Thunderwing Press

To certify my love.

2012-02-17T23:30:00.015-05:00

For the Los Angeles boutique, Vivier and Bentley, owned by accessory designers Kathryn Bentley and Clare Vivier, we hand-letterpressed over-sized gift certificates for the shop, featuring their signature monogram. Each certificate was printed in deep navy blue on recycled French paper, and ultimately given to the recipient in a kraft paper policy envelope, closed with a string-tie.

Vivier and Bentley also holds a sacred place in our hearts, as they carry a selection of our cards. So next time you're bopping around Silver Lake, be sure to stop in and have your eyes dazzled by all the beautiful bags, jewels, and letterpress love on display. Better yet . . . buy that foxy lady in your life one of these sweet certificates, for heartfelt accoutrement from one of the most soulfully chic boutiques in town.Some of current Thunderwing designs featured at V & B can be viewed here.

Cards on Film.

2012-01-24T16:00:00.016-05:00

We've designed business cards for über-talented, Sydney, Australia based fashion photographer, Tim Ashton. Each card was hand-letterpressed on a heavy white cotton stock, and designed with a nod to minimal op-art and old-fashioned trade signage. We chose the blind letterpress printing method due to its accentuation of contrast and light-play . . . qualities inherent in great photography, like Tim's.
Some of Ashton's beautiful work can be seen here, And for those who haven't yet viewed the beautiful process video he filmed about our studio last year, feast your eyes . . .

All beautiful photos: Tim Ashton, naturally.

Cards of a Feather.

2012-01-11T23:50:00.010-05:00

As a new year's gift for clients and friends, we designed a card-set in the shape of a feather and Oak leaf, to bring a bit of the beautiful Hudson Valley into the lives of those we adore. We wanted the cards to feel more like figural keepsakes, to be hung as ornaments for the holidays and beyond.

J.B. illustrated both the feather and the leaf in a calligraphic style, rendered initially by hand, then hot stamped onto thick paper in gold and silver metallic foils. We then had the ornaments cut into their given shapes, and bound them together with antique linen string, acquired on our last voyage to Paris.
Each set was enclosed in a legal-sized envelope, stamped on the flap in metallic gold foil with the word "Peace". We displayed the sets at our holiday open studio, and to our joy, they practically flew out the door, just like the hawk feather found in our garden, that inspired the idea in the first place.

Cocktails, Cookies & Cards.

2012-01-03T00:49:00.009-05:00

A very merry merci to all those who attended our holiday open studio on Dec. 17th. We had such a blast sharing our latest cards, crafts and spiked cider with everyone, that we've decided to make it an annual event. We're currently scouting locations for our first official pop-up shop, which we plan to open later this year.

Here are some photos of our festive gathering at Thunderwing HQ . . .

Letterpress love and an inspiring new year to all!

Having a Soulful Holiday.

2011-12-25T00:34:00.010-05:00

Office Holiday Party.

2011-12-06T17:18:00.008-05:00

Please join us for a cozy afternoon of holiday cocktails, one-of-a-kind crafts and hand-letterpressed cards at our 1st open studio soirée!

Saturday, December, 17th
2-5pm

Our studio is located In the beautiful Hamlet of Garrison, NY
(1 hr. North of Manhattan on the Hudson Line from Grand Central).

RSVP: ThunderwingPress@gmail.com

~ J.B. + Nic

Summer Lovers.

2011-11-20T00:35:00.014-05:00

Brilliantly simple letterpressed postcards for the Brooklyn record shop Co-Op 87, which stocks limited edition vinyl from the collectible label Mexican Summer, known for their ornately packaged re-issues of vintage experimental rock and electronic vibes, many of which are exclusive to the store.

We distressed their signature logo to give it a '70s Xeroxed-flyer feel. The postcards were letterpressed 4-at-a-time on a single sheet of felted paper, then each sheet was perforated twice. This technique enabled the sheets to be run through the shop's laser printer, after which the cards can be pulled-apart easily for individual distribution.

So be sure to visit the shop when in Bklyn, and if you want to know which dreamy platters to pick up, we highly recommend Honey Devash by Date Palms (pictured above), and Parellelograms by Linda Perhacs . . . both currently in heavy rotation at Thunderwing HQ.

Co-Op 87
Guernsey St.,
Brooklyn 11222

Birds of a Feather . . .

2011-11-14T18:48:00.011-05:00

We're thrilled to announce that a special collection of our hand-letterpressed cards are currently available at the beautifully curated Los Angeles boutique, Vivier and Bentley.

The boutique is owned by Kathryn Bentley (designer of Dream Collective and her namesake jewelry line), and Clare Vivier (creator of the now-iconic leather handbag line). We're proud to have our work featured alongside such talent and exquisite craftsmanship.

Vivier and Bentley:
1404 Micheltorena, Silverlake, CA 90026
Monday—Saturday
323.665.2476

Photos: Lizzie + Moira Brandt

Tracy + Stephen, Part Two: Electric Boogaloo.

2011-11-12T17:30:00.013-05:00

Our friends, Stephen & Tracy, are so in love that they needed two ceremonies to fully celebrate their cosmic connection . . . one on the beach in Malibu, California (previously mused about here), and one for close family on Stephen’s beloved aunt & uncle’s farm in Indiana.

Based on their wish to have an old-time romantic look for the ceremony, and the fact that they were wed in a cozy rural setting, we designed an invitation inspired by antique ephemeral pamphlets found in country general stores. All our design cues stemmed from turn-of-the-century Farmer's Almanacs, so we utilized typefaces and decorative elements found in our collection of Victorian books.

