illustration+letterpress

A Pink and Green Christmas {illustration}

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a holiday cover I illustrated for December Nights - a festival at Balboa Park in San Diego that happens every year. I've only been once, but it its spectacular. It was fun trying out a folk art style for this one. I played with the colors way too much, but I like the pink and green we ended up with.

I tried to work the pink and green theme into this Kermit and the Grinch cover, but we decided on the red and lime-green one because the green is more natural to the characters. I still think the pink one has more edge. The lipstick kiss was provided by one our our editors - thanks MP!

Super Owen {photo illustration}

2011-11-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

I just have to share these photos because I am blown away by how amazing they turned out. This all started with an innocent enough conversation over coffee and the results are spectacular. Please visit my friend Nathan's blog of Padilla Bowen Photography to read and see the whole process of how these images came about. It is so nice to have such talented friends!

Flower Prints {letterpress}

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

We printed our Summer Garden Show prints this past weekend. We did an edition on recycled paper but decided to print them on the softer cotton and we are so happy with the results. Picking the colors to use is always the hardest part for me - so many options. I guess that's why we printed two versions. I like them both, but the orange one will go perfectly in our kitchen - plus, I like the way the orange and green inks mix to make a brown that matches our RIBBA frame from IKEA. These prints will be for sale in our shop just in time for the holidays! Have a great weekend!

Reconstruction and Construction Paper {illustration}

2011-10-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

This illustration was one of those magical ones that happen when minds and ideas come together perfectly. Breast cancer is a hard subject to illustrate tastefully but I thought we did a great job here. Glo, the designer, sparked the idea and after some torrential brainstorming by designer, art director and illustrator - this is the finished product. The execution - the drawing and actual paper cutting - took the least amount of time. It almost took just as long to come up with a headline that worked without being too clever or punny. Thankfully, our headline writer played it safe. When you have a great idea, the rest falls into place. Do you think so too? Would you have done anything differently?

Type Drawer Shelf {letterpress}

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

My husband and I went to the L.A. Printers Fair at the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA a few weeks ago. It was so much fun looking at all letterpress printed goodies, meeting other printers, and drooling over the old platen presses and paper cutters. There was wood type and metal type galore, and anything else letterpress you can think of. We picked up a type drawer for $5 thinking we could use if for something - not type, since we mostly use photo-polymer plates for our printing. I power-washed the drawer with our hose and let it dry in the sun completely. Then I sprayed it with multiple coats of clear semi-gloss spray paint, added some picture hangers to the back and hung it toddler-high for hours of entertainment for our little guy. I can't help but smile every time I pass it. I also can't help trying to find more goodies to stuff into the little spaces. Too much cuteness all around! -Happy weekend!

Good plants for good bugs {illustration}

2011-09-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

I did this illustraton for a story on the plants that attract beneficial insects to your garden. It is in today's Union-Tribune on the cover of the Home & Garden section. The flower on the left is a Cornflower or Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus) and the flower at the bottom is a Borage (Borago officinalis). Gorgeous little blooms for our little creatures. Happy weekend!

Football Wedding {letterpress}

2011-09-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Football season is here again and I thought it would be a great time to show off our Football Wedding Invitation. It is done just like our Baseball one - folded with a die-cut shape on the front flap so all you see is a football at first. When you open the card, it is pure elegance - no smelly sports to be found! I wish my fantasy football team performed as elegantly this week. Oh, well, that's what I get for sleeping through the draft this year.

If you love this invitation, check back at our etsy shop soon - we will be adding more wedding packages to our shop shortly.

Go Chargers!

Groundswell {illustration}

2011-07-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

This illustration ran a while ago but I wanted to share it here anyway. It is an illustration for the play, Groundswell, which is set in South Africa. Read the review of the play here.

Gator by the Bay {illustration}

2011-05-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

This fun illustration was done for the Night & Day section cover on Gator by the Bay - a Zydeco, Blues and crawfish festival going on this weekend in San Diego. I saw a lot of accordions in the photos of the past years festivals. What happens when you cross an alligator with an accordion? Well, I think I answered that question. Have a great weekend!

Flowers for Mother's Day {illustration}

2011-05-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

So, this illustration wasn't actually done for Mother's Day - it ran last month on April 2nd. But I thought it was perfectly pretty to put up here in honor of Mother's Day. The featured plant is a Phlomis or Jerusalem Sage. I've never seen one in person, but the pictures I worked from were just beautiful. Nan Sterman writes the Water Wise features for the Home and Garden section of the Union-Tribune. She often supplies me with her own stunning photos to use as reference - thanks, Nan! See her blog Plant Soup for some great info on changing your gardens to be more "water-wise."

My husband and I have been doing just that. It's been a slow process, but we have added a dessert garden to our front yard and are adding a huge bed of succulents to the back yard as well. Ninety-five percent of our potted plants are succulents now too. I love how easy they are to keep alive and propagate into new plants as well.

And that brings me back around to Mother's Day. Children aren't as easy to raise as succulents, but the joy they bring is something I never could quite imagine until I experienced it myself. If I brought my own mother half of what I feel for my own son, I know she was the happiest mother on earth. I certainly know I was the happiest daughter while I had her around. Happy Mother's Day.

Happy Earth Day! {illustration}

2011-04-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the day people around the world think about how to take care of our beautiful home, the earth. I recently saw a segment on TV about a family who has practically zero waste. (Read about them at Sunset Mag.) While I admire how they live, I'm not sure I can take living green that far.
Here is what I know I can do for now:
• bring my own bags to the store
• limit buying bottled drinks - use re-usable bottles for my water
• use microfiber cloths to dry hands and wipe down counters - minimizing paper towels
• recycle as much as possible (duh)
• limit plastic baggies by using re-usable snack bags

Speaking of snack bags - my friend Alyssa from Semilla Snack Bags is having a sale for Earth Day. Check out her site and see the adorable patterns she has available for her bags. Next year, I'll add to the list - we are looking in to powering our press with solar! Now, go out and live every day as if it were Earth Day!

