Centennial Press + Design

Cork Save-the-Dates

2012-01-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

A peak at another successful Gocco, print job. This couple wanted to have a save-the-date design with a wine tasting vibe. They were really looking for more than just a card. So, without being too clique, we decided to print on cork to give the feel of wine. We had success, they received an original STD wine label design, and I was able to experiment with my Gocco printer again! Someday, I dream of actually having an office to work in ...

Art Deco Suite

2011-12-04T19:37:00.001-08:00

Here is the art deco suite mentioned in my previous post. They were printed with a metallic, antique pink ink. The two-sided, response postcard and two-sided, accommodation card were attached to a black cardstock with slotted corners, (like old photographs in a photo book), to make the suite organized. Then the invitation and cardstock were held together with a gorgeous, art deco ribbon I discovered on Etsy. I couldn't have found a more perfect ribbon to bring it all together.

The New Veil Magazine Is Out

2011-12-03T10:00:00.001-08:00

And when I say "new", I mean entirely updated. I worked with Veil as creative director of the magazine for the 2012 Winter issue. It was a great experience to be involved in something so huge. I have worked with redesigning Hog Tales magazine at my former job as art director, but this was a bit more intensive. I wanted to update the whole magazine and bring it up to a more professional quality. Doing this involved updating each of the issue's 192 pages, including rerun pages, with new fonts and colors and possibly doing things only a crazy nut designer would appreciate or notice. Though these are major changes, there are many more updates I would hope to accomplish in the next issue. In the end, all those things, and HOURS, add up to a more polished product. I did have an intern work on a few pages throughout the process which made things a bit easier. In the end, I hope the clients recognize the updates, and the advertisers appreciate advertising with Veil all the more ... it makes all the hours I put into it worth it.

2012 Veil Winter Cover

(For some reason, my updates were overlooked on the

actual printed cover, so I'm showing the original here.)

ABOVE: Centennial Press + Design, advertorial (written by Charles Nevsimal)

BELOW: Various sampling of layouts in the new Veil

Centennial Press Apothecary Line

2011-11-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

My husband attends the bi-annual Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Conference and Centennial Press likes to present something new to sell at every event. This autumn, he concocted a line of apothecary that we offered for sale. Charles and his brilliant mind dreamt up the names and I designed and produced the labels to adhere to the bottles. We hope you enjoy ...

Chic Anniversary Invitations Photos

2011-08-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

It has been quite some time since I've updated. But, now that the gorgeous party is over, I really want to share how my friend's invitations turned out. I think these are my favorite designs I have done since starting the invitation business. I really wanted them to be special for her because she's been so good to me and she deserves to have the perfect invitations! Below are a just a few snapshots we took of the invitations, I hope you enjoy. To finish the suite, I also designed and printed the menus, place cards, escort cards, favor tags, and thank you cards.

I am excited to see what the photographer did with them at the party. He was kind enough to shoot some professional photos for my portfolio, to be posted as soon as I get them!

Finished Invitations

2011-08-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Golden Chic has been so kind in sharing her impression of me and the Anniversary invitations I designed for her and her lovely husband on her blog here: Finished Invitations Thank you, Sara!

Chic Anniversary Invitations

2011-05-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about the invitations I'm doing for my dear friend and business partner. They are very "chic" vintage and are turning out beautifully! I printed them up on my GOCCO yesterday with gold metallic ink. Stay tuned, I plan on finishing them up and posting the designs shortly!

Also, soon to update the Art Deco/Nouveau invitations. I'm excited about the direction they choose!

A very blessed Memorial Day everyone. Thank you to all our veterans. We also, deeply honor those in the armed forces who have gone before us for our country. May God grant peace to their loved ones.

Gorgeous Art Deco Artistry

2011-04-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

I am working on designing an art deco style wedding invitation suite for a couple. I am just thrilled to be doing this design ... out of the concepts I presented, they choose the one that includes an art deco style music sheet for the invitation, and a vintage postcard design for the response cards. The art nouveau/deco is my among favorite eras that I just adore. Throughout my research I came across some amazing artists that I thought I'd share ...

GLADYS EMMA PETO

and

GEORGE BARBIER

Milwaukee Ballet Brochure

2011-03-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to design the Milwaukee Ballet program brochure for the 09-10 season. It was a delightful project and I was so thrilled to be chosen to design and art direct the piece while at GS Design. I will never forget it because it was during a time my daughter was undergoing open heart surgery, and happened to be my final big job at GS. Sometimes I miss those days ... but being able to grow and learn with my daughter has taught me so much. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

As it turned out, I wasn't able to finish the final project myself. Being critical in every detail, the printing quality seemed to be less than perfect. So, I feel a desire to show a few of the original concepts I presented.

