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.
Tagged as:
Artists,
national stationery show,
NSS 2010,
Stationery Trends
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.
Tagged as:
Giraffe,
Kid's stationery,
Stationery Trends