The 6-page custom-designed invitations were printed on soft vanilla-colored paper, with the cover a thicker weight paperstock, and each booklet was bound with a linen string. For the RSVP card, we perforated the back page of the book to make a detachable postcard that could be sent back to the bride & groom.

For the save the dates, we designed and letterpressed postcards inspired by antique flower-seed packets, each printed in chocolate brown ink on recycled kraft paper.

Wedding portrait: Courtney Brooke

Addressing the situation.

2011-10-27T23:05:00.007-04:00

Let it be known that we also love to address the invitations we design in hand-drawn calligraphy, done with old-fashioned quill & ink, of course. And though our script-style is less than traditional, it is nonetheless whimsical and romantic. Here are some examples of recent projects we have covered in our fancy graffiti . . .

Love in Bloom.

2011-10-11T13:35:00.011-04:00

For lovely newlyweds and childhood sweethearts, Heather & Alex, we created a chic custom-designed black-and-white letterpressed invitation suite, as classically elegant as the couple themselves. Heather writes for the Huffington Post as well as her own lifestyle blog, LA In Bloom, and Alex is a social media consultant, but together they own the Los Angeles art gallery, Taylor De Cordoba. Inspired and inspiring, their lives are full of dreamy West Coast road trips, a posse of talented friends, and creative homemade meals in their boho garden. Given their cozy lifestyle, we wanted to infuse the design with subtle style cues taken from the things they love . . . rustic California architecture, the beauty of Mexican florals, mid-century pottery, hiking in Ojai, handcrafted art, and the exquisiteness of fine food.

We designed six pieces for the suite, including; a hand-lettepressed postcard save-the-date, folded invitation tied with black silk-satin ribbon, RSVP postcard, place-cards signed in hand-calligraphy (by yours truly), table numbers, and menus.

Special attention was paid to the creation of the letters used in their monogram, along with each digit of their table numbers, as we custom illustrated each specimen using fragments of a vintage floral pattern found in a book on rare antique wood typography.

Congrats, lovelies!

Photo: Photo of Taylor & De Cordoba by Nancy Neil for Martha Stewart Weddings

So Stoned.

2011-09-17T14:12:00.015-04:00

If the fifteen year old Nic had been told that one day he'd be designing personal stationery as a birthday gift for Pearl Jam's, Stone Gossard, he wouldn't have believed his luck. So essentially, in Nic's rock 'n roll soul, this design project is the fulfillment of a longtime dream.

Stone's stationery suite was a gift from his lovely lady, and we were inspired by photos she'd shared with us of the beautiful nature surrounding his lake-side home, as well as his collection of classic mid-century decor. She also told us a story about how Stone had become enamored with a gnarled piece of driftwood that had washed up near the house, which now sits atop a rustic table. So, using a turn-of-the-century woodcut as inspiration, we designed a custom driftwood icon, that we paired with a strong and classic serif typeface, for an elegantly minimal vibe.

It was very important to Stone that each element be crafted using sustainable materials, so we hand-letterpressed the deckle edged cream stock, stone grey note cards, and the kraft envelopes bearing his return address, on 100% Recycled papers, in deep brown ink. We also created custom gift wrapping for the suite, using natural hand-made papers embedded with dried ferns and leaves, and then tied each package with jute, using stones we found around our cottage as fasteners.

Off to re-live the idealistic '90s, while watching all the rare footage in Cameron Crowe's new documentary, Pearl Jam Twenty, which, from what we hear, is awesome.

Fair Share.

2011-09-06T22:22:00.014-04:00

Last weekend, after returning from a month-long European inspiration-vacation, we flew into DC to pick-up our beloved Pug (who was staying with family), and on the drive home to NY, we pulled-over for snacks on the New Jersey Turnpike, and I was surprised to see the October issue of Vanity Fair on the magazine rack, alongside pine-tree scented air-fresheners and Garden State souvenirs.

Even more surprising was flipping through the Fanfair section, and reading our name listed as stationer of choice to über-chic blogger/fashion photographer duo, Garance Doré and Scott Schuman = zut alors! And to be listed alongside Smythson of Bond Street truly made our hearts skip a beat.

So, merci, Garance & Scott! We're beyond honored to be admired by such discerning (and lovely) eyes.

Thunderwing in Bloom.

2011-08-09T15:27:00.010-04:00

We're thrilled that one of our newest custom designs is currently being featured on writer/art gallerist/style icon Heather Taylor's beautiful blog, LA in Bloom. Heather is offering a 12-piece set of the special "thank you" cards in an exclusive give-a-way, so be sure to check her site for further details.

The design of the cards was a manifestation of our obsession with rare vintage typography, as well as our love of antique arrows. We created romantic customized type, which we hand-letterpressed using our antique Chandler & Price press, on Holyoke 100% cotton paper, printed in metallic gold ink.

So to those hoping to win a set . . . we wish you bonne chance!

Voyage d'amour.

2011-06-09T00:02:00.012-04:00

For the Autumn marriage of Chisato & Alex, a lovely, jet-setting Manhattan-based duo, we created a seven-piece invitation suite inspired by their love of travel, Machine Age design, and antique paper ephemera.

The invitation elements were housed in hand-made boxes inspired by antique cigar packaging and vintage valises. Each box was covered in recycled butcher-paper, hot-stamped in metallic silver foil with the date and location of their nuptials, then sealed closed with an Art Deco luggage label-inspired sticker.