Spacing Issues

2011-03-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Oh, dear! Please accept my apologies for the major spacing issues on this blog. I might need to find a new format. Of course I am pretty new to blogging and html is just a foreign language to me! Although, I did take an intro to html once ... a few years back! And, I did design our small site here: centennialpress.com, but really it is pretty basic and also has a few quirks. You could think of it as a unique, antique treasure, that's what gives it character!

Pressing Letters

2011-03-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to take a Letterpress class, thanks to some new friends who invited me to join them. They found a workshop in Evanston, Il that offers an intro to letterpress class. I always had a passion for the art of letterpress and someday hoped to acquire an actual press to print our small press poetry. Now that I had my newly found business of designing wedding stationery, I thought this was a perfect opportunity to learn how "press letters". It was an awesome experience! The teacher did a fabulous job and we were able to print whatever we so desired. I decided to print my business cards along with my husband's, as well as a few odds and ends that would help me grow my business. Here are a few examples:

The class was right before St. Valentines day, so I decided to make my love a card. This was printed on the antique and very lovely Chandler and Price Press. I made a blind impression on the first printed pieces, then I decided to ink it up and use some old wood type to spell the word "love". After I had it inked up I wanted to see how just the calligraphy design inked on the paper would look. Fine results I think! Check out the video my friend took of me printing these below.

I loved experimenting with different papers and inks. Since the paper is handfed, one by one you can just feed different papers and sizes through if you want to see how the ink looks on various stock.

Added to Vendor List on EAD!

2011-02-21T18:20:00.000-08:00

Centennial Press was just accepted on the vendor list at Elizabeth Anne Designs!! http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/vendor-guide/stationery/ it's a step ... hopefully we'll get more recognition. Please spread the word ...

Our Wedding Suite

2011-02-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

We knew we wanted our invitations to reflect our style and our faith. I have a precious Bible from the 1800s I won at an auction, from which I wanted to use some artwork to include in our suite. I found a gorgeous scarlet and ivory dress on sale at a bridal boutique, whose colors became my inspiration. (Photos to come soon.) We decided on a booklet-style format with a "flysheet" of metallic gold. My husband, Charles, composed a special poem he wrote for me to include as part of our design, making it even more uniquely "us."

8-page invitation and response card printed offset.

Our invitations were much more extravagant than what most could afford, thanks to our good friend Brett, a printer rep for Burton and Mayer. He gave us a wonderful deal in printing our two-color job, which included gold metallic ink. We are forever fond of him and his company for doing such a fine job. To save even more we assembled everything by hand together. In 2005, we attended an Addy award gala with the design firm we both worked for. We both had individual pieces entered in the contest that year ... my husband as a writer ... me as an art director... including our invitations. And, I’m happy to say, our suite won a Silver Addy award!

Ceremony program, escort cards, menu, seed packets and thank you card design printed digitally.
“You have stolen my heart, my sweetheart, my bride, you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sweetheart, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!” –Song of Songs 4:9-10

A Shakespearean Experience Wedding Showcase

2011-02-02T11:13:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate to be asked by Sara at Golden Chic to design some faux menus and escort cards for a wedding event held at the American Club in Kohler, WI last year. It was just my forte ... a Shakespearean Experience.

The traditional look.

The modern look.

Amy + John Save-the-Dates

2011-02-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

Amy and John lived in Dubai and were working with Golden Chic Events to help plan their wedding in Milwaukee. They wanted their save-the-date to reflect the travels they have made as well as the wedding's destination. This map, hand-drawn with India ink, was the perfect solution.

Sketches of previous design.

Amy + John Wedding

2011-02-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

Letterpressed on 110 lb. cotton Lettra with antique gold ink and gilded edges. This was an elegant wedding with an art deco touch. The bride wanted something simple, yet with a touch of style. After many rounds of monogram designs and typography options, they chose a very simple font which was then carried through the entire suite. The result epitomized a classy look that complemented the Milwaukee Art Museum, where the reception was held.

Monogram sketches of AFJ, FF or F.

Mercury Racing Materials

2011-01-27T19:11:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Lad Lake 2008 Annual Report

2011-01-27T19:09:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Lad Lake 2007 Annual Report

2011-01-27T19:06:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Harley-Davidson Press Kit

2011-01-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Package

2011-01-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

U.S.E. Identity

2011-01-27T19:01:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Intimates Packaging

2011-01-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

Go ahead, giggle. But I especially loved how the Yeast Guard Packaging turned out ... very fresh.

Designed @ GS Design.

Davalos Packaging

2011-01-27T10:22:00.000-08:00

Designed @ GS Design.

Portfolio Updates

2011-01-26T20:11:00.000-08:00

I am working diligently to get my portfolio in order and photographed to upload. It is hard to trim and decide what to include after almost ... ahhem ... 20 years of design experience. Shhh ... don't tell anyone, that might show my age a bit more than I even want to hear. For now I can upload what I already have photographed, mostly thanks to GS Design and what they had photographed.

Gocco Wedding

2011-01-24T05:27:00.001-08:00