i love pockets, don't you?  love pockets on dresses, multiple pockets in purses and bags, pocket folders... it's no wonder that brides {and grooms} like pocket invitations!  pocket invitations are so functional.. they keep all of your wedding information nice and tidy and it helps that pocket invites come in a multitude of colors and styles.

nina and eddie contacted me a few months ago to create custom wedding invitations for their big day, 09.10.11 {what a date to remember!}.  nina and eddie were so easy to work with and open to design ideas.  after some back and forth, we came up with a design that fit their style!

here are some photos of the ensemble, with a pocket holding all of their important wedding details.  congrats nina and eddie.. thanks for letting me create invites for your special day!

{btw, i know i'm not very good with keeping up with my blog, but this is my 100th post.. hooray!!}

ever wonder how handmade paper is made?  there was a paper making demo by frank brannon at asheville bookworks during the ladies of letterpress conference.  here's a picture story about the paper making process.  so interesting.

ta da... there you have it.  the pink paper is from pink clothes from the thrift shop... cool!  

this past thursday, i packed my carry on bag and flew to asheville, north carolina for the ladies of letterpress conference.  the ladies of letterpress is a trade organization that is, "dedicated to the proposition that a woman's place is in the print shop". 

the conference started with awesome swag

then off to the trade & printer's fair with awesome vendors like virgin wood type from rochester, ny

a tour of asheville's book works for demonstrations on papermaking {detailed post on that later}, die cutting, a table top press demo and more

and panel discussions on subjects like tweeting and social media in your business, letterpress as a business, running and starting a community print shop, and so much more.

in my pre-printer's life, i didn't have a job where i went on business trips, so i've never flown anywhere by myself where i didn't know a single soul.  i'll be honest, i had a difficult time sleeping at night.  despite my lack of sleep, i came back from the conference renewed!  i met amazing printers, heard inspirational stories, was inundated with a plethora of information, and made many new lady printer friends! hooray for the ladies of letterpress conference.. i can't wait for the next one!  

hi blog friends!  there are big changes happening here at penelope's press.  wanna hear?  a new blog design, i'm in the process of freshening up the etsy shop with new product photos and more offerings, re-branding with a whole new logo and colors, and one more BIG surprise... stay tuned! here's a sneak peak of my business cards with my brand spanking new logo....

{there is a bit of construction going on here though... broken links & misaligned text & such... please pardon the dust... thanks!}

the internet makes it possible to communicate with a bride and groom from across the country {or across the world} without ever speaking or meeting, yet together, we can collaborate and create invitations to what they've always imagined.  so amazing.

since i don't always have the pleasure of meeting all of my clients, it was a treat when i recently met up with a local couple, karen and jon... they have creativity bursting from their pores.  karen and jon designed invites that are original, tell a story, and is packed with personality!  now on to the pictures, shall we?