{I did the illustration above for The Union-Tribune on Earth Day in Balboa Park}

Big Wave Wedding {letterpress}

2011-04-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

We designed and printed these Big Wave wedding invitations for a wonderful couple recently. Angie and Costas were absolute dream clients - easy to please, quick with their decisions and prompt with their wording, proofing and payments. Did I mention how nice they were? We printed the main invitation on the double thick 100% reclaimed cotton Crane's Lettra in Fluorescence White. The deep impression we got with this design was awesome. I think this is the design we would use if we could do our wedding invitations over again. We wish Angie and Costas the best on their upcoming wedding. Mahalo for being the best clients ever!

Just for Kicks {illustration}

2011-04-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here is an illustration I did for Cabaret, the musical, that is playing now in San Diego. Believe it or not, I have never seen Cabaret or really knew what the story was about until I did my research. I can't believe I didn't know it was about the rise of the Nazi party and was set in a cabaret in Berlin. My first sketch was rejected - it was a swastika made up of sexy legs. My art director and I settled on this version because it was less controversial but still hinted at the Nazi theme with the legs in a "saluting" position. The hot pink color was a happy accident that ended up feeling just right. I thought this illo would be perfect for kicking off the weekend! Have a good one!

Only one month until Mother's Day!

2011-04-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

We printed a new Mother's Day card a few weeks ago. I was working on a wedding invitation with this daisy and got inspired. I really love how the green and yellow turned out. The little accent on the back is actually an extension of the daisy on the front. This design lets us print two cards per full sheet of paper and not waste any paper when we cut them in half. I love being able to get a bleed without waste! (A bleed is when a design runs off the page.) Don't forget your mom this year! Or in my case, I shouldn't forget my "mom-friends" and sisters. Thirty days and counting!

Put a bird on it! {letterpress}

2011-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some new bird cards we printed recently. They are both in the more petite A1 or 4-Bar size (3.5 x 5 inches.) They are printed on thick 100% reclaimed cotton paper. We got a great impression on these cards - nice and deep. I just love how the highlight on the balloon turned out! For the "put a bird on it" reference, see this hilarious video of Portlandia.

Andrew Bannecker {inspiration}

2011-03-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

I came across Andrew Bannicker recently when he was featured in 3x3 magazine for his Coke ads. I thought those ads were just gorgeous so I wanted to see what else he could do. I wasn't disappointed! He is amazing. I love his quirky, folk art style and his textures are right up my alley. His color palettes are surprising and fresh. Check out his site for yourself - it will brighten your day, I promise.

Mom's Recipes {illustration}

2011-03-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

This illustration was for a story about recipes passed down from our mothers or family members. The story was by Doug Williams for the Union-Tribune. I think what made the illustration, for me, was being able to use the actual scan of Doug's mom's recipe. I especially love the spatter near the bottom of the steam - you just know the recipe was used over and over. The one recipe I miss of my mother's was her lasagna. Ricotta cheese was hard to get in Panama so she just made do with cottage cheese. I never knew the difference and my mouth still waters thinking of it!

Butterfly Stationery {letterpress}

2011-03-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

We printed these note cards for our good friend, Teresanne, from Teresanne Creative Studio. Her logo is a beautiful, graphic butterfly that we printed in blue on 100% reclaimed cotton paper. We paired them with faded blue envelopes. I just hope she is not too stingy with them. Set them free!

Pretty Pincushions {illustration}

2011-03-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

I loved illustrating these plants! They have been my obsession ever since I noticed one in a neighbor's front yard last year. I knew I had to have one! I didn't realized how many varieties there were until I got Nan Sterman's story, but now I am in love with them all! My husband gave me the Scarlet Ribbon variety (the one near the top of the illustration) for my birthday. Just what I wanted!

Karolin Schnoor {inspiration}

2011-03-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing London-based illustrator Karolin Schnoor's work on some of the blogs I read lately and I thought I would show a collection of some of my favorites. As a lover of mugs, I found these on her website - she made them for Christmas gifts. What a great idea! I love the folk art look to her work. I can just imagine her sketchbook and all the doodling she must do. Her shop has a collection of cards with animals that can be cut out and turned into movable art. Brilliant.
Happy Weekend!

Child's Play {letterpress}

2011-03-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

This poster, letterpress printed by Studio on Fire out of Minneapolis, is absolutely precious. It was a collaboration between a father and son. It was hand drawn by the son who is six years old! It was then rearranged on the computer and letterpress printed to be the work of art you see above. I never tire of checking on this letterpress studio's blog called Beast Pieces. Studio on Fire is hot!

Turandot {illustration}

2011-03-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

This illustration for Turandot was such a pleasure to do - not to mention educational. I have always loved the song "Nessun Dorma," but I never knew it was from this opera. When I got the assignment, I did some research and about fell out of my chair. I knew I had to see Turandot! Luckily for me, my friend, Michael, wanted to go as well. We saw it at the San Diego Civic Theatre - it was such an amazing experience!

The sets were designed by David Hockney and, wow, they were spectacular. The play between orange and blue as well as rich red and light green took my breath away. Oh, yes, and the singing did too! The pictures above of the set designs are from David Hockney's site. By the way, the costumes were designed by illustrator and children's book author, Ian Falconer. He is most know for his books about the adventures of a pig named OLIVIA. So much talent, I could scream - or squeel!

Melaleuca Magic {illustration}

2011-03-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is one of my illustrations that ran with a story on bottle brush plants or Melaleucas. The bee was an after thought that made the illustration so much better. See the story by Nan Sterman here.

Nena Baby Shower Print {letterpress}

2011-03-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

We printed these baby shower invitation/prints for our friend, Gloria. She created a piece of art that we could print as her invitations, but could also be framed as a print and fit perfectly in an IKEA RIBBA square frame. I love the retro illustration of the girl she came up with! I designed the rest of the invitation far enough down so it could be cropped out in a square frame or fit in a 5x7 frame if you wanted to keep the type. They were printed on double-thick 220# Crane's Lettra reclaimed cotton paper. We also printed extra of the pink plate and I cut them into cupcake toppers. The shower was just lovely. See my friend Ani's blog to see way better pictures and learn all about the food at this event. Ani is a photographer, dog lover and food expert - you will not be disappointed.
Now all we need is for little Nena to show up - she's already late!

