Posts from OrangeBeautiful (159)

...is buying new stuff for the store!

I definitely anticipated that I would thoroughly enjoy my job as "Buyer" for the new shop half of OrangeBeautiful - but it's even more like Christmas than I could've realized.

Boxes of goodies show up nearly every week, and you get to pour over the most amazing items... and they're all things you picked out! What could be better? (hmmm... taking it all home, I guess ;)

Here's a little, tiny sneak peek at some new lines that we'll be carrying in the fall... Folded Felt Screen-Printed bowls from Meghan Burch (top image); absolutely stunning jewelry from Cursive Design (middle image); and delightful, hand-designed screen-printed cards + prints from Gold Teeth Brooklyn ::

I can't wait 'til it all arrives!

Now that we're exactly three months into the world of retail, I'm becoming increasingly obsessed with finding inspiring ways to fill the windows of our shop. The side window is easy... that will always be filled with the work of others (like this amazing person and this this other amazing person). But I really want for the front window and the store displays in general to be innovative, beautiful and ever-changing...

Here are a few pics of some very drool-worthy windows that I've been adding to OB's Flickr favorites lately. And, as you might expect, several of them are from Anthropologie ;)

For more details on all of these images, visit OB's Flickr favorites.

The home that Jw and I share is definitely a crazy one... we really like stuff and we tend to be doing projects (paper, design, music, etc.) all the time. So, it makes sense that Apartment Therapy would post a quick feature on our place, with the very appropriate title, "Josh & Emily's Project-Friendly Apartment"!...

Here are a just few quick pics from the house tour, but be sure to check out the full slideshow and our interview about everything from our style inspirations to our biggest induldence...

You've seen our studio+shop, now enjoy this sneak peek into our tidied-up-for-the-camera living space!

Thanks to Jason Loper and Apartment Therapy

that's what she said letterpress card, from Spiffy Press

It's been quite a while since I last posted... we've been extremely busy here at the shop. Lots of new press, waiting for votes to be tabulated at TimeOut Chicago and minted., receiving a ton of new product, making a ton of new product, and - all the while - working on a slew of new (and really exciting) custom orders!

Whew!
Just thinking about the last week and a half makes me tired all over again...

skinny mini pencil cases, from The B Hive

If you're able to drop into the shop, we've got new Skinny Mini pencil cases from The B Hive (remember my case, that I posted about back in February?)...

We've also finally ordered up a ton of Divine Twine (100% cotton baker's twine, in 8 colors!) to sell by the yard and by the spool... I can't wait to pair some of the yellow + pink with our S&G wrapping paper!

out new shipment of Divine Twine, from Whisker Graphics

a sneak peek at an amazing project that we're working on at the moment...

We've also been keeping busy in the studio half of the shop... I'm gonna keep this one a secret for a little while longer, but oh man it's good. I'll give you a hint: it involves paper, letterpress printing and awesome-ness. But I guess all of our projects do, huh?

hand-felted pods by Ravenswood-local artist, Karen Redford... every time one of these sells, I feel a little sad. But at least they always go to a loving home ;)

For all of you who voted for us on minted. and for the Shopping Awards over at TO Chicago - thank you SO much!...

Also, be sure to add yourself to the OB mailing list this week. Our August newsletter goes out Monday morning!

time for me to take a nap...

I'm thrilled to announce that the OrangeBeautiful Studio+Shop has been nominated by TimeOut Chicago for Best Stationery Shop!

Won't you please vote for us?

The most amazing part is that we're nominated with four of our favorite shops in the entire city :: Paper Doll at 2048 W Division // Hazel at 1902 W Montrose // FourSided at 5061 N Clark // & a SCOOP all-time favorite, GREER Chicago!

Talk about being in good company!

---

We sure have come a long way in the last six months ::

And check out some of the amazing things we're carrying in the shop!

1. Feltidermy Jackalopes, by girlsavage

2. Notecards & Gift Tags, by Squirrel in the Attic

3. Gemma Correll Notepads, from Little Otsu

4. Nice Letterpress Notecards, from OrangeBeautiful

5. Hand-Cut + Screen-printed Notes, by essimar

6. Mini Goals Chalkboards, by Mary Kate McDevitt

Be sure to come visit the shop when you can
and remember to VOTE for OrangeBeautiful as Best Stationery Shop!

www.tinyurl.com/VoteForOrangeBeautiful

Voting ends at 9AM on Thursday, July 22nd!