We wanted each guest to feel as if they were opening a luxe steamer trunk, custom packed for their magical one-night voyage . . . filled with precious accoutrement, each piece crafted of a different paper or fabric, for a uniquely tactile experience.Inside each box, guests received;

~ A folded invitation printed in silver and gold metallic inks, held in a glassine envelope tied with striped baker's twine, and stamped with a custom-made wax seal featuring a '30s jetliner and the couples names.

~ RSVP postcard inspired by vintage Par Avion envelopes, letterpressed, and die-cut into the shape of a luggage tag.

~ Letterpressed envelope holding several blank pages of vintage stationery, for each guest to cover in an art piece and/or memory they'd like to share with the couple, which we will later group together to be hand-bound into a custom guestbook.

~ New York City souvenir postcard, featuring a gorgeous scenic watercolor on the front, painted by genius NY-based artist, Christopher Young, along with letterpressed vintage typography in gold ink on the back.

~ Cotton handkerchief silkscreened with a custom-designed map to the wedding location (The Foundry, Long Island City, NY), also designed by Christopher Young (photos to be included shortly).

Invites were sent to guests in a recycled-paper-padded envelope, hand-stamped with the couples return address.

This elaborate suite was one of the most inspiring projects we've created thus far, aided by clients as enthusiastic and open-minded as Chisato + Alex. They dared us to go overboard, and we always adore a good challenge. We wish them bon voyage on the endless sea of love.

Cool Whip.

2011-05-26T21:12:00.009-04:00

For Sweet Gwendoline, an apparel brand based on a character from John Willie's naughty 1950s comic strips, we created a sinister logotype and brand identity, incorporating customized fetish-inspired type, as well as Willie's original illustrations.

Sweet Gwendoline was also regularly featured in Willie's infamous underground magazine, Bizarre (compiled and re-published by Taschen in 2005), and was considered to be the most famous bondage pin-up next to Bettie Page, throughout the 1950s.

For the business cards, we used two printing processes: jet-black offset lithography on matte paper, along with shiny-black thermography for the bodice . . . resulting in a texture resembling black patent-leather, of course.

Forest Fairy Tale.

2011-05-15T23:33:00.009-04:00

For lovely couple, Francesca and Iain, who are having a whimsical forest ceremony in Cardigan, Wales, we created an entirely hand-drawn invitation, inspired by romantic turn-of-the-century correspondence cards, and Magritte's clouds, for a blend of sweetness and surrealism. It also marked the first time we got to write "kilts welcome" on anything, which was a thrill. Both the invite and envelope were letterpressed in vibrant pink and metallic bronze on Reich Savoy paper.

Greensleeves.

2011-04-29T18:27:00.007-04:00

We recently created a brand identity, as well as custom packaging for our friends at MS&Co., a Portland based company that makes cool Cone selvedge denim sleeves for everything from your iPad to your passport. They even make a case to protect your Field Notes!

For the packaging and brand kit, we used typefaces inspired by turn-of-the-century letterpress woodtype, utilizing kraft paper for the boxes, business cards and envelope liner, and recycled Smart Paper coverstock in Husk for the note-cards, hang-tags, and collection card.

Every element of each item has been made and sourced in the U.S., garnering lots of well-deserved attention and press for the brand. So, if you like something, you should put a sleeve on it.

Laura.

2011-04-15T22:37:00.007-04:00

For fashion historian and consultant, Laura McLaws Helms, we designed a graphic identity, and custom typography, that speaks to her glam vintage aesthetic. In the spirit of a true Renaissance woman, she not only possesses vast knowledge of fashion's history, but is a talented photographer, devout vintage collector, blogger, and style star. Her love of frocks and design hailing from the British Boutique movement of the late 1960s–1970s, is something we share in common, so it was a blast to combine her inspirations with ours.

As you see, the resulting vibe is a seductive mix of 1920s Hollywood Orientalism, Biba-esque floral femininity, psychedelic mysticism, and Art Deco pizazz, hot foil stamped in metallic silver on a velvety black cardstock. Her official website is currently in the works, and will share the same mystical aura.

Designs © Thunderwing Press

Having a Moment.

2011-04-14T02:54:00.011-04:00

This week was truly a dazzler for us, as we were featured in The New York Times style column, The Moment, in a wonderful story penned by Nancy MacDonnell about the beauty of letterpress printing , and its current renaissance. We're still jumping around our studio with happiness about not only being mentioned in the world's greatest paper, but that they showcased our newest greeting card, as seen below (currently available in our online shoppe).

The story was also featured today on Juxtapoz Magazine's blog, which was like the cherry on top of our already awesome Serendipity III sundae.

Special thanks to magical wordsmith, Nancy MacDonnell, and our gorgeous P.R. guru, Linlee Allen (of Delinlee Delovely), for making such an epic dream come true!

Up in Smoke.

2011-04-06T16:18:00.009-04:00

Our much-inquired about "Peace Out" cards (featuring a vintage illustration of a Native American Indian peace pipe) are now officially available through our online shop! Also, be sure to view the lovely short film Tim Ashton shot of this card being created, from start to finish here. And, how!All designs © Thunderwing Press

The Music Lovers.

2011-04-05T00:24:00.015-04:00

For our friends at Wombleton Records (the world's best and most visually beautiful music boutique), we've created exquisite gift certificates sure to slay the heart of any record collecting connoisseur.

Each certificate is printed with gold metallic foil on creamy luxe cardstock, and housed in a custom chocolate brown envelope featuring Wombleton's iconography and info. So, if bopping around L.A. anytime soon, why not give someone the gift that keeps on rocking?