Mengsel {inspiration}

2011-03-04T08:30:00.000-08:00

I came across Mengsel on the Print & Pattern blog recently. Mengsel is work of designer/illustrator/printmaker Luzelle Van der Westhuizen. She is a London based artist, originally from Cape Town, South Africa who mixes Scandinavian and African design to create lovely silkscreen prints and textiles for the home. On a clever note, "mengsel" is an Afrikaans word that means "mixture." I hope her work inspires you too! Happy weekend!

Check out Mengsel etsy shop here. {all images from Mengsel shop}

Photo Finish

2011-03-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, I used Photoshop for what it was invented for - a photo! I had taken a picture of my son with my phone and, for some reason, the file got corrupted {see top image.} I felt it captured such a beautiful moment. I loved the lighting and his expression was priceless - I had to do something. I emailed the photo to myself, opened it in Photoshop and started piecing it back together - pixel by pixel, in some places. I decided to keep a little of the color change that was happening and add another strip across the bottom to make it seem intentional. After a tighter crop, the bottom image is the final result that became a Christmas present for my husband! I'm so glad I didn't hit the delete button on my phone.

Bridal Shower Invitation {letterpress}

2011-03-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is a bridal shower invitation we printed for Alchemy Fine Events and Invitations. The deep purple and golden yellow printed beautifully on the double thick Crane's Lettra cotton paper. I wish we could print on that paper all day! Have a nice one.

Living Alone {illustration}

2011-03-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

This illustration ran with a story about how people's health declines if they live alone. I had a lot of fun with the texture in the background. It almost felt like painting. I love Photoshop! Have a great day - and find a roommate!

{image belongs to the San Diego Union-Tribune}

Hello Birds {letterpress}

2011-02-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

We reprinted our bird cards! We had run out and we weren't sure whether to reprint or not - then we got a wholesale order for these cards. Time to get the press running! We printed them in a smaller 4Bar size (3.5' x 5') because that size is our new obsession. It seems cuter and sweeter. Just enough room for a few choice words. We kept the colors close to the originals but tweaked the pink to Pantone 205 - the closest match to honeysuckle, which you should all know was voted the color of the year for 2011 by Pantone! Our birds not only pop, but they are hip too.

Sanjay Patel {illo inspiration}

2011-02-25T08:30:00.001-08:00

Here are some amazing illustrations by Sanjay Patel from his book "Divine Loophole." I borrowed the beautiful book from a friend and scanned in as many images as I could. I can't tell you how hard it was to narrow it down to just these - there were so many gorgeous pages to choose from. Sanjay is and animator and storyboard artist for Pixar. I hope he inspires you. Enjoy!

Love Sick {illustration}

2011-02-24T14:45:00.000-08:00

This illustration ran with two stories about couples staying in love through sickness. One was about a couple that met while the man was battling cancer. The other was a about a couple being together when one of them is HIV positive. Both were very touching stories - sad and sweet. Of course, the story ran right around Valentine's Day. How perfect.

{images belong the San Diego Union Tribune}

Bridal Show Invitation {Letterpress}

2011-02-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a job we printed designed by Vanessa from Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations. It is for an upcoming bridal show put on at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. It was a double-sided, 2-color job on the 220# Crane's Lettra. Crane's recently lowered their prices on the extra thick Lettra a whopping 26%. It's still pricey but much better. It prints like a dream.

Jim Flora {inspiration friday}

2011-02-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

I came across Jim Flora's work while looking for inspiration for a December Nights illustration {see Happy Holiday's post.} He was most know for the Jazz album covers he did in the 1940's and 50's along with his children's book and magazine illustration. On his website, though, you discover the fine art side to him. The prints and note cards available for sale made me drool. He has been gone for over a decade, but his art still speaks to me now. It says "hey there, I'm still amazing!" Enjoy!

{images from Jim Flora site and blog}

Recent work {illustration wednesday}

2011-02-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

This was a tabloid cover illustration on comedy clubs in the San Diego area. I was very pleased with the concept. So pleased, in fact, that when I started working on it I ran into trouble. I couldn't see how to keep it simple and give it texture and interest at the same time. It wasn't until I thought of it as a screen-print that I was able to pull it off. Whew!
{By the way, do you see the laughing face in the cord of the microphone? Just making sure!}
This illustration ran with a story on the division of chores in the household. The clever hedline says "Are you losing the chore wars." This story definitely hit home with my husband and me. He joked the other day that he could show me how to turn the vacuum on if I wanted. Whatever! (okay, maybe I could do more around the house - don't tell my husband!) My favorite statistic from the story said that around 60% of men actually prefer to do the cooking. Nice!
This last illo was for a story on damaging your vocal chords from over use - specifically in teachers. This is important in my family because all four of my sisters taught at one time and my father is a retired high-school teacher. I loved the erased look of the sound bubble - I used the smudge tool in Photoshop to get it. The smudge tool is a very under-used tool in my toolbox. That may change.

{all illustrations by Cristina Martinez Byvik - for the San Diego Union-Tribune}

What the Pluot! {illustration process}

2011-02-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

This illustration was done for the January Water-wise garden section of the Union-Tribune. {story here} I thought is was a good example of how I worked. Sketch to Illustrator to Photoshop. The writer, Nan Sterman, complimented me by thinking this was an actual print. If only I had the time...

by the way - a pluot is a hybrid between a plum and an apricot.

