I’m not sure I’ve ever looked forward to a Stationery Show this much. It’s been so much fun (and hard work) to develop my new designs, which will launch very soon, and I am really looking forward to sharing them.

2012 hasn’t been a very easy year for me, in many ways…so far. But, in a funny way, it’s also been very rewarding. I’ve learned things, and I feel like I’ve really grown.

Perhaps that’s what is driving some of the new designs I’ve been doing…I’ve really enjoyed returning to some of my handmade roots…getting into details and textures. I’m really looking forward to showing the entire suite of new items, both at the show and here, online. So, if you’re heading to NSS, I hope you’ll swing by my booth (1674) and say hi. If not…just add your name to the mailing list over there, and I’ll be back in touch when the items are up here for all to see. xo S

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Actually, since January, I’ve been going through some health-related things that have made it necessary for me to reduce time spent working, and to try and take it easy.

While I haven’t been blogging, I *have* been working on new ideas, and developing some new items, which will debut in May. I’m excited to say I’ll be launching some Kitchen-related items!

My friends and family know that I don’t usually cook. However, I DO love to eat. And I am a very enthusiastic eater. My boyfriend, Kurt, is a fabulous cook, and in a way, this new group of products are inspired by him, and how much I enjoy the food he creates for us. Having a health issue really makes it clear what matters in one’s life. That, combined with working on some of these new ideas has made this a very special time for me, as a designer. It’s been challenging, and in a way, eye opening.

Anyway, I can’t wait to reveal the items….but for now, they’re still cooking.

I have always been smitten with Hello!Lucky’s beautiful paper and fun letterpress greetings, even since before I started my own line. So, it is with great pleasure that I announce today that my wedding collection has launched at HelloLucky.com!

There are six design suites, which we developed together. While I’ve never designed for the wedding category before, I must say that *now* I understand what all the excitement is about. Each suite is like it’s own capsule collection – with all the trimmings. We created separate designs for all of the different aspects – from save the dates, to bellybands and envelope liners.

The motifs were inspired by my love of the decorative arts…lacemaking, flower pressing, hand-stitching, and textile dying among them. There is a lovely feature which talks more about my process as a designer, and the inspirations behind this collection right here.

All of the designs are available in letterpress and/or digital printing. The colors are totally customizable, to coordinate with the couple’s selected wedding colors. Several of the designs can be printed in two and even three colors.

I hope you’ll enjoy the Susy Jack Wedding Collection for Hello! Lucky as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. My favorite? Well, it’s hard to pick, they’re all my babies! So… feel free to tell me yours! ; )

View the whole collection here
Photography by the very talented Edyta Szyszlo

What colors come to mind when you think of the ocean? Try it…right now. Take a minute to think of the ocean. Your ocean. Think of the colors and what it’s like for you to be standing there. It’s different than the first instinct of color, isn’t it? It’s richer…it’s your own. And it’s different than anything you see on the web, or in print, or in a photo. It is the real thing.

People often ask me “what inspires you?” Sometimes, it’s difficult to say, exactly. Looking closely at things. When I go out into the world, and remember to slow down and look, (as I just have…on a little trip to Florida) I always have new and original things to draw on in my mind’s eye. For example, who would have known I’d come away from the beach with burgundy, dark greys, browns, and the palest blue in combination.

So, what do you see when you think of the ocean? I’d love to know.

Photos: Via my instagram feed… (if you’d like to follow along, or share your photos with me…my handle there is @susyjack -same as on twitter

The NY Gift Fair has officially begun, and we are off to a lovely start! I’ve launched 12 new items, and here is one of them – in a trade bead-inspired pattern which I love for it’s texture and mood.  My new Grand Plan pads are beautiful, offset printed paper blocks (over 1″ thick) with three perforated panels. So, one big list can become three little ones or vice versa. It’s always nice to have options.

I love designing for the space where work and life meet. It’s a place I am in a lot, myself. I’m often in need of a large piece of paper at the beginning of the day – and many times, I find myself making several lists at once- I almost think of it as the blueprint for my day. I loved the idea of creating a beautiful paper item that is also comfortable in the organizing, decor, and gift category, and I’m really happy to introduce these as a part of my line.

I’ll post more images as items debut, but I thought this was a good place to start for a Monday. After the show is over, I’ll also be listing our newest in the shop.

