Round Robin Press

National Stationery Show!

Round Robin Press will be at the National Stationery Show starting this weekend through the 21st of May at the Javits Center in NY. Poppytalk has a guide featuring tons of great designers that will have booths at the show. My cards will be at booth# 1663 with Daisyd and Friends. Good luck to everyone!

Above is my 3rd new design. Doesn't that look just like a 3 yr. old birthday where no one knows exactly what's going on? "where's the cake?" It cracks me up. And this month might be national birthday month. Happy Birthday Sarah, Liz, Bernadette, Lynn, Joel, Maya, Dillon, Zoe!!!!!! I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. Happy Birthday all!

I'm sorry

We had a tremendous storm last night. It sounded like it was raining bullfrogs and baseballs and I was sure every single window in the house would be shattered by the wind and hail. This morning we woke unscathed with a few missing branches and lots of clean up. Other parts of Austin were not as lucky. Looking beyond my bubble, I cannot imagine how other parts of the world are feeling right now. How do you make sense of it all? This is my second new design and if I could send it out today I would say I'm sorry world, I really am. How can I help???

The act of mothering

I was lucky enough to be a part of this event last night put on by Lynn and Aimee. Very cathartic. If you would like to participate anonymously there was a blog created last night called http://theactofmothering.blogspot.com/ You can add your own entry by commenting and then it will be posted. You don't have to be a mother, anyone who was mothered or would like to add their thoughts about mothering can post. Thank you Lynn and Aimee for starting this tradition.

For the love of Friday

Alright, I give up. It's not slowing down around here. I am happy to announce I have two new helpers! Sharon and baby Henry (isn't he the cutest!) have joined the Round Robin Press team and I am SO happy to have them. It was hard to make the jump of hiring someone but Sharon is a dear old friend of mine and it has been perfect to have her help me transition into a real round robin effort. I feel so lucky that I get to process orders, design, ship, etc. and in between walking from one task to the next, pick up Henry and give him a squeeze. I can't imagine going back to solo. Sharon will be heading off to nursing school in a couple of months but will pop back in from time to time for a little RRP fix. I will be on the look out for more help come July.

The illustration is a sneak peak of one of the new cards. This can be used for any occasion and will double as my holiday card this year. Think home for the holidays!

Check out today's back and forth Crown Sonnet!

Share 350 - a plan

So much good out in the world! My friend Lauren help start Share 350 A plan for regional sustainability! Read about it and report your actions. I'm sure we are all doing a little something towards a sustainable Austin. And if you are not in Austin check out 350.org

So so much is happening here at Round Robin Press, I can't quite believe it. When will I find the time to tell you? I am finishing up another 4 designs to add to the RRP line - really sweet intentional cards. Can't wait to show you!

I heart Minnesota!

I would like to thank all of my new retailers across the globe for picking up the Round Robin Press line with a special thank you to Minnesota. Surrounded by beautiful rural land makes for loving and appreciative people. I have a new rep Katherine that I am lucky enough to be brought under her wing and introduced to her stores. Business does not have to be all business, it can be fun and loving and thankful. And that is how I feel with katherine on board. Red Stamp is one of my new retailers via Katherine and they do a tremendous job of getting the word out AND being great boss ladies! Thanks Erin, Renée, and Katherine!

Future Craft Collective

UPCYCLE RE-T

Future Craft and sign your kid up.

My friends are the coolest! Kathie and Bernadette have started Future Craft Collective - "The future craft collective is about inspiring children to get crafty, to create beauty, while simultaneously teaching them ways of minimizing our impact on this earth. It's about understanding ways of recycling, reducing, reusing, and at the same time, making some really cool stuff. " My son is one of the boys in the bottom picture and ever since taking a class with Kathie, sewing has become an afterschool activitiy in our house. I can't get over hearing him and his friends talk sewing lingo and then go jump on a skateboard. Sew cool! Visit Future Craft to sign up!

Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day. I'm going to revive our spring garden with my boys. What are you going to do?

I want to thank Heather Armstrong of Dooce for featuring my love birds card today on behalf of earth day. Thanks Heather!

Summer wedding

Last week was a blog wash, I have been so busy with orders and weddings. I'll try to be better this week.