Lora Lamm {illo inspiration}

2011-02-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across Lora Lamm's illustrations accidentally - I was searching for 50's style illustration and clicked on a website called Display. This site "documents mid-20th century, modern graphic design history through a curated collection, feature articles and bookstore." I borrowed these images of Lora's work from the site but there is so much more to see, I barely scratched the surface. Lora was born in Switzerland in 1928. She worked for the Studio Boggeri in Milan during the 1950s and 60s. I can see her influence in many illustrators working today. I hope her images inspire you as much as they will inspire me. Enjoy!

Painted Flowers

2011-01-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

My mother passed away from cancer 24 years ago today. I was so young and stupid then - just a typical teenager. I used to think her death woke me up and made me make something of my life. Now I realize that her wise and positive influence could only have made me better and propelled me further. Lucky for me, I have five wonderful siblings and a father to provide support in her place. When she was in the hospital, I painted her a purple rose as one of my art projects in high school. I remember thinking that at least this flower wouldn't die. Well, here is another painted flower that I dedicate to a mother that I only carry in my memory.

Nesting Dolls {illustration process}

2011-01-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here is an example of the three main steps I use for completing an illustration:
1. Sketch it until you like it.
2. Trace the sketch in Adobe Illustrator and play with color.
3. Take the Illustrator art into Photoshop and texturize.

This illustration of nesting dolls ran with a story by Karla Peterson about the hidden gems in San Diego's big attractions. This shows that most people go to the zoo to see the pandas, but the fishing cats are something not to miss. I loved how this turned out, but I especially loved the concept I came up with. I avoided brainstorming until I absolutely had to because I knew it was a going to be hard to come up with an idea. The idea showed up at the very last second and saved my bleep. Then I spent a day extra working on it because I was enjoying myself too much. Needless to say I payed for it later and had to kill myself to meet my next deadline. Spending the extra time with the little fishing cat was so worth it!

Happy New Year {illustration}

2010-12-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

This illustration ran last weekend on the cover of our Night & Day section. I love the color palette I ended up with. It was more colorful in the initial sketches, but I liked it better when I limited the colors. Maybe that is what my New Years resolution should be - to simplify things in my life and focus on a few important things. Maybe I will make a bigger impact that way. Have a happy New Year all! Cheers!

Happy Holidays {illustration}

2010-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here are three illustrations that have run in the San Diego Union-Tribune these past weeks. The top illustration went with a story about the Nutcracker performances in the area - specifically behind the scenes and those involved in putting the productions together. The second one (snow globe) was a December Nights cover for our weekend section. The Santa illustration went with a business story about the the holiday season and the economy.

Jonathan Adler Love {inspiration}

2010-12-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

Since we saved so much money on our tree this year - see post below - I splurged on an ornament by Jonathan Adler. It's the cutest little porcelain elephant. I found it at Grounded in downtown Encinitas. When I got home, I got lost checking out Jonathan's site. I am in love with almost everything! Here is a sampling of some of his pottery items, but see his site for much, much more. I'm hoping to get one of his two-faced mugs - maybe for my birthday next year. (hint, hint) By the way, Happy Birthday, Kelly!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

2010-12-25T15:24:00.001-08:00

We love our Christmas tree this year! With a little inspiration from Anthropologie and a vow not to spend money on a tree this year, my husband made this tree out of one and a half pallets he found behind Pannikin. Yes, Pannikin - since we practically live there! Having a one-year-old in the house also inspired us to have a tree out of reach of little fingers. We screwed the planks together and used screws, nails, hooks, push pins and anything we could find to hang the ornaments up. It was super easy wrapping the lights around the tree too. Hopefully we will inspire some of you to do the same next year! Happy Holidays from Byvik Ink!

Automatic Business Cards {letterpress}

2010-12-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

These business cards were printed on French Paper Speckeltone Black 140# stock. We used silver ink and blind impression. I must say I wasn't sure how the silver would print on the dark paper, but I was happy with the result. It's not a super shiny silver because they paper is not coated stock, but it looks like galvanized steel in the larger areas, which I love.

Automatic Media is a new company by the founder of Automatic Skateboarding Magazine. "The Mig" is also our neighbor!

1st Birthday Invitation {letterpress}

2010-12-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

My son had his first birthday a few weeks ago. This invitation was way more fancy than the affair itself, but when you own a letterpress, any excuse to design and print an invitation is a good excuse! I designed it to be a two-color job, but we streamlined it into one color when we got a rush of Christmas orders. I still love how it turned out. I also got ambitious and wanted to make cupcakes for the party. In the end, I had the cupcakes made at VG's Donuts & Bakery. My mother-in-law helped me make the surfboard toppers out of fondant. I think they turned out swell! Happy Weekend!

Serious Subjects {illustration}

2010-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if you would guess, but the above illustration is about Anorexia. It ran in the health section of the Union-Tribune and was specifically about a treatment that involves the parents helping the child or teenager to eat first and then seek mental treatment after they have gained some healthy weight back.
This illustration was also for our health section and was for a story on how mental decline and retirement seem to go together. According to the article, the longer you stayed working or mentally and physically active, the healthier your brain stayed. I'm sure it was worded much better in the article. I can't remember how I came up with this idea. I suppose that is another mystery of the brain - where creativity comes from. Anyway, it makes me sad to think this poor guy is unraveling his brain the further into his retirement he goes. I'm never retiring!
{The above illustrations ran in the San Diego Union-Tribune}

Holiday Gift Tags

2010-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about our holiday gift tag sets. We printed them last week - I know, I know, it's very late in the season. But, at least we got them done and up in our shop before Christmas. We printed them on both 100% recycled chip board and also on Crane's Lettra fluorescent white reclaimed cotton paper. I can't decide which version I like best. All I know is I can't wait to start wrapping presents!