Thunderwing, The Movie.

2011-03-01T15:12:00.007-05:00

The über talented fashion and lifestyle photographer, Tim Ashton, recently visited Thunderwing HQ, and filmed us in action, doing what we love most. We feel that in this short film, he beautifully captured the vibe of our creative process in the studio. Not to mention the dreamy way the sunlight streams through the windows, and if you inhale a little, you can almost smell the wood burning stove, printing ink and antique book dust.

Posted with special thanks to Tim Ashton and Liz Cresci.

Shoppe 'till you drop.

2011-02-04T13:30:00.006-05:00

We've been working our designing fingers to the bone these past few weeks on exciting new client projects (soon to be unveiled), as well as building our website (soon to be launched), and all the while, shoveling snow like little Eskimos. Also, by the urging of several sweet associates, we listed new letterpressed items in our Etsy Shoppe, with several more to follow.

Hope you're keeping warm & cozy!

Hickoree Smoked.

2011-01-07T13:49:00.016-05:00

We were honored when the founders of Hickoree's Hard Goods asked us to create a special limited-edition Thunderwing box-set representing "the spirit of letterpress printing", for their carefully curated online shop.

We decided to create a set of correspondence cards hand-letterpressed on fine Italian paper, paying homage to the beauty of lead typography and its original packaging (which those not in the printing realm rarely get to see), as well as the classic typeface Dante Roman in 10pt. (seen in its original lock-up above, and letterpressed below). And to further satisfy the souls of the type obsessed, we included a colophon on the back of each Collezione Dante card describing the history of its creation and a bit about its designer, Giovanni Mardersteig.

To read more about the creation of these limited edition cards, as well as to view additional photos from our studio, journey HERE to Hickoree's mailer.

Friends of Thunderwing,

2010-12-27T17:35:00.005-05:00

We've created a special type lock-up, just for you . . .

Have a stellar and inspiring 2011!

~ J.B. & Nic ~

Wintertime Love.

2010-12-20T22:20:00.004-05:00

As our holiday gift to you, we've created a compilation featuring favorite Wintertime tunes,
perfect to accompany the holiday soirées and cozy nights ahead. Click here to listen.

~ The Playlist ~
Xmas Riff ~ Marc Bolan
Coldest Night of the Year ~ Vashti Bunyan
Purple Snowflakes ~ Marvin Gaye
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence ~ Ryuichi Sakamoto
Winter Wonderland ~ Darlene Love
Wintertime Love ~ The Doors
It Feels Like Christmas ~ Al Green
It's Cold Outside ~ The Choir
Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto ~ James Brown
I Don't Intend to Spend Christmas Without You ~ Margo Guryan
Merry Christmas Baby ~ Otis Redding
Christmas Wrapping ~ The Waitresses
Christmas Time is Here ~ Vince Guaraldi Trio
Please Come Home for Christmas ~ Charles Brown

Enjoy the snowy sounds,

~ J.B. & Nic ~

Custom Korven.

2010-12-13T21:07:00.009-05:00

Kristin Korven is a talented interior designer based in Los Angeles, who wanted us to create a logotype and business card that vibed with her sophisticated-ly Earthy point-of-view. She provided us with a fabulous portfolio of visual inspirations, including photos of vintage denim remnants, patchwork quilts, and 1970s typographic treatments, and also requested that despite her feminine personae, we infuse the design with a masculine aesthetic.

Working on this project truly satisfied our souls, since we have always wanted to create a logo that payed homage to our mutual love of 1970s graphics, as well as interior designers like Terence Conran, whose 1976 House Book is a favorite tome of Korven's as well as ours. We were so inspired in fact, that we created an entire custom typeface (below), titled Korven 45°, which was used for her card's design and has now become part of her brand DNA.

On the same Page.

2010-12-04T15:33:00.011-05:00

In the latest issue of German design magazine PAGE, Berlin-based type/graphic designer, Hannes von Döhren, has chosen our Thunderwing business card as an example of what he considers to be timeless and inspired design work, and we are quite honored by the recognition from a fellow type-enthusiast.

Here is a translation of the text:

Beyond Trends:
Great typography lives through the attention to detail, the creativity of the designer and the ability to choose the right font for the subject at hand. In addition, one must be able to choose the right material, color and even imagery if needed. Good typography is self-explanatory and communicates a point of view. The difference between good and outstanding typography is that the latter will still be relevant in 10 years. Outstanding typography is simply timeless.

This business card represents a perfect example for me: A powerful script typeface that above all seems to be hand-drawn by a true artist. Below that, a block of text made up of an unusual mix of sizes and styles - one that seems to break all the rules, but as a whole creates a truly beautiful picture. The perfect final touch is the material choice: Letterpress on handmade cardstock—a wonderful piece.

*Special thanks to Hannes for the kind appreciation of our work, Antje Dohmann of Page for sending the issue, and Dennis Seydel for the translation.

Candy Darling.

2010-10-14T20:26:00.009-04:00

We're simply over the moon about a recent mention in Daily Candy's Fall 2010 Wedding Guide, and wanted to share the good news! We are featured as the current go-to designers for dazzling custom event invitations, bespoke bookbinding and letterpress wizardry.

And if you happen to be on Facebook (who isn't?), we'd be jazzed to have you as a member of our Thunderwing group, so come on over!

* Special thanks to the magical Candy ladies, Crystal and Heather, for granting a big wish : )

Heather & Alec, Pt. Deux.

