OsloPress

Just a little peek at a custom job we created for a couple during the fall of last year.  The bride came to us already knowing she wanted to use a particular typeface – Shelley Allegro.  She was also interested in a monogram but thought she would possibly like to incorporate some other details.  Well, several ideas were tossed around, but at the end of the day, they decided to keep it sweet and simple:

In the top photo you can see a portion of the reply card, followed by the envelope flaps in the second photo.  Not in need of a return address, they chose to use only their initials and wedding date on the outer envelope.  Each paper item in the set was letterpress printed in chocolate ink on ecru cotton paper, creating a rich warm feel.

I just wanted to share this recent acquisition with our readers.  This is 5500lbs of printing press, sitting on the trailer of my ever helpful uncle Bill.  Soon after this was taken we embarked on our return trip to the Oslo Press studio in Raleigh, NC.

We have choice words for whomever is responsible for the maintenance on I-95 in South Carolina, but the press did arrive safely.  Now for the even more daunting task of unloading it…

For quite some time now we have been planning to update the website with new designs.  However, we are very much behind schedule and here it is…  the middle of October already!  We really didn’t take into account that the summer would be jam-packed with working on clients’ jobs – leaving little time for anything else.  Fortunately though, just as the temperature outside is finally cooling down a bit, I think we can work in the time to update the website.  I won’t give any specific dates as we wouldn’t want to get any hopes up.  But soon… I promise!  Until then, I think another sneak peek is way overdue:

Here you can see a little envelope detail in action – teal ink on pearl white cotton paper with a combination of Lily Wang and Arabic typefaces.  Enjoy!

If you were to look out of our studio window right now and spot all of the green leaves on the trees, you would never guess it is officially fall.  It has been a hot and sticky summer here, but it seems to finally be cooling down a bit.  Let’s hope those pretty fall colors will be on their way soon.

Until then, this photo above will just have to hold me over.  At the request of a recent couple I was working with, I created this motif based on aspen trees for their invitations.  Also incorporated throughout the set, were the pair of aspen leaves that can be seen in the background.  Perfect for fall, they chose to combine copper ink and ecru cotton paper.  Not seen in this photo are the actual invitations, which were made out of walnut. In addition to the invitations, we also created some table cards and place cards – all out of walnut as well.

Nicole and Taylor were recently married in Aspen, Colorado – so congratulations to the happy couple!

As mentioned in the last post, I will try and upload several sneak peek images of the new designs that are on their way. Above you see a sample utilizing a combination of spring green and chocolate inks, maple wood, and crisp white cotton paper. The selected typefaces are Bolivar and Trajan – a combination I find elegant with  just a touch of attitude.

I would like to mention that this motif was created at the request of a bride. We felt it would be a perfect addition to our catalog, so we are keeping it around.

Enjoy!

As mentioned in previous posts, we have some new designs on the way. For the most part, all the details are finalized. Now begins the next step: producing samples and getting the photos ready for the website. Yes, we know we could just plop some renderings up and call it a day, but well, we just don’t find this acceptable. We must have photos! And apparently, we like making more work for ourselves.

So now begins the brain storming process… we get to select colors and wood species for each design that we feel will make them look that much better. This is exciting to me, as I have spent quite a bit of time staring at, for the most part, black and white illustrations on my monitor. Truth be told, I always visualize color combinations as I work on something, but this is no comparison to seeing the finished product.

Selecting the ink colors always involves flipping through the handy Pantone formula guide. I love it when the color I have been visualizing is there in front of me. Other times, sadly, it is nowhere to be found. In any case, decisions have to be made and the show must go on. We’ll keep you updated and hopefully update the blog with a sneak peek or two in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of colors, I do want to remind everyone that custom blended ink colors are always an option. If you don’t see the right color listed on our process page, please let us know what you are looking for! Whether you send us a fabric sample to work with, or you send me to the grocery store in search of strawberry Mentos pink (yum), we will always do our best to accommodate your wishes.

Now, if only we can hurry this process up a bit…