Here is my latest wedding for Rachael and Jesse! Rachael wanted really bold and it is by far my favorite invite that I've done. I also figured out an easier way to register my plates during set-up which saved me SO much time. From now on, bold is my wedding motto. Thanks Rachael for helping me stretch my design mind! May your marriage be as fun, bold, and loving as your invites.

Ruby and Esme!

New images in the production of Ruby and Esme over at the back and forth project! I love them.

Lots of orders going out the door here at Round Robin Press. I can't believe I'm keeping up but I do feel my family slipping away - trying to be better about the balance. Printing another wedding this weekend and have an owl letterpress print commission that I can't wait to get to. So many blogs and retailers out there that I need to thank for posting about my cards - for now - you know who you are, thank you!!!

Ideas worth spreading

Kathie has been on me to watch this video and i kept forgetting for one reason or another. "have you watch it yet?" she would say "No, I'm sorry, I haven't had a chance yet." Well, I finally watched it and all I can say is once you have 20 minutes to set aside, you can even play it while you are working if you have that kind of job - it is worth your time. Jill Bolte Taylor is a brain scientist who suffered a stroke and then felt compelled to spread her experience."This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another." And then, if you're like me, you'll want more, visit TED-Ideas Worth Spreading for a number of inspiring talks by great thinkers. Thanks Kathie, I owe you.

Check out today's Friend Friday back and forth project. Endearing.

the best thank you!

I received this email from Will Heron who makes the most adorable T's for tykes and adults. Thanks Will and fiance!

hi shannon.

i've been holding on to a few of your seed cards for a while...
they've been on top of my dresser for a couple months.
i like looking at them more than i like sending them.

my fiance must have asked 10 times if she could have them.
i said no every time.
well... i was out of town last weekend,
and when i got back, the cards were missing.

your cards are so cute,
they turned a normally honest woman into a thief.
my fiance stole my (your) cards!

we really dig your cards
and in related news,
that back and forth project is pretty amazing.

thanks for doing all you do.

-will

The right way to Monday

This is fantastic, ideas from Maira Kalman. Also read this interview of Maira found via Camilla. Thanks Camilla for always inspiring me.

Come on Thelonious!

You never know what a new day will bring. This morning we were scrambling to get son #1 a.k.a Poseidon out the door for his Greek Mythology fashion show and I almost tripped over a limp little squirrel at the base of our porch. He was just lying there with his eyes open as if to say "help me"... My husband found the number for our local wildlife rescue and a neighbor and I gently picked him up and check him over for any wounds. He appeared to have a broken leg and was covered in fleas. I had to make the decision of whether or not he was in his last moments of life or was it worth the trek out to the wildlife rescue center. Of course, I bundled him up and made the mad dash fleas and all to the WRC. We are reading this adorable book called Travels of Thelonious (a squirrel - whoops my bad - a chipmunk) so it seemed fit to name him Thelonious and hope he does make it in his travels today. The Wildlife Rescue could really use your donations if you feel compelled for a good deed. Donate here.

Poppytalk is featuring the studios of this month's handmade green market sellers. Mine is up today. So fun checking out people's work spaces and their influences.

Hang in there Thelonious. UPDATE: as of 2pm today Thelonious is warm and even eating a little. If he makes it he will go into a group care situation then be released on 10 acres of donated land to roam free! After seeing first hand what these volunteers do for Wildlife Rescue I am donating a portion of my etsy sales for the month of April. I've been thinking about doing something like this anyway and this is the perfect way to start.

Another wedding out the door and Friend Friday on a Tuesday. I couldn't resist. visit back + forth to see. The above quote was sent to me along with other goodies by my friend Kimb. I can relate.

New cards are in the shops!

They're finally in! I'm really happy with the colors and the blind punched words. I'll be adding a bunch of great new stores to the retailers page by the end of this week so please check to see if there is a store in your area and of course, you can always buy off my etsy shop!

Blogging has been slow, I have fallen into an all work no blog slump - and allergies have landed an anvil on my shoulders which hasn't helped. I am evicting this runny nose tenant and will be back to blogging in a regular fashion soon.

Oh Pickles interview

Meg Morley of Oh Pickles was kind enough to contact me for an interview. Read the interview and explore Oh Pickles great blog here.

Posts are slow this week due to spring break. Hope everyone who gets a break is living it up!

Poppytalk Handmade - Green Pop Market is up!

Green Pop Market is up and it looks fantastic. I have no idea what to expect for orders - I hope lots!! Whatever happens it will be great exposure. Happy Monday.

