Friday Night Favorite Reads

J. Herbin Gris Nuage Ink Review at PenInkcillin

Uni Pin 0.05.. like write on rice at Good Pens

Letter in Someone Else's Hand at Because I Really Felt It

The entire blog Bad Postcards

A Spooky Stamp Collection for Halloween at National Postal Museum Facebook Page

Roll of Attorneys

Despite technological advancements, pens and paper still hold an important place in the American tradition. A striking example may be found in the legal profession.

While doctors have a coating ceremony at the beginning of medical school, courts carry on the tradition of having newly sworn members of a bar sign the roll of attorneys. Signing into the roll is the final step to becoming a licensed practitioner before any particular court. Similarly, being 'stricken from the roll' is the final act of removing a member from the bar.

The rolls are kept by court and eventually archived. To this day, you can still go to courts and see the names of famous attorneys in their rolls. Abraham Lincoln's name, for example, can still be found in the roll in the office of the clerk at the Supreme Court of Illinois.

The actual act of signing is a tad unceremonious. You wait in line, chatting, for your 10 seconds to write your name, but it was my favorite part of swearing into the Maryland Bar - so I had a member of the court staff take the above picture for me.

I wasn't sure if the paper would feather or bleed too terribly, so I used a favorite ballpoint pen to sign. An inexpensive pen, I still like the way it looks and writes. Can anyone name it?

Adventures in Letterpress: Wedding Invitation

Way back in April 2010, I posted about a run of Save the Date cards I printed on my Anchor Easy Photo (makeshift) printing press. Several months, I created and printed a run of invitations on Crane Lettra 110 lb. paper, for the same wedding. The above card was affixed on top of another card containing directions and website information, separated by perforation from the response card, with black grommets. To summarize the process for wedding guests, the below video was posted to the front page of the couple's wedding website.

As I've mentioned before, my printing process is a tad unorthodox. Maybe it's just to make me feel better about the finished product, but I like to think the imperfections, e.g. the uneven ink coverage, add character - helping pull together the vintage and modern design elements.

From feedback I received, the invitations were well received! To continue the design theme, I also created wedding programs, dinner menus, and dance cards for the event, using the same production method.

I haven't done much letterpress printing lately... but who knows when inspiration will strike.

Friday Night Favorite Reads

Silver Ink! at notebookism

Kate Middleton Sends Leukemia Patient Hope in Personal Letter at (I know, I was shocked, too) fitperez

Postage prices go up ... again at CNN.com

Whimsy Goes With Everything

I'm not sure what it is, but when the leaves change color - I watch Gilmore Girls. The episode containing the above clip about mailboxes found its way onto my screen this week.

If I lived in a place where I had a roadside mailbox, you better believe it'd be whimsical.