This year is winding down faster than I can even begin to tell you. I have just returned from three back to back shows in Chicago and days before at the Claremont in Berkeley. Intense travel is what it has been these last 10 days. I am happy to say that one of my favourite shows is just around the corner and I cannot wait to show my collection of fine and every day jewels. The show has an incredible following with lineups out the door by 11am. So if you want to catch me and a handful of fine artisans and designers all hand picked for this boutique event, then I hope to see you on Saturday.

Here is the list of all the designers who are participating at the event! Andrea Kohler, Shamila Jiwa, Ja Teuber, Meredith MacLeod , Tamila Morgan, Lisa Chun, Trilby Hainstock, Julie Lyderson-Jackson, Michele Jaillett Chui and FAM hostess Roberta Torgerson and you can read all about them and their wares here on the Fatto A Mano Blog!

Each January instead of playing mental hurdles and tripping over ideas about resolutions, I find myself excited about revealing the brand new letterpress calendar for the year in my office space. After I set up the calendar, THEN I think about the intentions and modifications I want to make - 3 months at a time! The designer of this lovely gem is Ja Teuber, dear friend and foodie partner in crime. I first met Ja in 2003 when planning for the FAM show since then we have traveled around the country doing shows and gone off on adventures in Thailand - that will be another blog post. Boy, was that a trip!

You can buy this popular and most sought after calendar at her Etsy shop and at fine gift boutiques and stationers around the USA. Ja's sense of whimsy, use of color, pattern and clever details are incomparable! Each page is laboriously printed using a century old letterpress, at times utilizing other techniques such as screen printing or adding gold foil to the embossed pages. Each month is a surprise of hand-painted details and motifs that tell stories. If you ask her why she used flying fish for March 2012 for example, I am sure she will have a story for you :-)

Happy 2012 everyone!

xoxoS

The 9th Annual FAM show is this weekend in Laurelhurst - Dec 8th, 2012

One of my favourite things about January is....The Ilee Letterpress Calendar!