Row 1: [...]]]> We love to travel and it is no secret that we love maps (we’ve posted about them a whole bunch in the past). I also love seeing how many fantastic ways etsy sellers are making maps — from pillows to prints, paint-by-numbers to cut paper, here are some really awesome mappy finds.

Row 1: World Metro Map pillow from atelierpompadour; Vintage Paint-by-number USA from somethingshidinghere; Heart Strings Map Pillow from FelixStreetStudio

Row 2: Typographic World Map from designahoy; Map of USA Necklace from ilgattoselvatico

Row 3: Customizable USA Pillow from lovecalifornia; Chalkboard United States map from shopdirtsa; Stay Golden California pillow from sundaymorningpaper

Row 4: San Francisco mapcut from studiokmo; The Roadtrip print from JanuaryJonesPrints

He’s designed two books recently that are [...]]]> I used to pine over images of self-promotional pieces in design annuals, wondering how one gets one of those. As of this week, I now possess a fantastic one by one of my favorite contemporary designers, Martin Venezky — my first letterpress print that calls out Facebook.

He’s designed two books recently that are of great interest. One is Mission Muralismo, a celebration of San Francisco murals. There’s a reception around this book Friday November 6 at 6:00 at the deYoung (with many of the artists in attendance.) The other is Finding Frida Kahlo, Barbara Levine’s book of newly unearthed Kahlo work which as it turns out might be forgeries.

I am totally excited about both books; I know neither is particularly typographic but, Venezky can work the hell out of a two-page spread.

I first became aware of Venezky’s work from his masterful art direction of the ahead-of-its time Speak Magazine, (which I eulogized when Speak Up closed down) and later took a class on experimental letterpress from him at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Appetite Engineers moved from San Francisco to New York a few years back, and now they’ve moved back. I can’t wait to see his incredible (and still fresh) type collages on MUNI bus shelters again: welcome back Appetite Engineers!

Here’s his previous promotion, which I only wish I had (click for gigantic).

And here is some more of Appetite Engineer’s fabulous work:

Then Johno, typeblogger extraordinaire, comissioned a reasonably-priced limited edition letterpress “Typography” [...]]]> We have a problem with prints. Too many, not enough walls, and we keep seeing and buying more that we like. We have tried being more discerning: saying “no” to handlettering genius Ray Fenwick at Tiny Showcase this week was tough for instance.

Then Johno, typeblogger extraordinaire, comissioned a reasonably-priced limited edition letterpress “Typography” print set in Restraint by Marian Bantjes. I mean seriously how many words in that sentence aren’t fantastic? “In” and “a?” The print is gorgeous, the best use of Restraint we’ve seen yet (its interesting usage agreement keeps you from seeing it just anywhere). And over at the site of the printer, Typoretum, you can see pictures of the magnesum printing plate (so much prettier than photopolymer).

Here’s the Ray Fenwick print that we “showed restraint” and didn’t buy this week. Love the text.

And here’s the print I covet most of all, by Studio on Fire for the College of Visual Arts. Houston, we have a problem.

I am so excited that our artwork from Evelin Kasikov (who we featured a while back) arrived today. It is just as lovely as I had hoped — I can’t wait to get it on the wall.

Jessica Hische — whose font Buttermilk we posted about previously — has just posted a lovely new letterpress poster that is available for purchase through her blog. The prints cost $100 and are a limited edition of 250.

Thanks to Noah for being an art pusher. Once I saw this print by Barnaby Ward (Bosley, copper), I had to have it. Cute girl with her cephalopod friend? How could I pass up something so tailor-made for me?

Each limited-edition print in this series (available at Pictures on Walls) is a three- or [...]]]>

Thanks to Noah for being an art pusher. Once I saw this print by Barnaby Ward (Bosley, copper), I had to have it. Cute girl with her cephalopod friend? How could I pass up something so tailor-made for me?

Each limited-edition print in this series (available at Pictures on Walls) is a three- or five-color screenprint with pearlescent, metallic ink, and is signed and numbered. For non-limited-edition (thus, less expensive) work, head over to the artist’s own site.

Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite etsy shops is Lab Partners. Owen and I already have a bunch of their prints, but I am really excited about the one I purchased last night. It is an artist proof of one of the prints from their Hunt & Gather show.

I think they [...]]]>

Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite etsy shops is Lab Partners. Owen and I already have a bunch of their prints, but I am really excited about the one I purchased last night. It is an artist proof of one of the prints from their Hunt & Gather show.

I think they do really great work and love the ways that they use gocco. Plus, Owen and I are both total suckers for a visible halftone.