Vertallee Letterpress

Coasters

2012-01-13T13:47:00.000-06:00

We worked with Rose and Sara at SOL Marketing Concepts to print and die cut this sunny end of year gift for their clients. The saturated orange referenced the "o" in the SOL logo, and the same color was used on the calendar side. When the month is up, attach these to your view, be it wall or window, for everlasting pops of color and cheer.

Holiday Letterpress 2011

2011-12-02T14:35:00.000-06:00

It's rainy and grey in Austin today. I'll take it! Some bright, new client projects we're working on this season.

Summer Vacation...

2011-08-27T12:07:00.000-05:00

Our east coast summer vacation has been unexpectedly extended due to Hurricane Irene. We've got family, beer, a propane grill and loads of board games. Not to mention a luxurious extended break from the 150 degree days frying Austin.

July Business Card Workshop

2011-06-28T15:20:00.000-05:00

Business Card Workshop

Session 1: Saturday, July 16

Session 2: Saturday, July 30

12pm – 3pm

Class size limited to individuals or a group of 2 (split the cost with a friend!)

$35/hour for press use and private instruction (3 hour minimum: $105)

$120 for plates and paper

Letterpress print your own business cards!

You will print 250 2 color, 2”x3.5” business cards (additional quantity is possible, please inquire)

You’ll provide the design; we’ll provide the instruction. Learn the basics of letterpress printing on the flatbed Challenge proof press: mixing ink, press make ready, and printing from a polymer plate. Your letterpress-compatible design (specs below) is needed 1 week prior to the workshop. The plate will be ready to go when you arrive.

Please email info@vertallee.com to register!

File specs:

• Line art and type are best for letterpress (see image above.) Large solids and heavy coverage are worst for letterpress.

• Illustrator or pdf files with all fonts outlined and spot colors are required.

Tribeza Mag

2011-06-22T16:38:00.002-05:00

It was nice to find a little post about our shop on the Tribeza Magazine blog this morning.

Invitation Crush

2011-05-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Kristen at invitationcrush.com for including is in her new ideas lookbook. Find us on page 11!

Spring 11

2011-03-21T11:24:00.003-05:00

New cards and prints just added to our etsy shop. Including the Vertallee all-stars, an assorted collection of our top 5.

Paper Flowers

2011-03-08T12:38:00.005-06:00

We designed this invite for a wedding in Dripping Springs. The space was tactile: muted colors, weathered wood, and that Texas landscape that is endless and wild. We found inspiration for the breezy paper flower illustration in this image.

Valentine

2011-03-02T10:39:00.007-06:00

We did a little promo sending some letterpress love through the post: a 2-sided card in red and blue, folded, with the front fold die cut into a heart. La la love ya (don't mean maybe.)

West Elm and Etsy

2011-02-24T10:47:00.003-06:00

We are 1 of 13 vendors participating in the Etsy pop-up event at West Elm this Saturday from 1-6 pm. We're rolling out a new collection just in time for this event. And we're pretty excited to be part of an event that also includes both cured meat and beautiful patterns.

Super Sale!

2010-12-17T12:02:00.008-06:00

Everything in the shop is 15% off through 12/23. And everything ships Priority USPS. Code: MERRY10

Handmade in Austin

2010-12-01T13:14:00.004-06:00

This bright little bag is perfect for handmade holiday gift wrapping; a sturdy and reusable muslin bag cheerfully declares "I'm from Austin!"

Available in our etsy shop.

Long Live Print!

2010-11-30T19:24:00.005-06:00

Did you know we are windmill powered? Heidelberg Windmill powered, that is. This limited edition print is an ode to our German letterpress and this year's East Austin Studio Tour. Long Live Print!

Available in our etsy shop.

E.A.S.T. 2010

2010-11-09T09:11:00.006-06:00

We're back at it - EASTing our way through the weekend. The East Austin Studio Tour begins this weekend, runs through the week and next weekend (though we will be open only the first weekend). Weekend hours are 11am - 6pm.

We are #85 on the tour, page 87 in the catalog, and 100% geared up to make this year shine. We will have a new holiday collection (currently on press) and some other new this and thats, plus a print-your-own card demo featuring some smashing wood type.

But first, race over to : http://2010east.com/ to plan your tour.

Communication Arts Design Annual

2010-11-08T15:06:00.005-06:00

Designed by The Decoder Ring, we printed the identity system for Southern California photographer, Raya Carlisle, which won in the letterhead category.

3 color letterhead, envelopes and note card, 3/3 business card, and 2 color label. The green circle around the brown circle in the logo is a feat of tight registration, and the crisp green solids are just delicious.

The Knot Texas Magazine Fall/Winter 2010

2010-10-08T09:07:00.003-05:00

Nice to find ourselves as part of The Knot Notebook in The Knot Magazine this month. Thanks to Courtney from Caplan Miller Events for the mention!

