Ya Ol' Granny Panties

You had better believe that my mom is getting this for her birthday in a couple weeks.

duotone letterpress awesomeness. available here

Boy Band

Today is my little brother's birthday (who is not so little) I had to send him this one from my new debuts. Sorry to break it to you dude but you're too old to be thinking about being Justin Timberlake.

Are you a store or wholesaler? Come see this and all the new stuff at The National Stationery Show in NYC Booth 1370 Fresh section.

or visit the Etsy store. New stuff is being added all this week!

Shhh....

Don't tell anyone, but I've started to upload the new greeting cards over on the store. You could be the first person to see them if you hurry. Check back all this week though because this is going to take a while!

Here

TBT first concert Wham!

Throw Back Thursday style.

Remembering the first concert I paid tickets for. Wham! at the Hollywood Palladium

oh those 80's don't wake me up before you go-go.

Printing with kids - Christmas Cards [WHA?]

I can hear your groan from here - Christmas? you're saying. I know. Here's the thing though. I'm headed to the National Stationery Show next month as I've mentioned and I had to have them done for that. Retailers have to order early.

But there was a fun project that I got to do with these holiday cards. Two years ago when the kids were in 3rd grade, each child did a winter themed drawing. Those drawings were then composed into one piece of artwork and the class had a field trip over to see the piece printed. I must admit we were not prepared for 40-ish 3rd graders and the energy they bring with them!

The field trip was successful, but I kept staring at these little drawings and loving the whimsy of them. Most notably Sammy's Penguin. So when I decided to add holiday into my lineup this year, I contacted parents and kids and asked them to be a part of my project.

I selected 4 drawings to start with. Each child got $20 for their drawing [artists should be paid of course] They also got a set of their final printed cards and then I donated to the elementary school's art program as well. I invited the kids and their parents over to print with me - so they could get more one-on-one on the press. We printed the hangtags that accompany the greetings. Below is each child with their drawings printed. They were pleased to see their signatures on the backside too, along with my Richie logo. I really wanted them to take ownership of their art.

I'm currently working with the elementary school, in hopes to continue the project in some fashion.

If you're a store, interested in purchasing. Hope to see you at booth 1370 at NSS next month. or contact us for wholesale info. richele (at) richiedesigns (dot) com

Aden Blue with his reindeer

Grace with her angel

Jake with his snowman

Sammy with her Penguin

[how much do you love this?!]

The holiday cards will be available in the Etsy store later this summer and hopefully in stores nation-wide after the show!

Mother's Day

I wanted to create a card this year for folks who may have a step parent, aunt etc that was comfortable to give on Mother's Day. I luckily still have my mom with me but I also have a few women in my life that helped me become the person I am today. Hand drawn type, one color letterpress fuchsia ink and sunny yellow envelope.

New in the store today

Vintage Neon as Letterpress

I have a love of vintage neon that started years ago in college. Originally I painted this sign and it sits on our Mantle today. This year I revisited it for a birthday card, because I thought... when all else fails this is where we go for the bday present.

This card was hand illustrated and is printed in 3 colors. It was a pretty difficult print job and my first effort was not successful and required new plates. I'm pretty jazzed on the finished project.

Did I tell you I quit my job? and I'm headed to the National Stationery Show? I did. It's happening this May. I'm calling it my mid-life crisis since I turn 46 at the show. It's cheaper than a Porsche but more expensive than a Botox so whatevs!

National Stationery Show is held in New York City at the Javitz Center. It's only open to the industry sadly but if you're a store owner I hope to see you there!

I've made it available as an early release on Etsy just incase you can't live without it.

A day in the life of a stylist

I'm getting ready for a photoshoot for my kids catalog tomorrow and I'm in need of colorful tissue confetti. Now I'm sure you can order this online somewhere but I didn't think about it till last night and I couldn't find what I needed at my local stores... so I made it. Which makes me officially crazy I think. I also have confetti blisters from the scissors. But hopefully the shot [s] will look amazing. 

Have I mentioned I'm a stylist and art director too? I am. You can see some of my handiwork over here along with some automotive things I've done over the years. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Grandma and Grandpa

I've decided to begin scanning family photos lately. Must be age and nostalgia setting in or something. This photo of my Grandparents is dated November 7, 1939. It must have been when they had first began dating as they look so young.

The photo is teeny only about an 1" across and the white blob across my Grandfather's face I thought was a scratch on the photo but I realized this morning was a piece of butterfly tape. He was an athlete so I assume it was from football or boxing.

