) Wholesale Prices: $8-$17
Even if the Baby Bear collection didn't smell like fresh talcum powder, and wasn't blended from natural ingredients like pure goat's milk, honey and shea butter, the vintage style packaging would sell the collection instantly. It's gorgeous. Tel: 800-708-6950 email: customerservice@michelpublishing.com
KRIS & CO. Wholesale Prices: $4-$10
Western themes are hot this season, so Blue Q's Boss Lady collection with its cowgirl printed packaging, should prove irresistible. The soap, body wash and cream are scented with honeysuckle. Lovely. Tel: 888-858-5887 / 978-670-8101 email: info@krisandcompany.com
T-SHIRTS AND SOCKS KINDERWARE DESIGNER: Kinderware design team
Anyone with an infant learning to walk wants to protect them from unnecessary falls due to slippery floors. Kinderware's new boxed set of seven brightly colored pairs of socks have gripper graphics with endearments such as "Baby Love, Cutie Pie" printed in non-slip rubber on the socks' sole. Tel: 212-777-5332 email: Jenkra@aol.com
URBAN SMALLS DESIGNER: Katie Klith Sizes: NB-12 months; Wholesale Price: $11
The folks at Urban Smalls help kids "get their groove on" with T-shirts sporting sayings such as "Bald is Beautiful." Tel: 877-519-5498 email: info@urbansmalls.com
ROOM DÉCOR TREE BY KERRI LEE DESIGNER: Kerri Lee Wholesale Price: $20
This charming, wood framed Alphabet Wall Art is patterned on vintage alphabet samplers. It can be personalized with a child's name. Tel: 845-887-6165 email: info@treebykerrilee.com
SPECIALTY ITEMS FLOATING PALACE ENTERPRISES DESIGNER: Megan Kelso Wholesale Prices: $8.40 per piece; $100 for a case of 12
Are you creative but don't have time to gather the materials needed to make exciting personal cards? Kristen Chick, Floating Palace Enterprises' owner, has done the work for you. Her "Just Add Love" kits contain 12 blank cards and envelopes, glue sticks and 70 vellum squares with images taken from vintage engravings. Tel: 206-285-0998 email: queenbee@floating-palace.com
MJZOOM DESIGNERS: mjZoom designers Wholesale Price: $2.25 each, $27.00 per dozen
Want to send photos to friends but a white business envelope just won't cut it? fotos 2 go is a portable album available in great prints that hold 24 photos. On the back is a place to write an address. Just stamp it and throw the album in the mail. Tel: 877-465-9666 email: jim@mjzoom.com
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