2010-10-11T21:30:00.020-04:00

Our lovely friends, Heather & Alec, have held two beautiful ceremonies for their nuptials . . . one musical soirée in L.A. (previously mused about here), and a more spiritual gathering in the misty woods of Big Sur, California (see the digital save-the-date below).

For their earthy invitation suite, we had individual kraft-paper boxes created (in collaboration with West Dixon of ColorWest Packaging), to house the various ephemeral elements, each item specifically inspired by the majestic Big Sur landscape and its new age, beat poem-lauded history. On the top of each box we affixed a textural label hand-letterpressed with the wedding info, in a very 1970s inspired typeface.

Included in each box were small custom-designed books of flecked recycled paper hand-bound in jute, telling the story of their union through nature-inspired illustrations found in a vintage hiking handbook. We also penned a cosmically romantic tale about the couple's evolution to accompany the art. Also included in the boxes were; custom-designed maps of the wedding locations, RSVP cards letterpressed on textural sand-like stock, along with kraft envelopes. The contents of each box was then topped with a beautiful bird feather hand-chosen by the bride.

Wedding portrait: Lizzie Brandt Invitations: Thunderwing Press

Wombleton Records

2010-09-21T11:02:00.010-04:00

We're beyond jazzed to announce the grand opening of Wombleton Records (located in L.A.'s Highland Park), for which we proudly designed all the signage and printed ephemera, featuring a logo of an olde English carriage (outfitted with LPs as wheels, of course), and a gilded "W" for the front entrance.

Wombleton's proprietors, Jade and Ian, are dear ol' friends, who also happen to have wickedly stellar taste in music, not to mention decor (have you ever seen a more gorgeous record store in your life?). Their shoppe offers a keenly curated selection of vinyl, collected during Ian's trips abroad, and Jade will soon be offering rare books on art, culture and design. We're so proud to have taken part in the creation of this haven of harmony. Congrats,Wombles! Save some rare Kate Bush b-sides for us!
Store photos: Lizzie Brandt Card Photos: Thunderwing Press

L.A. Story

2010-09-15T13:26:00.008-04:00

For the Los Angeles wedding celebration of two very dear friends, Heather & Alec, we designed a whimsical ornamentation, inspired by haute Art Deco nightclubs and disco-filled jukeboxes. Each invitation was letterpressed in three colors . . . violet, grey and metallic copper, on rich chocolate brown paper. Incorporated in the design are both a music note and a heart, in homage to their band, The Heartstring Symphony (whose logo we also proudly produced), not to mention that music is what initially brought them together, and will always be a part of their love, forever (click image to view full-size) . . .
Congrats to Thunderwing's favorite songbirds!

Top Photo: Jesse Dixon

Tracy + Stephen.

2010-09-09T22:33:00.007-04:00

For the California beach wedding of two rock 'n roll souls, we took inspiration from West Coast psychedelic posters of the 1960s, classic Art Nouveau, ancient mysticism, then topped it off with some interplanetary love vibes. Tracy & Stephen are a very cosmic coupling, so we knew a basic invite just wouldn't suit, so we had their invites screenprinted poster-size on giant sheets of natural kraft paper, then folded down into matching recycled kraft envelopes. For addressing purposes, we had custom rubber stamps created (accompanied by purple ink to match the posters), featuring a magical bearded flying merman, who was featured on the poster as well. Click images to view in full detail:

Top portrait: Courtesy of Tracy Conti-McCarty. Invitation photos: Thunderwing Press

Time After Time.

2010-09-04T23:37:00.005-04:00

A whimsically traditional save the date for the Virginia wedding of our friends Matt & Laura (note the hands on the pocketwatch, which have been set to the exact date & time of the wedding). These cards were letterpressed on Dutch felt paper in brown ink, with kraft paper envelopes (click on the image to view full-size).

Style Me Thunderwing.

2010-08-31T18:29:00.005-04:00

We are excited to hear that our work has been featured on Style Me Pretty, in a story about the gorgeous Palm Springs wedding of our clients and dear friends, Dennis & Crystal. Here are some pics from the story, which display our palm tree-adorned place cards and table-name cards (click to view full-size):

Photos by Belathee.

Bellocq, Stock & Barrel.

2010-08-27T17:16:00.007-04:00

Behold this lovely letterpressed business card for Bellocq Tea Atelier, which just opened a gorgeous sipping salon (which we can't wait to visit) on Kings Road, in London's Chelsea district. The glorious design is courtesy of our friend, Frank Gargiulo (Aka: The Art Dictator). Please click image to view full size . . .

Monster Love

2010-06-28T09:56:00.013-04:00

Last weekend we introduced a highly anticipated new addition to the Thunderwing print shoppe (click images to view larger) . . .

. . . a gorgeous and monstrous Chandler & Price new-style motorized letterpress, hailing from the late-1940s/early-1950s, is now happily taking-over our little barn studio. Placing it took about 10 solid hours of hard labor, inching it carefully across the property, with major help from a friend that is an expert in this type of delicate transport (Thank you, G.T.!).

It weighs about 1,500 pounds, so once we were certain that the floor wasn't going to cave in, we were able to breathe freely again, and feel elated about our cool new capabilities (bigger, faster, more!). To really feel the weight of how major this purchase was for us, check out the press we were previously solely using, below on the left, which now looks like a cute lil' miniature. Our new dude is way more intense.

Nic made a video so you can see our new baby in action.

Here we go . . .

Glam Slam.

2010-03-28T22:52:00.014-04:00

Lovely new friends and newlyweds, Phil & Susi, asked us to create a formal, custom bound slam book (inspired by The Proust Questionnaire) for their Chicago nuptials (click images to view full-size).