Tomatoes

2010-09-07T08:39:00.004-05:00

Green Eyed Monster is featuring our Salut card as part of their homage to the tomato. You can win the card, as well as other fun tomato gear, by going to their site and leaving a comment about your labor day festivities. Salut, tomato!

Just added: Business Card Workshop

2010-07-30T10:27:00.001-05:00

We've added a business card workshop to the schedule for August, so if you are feeling the burn to brighten up your own cards this workshop will instruct in the ways of the press and result in 250 brand new yummy cards.

Business Card Workshop

Saturday, August 21

12pm – 3pm, plus one 3 hour private session to be arranged during an evening or weekend to print your project

Class size limited to 3 individuals

$350 includes all materials: paper, plates and ink

Letterpress print your own business cards!

You’ll provide the design; we’ll provide the instruction. The first afternoon session will include the basics of letterpress printing on the flatbed Challenge proof press: mixing ink, press make ready, and printing from a polymer plate! Then, follow up with a private session on the press to print your own 2 color business card design. You will be printing from a polymer plate made from your digital files that will be ordered for use during the private press session.

You will print 250 2 color, 2”x3.5” business cards (additional quantity is possible, please inquire)

Please email info@vertallee.com to register!

Letterpress workshop happening in August!

2010-07-26T08:36:00.006-05:00

Letterpress Invitation Workshop

Saturday, August 14

12pm – 3pm, plus one 3 hour private session to be arranged during an evening or weekend to print your project

Class size limited to 3 individuals/couples

$550 includes all materials: paper, envelopes, plates and ink

Letterpress print your own wedding, commitment ceremony or special event invitations!

In one afternoon, learn the basics of letterpress printing on the flatbed Challenge proof press that include: mixing ink, press make ready, design tips for letterpress and printing from a polymer plate! Then, follow up with a private session on the press to print your own 2 color design or choose one of our house designs. During the first session we will advise on the best way to design for letterpress. Illustrator or Photoshop experience is helpful but not necessary. You will be printing from a polymer plate made from your digital files.

You will print 50 – 100 (additional quantity is possible, please inquire)

5”x7” 2 color invitations

4”x6” 2 color reply postcards

Matching, unprinted mailing envelopes are included.

Please email info@vertallee.com to register!

Lettering

2010-06-30T16:58:00.005-05:00

We really like the lettering on this recent invite we printed, designed by Liz DeMartino. The block of green with the type reversed out makes great use of white as a third "color". Letterpress inks are transparent based, so white ink never looks crisp or truly opaque. Using the white of the paper stock to achieve a white image is an excellent use of the letterpress process.

We also love the vintage valentine feel of these, with the heart and arrow and dense, cool green and orange inks.

Spring le Fever

2010-03-31T17:28:00.008-05:00

New cards on etsy.

Holiday Holiday

2009-12-15T16:14:00.004-06:00

New holiday cards are in the etsy shop...

Mele Kalikimaka!

2009-12-08T09:34:00.004-06:00

Hapa | Hale featured our Hot Holiday card. Along with other charming and seaside seasons' greetings.

Available at vertallee.etsy.com

Rare Feature

2009-12-03T14:47:00.004-06:00

Nice feature in Rare Magazine. Very noir - like if Morrissey had observed our space. Quite appropriate. And, proof that Brad is why we moved to Austin.

(photo by Jake Holt)

E.A.S.T

2009-11-10T15:32:00.004-06:00

We are #83 on the East Austin Studio Tour this weekend and next. Tour runs 11/14 - 22 and we'll be open both weekends. If you're in Austin, stop by..

www.eastaustinstudiotour.com

Letterpress + Offset

2009-03-30T12:49:00.006-05:00

This job is a fine example of using letterpress in combination with another print medium better suited to the task - in this case, printing a large solid. Designed by Christian from locals The Decoder Ring for the delicious sounding Maine farm/farmers' collective Farmers Fare.

The large color blocks were offset printed and we followed up with black letterpress. Letterpress generally does not produce great results with large solids - especially on a platen press (such as the Heidelberg) because the platen, or location of the paper, is raised with force to the plate and this force creates the impression. Full, crisp coverage on a large solid requires lots of force per square inch of the solid (I know there is a math problem in here) and there is only so much force possible within 15 square inches (size of the platen). Plus we love the rough edges of the bright solids, it looks a lot like a screen print and nicely complements the block font and handmade, sustainable qualities of the Fare itself. A great design complete with appropriate and excellent production.

Letterpress Business

2009-03-05T10:54:00.009-06:00

We recently launched our new business card/calling card venture - 3 paper options, your (letterpress compatible) design and very competitive pricing. Turnaround is between 2-3 weeks - we will confirm a deadline for your project when the order is placed.

Contact us to place an order or with any questions.