Grieving and Heartburn {illustration}

2010-12-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

This first piece was done for a story on using journaling to help with the grieving process after losing a loved one. I thought it was a great solution for a serious story. I was worried about the eye at first because it showed no emotion, but finally decided that keeping it simple and almost generic was a nice contrast to the more organic handwriting in the tears. At least that is what I told myself. Thankfully, my art director agreed!
This next piece illustrated a story on the over-prescription of drugs for heartburn. It's a serious subject, but the bright colors and quirky style of this illustration made it fun for me. More serious illustrations to come.
{both illustrations above ran in the San Diego Union-Tribune}

Craft Fair

2010-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

We are going to be selling our cards and prints at a craft fair this weekend. I'm not a huge fan of selling at craft fairs. In fact, I really, really dislike it - like a lot. I would much rather sell anonymously over the internet or through a retailer. I've always thought most artists are were not the best salespeople for their own work. It's hard to say "this piece is great" or "check out this amazing pack of cards" when it is your own stuff. It feels arrogant to me. The opposite of that theory rings true for me too because I've always thought some of the best artists were arrogant - or at least thought they were good. Picasso is one that comes to mind. If he didn't think he was so great, would he have been as great? Okay, probably. Imagine thinking your art was so great that you could draw on a napkin to pay your bill at a restaurant.
Anyway, back to craft fairs, I'm doing this show not only because it is down the street from my house, but it is also for a good cause. It benefits children that need help paying their tuition. It will be a fun event, especially because I've asked a good friend and Byvik Ink fan to come sit with me and remind me how great our cards are so I can believe it myself as I meet local customers. Stop by if you are in the area. I may be drawing on some napkins.

Fall {illustration}

2010-11-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

Here are a few illustrations I did for the Union-Tribune this fall. I'm lumping them together because I have been slacking in posting my work lately. It's a busy time of year!
The cello/leaf illustration was for our Fall Arts Preview section. The raccoon garden thief illustration was for a story about varmints in your garden. The wine bottle skyline illo was for our weekend section on the San Diego Bay Wine and Food festival. More illos to come - I've been a busy girl!

It's all in the wrapping {video}

2010-11-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Check out this awesome video from etsy. It shows some very creative wrapping ideas. It also gets you in the mood for the holidays. Enjoy!

Artful Business Cards {letterpress}

2010-11-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

We printed these beautiful cards recently for a client that has a local faux finishing business. Her work is amazing and ranges from european plasters and decorative painting to actual art for your walls in the form of murals. See her facebook page here for some beautiful pictures of her finished walls and her personal artwork which is even more stunning.

I designed her logo to look like a stencil she might use in some of her work. The flower is a Rose of Sharon, her favorite, which is very similar to a hibiscus -my favorite. I think this business card is one of my favorites too!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is my son's first Halloween. I usually try to avoid Halloween like the plague, but last year we had so much fun that I'm starting to like this holiday again. We sat out on the front patio of our favorite spot downtown Encinitas and watched all the trick-or-treaters and their costumes walk by like a parade. It was kind of like participating without really participating. This year is probably the last year I can get by without trick-or-treating so we'll sit it out again, eat our burgers and just enjoy the show.

This illustration was for a food story my paper did on Healthy Halloween options. A dilemma I will have to deal with soon, I suppose. Have a safe and healthy Halloween all!

Katie Kirk of Eight Hour Day {illo inspiration}

2010-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure where I got all these images, but I filed them under Katie Kirk of Eight Hour Day. I had seen her stuff on some blogs and when I found this letterpress print of office supplies that Studio On Fire printed for her I was extra impressed. I went looking for Katie's illustration work recently and noticed she has moved all her work to her Eight Hour Day Design and Illustration site she has with her husband Nathan Strandberg. These images are only the tip of the iceberg. Their design collaborations are inspiring. Check out their site and drool away.

Butterfly & Hand {illustration process}

2010-10-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

In general, this is the way execute most of my illustrations. I start with a pencil sketch. When I'm happy, or my art director is happy, I scan it in and trace it in Illustrator. This gives me the second image shown - a clean, vector image that has the basic color scheme of the final. Then I bring the illustration into Photoshop and give it the texture I love. It always feels a little like playing at this point. I add and subtract the texture until I feel it is isn't overdone or underdone. I'll tweak the colors and make some proofs until I'm satisfied or I run out of time. There is nothing like a deadline to help you along! Hope you enjoyed a peak into my process.

(This illo was for a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune about aging peacefully and gracefully)

Sketch "my boys"

2010-09-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I came home from my Sunday morning workout class to the site of my boys sleeping together on the couch. I grabbed my sketchpad and captured it the best I could. How cute are they! Speaking of "My Boys," I love that show! It's one of the few shows my husband and I watch together. Check it out if you haven't already. I am so stressed out already trying to figure out which shows to watch this season. There are so many new ones that look good and I can't let go of my old ones. What to do! I need a nap.

Starfish Wedding Kit

2010-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

This starfish wedding invitation was designed for our good friends that are getting married in a few weeks. We are so excited for them and happy that we get to be a part of their special day. The Save the Dates were printed as postcards on chip board which gave them a sandy look. The invitations were printed on 100% reclaimed cotton paper in Flourescent White. The hand-mixed ink colors were mossy green and chocolate brown. Congratulations, Pat & Katie!

Sketch "big boy"

2010-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the "O," sleeping again. I suppose it's the only way I'll be able to draw him until he can sit still for a while. He looks a lot older in this sketch. I was standing while I did this one so maybe my angle changed a bit. I love drawing his hair, which has become a character all its own.

I'm excited to start the three-day weekend and hopefully hit the beach for some of it. We've been baby proofing the last couple weekends and working on logo/business card identities for a few clients. I'm sure this weekend will have more of the same, but I plan on putting some leisure in the mix too. Hope you all can do the same. Happy weekend!

Arts Month {illustration}

2010-09-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

San Diego is having it's first Arts Month starting today. Arts Month San Diego (AMSD) is a collaboration of museums, visual and performing artists, and art organizations that have come together this September to put on shows, festivals and offer discounts for local art. The list of events is too long to share here, but check out their site at arstmonthsd.com. Read story here.

I did this illustration for a special section on the month-long event. The painting mimicks Van Goghs Starry Night, except it's a sunny day! The pose of the viewer is after an illustration by Norman Rockwell called Art Critic. I added the flip flops to drive home the "San Diego" feel. I thought it turned out swell. Hope you can make it to some of the events this month. I will certainly try.