After the lovely couple penned the queries, we designed two different double-page spreads (which included special spaces for drawings, and a Polaroid photo of the guest, to be attached with photo corners). After the pages of the book were hand sewn in six signatures, we padded the hard case and covered it in antique linen that had been foil-stamped in distressed forest green type.

As a final adornment, we adhered an antique sterling silver brooch, from the 1930s, to the bottom corner of the book, as our special gift to the sweet couple.

Good Sports.

2010-03-03T00:13:00.008-05:00

We have collaborated with our friends at the super-inspiring Runner Collective on creating gift certificates for Freemans Sporting Club (located on NYC's Lower East Side). Runner was responsible for the wicked design, and we took over production, hand-letterpressing each certificate on soft-to-the-touch, antiqued Italian paper, giving the cards an authentic 1920s metropolitan ghost-town feel (click to view image full-size) . . .

Photo: (top) Freemans Sporting Club

P.S. We love you.

2010-01-21T17:23:00.012-05:00

Our beloved friends, Dennis & Crystal, recently tied the knot in the infamous California desert oasis known as Palm Springs (congrats, you two)! We wanted their deluxe six-piece invitation suite to exude an air of true 1930s glamour and romance, so we gave them the Rat-Pack-worthy works . . . a custom design incorporating the starry desert skyline and vintage palm trees, letterpressed on eggshell paper in shimmering pewter metallic ink, tied with a matching satin bow. It's an invitation even Sinatra would swoon over (click to view full-size):

Clay Wood (Paper) & Cotton

2010-01-05T12:35:00.013-05:00

We're proud to announce that a selection of Thunderwing hand-bound journals are currently available to purchase at Clay Wood & Cotton, located in the artsy enclave of Beacon, NY. Each journal is expertly created using fine recycled paper, then covered in vintage fabrics, and adorned with an antique finding. All elements of which we have collected during our many antiquing hunts across the U.S.

Here are some peeks at what the boutique currently has on hand . . .

And a joyous, inspiring, exquisite 2010 to everyone!

Letterpress Love,

~ J.B. + N.T. ~

To H.P.H., with love.

2009-11-26T00:23:00.006-05:00

In order to welcome a very special (and adorable) little dude into the world, our dear friends Tracy & James had us design and letterpress these happy, mod-inspired baby announcements, in elated celebration of the arrival of their son, Henry (click to view full-size):

Congrats to the proud mums & daddums!

Going once, going twice . . .

2009-11-10T22:02:00.009-05:00

It is with much love that we have donated a gift box filled with favorite pieces of letterpressed Thunderwing ephemera, for an important auction taking place tomorrow (Weds., Nov. 11th). This special boxed set will be auctioned during a gala event at the Museum of the City of New York to benefit the restoration of Russel Wright's historic woodland home, Manitoga, (which is located down the road from our workshop in Garrison, NY). Not to mention, we are quite honored to have our designs featured alongside those of Eero Saarinen, Massimo Vignelli, Jack Lenor Larsen, Eva Zeisel, and Mr. Wright himself!

Pre-bidding is available on-line, so if you are by chance seeking some hand-crafted letterpressed lovliness for the holidays, or would just love to have a hand in helping to restore a modern architectural landmark, raise your paddle high!

Mais oui, Merci!

2009-10-21T13:45:00.009-04:00

We are absolutely elated to find that our Merci! card set has been chosen by House Beautiful for their November 2009 issue, in a feature story on "The 35 best Thank You notes", for the holidays and beyond.

(Click to view image full)

Our Merci! cards will soon be available for purchase through our Etsy boutique, as well as select retailers that shall be announced shortly. Vive le letterpress!

C'mon, Vogue!

2009-10-15T11:21:00.007-04:00

We're stoked about all the glowing attention our client Zanzan has been receiving for their glam limited-edition sunglasses, as well as for their deluxe packaging, for which we designed and produced a series of letterpressed "certificate of authenticity" cards. Here are some exciting recent press clippings (from Vogue.com, Vogue Russia and Refinery29) featuring our shimmering cards:

Business time.

2009-08-20T16:13:00.006-04:00

I know it's been ages since our last post, but we've been happily busy with some custom projects, all of which will be exhibited here soon. In the meantime, we wanted to share with you, one of our favorite recent letterpress jobs . . . our very own business card. It is a larger-sized card on rich, soft 300 gram Arches cover, hand-letterpressed in antique brown and metallic bronze ink. Inspired by business materials which are as old as our printing press, it tells the tale of Thunderwing (click the image to view in detail):

We adore nothing more than conceiving and producing showstopping cards, so contact us if you have letterpress dreams you wish to come true.

Prog Love.

2009-07-19T14:33:00.013-04:00

It's always wonderful to be asked to design a project you're truly inspired by, which was certainly the case in creating an invitation suite for the wedding of our dear friends, Jade & Ian.

We especially loved that when we asked for visual inspiration exuding the mood of the ceremony, they sent us over twenty images, including illustrations of Poiret gowns, Art Deco and Nouveau patterns, the galaxy, Egyptian cats, and several Prog-Rock album covers, our favorite being Roger Dean's cosmic design for the 1973 Yes LP, Songs From Topographic Oceans.

Jade and Ian are both Renaissance souls . . . she is an artist, actress, teacher, singer and performer (with My Barbarian), and he is a brilliant DJ and musical anthropologist, so we decided to pay homage to their harmonious union by designing an invitation shaped like a 7" single, hand-letterpressed in metallic silver ink on purple cover stock, and housed in a recycled Kraft paper envelope (click photos below for details).

