I need to start with a confession… I haven’t actually made anything, but somehow “here’s one I’ll make later” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it! What I have done, is found a book that will inspire me to make lots of things in the future, so I thought I’d share it with you in the hope it will inspire you too.
Pattern used on the front cover is by Emily Portnoi.
I Love Stationery is by Charlotte Rivers, author of design blog, Lottie Loves. The books defines stationery as greetings cards, notecards, writing paper, envelopes, wrapping paper, gift tags, calendars, journals, notebooks, diaries and stamps – I love a book that defines its terms!
The work featured on the spread above is by by Sukie (left hand page) and Swiss Cottage Designs (right hand page).
It covers hand-drawn illustration, screen printing, letterpress, block printing (my current obsession), digital illustration, calligraphy, paper cutting and mixed media.
Close-up of one of Ruby Wren‘s paper-cut cards.
For each technique Charlotte includes a short section explaining how stationery is created using that technique, as well as a list of tools that might be used. She then goes on to showcase the work of a wide variety of artists and designers working in that field.
As you’d expect, the book itself is beautifully designed, again by Emily Portnoi, (although I may be slightly biased when it comes to the use of luggage tags!) and features a comprehensive resources section including suppliers, blogs and online communities and trade shows.
Work above by Alison Cole Illustration.
I read this book from cover to cover in one gloriously geeky evening and would definitely recommend it to anyone with a fully fledged stationery fetish. And while we’re on the subject, two other lovely books that will get you reaching for your stationery supplies are Print Workshop and DIY Design – both of which will give you a bit more detail on the how-to side of things, once you’ve been inspired by all the lovely work in I Love Stationery.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- here’s one I made earlier :: party bags
- http://yellowowlworkshop.com/
- http://presentandcorrect.com/
- http://iheartnancyandbetty.blogspot.com/
Oh this looks lovely. Who is behind the work on the right hand page of the bottom image you show? I don’t recognise them, and when I don’t recognise something I start to get a bit twitchy!
Frances – thank you for drawing my attention to the fact that I hadn’t credited the artists featured – that was very bad of me. I have now rectified that within the post above.
The right hand page (and in fact the left hand page) on the bottom image is by Alison Cole Illustration.
I was excited to recognise three artists in the whole book – you’re obviously much more of a pro than me!!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Katie x
thanks for the lovely write up katie! so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hey Charlotte – thanks so much for swinging by! I loved it – right up my street! xx
Love the look of this book – need to get busy ordering it straight away!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Becky
x
Katie, am absolute stationery freak. Thanks for introducing me to this book. Will definitely check it out. Always good to feed my addiction. Healthy one, right?
Hi Katie,
I just found this review and wanted to say a big thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the book and I hope it’s given you plenty of inspiration. Working on this book was a joy.
Thanks again,
Emily Portnoi.
Hey Emily! That’s a blast from the past. Thanks so much for getting in touch! Absolutely loved the book – you must be very proud! Katie x