Alas, a sketch

2010-08-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

I finally sketched my son sleeping the other night. I can't believe it took me almost 9 months to pick up a pen and put O on paper. It makes me sick to my stomach to think of all the drawings I missed out on when he was a little bitty thing. I know the first 3 months I was so out of it, but what happened after that? Oh well, better late than never. What if I make it my goal to sketch him at least once a week? Could I do it? My own little life drawing class at home. I will try...

Aesthetic Apparatus {illo inspiration}

2010-08-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

images from Aesthetic Apparatus

David Weidman {illo inspiration}

2010-08-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, David has partnered with Urban Outfitters - pillows and prints!
Read an interview with him here. Buy his stuff from UO here.
By the way, I bought the bird pillow! I can't wait to get it.

Paul Thurby {illo inspiration}

2010-08-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

all images belong to artist {Paul Thurby website}

Letterpress Blogs Round-Up

2010-07-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Skinny business cards by Studio on Fire {Beast Pieces Blog}

Birthday tags by Sunlit Letterpress {Adventures in Letterpress Blog}

Moving announcements by Sweet Harvey {Oh So Beautiful Paper Blog}

Beautiful cloud invitations by Moontree Letterpress {Oh So Beautiful Paper Blog}

Fair Inspiration

2010-07-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a fair time this weekend. Speaking of fairs, I did a cover illustration for the opening of the Del Mar Fair recently. The theme was food at the fair. The illustration above with the jalopy and the woman in purple is a Charley Harper illustration I found for my inspiration. Did I copy too much, or did I make it my own? - or is Charley Harper fair game to copy? Just a thought. Discuss!

Fireworks!

2010-07-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July weekend and still have time to do something creative. I've been into painting rocks these days and I hope to hit the beach again to collect some more "canvases." I'll put some pictures up of my rocks soon. I'll leave you all to your fun with this cover photo illustration I did for our weekend tabloid. It was a simple concept I thought turned out spectacular - of course, thanks to Chris, the designer! I always love seeing what the designer comes up with after I hand over the art. Teamwork is key for the best pages and it helps that I sit right next to this designer all day. Have a good, clean, fun and patriotic weekend!

Esther Aarts {illo inspiration}

2010-06-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

I love her "iPad!" What a clever comparison. Read about it on her blog.

Esther Aarts is a illustrator/designer/typographer based in the Netherlands.
{all images belong to artist: Esther Aarts Website}

Jon Klassen {illo inspiration}

2010-06-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

From commercials, videos, animations, greeting cards, story-boarding, book covers, etc, Jon Klassen does it all. I remember him most from the Royal Bank of Canada Ad (the second image with the deer) but it seems like he is everywhere. He is from Canada but lives in Los Angeles now. Enjoy peeking at his work here, but check out his website if you want to see so much more.

all images belong to artist {Jon Klassen's website}

Ana Juan {illo inspiration}

2010-06-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

I first learned of Ana Juan's work when I went to Spain one Christmas and saw her posters and t-shirts for sale at a flea market. I found out she was a Spanish illustrator and soon saw her work in many Society of Newspaper Design award books. Since then she has illustrated for the New Yorker and many childrens books - one of my favorite was about Frida Kahlo. She is phenomenal! Enjoy!

all images belong to artist: {Ana Juan's website}

World Cup Giraffe?

2010-06-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

Yipee, the games are afoot! Here is an illustration for the World Cup I did that ran in Sports last week (Mark Zeigler story). It was my idea to put a soccer pattern on a giraffe and I was very excited to get to do something for the beautiful game. But when I got the space to do it for the cover, I must admit I got a little nervous. What if it looked ridiculous. What if people wondered what the heck a giraffe was doing on the cover of sports. Well, I continued working anyway and it all turned out just fine. I got compliments from many a soccer fan. It was a hit as well as an eye-catching change of pace for the sports page. At least that is my opinion. Gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaal!

Summer Succulent Gardening

2010-06-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've been potting succulents lately - ever since we decided to save water and change our yard to desert plants. It's been so much fun. This pot is my favorite so far. These plants don't skip a beat. You can rip them apart, dig them up, shove them in a pot and they take it all in stride. They look happy to me and they make me smile. Hope something makes you smile more than once today!

Swell Printing Session

2010-06-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our short board birthday cards and thank you cards. Our surfer and surfer girl are back again. They are printed on French Paper, Starch White Speckletone. We still have a few more cards to print in this wood-cut style but we'll get it done when we can - it's summer! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Eleanor Grosch Part Two

2010-06-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

I came across these mugs at Delphine's blog the other day and couldn't believe my eyes. Two things I love together - coffee mugs and Eleanor Grosch's art! If my husband would let me have another mug in the house, I would get one or two of these. Who could decide between them anyway!

Get some for yourself here.
{images are from pushmepullyoudesign.com}

Eleanor Grosch {illo inspiration}

2010-06-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

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Although Eleanor's work has Charley Harper influence, she certainly made her style her own. So clean, geometric and beautifully simple - I love her work! Wow!
Eleanor Grosch prints.
Eleanor's website: pushmepullyou design

Recycle, Reuse {illustration}

2010-06-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, in a pinch, you have to re-use an illustration that has already run in the newspaper. It happens - you run out of time, inspiration or illustrators. As luck would have it, you've illustrated the same subject before. It may have been 2, 3 or even 4 years before. Will the readers notice? Should we run it again?

In this case, the story was different but my art director had the brilliant idea to "repurpose" the old illustration to fit the new story. The first illustration ran a few years ago and was about hostels revamping their image. I made everything green and got rid of the backpackers and Tadah! Now it's an illustration about hotels going green!
{all images belong to the San Diego Union-Tribune}

Primele: hand-writing meets letterpress

2010-06-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across Primele at Oh So Beautiful Paper this week. I love the idea of using rubber stamps for return addressing envelopes for a wedding. Especially with hand-written calligraphy - it keeps the personal touch alive. I know I'm all about letterpress, but in this economy you have to cut some corners. Anyway, I checked out Patricia Mumau's blog and came across a letterpress wedding invitation she had hand-lettered and drawn. To top it all off, it was on chipboard, my favorite. Gorgeous!

