1canoe2 Down Under
February 20th, 2012
Hey, Look at this! We got news last week that our Outlaws of the Wild West print is featured in the March issue of Shop Til You Drop!
What? You don’t know that magazine? Well, to be honest, we didn’t either, but only because we don’t live in AUSTRALIA! It’s apparently a pretty big time magazine down there, so we are thrilled that they gave us some love.
A big thanks to our new friend Ashleigh for giving us the heads up, and for sending us a copy. Your reward is in the mail!
:: Carrie ::
Against the Grain
February 15th, 2012
Here’s something beautiful for your Wednesday afternoon. The new music video for ‘Against The Grain’ from emerging Melbourne indie-folk artist Hudson. Enjoy!
This Week in the Studio…
February 12th, 2012We had a great time at NYIGF! Travel went smoothly, we had a great place to stay, and the show went really well! So, what happens the week after a trade show? We all take a big sigh of relief, first of all. Then, its packing orders and shipping boxes to our new wholesale accounts, and re-printing items that we sold more than we have in stock. There’s a lot of following up with the contacts we made in NYC. We’re also taking a good hard look at where we are, and setting some goals for where we want to be in the weeks and months ahead.
More about our time in New York later, but for now, here are a couple of things that came out of the studio this week:
One of our favorites! Hail to the Chief! This is the second edition of this print, and it’s back in the shop. So, if you have been thinking about needing a little presidential history in your life, now is the time. Presidents day is Monday, February 20th, and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate! Treat yo’ self!!
Also, this week, another printing of our ever popular valentines! Don’t forget your sweetie! This reminder might be a little late, but in case you are running behind (we all do sometimes) you can find our valentines right here.
There has also been some interesting things going on just outside our studio this week as well. On Wednesday I took a little break from printing to go for a walk with Toby (Karen’s dog) to the big lake on our farm.
We’ve had a GIGANTIC flock of snow geese visiting this week. A lot of geese. I mean, a lot. Thousands. Sometimes they all congregate in the middle of a field, and sometimes they sit on the lake. They are loud, and they draw a lot of attention. There have been pickup trucks (ones that we don’t recognize) driving ever so slowly up and down the road. Prospective hunters, I’m guessing, just watching the birds.
The best part is when they all decide to take flight. Remember this video I posted? Amazing. Well, on Wednesday when Toby and I took off on our walk all the geese were sitting on the lake. It’s pretty hard to sneak up on a flock of geese with a labrador retriever in the midst. I had my video camera ready, and here is what we saw…
:: Carrie ::
On the way home
February 10th, 2012
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I’ve been driving past this house for a while. I don’t know about you, but I’m always seeing something while I’m driving, but I’m too lazy/in a rush/don’t have my camera to pull the car over. Today, I pulled it over, jumped over a frozen ditch, picked my way over a huge dirt pile, and took some very quick shots in the razor sharp prairie wind. My prevailing thought was “poor shoe choice”. Ballet flats from work aren’t exactly great for 20 degree mudpie hopping.
The farmer who owns the land has been razing all the trees, which is so sad. This house is so similar to the house I grew up in. It’s sort of haunting to me that it’s falling in so terribly.
~Beth
Linotype: The Film
February 6th, 2012
We love old technology as much as we love new technology, but we’re kind of biased. Sometimes I just have to stop and marvel at the fact that we can take photos and send messages with a phone no bigger than a deck of cards that we hold in our hand, but at the same time we are using a 100 year old printing press to create cards for sending messages to our friends through the mail! Oh how things have changed!
The Linotype (pronounced “line-o-type”) completely transformed the communication of information similarly to how the internet is now changing communication again. Linotype: The Film is a feature-length documentary centered around the Linotype type casting machine. Called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by Thomas Edison, it revolutionized printing and society. The film tells the surprisingly emotional story of the people connected to the Linotype and how it impacted the world.
Looks like a great film!
:: Carrie ::
Home Again, Home Again
February 4th, 2012
What a whirlwind of a week it has been! We’re home from New York and looking forward to a couple days of downtime before we get back to work.
We saw so many inspiring things and met so many great people while we were in NYC, and I think it will take a little bit of time before it all sinks in.
Until then, we’ve got college basketball and the Super Bowl to look forward to. Tonight our Mizzou Tigers (#4) take on the KU Jayhawks (#8) at Mizzou Arena. It’s an INTENSE rivalry that gets rowdy every time, and the hype for this game is huge. It’s going to be a good weekend.