Headed to NYC? Swing on by: #4150 with Crow and Canary Rep Group!

Actually, I have never really liked Art Deco. Something about it always seemed very forced to me. But lately, I can’t get enough of it. Over the weekend, I went looking for a few selections to post this Monday Mon.tage, and here they are. I suppose most of the Art Deco I’ve seen in the past has been so strictly in the style that I hadn’t noticed some of the more subtle pieces, such as this vase at the lower left, which I saw in an antique shop up on 2nd Ave a couple of weekends ago, and managed to find online. (Incidentally, this tumblr is probably the best collection of Deco I have found online.)

I’ve also been keeping an eye out for contemporary designers working with a deco style – and am particularly into the latest from Oscar de la Renta and Sass and Bide.

Additional Links: Parasol from the Met’s collection, and Pattern from E A Seguy (Someone I think we’ll be seeing tons of, trendwise, very soon) Prismes series.

Over the weekend I was doing some research on beading and came across these amazing antique top hats, which I found so inspiring I had to post them here.

The top hat is kind of a special personal symbol for me. (note the rollover on the “my account” link above!) And, I’ve always been drawn to them. As a kid, the top hat was always the token I’d choose when battling it out for total political control – or just trying to stay out of jail –  in Monopoly, and the top hat, and  really, the stovepipe hat, have always had a special place in my heart. I suppose it symbolizes aspiration, style and rakish grace. Also, for me, it has a slightly forbidden air – since they’re not usually intended to be worn by women.

So, I was floored by these antique beaver-skin top hats I came across on Sunday, which were beaded by Native Americans, I’m going to guess, in the early 1900′s. The combination of cultural symbols, personalization, and reference here is absolutely mindblowing, and I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did.

Images found here

I love designing my promotions – and usually try to come up with a neat concept, since what I send to buyers needs to work hard for me. The challenge now is that I’m not quite done with my new styles, so I didn’t want to include images that were not final. However, I think this will work for a postcard. I also thought it was apropos since I’m from NYC myself. The back will house info on my products, a thumbnail, and relevant details.

Anyway I hope the debut will be a big success, and I liked this idea so much I wanted to share it here. When I get the cards back from the printer, I’ll probably post a pic of how they turn out. One little tweak I can already see I should make is making the R in Fair a little brighter.

PS. If you’re a retailer and would like more info or to make an appointment to see the line, more info can be found here

Happy 2012! I hope you’re enjoying it so far. Actually, I have a feeling it’s going to be an amazing year. Do you?

I spent mine here in NYC and in the Hudson Valley – which was a welcome break from what turned out to be a very busy holiday season for me.

Now it’s time to plunge back into work, and I’m getting ready to show at the NY Int’l Gift Fair at the end of January. We’ll launch three new products, in a bunch of new patterns…and I can’t wait.

Over the years, I’ve come to relish creating the packaging for my line as much as I love making the patterns. It’s the point where the designs really start to come alive as products, and it’s always exciting. Up here is a spec sample of one new style in progress. Lately I’m totally into utilitarian hardware labels of the 1920′s meeting delicate, textural patterns, and I’m loving the cardboard touches and the textures in this item. I think the diamond shape on the packaging is a bit strange….but I tried a square, and an oval, and a circle, and they’re just plain not as cool.

Oh I just love a good quote, don’t you?

This week my clients, Blue Sky, were here in NYC and they treated Kurt and me to a trip to see Alvin Ailey, and we all had a fantastic and inspiring time. I feel very grateful to have seen such amazing and energized dance. So thank you, Blue Sky – and dancers!

The first piece centered on the Harlem Renaissence. At one point, this quote was spoken, and I made a mental note to share it here. Actually, the entire Alvin Ailey experience was similar to this quote. While the dancers were moving together, it was almost like watching a troupe of soloists. That was very powerful for me. Not only in the historical context of the Alvin Ailey group – but as a metaphor for being part OF a group. The texture of the pieces was rippled…natural…because the dancers were being themselves, and they were also being focused.

This quote, and the dancers moving, reminded me that love cannot be something you hammer into shape. It takes it’s own form because of what is around it, or what is not around it.

So surround and be surrounded! On that note, have a wonderful weekend all.

Links: Alvin Ailey,  Zora Neale Hurston