I’ve gone to a lot of trade shows over the years, but the National Stationery Show (NSS) is my favorite. What makes this show special are the stationery artists themselves. It is a kick to experience their creativity, and as a group, stationery folk are the nicest people you will ever meet. And… you can’t beat the location in NYC! Great food, Central Park, and half-price Broadway shows like American Idiot and In the Heights. Ah, that’s the way to travel.
What were the Show Highlights for me this year?
First, the mood at the show was noticeably more upbeat. Although the show floor seems smaller than in years past, it held strong at 900 exhibitors and 11,000 attendees. Most artists said sales to retailers were going very well.
Second, letterpress artists continue to impress with their compelling alternatives to mass-market greeting cards. There are 100s of amazing artists, with my favorite new greeting card lines coming from Hammerpress, Hello!Lucky, and Delphine Press, (check out the blog reviews and photos of these new lines at PoppyTalk and Oh So Beautiful Paper)
Third, it is refreshing to see modern humor cards that are witty yet not mean-spirited. Every year it seems more “shock-value” cards hit the market, nevertheless, it is awesome to see design and sweet humor still expertly played. My favorite in this genre is Old Tom Foolery, and their new Headlines Collection of newspaper-style greeting cards
Old Tom Foolery - Winner of Stationery "Trendies" and Louie Awards
There are many comprehensive blog reviews of the Stationery Show, complete with stunning pictures. Check them out!
Design*Sponge
Oh So Beautiful Paper
Papercrave
Poppytalk
simple+pretty
A Baby’s Eye View of the Stationery Show by Albertine Press - cutest show recap ever!
Old Tom Foolery image courtesy of the artist and Stationery Trends Magazine annual awards, The Trendys.
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national stationery show,
NSS 2010,
Stationery Trends
The Cardstore.com team just returned from a whirlwind week at the 2010 National Stationery Show, where we visited our many artists exhibiting at the show, scoured the aisles for the newest card trends and trendsetters, and threw a pretty hoppin’ dinner party if we do say so ourselves.
The scene: the Javits Convention Center in NYC
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Matthew and Elizabeth of Sweet Letter Press, with Katy from Cardstore (middle)
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The 2010 National Stationery Show (image courteousy of Miss 'N Nick)
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Pam and Betsy of February13 Creative
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Tami of TamTam Design
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Alan of Great Arrow Graphics & myself
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Laurie and Carrie of Two Trick Pony
Stay tuned to the Cardstyle blog for more 2010 Stationery Show updates to come!
Tagged as:
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national stationery show,
NSS 2010
by Molly on April 5, 2010
Last weekend, Cardstore.com stationary was featured in Jewels and Pinstripes’ VIP Celebrity Gift Bags at the 24th Annual American Cinematheque Event honoring Matt Damon. Held each year at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, the extravagant event was attended by such A-list celebrities as Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Garner, Charlize Theron, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Jimmy Kimmel, Don Cheadle, Sarah Silvernman, Greg Kinnear, Robin Williams, and many more. The bags, worth more than $5,900 each, were filled with an amazing assortment of gifts including two sets of our personalized cards! OK! Magazine is extending the chance for one lucky winner to receive one of the American Cinematheque Award Gift Bags for themselves! Make sure to enter before April 16th, 2010 and good luck!
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personalized stationery
by Tasha on March 31, 2010
A Valentine’s Day card addressed to a Margaret Davey arrived at Duke University earlier this month, but get this…it was postmarked February 12, 1934! It was later discovered that Davey graduated from Duke’s School of Nursing in 1935. The card was signed by Davey’s six year old niece (who was actually Davey’s sister, the niece’s mother). Unfortunately, Davey passed away earlier this year and was never able to receive the card, but Duke’s Director of Postal Operations was able to get in touch with the niece.
Lost Valentine’s postmarked 1934
I was really fascinated by this story and also found it interesting that the card featured a giraffe–the newest trend for kid’s stationery. As of recent, these loveable long-necked creatures have been taking over kids’ stationery and they’re winning us over at Cardstore, too! Check out here to see how these animals have stampeded all over the front of our new stationery. (And to find out more about the lost Valentine, click here.)
Giraffe thank you card. ‘It’s my party’ Invitation Card.
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Kid's stationery,
Stationery Trends
by Tasha on February 24, 2010
Actresses Amy Ryan and Poppy Montgomery, singer Drew Lacey, and celebrity wife Natalie Hanson recently sent out thank you notes from our kids’ stationery collection. They all received gift sets provided by Jewels and Pinstripes, which featured our stationery. Ryan used one of our most popular sets, the Pink and Gray Elephant stationery, to thank Jewels and Pinstripes for their gift to her new baby girl. Others used our Light Blue Sand Dollar Thank You Card by Tori Higa, the Superhero Boy Thanks by Persnickety Pear, and the Flying Biplane Thanks by Amy Adele. We’re always so delighted to hear when our celebrity fans send out greeting cards!
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Jewels and Pinstripes,
stationery