Working on the GOCCO has become increasingly more bittersweet as supplies dwindle, but I sure do love it...

Our latest screen-printing project finished up just this morning :: a batch of bags for the wedding guests of Jessie & Travis, who are getting hitched in just over a month...

I can't wait for them to come by to pick up the bags, and see them in person!

After we gave you a sneak peek at the new storefront, we got quite an unexpected response to our window vinyl... in particular, the Dog Friendly sticker!

So, since we believe that good design should be shared ;) we're now offering the very same vinyl stickers on both our Supermarket and Etsy shops!

They're just $12/each - and they'll ship in a stay-flat mailer, with instructions on how to put up the vinyl (it's super-easy). Keep in mind that these are printed backwards, so they're intended for inside a window, glass door, or car window...

Also, in conjunction with offering the stickers, OrangeBeautiful has been donating $25/month to the ASPCA since the shop opened, and we'll continue to do so, well, indefinitely ;)

Here's to being Dog-Friendly!

UPDATE 07.24.10 :: After selling out of the first batch, we now have more in stock... RIGHT HERE!

So, do you guys know about minted.™? It's this amazing site where designers from all over the world submit their ideas for everything from wedding invitations to stationery to holiday cards, those designs are voted on (by YOU) and the winning designs are sold on minted.com!

Rate this design here.

For the most recent challenge (Holiday Card Spectacular), designers were asked to reinvent those boring old photo cards in a chic and modern way. The winning designers will receive national brand exposure, cash awards, and 5% commission on all net sales...

So, where do you, my fine SCOOP readers come in?... well, we're currently in Round 1 of voting, so I need your high ratings to get OrangeBeautiful's designs to the final round.

You do have to create a user login/account, but you can opt out of any mailings if you like, and - best of all - when/if one of your favorites wins the contest, you'll be able to head back and purchase that design as your holiday card for this year!

Rate this design here.

Rate these designs here and here.

Rate this design here.

While you're there, be sure to check out some of my favorite designers ::

Potts Design // Emily Ranneby // Alex Elko Design // Milkmaid Press //
Unless Someone Like You //

And don't forget to browse through all of the submitted designs and rate your favorites with 5s - 'cause remember: GOOD DESIGN MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY!

Thanks to minted.™ for providing these challenges to the design community... I can wait to see who wins!

Hot on the heels of L's post about Kristen & Jon Paul's nuptials in MS Weddings (!) and given that we're in the thick of wedding season, I just couldn't wait 'til next week to announce our new run of Eat, Drink & Be Married prints:

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the first run of the design, we've decided to do a 2nd edition - but this time, we're going letterpress!

There'll be three colorways available: Black on White, Gold on White, and, my personal favorite, Gold on Black. Pre-orders will start today (you lucky SCOOP readers are the first to know ;) and the prints will ship on June 21st.

A very limited edition of 50/each will be run, so be sure to grab one for that upcoming wedding, anniversary or shower...

PRE-ORDER your print today!

This past Sunday, Jw and I were asked to participate in a radio interview over at TRANSISTOR on Clark Street. This not-your-typical-record-shop is filled to the brim with amazing things to pore over :: CDs, vinyl, books, artwork, music equipment (including these) + electronics, gig posters, and more...

Rani and Andy, the shop's owners, have set up TRANSISTOR similarly to what we're striving for at OrangeBeautiful... creating a space that isn't just a retail shop for buying + selling, but a venue for events, for meeting new people, for appreciating the talent and work of others, and just maybe realizing a little creativity of your own.

The Roundtable podcast that Jw and I took part in is just one of many of the interactive and informative elements of TRANSISTOR... including the BYOB pingpong that followed that same evening!"'

Take a listen!
the Q&A with OrangeBeautiful begins around 23:10

And even though there were many things that I had my eye on (like this and one of these), what I did end up taking home with me was a Keel's Simple Diary ...more on that later!

images c/o TRANSISTOR