:: Carrie ::
A City So Nice They Named it Twice
January 29th, 2012
We’re having a fabulous time in New York! We’ve settled into our apartment for the week, met lots of great people, eaten at some yummy restaurants, and recovered from the stomach flu. We’re all okay now. Really. Oh, and day one of the trade show was fantastic…it surpassed our expectations. We are looking forward to a great week ahead!
The week before a trade show
January 24th, 2012
The week before New York International Gift Fair. Should I be more nervous? Nah.
Last week we were frantically packing, spray gluing, sawing, painting, and sewing to get everything ready to go into the big ole’ crate. Then Thursday, with a sigh of relief, we watched the UPS truck pull away with that big old crate. I was thinking that this week would be a bit more laid back. Ha!
Here’s a snapshot from the week:
Pot Roast in the oven = epic fail.
Yesterday our new most awesome intern, Haley, started working. After much floundering on my part to meet her at my house, she arrived there 20 minutes before me. “go ahead and go in and make yourself at home,” I said. She walked in and proceeded to pick up the contents of our kitchen trash can which had loving been strewn across the floor by Walter, our little Boston Terrier. Oh, and I had been attempting a new recipe for supper, which was being incinerated in the oven, so the house stunk like burned Dr. Pepper and chipotle peppers. “Hi, new intern, we are so professional here at 1canoe2 industries. Please be my house maid, and suffer my personal kitchen nightmares.” Great start.
Actually, though, I’m not too stressed, and I just have a few things to wrap up, like picking up the catalogs from the printer, buying an extra toothbrush, scheduling our airport transport, and packing my wardrobe.
Here’s my packing list so far:
- Saturday: old levi’s, long-sleeve t-shirt, black fleece vest, tennis shoes
- Sunday: new skinny jeans, new black Gap shirt, long brown sweater, tall boots
- Monday: black striped dress, hot pink cardigan, colored tights, black flats
- Tuesday: black pants, rainbow shirt, camisol, black thick shoes
- Wednesday: trouser pants, black cotton shirt, green sweater
- Thursday: new jeans, boots, coral striped shirt, black blazer
- Friday: black leggings, ??? Purple shirt, grey skirt, camisole
- Extras: black sweaters, pajamas, t-shirts
Yeah, I had to plan out my outfits, because I’m wardrobe-challenged. I hate all of my clothes. You try finding a black blazer that fits a 6’ tall, ample-chested lady (I use the term loosely) and does not look like a funerary tent. I need to be on “what Not To Wear” Seriously. I could wear sweats for a month or two so they can get all that bad b-roll video that the show as the “before”.
Awesome NYC photos by Scottography on Etsy.
Anyway, we’ll be in New York City on Friday! We’re so excited, and I, for one, am 200% less terrified than when we went to the Stationery Show last May. I’m not bringing a 4 month old baby and my mom, for starters. And we know what to expect a little more. We’re hoping to meet lots of interesting and cool people, and have dinner at some fun restaurants. We’re taking suggestions!
Here’s how excited Karen is about going to New York:
We’ll be back next week with some NYIGF updates and post-show breakdowns.
Happily Ever After
January 17th, 2012Look! It’s our newest addition to the 1canoe2 greeting card line…Happily Ever After! This card is printed in 4 colors, and is perfect for congratulating your favorite newly married or soon-to-be-married couple. I snapped some quick photos as I went along to show you the stages in the four color printing process.
First I printed the most detailed part in black. Once this is printed I know exactly where the rest of the colors will be placed.
Blue came next, to fill the background.
Just a little bit of pink.
And, finally, gold was the fourth color.
Seems pretty simple, right? Well, there is a lot more work that goes into printing a card like this than this would lead you to believe. Sometime soon I’ll show you the FULL process – how a design goes from a drawing in our sketchbook to a printed piece.
You will be amazed. I promise.
:: Carrie ::
Wednesday in the Studio
January 11th, 2012
Our booth set up for the New York International Gift Fair is coming right along! We’ve been spending time in the woodshop, building shelves, and painting signs.
This morning it all came together and we did a practice run to make sure we know how to assemble all the pieces.
We think it’s looking pretty sharp so far. One more week before everything ships to New York!
©2012 OneCanoeTwo