Category Archives: art

Photo day – A tour of cedar

Posted on March 17th, 2010

I am going to try to get Gia Canali to take pictures of invitations for me every day!! I know she is too busy for that… but I could just park myself at her studio and see what happens…. not only is she super FUN to work with, she is just so talented… Thanks Gia!!

Here are just a few from our most recent afternoon of picture clicking.

There is even a THEME! All of these incorporate the wonderfully naturally scented cedar wood veneer.

The top one is a little program that has stitched wood front and back cover – with white pages in the middle… so sweet!

To the right here is a lovely invitation that has a cedar border – you can sort of see it on the edges. The drawn tree is actually based on a pepper tree, but cedar is such a lovely shade for a backyard wedding…. it’s all about the trees!

And to the bottom here is a save the date printed on cedar with a little photo of Big Sur printed on recycled paper and attached to the side for a little peak into that wonderful landscape.

Thanks for coming on the tour… any questions?

Pretty Pictures

Posted on March 5th, 2010

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A couple of weeks ago, I went out on a little hiking adventure with Gia Canali in Fryman Canyon (in Los Angeles)… Well, it was more than just a hike. Gia’s husband Matt was lugging 3 or 4 heavy camera’s along because this was to be a photo shoot. I haven’t ever had my pictures taken professionally before so I didn’t think it at all peculiar that we would take a hike….

I was uncomfortable as Gia started clicking the cameras… apparently I am a “blinker”… and the more we hiked along the trail, the more relaxed (and probably sweaty) I got.

We got to the last bit of light that day and I tied on my printing apron that I carried with me up the hill. Gia got out her big old lovely 4×5 camera and loaded some polaroid film. I instantly felt in my element… In front of a BIG tree, as the sun was setting, with the mountains behind me… I was wearing my work out fit and I was comfortable.

Gia took the picture and promptly starting doing some magic work on the film and a couple of days later, she emailed this to me. Everything combined created an antique photo of me…. making me look as if I was a printer plucked from the turn of the century… (the 1900’s)

Now I can’t help but post this picture everywhere… I feel like she was able to capture me and then somehow with her chemical processes, Gia produced this vintage looking version of me.

So, all of that was to say… Gia sure does know how to make a picture. Literally….

My Joyful Heart

Posted on January 30th, 2010

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Tiny Pine Press has been working with the Joyful Heart Foundation for a few years now, designing and printing invitations for some of their events in New York and recently in Los Angeles. The Joyful Heart Foundation’s mission is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

Since I have really gotten to know the organization over the years, I realize that what they do is truly focus on spreading JOY in the present and for the future and not focus too much on the negativity of experiences.

I designed and created these cards with the same intentions. I wanted to create something that represented the Joyful Heart mission from a pure place…. something that someone would be so grateful to send and grateful to receive.

cheryl's scoring hands

The result was that I was grateful to create them. I haven’t done a line of cards before like this. I cut all the paper (with my new cutter!!), printed two runs on 650 cards, watched Cheryl score them….. (my hand was hurting from the 1300 previous pressings) had some extremely helpful hands with the rhinestone gluing (thanks CHERYL and JILL!), packaged them for gift bags on a Friday night (thanks Joanna), AND I loved every minute of it. I felt joy and love in this work.

What’s amazing about gratitude is that if you truly feel it, your heart opens up and love comes flowing right. Sometimes it lands on the ink disk in the form of soy ink and gets printed on luxurious cotton.

One man’s trash…

Posted on January 13th, 2010

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is my treasure! especially in this case.

Well, actually, I did pay a little bit for this press. (and then I paid almost as much to have it moved!)

Introducing my new big bad printing giant. He’s a Chandler & Price 10×15 old style from around 1912. He is OLD and sweet and so far his personality is easy-going. He still hasn’t told me his name. I do know that he is a loving gentle giant. His heart is open and exposed because look what I found. He has an ink fountain attached and the pins are shaped like little hearts. A whole row. I saw those and fell in LOVE!

I parked him in my garage with his girlfriend, the big cutter. I think she told mentioned that her name is Betsy. They are about the same age and they came from the same shop. I just couldn’t bear to separate them. Betsy doesn’t look her age, but she is set in her ways. Photos of her are coming shortly.

I have been spending extensive quality time with my new friends, just getting to know them…. Cleaning up the quiet Mr. printing press and trying to listen for his name – exploring all of the possible ole holes for his old joints. and getting ready to have the chiropractor come over soon to give him an adjustment so he will be ready to print print print.