More Metal

2009-02-15T15:08:00.004-06:00

Delivered last week - the Challenge proof press. Good for large sheets and big coverage. And very user friendly - we're devising a digital letterpress class to be offered in the next few months. Stay tuned...

Letterpress + Screen Print

2009-01-10T17:43:00.006-06:00

New Orleans-inspired: wrought iron, French gardens, humid nights, bees, feathers and deep pink air. The layering textures of gold and pink screen prints with black letterpress.

09

2009-01-05T22:13:00.007-06:00

Happy New Year!
We're working on lots of print projects this year, and we hope to work with you, too...

A sketch of something new.. 09 promises many new things to come. Stay tuned.

The Hottest Holiday

2008-12-08T13:18:00.010-06:00

Clearly a year of living in Texas has influenced our latest holiday collection (along with a sibling's very tropical and beautiful wedding thrown into the year as well) as we are embracing the joys of yet. another. hot. season. I manage to pull out my sweater collection around this time, regardless, and I do admit it is brightly colored, so perhaps a colorful christmas, rather than a white one, is a better reflection of our wishes anyway.

May your traditions be bright, your home joyous and your new year peaceful, healthy and happy... and warm!

View the whole collection at vertallee.etsy.com

and p.s.... free shipping on all orders placed through 12/19!

Lovely Summer

2008-10-13T21:32:00.008-05:00

We designed and printed this cheerful, summery invite for a bride in Philadelphia. Her wedding was late in August.. you can really feel each bright color deeply impressed into the paper like a late summer sun, hot and sharp, with long, cool shadows here and there.

Printed with a combination of melon orange, tangy green, soft grey and a tint of opaque white.

Letterpress Move

2008-09-20T13:41:00.010-05:00

We finally found a new space (out of the garage - hooray!) large enough for our presses and other equipment. We are now located in east Austin on Tillery Street. Be sure to visit us on the East Austin Studio Tour... stay tuned for details.

The move went more smoothly than any previous one - I think working with professionals really makes all the difference. There was none of the usual moments of panic with a press teetering on a lift gate or helpful statements such as "If it starts rolling, jump - fast..."

Thanks to John and Bob for making it happen.

Etsy's Handmade Wedding series

2008-03-16T12:42:00.010-05:00

We definitely had something of a handmade wedding in August 2006. While professionals are absolutely essential for some things (I didn't see the practicality in having my mother, a brilliant cook, spend day and night in the kitchen to feed everyone, instead of being a guest of honor at a great party!) there are certainly practical and creative ways to pull the event together - some of my best friends are the most talented people I know - they did all of the flowers and interiors, hung lanterns, tied ribbon and scattered petals.

August '06

Etsy launched their handmade wedding series last week. It's a great resource for anyone seeking a diverse market for almost any element of a wedding. And I couldn't agree more with Etsy's description: "..planning a wedding is a huge production, but you can make things yourself or put your dollars straight into artists’ hands and have a whole lot more of a personal experience."

We will be participating in the wedding showcase on Monday, March 17. We are featuring our newest beach wedding suite and a new custom letterpress printed inner envelope:

Custom Invitations

2008-01-07T20:13:00.001-06:00

It is a new year and we know this means there will be lots to celebrate. Vertallee Letterpress is most excited to be part of celebrations large and small and we work with people from across the country to announce joyful, important, new and milestone events. To help with this process, since we can't meet everyone we work with in person, we have added a sample set of invitations to our etsy site.

We like the bright colorways and thick paper stocks we've been printing with lately, and each sample set will showcase three of these. Should you have questions about custom printing or the letterpress process please do not hesitate to contact us: info@vertallee.com

And remember, we are not only designers, but printers equally. We would love the opportunity to bring your designs to letterpress!

Holiday Letterpress

2007-11-15T12:30:00.000-06:00

Although its stll in the 90s here in Texas, we've forged ahead and launched our 2007 holiday card line up. Inspired by many things - thread, Japanese paper, vintage slips and hemlines, and of course the prospect of christmas lights on a cactus. Its somewhat different from what we are used to...

View the whole collection at vertallee.etsy.com

We'd also like to thank design*sponge for featuring our work!

And more thank yous to the following blogs for including us as well!
bloesem
poppytalk
platinum blonde life

happy holidays from the south

merry merry merry

joyeux noel

cheers in the new year

You found us!

2007-10-18T08:33:00.001-05:00

We are Vertallee Letterpress, full-service letterpress and design from Austin, TX. After many years spent doing print and design in grand Chicago, we've come south for great projects, warmth and the charm and enthusiasm that is Austin.

We'll post about printing and good resources. From the humble tabletop Hohner to our monstrous friend Heidelberg (Germans, always) we love letterpress. We love it so much we've dragged thousands of pounds of it across the country, and more than once. Please keep in touch and check in often.

Your friends at Vertallee.