Charley Harper {illo inspiration}

2010-06-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough how much I love Charley Harper. To me, he is the most influential illustrator of his time. I see his inspiration in so many illustrators today, me included. He is one person I would love to have tea with and hang out with in his studio. I missed my chance, but at least I can enjoy his huge body of work forever.
•check out Charley Harper's work here.
•buy his book "An Illustrated Life" here. {I would love a copy - hint, hint}

Opening of Make Good! {south park}

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

We had the pleasure of attending the opening party for Make Good, a new store in South Park for locally handmade art, jewelry, clothing and other up-cycled goodness. Make Good is also our newest retailer! We got our cards in just in time for the party. It was so nice to meet Sophia, the owner, in person. She was super nice and made us feel very welcome - we even got name tags. The store was gorgeous and had plenty of goodies to buy. I loved the sets of glasses made from root beer bottles, the stuffed "roadkill" animals and the journals by The Novel Novel made from old hardback books. We had a lovely time, especially listening to the music of the very talented Erika DaVies. You must stop by the store if you are ever near by.

We owe a special thank-you-so-much to Glo who got us into this awesome shop! She lives around the corner and is one of our biggest fans. Thanks, Glo!

{images are from www.themakegood.com and their flickr site}

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2010-06-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

It's my dad's birthday today. I found this card on etsy and I though it would suit him perfectly. It is by Red Oak Press from Pennsylvania. When we were kids, my dad used to say he needed to help us out with our ice cream cones before they melted all over us. We would hand him the cone and he would eat half of the ice cream. Of course he would always say he was pushing the ice cream down into the cone. Whatever! Anyway, Dad, hope you have a nice birthday and may you have lots of ice cream too!

Toes in Sand {happy weekend}

2010-05-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

Little O put his little toes in the sand for the first time this week. He also got a little taste of sand when I wasn't looking. I hope you all have a wonderful time this long weekend and get to enjoy what life is all about - walking barefoot and tasting life!

Penelope Dullaghan {illo inspiration}

2010-05-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Penelope has a wonderful blog that is a truly honest telling of her life as an illustrator, artist, yogi and mama. She inspires me on so many levels I just had to pass her along to you. Enjoy!
all images belong to artist {Penelope Dullaghan website}

So much to print - so little time

2010-05-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

We've been printing as much as we can and I feel like we have barely put a dent in the stuff we need to print. I guess having a 6-month-old eats into your day like you can't imagine - unless you have kids too! These two new cards turned out beautifully. We were able to print them, score them and get them ready for packaging. That is where they sit now, waiting to be packaged. I suppose we'll find some time this week! I'll check under this rock over here...

Angie Lewin {illo inspiration}

2010-05-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

I ran across the book above "Natural Garden Style" illustrated by Angie Lewin when I popped into Solo {Solana Beach} this week. I went in to buy a birthday card for my sister who is turning 30 today - Happy Birthday, Nat. Anyway, I love her block-print style so much that I wanted to share it here. The second image of the coastal grass, ocean and rocks reminds me of our current garden project. We are changing our large beds to succulent plants to save water and we've been putting rocks in wavy patterns between the plants to fill in the empty space. It is looking super cool. I'll take some pics soon to share.

On another note, I recently started another blog called Illo Inspiration where I was posting art from random artists with no blog message to go with them. It was more like a reference file for myself. But I've decided to merge the two here. This blog is about illustration AND letterpress anyway. I'm hoping you'll enjoy browsing the mini galleries of inspirational work as well.

all images belong to artist {Angie Lewin}

Byvik Ink Video

2010-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Byvik Ink from Infinite Media Works on Vimeo.

Wow! Take a look at the video our friends, Crissy and Brett from Infinite Media Works, shot of us printing in our garage. They filmed us over the holiday season, just before our son was born - you can't miss my huge belly! They did an amazing job. Our Chandler & Price is a beautiful machine and I thought they captured it perfectly. I especially love the shot of us printing at night with the glow of the garage and our dog, Lucy, nearby. Thanks for making us look so good!

Happy Graduation, Sarah!

2010-05-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

My niece graduated from college this past weekend. I'm so proud of her. In her honor, I found this beaver "Congraduations" card from Dee & Lala and thought it suited her - the hard worker that she is. I first saw Dee & Lala's beautiful cards at the International Printing Museum in Carson, California. They had a booth at the Letterpress Fair and I stopped by more that once to get a look at their paper goodies. I love their modern, graphic illustrations and clean use of type. But most of all, I love how their collection shows their sense of humor. You can tell they are having a good time. I guess that takes me back to my niece - my advice to a graduating senior is: do what you love and you'll be successful! Love you!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this Sunday is my first mother's day. My mother died when I was 17 and I stopped paying much attention to Mother's Day after that. Now, wow, it's a big deal to me. I really love this card by Dutch Door Press with the guitar. I would love to receive it. More than that, I would love to give it to all three of my older sisters for standing in for my mother all these years. I would also save one for my younger sister who will be a mom herself before the year is up. Sisters, you totally rock! Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Starfish Save the Dates

2010-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some Save The Date postcards we printed recently. We used chocolate brown ink on chip board that is 100% recycled. If you look close enough you can even see specks of colored paper throughout that help with the sand-at-the-beach look. Chip board is thick enough to print on both sides and get a good impression too. I can't wait to show you the 2-color version of the invitations that go with this package. Stay tuned!