Thomas A Minor & The Picket Line

Posted on November 22nd, 2009

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My younger brother (he’s taller than me so I hesitate to call him my ‘little’ brother anymore), Oscar Lee Riley Parsons lives in Louisville and spends his days making leather, doing some construction, AND making music. All the shy genes went to me and my older brother, James, I reckon, cause Oscar has been a singer and performer for as long as I can remember.

And people listen. His current bluegrass-ish band has backed Bonnie Prince Billy at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, been mentioned in the New Yorker, and now they have released their own EP.

They did a small run of covers. The banjo picker Bradley did the artwork (except for the moonshine jug that I drew and added at the last minute) and I typeset it, and ran them through my press x 250 or so. I think they are really nice… and appropriate for a semi-old timey bluegrass-ish rock band.

As a side note, the band members are in charge of gluing the covers onto sleeves. The ones I received were quite straight because Oscar did them. but I heard reports of crooked gluing. Adds to the charm?

Anyways, it is wonderful to hear my little brother sing. I can’t figure out what song is my favorite, but the first track “Ain’t No Doubt About It” is a familiar story about Daddy and JC racing towards the county line to get some booze before the store closed. We hear that story every christmas from JC. I am not surprised it worked it’s way into true permanence.

I also LOVE “Magnolia” and “Back In Town”. Ok. I love all of them. I will stop listing them… go to their myspace to hear a couple of songs! and check out their facebook page!

I am proud of you Oscar!

If you want to attain a copy, try harassing the band on myspace? I think they only have local distribution out of my brother’s truck right now.

BUT if you want your copy of their release, send $10 Cash and an address to:

Oscar Parsons
713 S. Barbee Way
Louisville, Kentucky 40217

(they prefer cash but checks are ok. make it out to Bradley Reinstedler to the same address)

He will pop one in the mail to you for sure….

for info email: thepicketline at gmail dot com

It really is ALBUM OF THE YEAR. except that it’s only an EP. WE NEED MORE!!

HOLIDAY! CELEBRATE!

Posted on November 18th, 2009

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Tis the season. I am working double time to do all the holiday cards and party invitations. It was so exciting to give my 2 cents for a holiday card article about city moms on the Stroller Traffic blog.

Family holiday cards are the funnest way to share your joy with everyone you know… one of my all time favorite holiday cards is this one – a Dirty Byrd Paper bird. I love printing on shapes. This one was for my friends over at Sillapere Events. It’s handmade, It’s green. And it’s a super cool surprise in the mail.

What ends up happening because I am so busy this time of year, is that Thanksgiving will arrive and I will expect a pile of presents.

But it’s all good, cause I accept pies as presents! Maple Pecan Pie… yum.

Style Me Pretty talks about Tiny Pine Press!

Posted on November 14th, 2009

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tinypinepress36-300x233 What a surprise to find out that Tiny Pine got a BIG shout out on that fanciest of all wedding blogs.

Thank goodness for Gia Canali and her pretty pictures. And to Yifat Oren for styling (and planning) so so beautifully. I love it when our collaborations get some attention. Its so nice….

Here are some other photos of sweet Dara & Dan’s invitation and save the

date (photos taken from Gia’s blog….)

My only woe about the wedding is that they didn’t need an onsite stationer in the Turks and Caicos. But alas, I had to stay home on that one…

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Dani & Sean

Posted on October 23rd, 2009

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As always, this summer I was insanely busy creating some unique wedding invitations. And because I am so busy working on them, I have less time to devote to photographing and posting them. Turns out, sometimes wedding photographers do that. This wedding was shot by Amelia Lyon and I think the event looks so lovely!

One of my favorite parts about my work is that I get to collaborate with clients and event designers to create the perfect mailable communications for each event. And to tell the truth, in the past couple of years, Sillapere Events has become one of my very favorites to work with. Nicole is so artistic and caring about the tiniest details, plus they are super GREEN! everything I do for them is always Recycled, Tree Free or Sustainable.

Here are some photos of the invitation & save the date and day that we created together to make Dani & Sean’s wedding so special. Thanks to Amelia for posting the photos! If you check out her blog post, there are more Tiny Pine/Sillapere creations as you scroll down….

I think they all turned out whimsical yet elegant…. This was one of my very favorite wedding invitations all year. For Sure!