Poppytalk Handmade - Green Pop Market

I will have a table on poppytalk handmade starting March 10th - April 11th 2008. Each month poppytalk curates an online street market of handmade goods from emerging design talent around the world and Round Robin Press was selected for the Green Pop market (environmentally minded goods). Snag an item or a few before this month's market expires and then check back in on March 10th to see the new designers!

Stick Pony Hopalong

I mean come on! Is that not the cutest stick pony you've ever seen?! There's more where that came from. Visit Kathie's etsy shop to snag one before they run out. I bought one for the holidays and I hopalong out to the studio every morning!

Leap!

Thank you! Modish blogged about Round Robin Press.

Happy leap year!

back and forth card is printed!

The back and forth cards are printed and I am now waiting on stickers for the cello sleeves - then they will be ready to hit the streets. I did a test run in the mail and all went smoothly. I am eager to see what the whole envelope will look like once it's been back and forth 4 times. One word of caution is if you are sending these out you might tell your friend ahead of time not to tear into the envelope like a mad dog so you will be able to use it over and over again. Less waste more fun!

focusing on the positive

I could watch this everyday.

Some days are gray even when the sky is blue

Lot's of new exciting business opportunities are happening for Round Robin Press and I am trying to juggle it all. I'm printing the back and forth card along with the 3 new plantable cards this week! I took the plunge, wish me luck. And I really want to start a pen pal project donating the back + forth cards to my son's class. I'll keep ya posted.

I've also had a hard time with life lately. My father is in the hospital for the umpteenth time and as always it is hard to swallow. I never expected I would witness what is happening to him. I'm trying to remember who he was when I was a child, the person who took care of me and was the go-to dad for all my friends when they were having problems, and the guy who made us all crack up, the person who taught me to have a big heart. I know that he is still there ... somewhere. I hope he chooses to come back. I really do.

I keep plugging away at my work and my family but every now and then when I fully let it in, the extremity of what is happening, I burst out into tears and I realize that it's all bottled up inside of me. So I thought instead of always posting about the cheery it would be therapeutic to let this out, in a very public way and say that this SUCKS. Thank you for being there and commenting and emailing. It means the world to me.

Happy Birthday Tallman!

happy birthday my superman, I hope all your days to come feel just like this. I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sleepy love and homemade valentine's cards. Happy love day everyone. I chose these pics because I see so much true love in them. My oldest sifted through National Geographic Traveler (only 2 - I couldn't bear to part with more) picking out photos that he liked and then pairing them with the appropriate classmate. "Rose has been to the Eiffel Tower and Jack loves rocks." He collaged and metal stamped "love" on every card that was pulled from my letterpress recycling box. I could not have felt more appreciation for him during the two hours it took him to go through his list of v-day mates. Last year it was rushed and store bought, this year it was pure proud and happiness. I hope you have a great day spreading and receiving the love!

Hone your craft!

Yesterday was a fantastic day. I completed almost everything on my to do list. I felt relaxed
and deserving of a lay in the hammock with Where the Wild Things Are at one end and CRAFT by Meg Mateo Ilasco at the other. (My husband was sweet enough to model for this product shot.) I have so many talented friends that want their own businesses but don't know where to start. This book, so far, is a great fact filled book on how to start up a small business based on your ideas and I've really enjoyed reading the interviews of those who have successfully built their companies. It has been good for me to check off what I've accomplished in the past two years and refine what still needs to be tackled.

Another book I'm eager to get is The Boss of You by Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon. It comes out in May.

Normally I can't stay awake to read a sentence but getting a chance to have someone tell me how to do it right, how others made it work - is what I am craving ALL the time. So often I feel like I'm working in a vacuum and most of the time making good choices and learning from my mistakes but always wanting more business advice. I am happily obsessed.

#4 - Friend's back and forth card

This is the last of the new designs and the one that is closest to my heart. Read all about it here! And check out Esme's submission for Friend Friday - what a cutie!

Hug - #3 of the new designs

I can't seem to get away from lovers and friends. Not a bad place to be! Another pink and chocolate plant-able card with 100% recycled curry colored envelope.

Back + Forth project on Craft Magazine's blog

Wow, I had no idea other people would spread the word for us. How cool is that?! Rachel of Average Jane Crafter submitted back and forth project to Craft Magazine... Read the whole post over at back + forth project!