Conan O'Brien Cover

2010-04-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

I feel so lucky that I got a chance to depict Conan O'Brien this week. I love Conan and he's coming to San Diego! This was a last minute illustration for our Night & Day section of the newspaper. I only had a day and a half to do it, but I was pleased with the result. Andy Richter as the surfer was an afterthought, believe it or not, that ended up making the whole thing work. I didn't have as much time to tweak the colors like I usually do, but it is newsprint, after all, and it will never print as perfectly as I'd like. One thing I've learned about working at newspapers is to make the illustration the best you can, then let it go. How it prints is out of your hands.

Then there is letterpress printing! Letterpress is my chance to be totally involved in the printing process. Yet, even in letterpress there comes a time when you have to let it ride. After you've mixed and re-mixed the right ink color, changed the packing so the impression in just so, and made any adjustments so that every letter down to the smallest punctuation mark prints, it's time to let go and let the press do the rest. I suppose we could all live by that philosophy -do your best, then let it go!

I am so upset because I really, really, really wish I had tickets to go see Conan this weekend!! I guess I'll just have to let it go.

images belong to The San Diego Union-Tribune

Longboard Birthday Card

2010-04-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

We finally got around to printing our new surfing birthday card yesterday. This one is a longboarder, like us - well, I suppose Kevin can ride anything, but I love my longboard! It was a fun day in the print shop and left us just enough time to hit Beacon's for an evening surf. I've been so excited about this card because it's on this awesome 140# kraft card stock from French Paper. It's our first #10-sized flat note card - long and skinny. It has plenty of room for a message on the back and comes with a kraft paper envelope. All in a days work.

Mother's Day Card - blog mentions

2010-04-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Our Mother's Day card was mentioned in the Mother's Day round-up from two of the best stationery blogs around. Wow! Check out both postings and get a look at some really great cards from other letterpress gurus.

• Oh So Beautiful Paper

• Paper Crave

Honk if you like discounts

2010-04-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

Night Owl Paper Goods is offering Illustration+Letterpress readers 15% off of any order from them until April 30th. Take advantage!! Read the comment section from our previous posting to see how!

Night Owl Paper Goods {letterpress}

2010-04-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

The amazing duo of Alan Henderson and Jennifer Tatham, that make up Night Owl Paper Goods, are killing it these days! I ran into some of their cards at Mable's in Solana Beach and I just love what they are doing. Their wooden cards, to me, are their signature items - I can't get enough of those adorable wooden gift cards. I also admired their letterpress cards - check out the awesome cosmic red birthday card design in my favorite colors (red and aqua.) But now they are combining the two. They put a little wooden owl on some letterpress snowflakes to let us know there are "better days ahead!" So cute! Great job you two!!!

By the way, now they will print your art on their wood cards. They have minimum orders, but what a great idea for "save the dates," business cards or announcements. My head is spinning with the possibilities.

Images from nightowlpapergoods.com

Sowing Success {illustration}

2010-04-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

What fun it is to play with pretty seed packets and a scanner! This illustration was quick and dirty but oh so fun to execute. The trip to Target to buy the seeds was a nice diversion too! I wish I could plant them all, but alas, I have no time for a garden this year. Luckily my neighbors are sowing their seeds already and I'm sure there will be plenty of veggies coming across the street to us soon. Yummy!

Rough Seas {illustration}

2010-04-13T18:20:00.001-07:00

This was a tough assignment that ended up being fun. It was a story by Dean Calbreath on the top companies that have managed to stay afloat during these uncertain times. Sometimes business stories can be so serious and seem so dry to illustrate. I hate to admit that I dread brainstorming these types of stories, but when you connect with your concept it can be so worth it. I really hate resorting to adding type to illustrations, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Making the waves was the best part of this process - scanning money makes me feel like a criminal!

Pineapple Express {letterpress}

2010-02-23T21:52:00.000-08:00

We designed and printed an invitation for some good friends last month. Here is a peek at the work we did. We printed them on Speckletone Starch White recycled paper by French Paper - along with the envelopes to match. The flecks in the paper add a nice texture to this design. All we need now is a Piña Colada to go with them!

photo booth: at the Pannikin

2010-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

When one photo just isn't enough...here is my experiment with some cute photos of KB and the "O." The photos seemed too busy in color so I thought I'd try black and white. Fun, fun, fun!

triptych: a smile

2010-02-17T16:48:00.001-08:00

news print: books in b&W

2010-02-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

The Tin Drum: (review)

The Museum of Innocence: (review)

The Children's Book: (review)

These are three book illustrations done by me before I went on maternity leave. They were all so different, but all fun to execute in their own way. Designing the damask pattern for The Children's Book illustration was a blast. It almost made me want to design wall paper!
All three illustrations started out in Macromedia Freehand and ended up in Photoshop. I know, I know, I should be switching to Illustrator - someday! I still love my Freehand and only work in Illustrator when I have too. For those of you that don't know, Adobe bought the program Freehand a while back and refuse to update it anymore. They would like everyone to work in Adobe Illustrator. I like Illustrator, I just can't let go of my first love. I keep going back - it's comfortable. On that note, I hope everyone had a comfortable Valentine's Day!

Surfing Valentine

2010-01-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

We finally got around to printing a Valentine's Day card! Wow, it's only January too. This one is, of course, surfing related. I think the couple is pretty cute. Your significant other might think so too. Get a Surfer Valentine's card here.

Our latest creation!

2009-12-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

Meet Owen Cruz Byvik! We've been a little busy taking care of our new little guy - mostly feeding him, changing him and watching him sleep, instead of sleeping ourselves. He is something else! We can't wait to train him on the press! While he naps, we've been filling all of our Christmas orders that have been pouring in lately. Thank you to all our great customers. Your support at this time means so much to us. We hope your holiday season is as full of wonder as ours already is.

Partridge Custom Order

2009-11-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

This is a custom order we did of our partridge card for a client out of Texas. It was so nice to see our design in a fresh and new way. I wouldn't have thought to print it in aqua and brown but I think they turned out beautifully. If you are one of the lucky ones that receives one of these cards - don't tell my client you saw it here first!

To buy partridge holiday cards in the original colors go here.
For your own custom order, contact us soon - it's November already!