J + I were wed in the magical Canadian forest of Guelph, and we wish them a lifetime of music and love.

Crafts Ahoy!

2009-07-10T13:03:00.008-04:00

At the crack of dawn on July 5th, we set up shop at our very first craft fair (the Cold Spring River Festival), and it was a lovely day to behold. Not only was it conveniently located nearby our abode, but it was situated smack on the Hudson River, with views not to be believed. We made inspiring friends, impressed ourselves with our unforeseen ability to build an African dining tent from scratch in 1 hour, ate lemon Italian ices, and sold lots of cards, which were all hand-printed with love.

You can view all the photos of our craft-tastic adventure here, but in the meantime, here are some favorites . . .We will also be officially launching our Thunderwing online boutique this weekend, so stay tuned!

Take me to the river.

2009-07-01T11:17:00.008-04:00

We will officially be unveiling our very first Thunderwing Press pop-up boutique this Sunday (July 5th), at the Cold Spring River Festival. So for those of you who plan to venture upstate this weekend, or those who'd just love to ditch the city for some Hudson-side beauty, come on up!

We will also be debuting our first full-range of greeting cards, correspondence sets, gift tags, and hand-bound journals, not to mention a lovely assortment of Victorian antiques that we've collected during our cross-country travels.

Here's a sneak peek at some of the items we will be offering . . .

Have a star-spangled holiday!

~ J.B. + N.T. ~

Bon Appétit!

2009-06-29T22:10:00.013-04:00

After a fabulously old-school wedding at City Hall, we threw an intimate dinner party at The Pink Pony, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where family and friends indulged in a wonderful meal, to the tunes of T.Rex and The Velvet Underground. It was a completely dreamy evening, for which we custom designed two very special elements (click to view full-size). . .
A hand-cut and glittered banner displaying our names, suspended by silk ribbon and mystical white doves . . .
. . . and a simple yet elegant menu, adorned with a custom "T" garland (for Taylor and Thunderwing)! Top photo: Jeaneen Lund

Mods & Rockers.

2009-06-14T19:05:00.006-04:00

We had the honor of doing these fabulously jazzy 'biz cards, which were designed by our friend, the much-admired artist, Laurie Rosenwald, for one of her pals (click to view full):

Today also happens to be Laurie's birthday! So, it would be awesome if you posted a happy greeting on her facebook fan-page here. Also, make sure to pick-up a copy of her wonderful, whimsical new book, All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem, as you will surely dig it.

Party like it's mountain laurel time.

2009-05-26T08:43:00.008-04:00

Thunderwing Press has been asked to host a very magical event on June 6th, at Russel Wright's landmark home Dragon Rock, located in gorgeous Garrison, NY (home of our letterpress studio). It is in honor of Wright's annual laurel festival, celebrating the beautiful mountain blooms, and will take place on the grounds of his extraordinary home, situated in a secret quarry, called Manitoga (meaning; "house of the great spirit").

Escape the city for a day, and join us for this fun afternoon ice cream social, cocktail soirée, and potluck lunch, set in a stunning landscape of waterfalls, and moss gardens, under the shade of Wright's legendary organic-modernist home. It'll be a truly unforgettable day for naturalists, design nuts, and anyone seeking inspiration.

Please click on the invite below for more info . . .

* RSVP's must be made by June 1st (see invite for details), and be sure to mention that you are a friend of The Taylors.

C'est Zanzan.

2009-05-14T19:02:00.014-04:00

We had the distinct honor of being asked to design and letterpress deluxe "certificate of authenticity" cards for ZANZAN . . . an ultra-chic new line of limited-edition (and decadently glamorous) spectacles, which are now attracting loads of attention, and being snapped up by fashionistas, the jet-set, and the haute monde alike.

View the fabulous sunglasses and our cards below (printed on shimmering Stardream paper), which feature custom borders in harmony with the back-story for each of the four different frames, subsequently named Rubirosa, Le Sept, Zazou, and Black Rio (click to view images in full detail);

Home Sweet Home.

2009-04-30T17:13:00.007-04:00

We letterpressed these change of address cards for friends (and their cute baby daughter, Lily), who have recently moved into their very first home, in Oakland, CA. They wanted a vintage-Craftsman-meets-Victorian feel, so we used deckled edge Mediovalis paper, romantic ornaments, and antique type (Engravers Bold and Cheltenham) from our collection. The result was classic and sweet, just like their little family:

Congrats on your new nest, Jennye, Aaron & Miss. Lily!

Melissa + David

2009-04-16T13:11:00.011-04:00

For the nuptials of our sweet friends, Melissa Walker (J.B.T.'s editor from her ELLEgirl days) & Dave Grossman, we chose softly deckled-edged Italian paper, and a simple design layout, inspired by their mutual journalistic backgrounds. Being that the event is to take place in a historic Vermont tavern, and that Melissa's beloved late father was a Navy man, we designed an antiquated nautical knot motif in homage to both the location, and his memory (last photo and wedding photo courtesy of Melissa Walker. Click images to view larger):

Bellissima!

2009-04-01T18:38:00.005-04:00

We were asked to letterpress 50 folders, which would hold certificates honoring supporters of Italy's prestigious heritage club of La Comunita Formiana da America. Each honorees name was individually handset using vintage metal type, in Caslon 540 caps, and printed with silver ink on regal blue (click images for detailed view).

Sign of The Times.