When I was a teenager and going through old photos with my mom, aunt and grandmother, Grandma let us in on a bit of a family bombshell... she had been engaged to another man before Grandpa. Mom and my Aunt had never heard that before so it was big news. I love those stories, the ones that come out when family goes through old photos after time.

My Grandfather went on to be the Superintendent of County School Boards in Sacramento and has an elementary school named after him. He was also instrumental in developing California's R.O.P program for learning trades. Grandpa was SO handsome. He sort of looked like a cross between Paul Newman and Bob Hope.

Grandma is 94 and a little bit cranky – I'm not going to lie. She gives everyone a run for their money these days. Dunno, at 94 I sort of think you're owed that much!

#family

A note on frustration

I'm not sure why other greeting card companies feel it's ok to take this card, change a few words on it and then make it their own but alas I saw the second copy of it this morning. I'm pretty brokenhearted about it to be honest.

I know that in greetings there are sentiments that are copied / changed a bit etc - I mean how many times and ways can you say Happy Birthday? This one though... is very specific. It was created in 2013, I have a file date stamped with a early January date in fact. I have also been selling it to Urban Outfitters for most of that time. It's difficult to get bigger than Urban Outfitters. 

So today I contacted a lawyer to see if I have any recourse. I'm not sure that I do, or that I want to pursue it considered how much money it would cost and hassle. But I'm going to ask the questions.

until then, I thought I would remind you of the original. I'll even give you the link to purchase it if you felt so inclined. 

The soft launch

We're moving and shaking over here at Richie HQ. Did I mention? We're headed to The National Stationery Show for the first time this year. #nss2015 is the hashtag that you'll be seeing a lot in the next few months around here and on your favorite paper sites.

It was time for a freshen up on the ol website. We still have some invites to add and press items but for the most part we're up and running.

We still have our Etsy shop moving and shaken' as well for all your purchases.

TO VALENTINE OR NOT THAT IS THE QUESTION

The whole Valentine's thing... There are a number of people who just aren't into it. I get it! I often design my cards with the idea that you could use them year round. Designating a day to say I love you doesn't have to be on the calendar it could be a normal Tuesday in July. But remind your sweetheart at some point. "You are my everything". #truth #valentines #everydaylove #etsy#letterpress

AVAILABLE HERE

Find us in La Jolla

Dear San Diego

You can find Richie Greetings very soon [shipping this week] at the new cutie store Hi Sweetheart in La Jolla

Hi Sweetheart

7920 Ivanhoe Avenue 
La Jolla, CA 92037 

I wanna kiss you all over

Monday's Valentine New!

I really do........I wanna kiss you all over.

available here of course

Groundhog's Day

You know what other holiday is coming up? The height of card giving Groundhog's Day!

and have I got the card for you.

My dad said to me last year. Every year I look and look and no one has a Groundhog's Day card! I said well, it's probably not the height of card giving holidays but I know this girl and she can make you one or two if you are nice. This year he got a whole box of them.

So if you're a fan of Punxsutawney Phil I've got the card for you.

I had to add my own sense of humor about it though and imagined ol' Phil just needing a latte and a cookie to tide himself over. "Weather? Whatevs, I just came up for a snack"

available HERE

Valentine

You are, you really are the cutest 

Available here

Love is in the air

Valentine's Day is coming! I thought I'd start to feature some of our newer cards. Today Love You More was featured on Oh So Beautiful Paper so what a better card to start with!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

I'm not a New Year's Eve fan really. The evenings just never live up to the hype. There was that one year I saw Nirvana in SF with a friend and a little known band called Pearl Jam opened for them but I think all the NYEves went downhill from there.




 I prefer to rent a few movies have a nice meal. Friends might come over / they might not - that's fine too. I'll wear my PJs, open a bottle of Champagne sip and toast with my hubby, play on the iPad and fall asleep by 11 – Just how I like it.

I hope you have a safe and lovely night - however you like to spend it.

today

I let go of something big today. It sort of feels like I'm still free falling with that feeling you have when your stomach moves in your body. I'll tell you more soon. It's exciting and scary and  I've nick named it my mid-life crisis.

holiday sale

It's small business Saturday! I hope that if you are shopping today you're supporting a local business. If you're in need of a stock up on items I'm also offering a little holiday treat for everyone. 
Sorry, Not valid for custom orders. Visit the Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/richiedesign

A little holiday treat for all of my peeps. 30% off your online orders. Hurry! sale ends Dec 3rd.