2009-03-16T12:55:00.014-04:00

Over a period of three months, Nic created collages using typographic and pictorial clippings he found in the New York Times each morning. He mounted the collages on handmade deckled-edged paper, hand-bound the portfolio in oatmeal linen, and used a long piece of salvaged suede as a closure (which he says was inspired by a pair of Vivienne Westwood's iconic pirate boots). Click images below to view in detail:

Thunderwing in the Press.

2009-02-23T20:56:00.014-05:00

We had the honor of being featured on journalist Lindsay Miller's wonderful blog today (she really digs Nic's "sandwich cards", which you can read about below). Merci Lindsay!

And now for Nic's newest lunch-time fix:

This afternoon I showed up at the deli and proudly whipped out my new sandwich card. The guy at the counter kindly gestured for me to put it away, assuming that I wanted my (now well-known) breakfast sandwich (see previous blog entry). I reemphasized the offer by extending the card again, which he then took. A big smile showed that he was glad to see the new edition. This week's BLT card came out beautifully and the sandwich was a knock-out. I didn't have a camera but you can take my word for it.

Fried Eggs & Crane Lettra.

2009-02-19T12:44:00.011-05:00

The story behind Nic's custom sandwich cards:

I am a man with specific tastes—and a specific taste for sandwiches, made exactly how I want them. Recently, I noticed the difficulty of getting exactly what I wanted when firing so many specifics at a short-order cook. Invariably, one detail would get lost in the shuffle. So I decided to make Sandwich Cards for myself that I can simply hand across the deli-counter in order to get exactly what I want. This card, the first in the series, is for a breakfast sandwich—hand-set in 12pt Caslon 540 Roman and Italic, then letterpressed on 110Lb. Crane Lettra paper.

Next, I had to put the card to the test, and use it at the deli, where I received a response I would never have expected. I handed the card to the short-order cook, who shared it with his fellow employees. I was expecting mumbled jibes and laughter, but to my surprise, the three cooks all spoke to me separately, telling me how BEAUTIFUL the card was, and wondering how I printed it. Go figure...

*You'll note that the roll does not have poppy seeds on it (they were out). Perhaps this is a philosophical proof that perfection is only to be pursued, and never achieved.

Mr. Hodgepodge Haberdashery.

2009-02-17T23:29:00.005-05:00

Oversized hand-drawn and letterpressed calling cards (3" x 5") for the Los Angeles based custom suit haberdasher, Mr. Hodgepodge (seen looking quite debonair in the portrait below). We really adore the magical shimmer of the metallic silver ink used on the cards (as seen in the third photo):

The Taylors.

2009-02-17T23:17:00.005-05:00

Standing, folded invitation design, for our wedding celebration in NYC, featuring hand-cut silhouettes of yours truly, tied with a ribbon of crimson silk:

* Lovely photo by Ian Allen.

Custom Hand-Bound Journals.

2009-02-17T23:01:00.008-05:00

Hand-bound journals, covered in rare deadstock fabrics, adorned with a vintage finding, and silk bookmark. These wonderful journals are currently available for custom order, in the fabric of your choice (we have hundreds of yards of wonderful vintage textiles to choose from, or can also be provided with a fabric from your own collection):

Curio.

2009-02-17T22:47:00.004-05:00

Letterpressed business correspondence for the Brooklyn based company, Curio Wallcoverings (note the beautiful rounded edge-details on the letterhead). Thunderwing also designed the look of Curio's website, using graphic elements culled from our vast library of antique books and ephemera:

Look who's calling.

2009-02-17T22:13:00.005-05:00

Custom letterpressed calling cards, for the very inspriring Lady Grady, and author Lord Whimsy:

And a tip of the ol' top hat to Mr. Whimsy, for very sweetly musing about our work on his wonderfully entertaining blog.

The Heartstring Symphony.

2009-02-17T22:06:00.007-05:00

Logo design for the L.A. based band, The Heartstring Symphony (click to view in its full glory):

Is that a book in your pocket, or . . .

2009-02-17T17:55:00.006-05:00

Custom hand-bound slim pocket journals (3 1/8" x 6 5/8"), covered in artisan papers, and featuring a silk ribbon bookmark:

The French Collection.

2009-02-17T15:50:00.003-05:00

Greeting cards a' la Français, letterpressed using large antique wooden type. Each set of "Oui." notecards, folded "Merci!" thank you cards, and whimsically oversized "Bonjour!" stationery, are accompanied by matching envelopes marked "Moi" and "Vous". Cards are available in sets of 6, each set encased in a hand-built wooden Thunderwing keepsake box:

Miss. Lizzie.

2009-02-17T14:28:00.006-05:00

Detail of purple personal stationery letterpressed on G. Lalo Paris paper, using antique foundry type, for L.A. based designer/photographer, Miss. Lizzie (inspired by Biba, the music of Prince, and The Madonna Inn):

To whom it may concern . . .

2009-02-17T14:16:00.006-05:00

Peeks at two personal stationery sets we printed as wedding gifts for the groom's mother and aunt:

The Griswolds.

2009-02-17T13:51:00.010-05:00

We were delighted to design and hand-letterpress a 5-piece invitation suite for this beautiful Summer wedding in Old Lyme, Connecticut (click images to view full-size):

Congrats to the bride & groom, our awesomely lovely friends, Ethan and Jillian. XO!

An Introduction to the Art of Typography

2009-02-17T13:01:00.003-05:00

Designed by Nic Taylor for the Typography 1 curriculum at the School of Visual Arts (please click photos to view larger):