Louella Court

Lasercut Love ♥

{ posted by vanessa, owner + creative director }

I wanted to share this amazing laser cut piece with you today as i am deep in the trenches of another huge amazing laser cut design! i had the pleasure of working for over a year with this amazing family on their daughters wedding that took place in June of 2009 at The Four Seasons in Philadelphia. Creating this laser cut wrap was an elegant way to encase this beautiful metallic gold and navy engraved invitation that was edged in gold. I love the shadows that pattern creates!

There is so much exciting change and great work going on in our studio right now, stay tuned as we unveil some really great pieces and exciting announcements in the next few months!

 

Recent Work Around the Studio

taking a little time today to share some great new work with y'all - a few weeks ago we mailed this great mitzvah invite, that combines engraving, letterpress and screen printing on aluminum!

Great Work For A Great Cause...

Check out this fabulous work by past summer intern and ultra fabulous Amanda Jones! Letterpress diva and amazing designer, she's moved on to Michigan, and I couldn't help but repost these!

Designed for an amazing cause through the Detroit Museum of Art , feel free to vote for your favorite via this awesome poster contest. 

Visit her on her site for more of her fab work - http://amandajanejones.com

 

 

{ photos courtesy of Swell Jane }

to all the dolls I've loved before (and you will love them, too)

{ posted by Vanessa, owner + creative director }

Everyone knows I am a Cancer tried and true — emotions are usually stuck to my sleeve or impossible to hide. I am so grateful and so passionate about what we do here at Two Paperdolls, and despite the hard times, I am always so grateful for the amazing people I get to work with every day, both clients and partners. But for me, most of all it's the dolls. Past and present, they inspire me, they challenge me, and they make me better every single day.

In the spring of 2006, I decided I wanted to have our designs available nationwide, and had little clue how we could do that. Then one night, it just clicked: we would design a line of customizable engraved invitations, as no one had done before, and thus, Louella Press was born.

At the time, I was so fortunate and blessed to have four women on our team who will forever have a place in my heart. Catherine King, Lauren Mummé, Rachel Polizzi, Maggie Mae Moore and myself put countless hours into the development and creation of Louella Press, from product design to branding and networking; it was a truly amazing collaboration of five incredible minds working to develop a beautiful product in a very short amount of time.

During this process, and as part of our new luxury brand of engraved invitations and letterpress note cards, we designed these paperdolls (significant to our parent company Two Paperdolls) to be a signature piece in our marketing materials. We gave them out at the National Stationery Show in 2006, 2007 and 2008... we included a special doll in each order that we shipped to a store or a client, and we were always asked if we'd sell them. And the answer was always "no."

So here we are, approaching the holidays in 2009, and we've decided after sooooo many requests to finally sell our dolls, so people can enjoy them as much as we do! Check them out in black and white, teal and chocolate, and red and cream. They make super fun cards, gifts, or would look adorable tied to an invitation; we've even had people buying them as decorations. Stay tuned for more colors and patterns, coming soon!

{ you'll love the cute little surprise on the back! }

As we release these today for sale for the first time on Etsy, I would be remiss if I didn't give tremendous credit to these four women. This post goes out to those original dolls: Lauren left us to move to New Zealand with her Aussie husband, Alex; Catherine is writing her fabulous blog FRESH; Rachel is finishing school to be an art teacher; and Maggie is off spreading her design wings, doing fabulous work no doubt... these women will forever have a place in my sappy heart, and are a true testament that there is never any "I" in TEAM.

 

{ from left, Brooke Forry, Vanessa Kreckel, Lauren Mummé,
Catherine King, Rachel Polizzi, and Maggie Mae Moore }

Check out Louella Press on Etsy to buy your own paperdolls!

timeless tradition with Laura Novak

{ posted by Vanessa, owner + creative director }

I met photographer Laura Novak in 2004 and instantly I knew she just "got" it.

We became fast friends, both twenty-something women, set out on a mission to build successful creative businesses (not an easy task, yet nothing was going to stop either of us). She got me. I got her. Laura has a hell of an eye for style and detail, she is so fun to hang out with, and has a fabulous business mind — so much so that over the years she has become one of my most favorite people to have dinner with and digress about life, business, and future. I was honored when she asked me to design all of her fabulous paper goodness for her wedding in February of 2008, and I always get giddy when designing her branding and letterpressing her business cards; she is just one of those people that lets me "do my thing." Ahhhhh, creative freedom. 

Laura started photographing my little guy Landon right before he turned one, and we've now done a photo shoot every late summer/fall since — he's now about to turn four. Yes, I said FOUR (going on sixteen). Landon loves Laura and talks about her on occasion. He was totally stoked for his pictures this year, so we decided to go somewhere new. We ended up in the cutest town ever, Phoenixville (my first time there, what?) and he had a blast. Landon loves music, and in honor of the late and great Michael J., he broke out in full break dance singing "Friller" for Laura during our session. We almost peed our pants.

Here are some favorites from the last four years:

age one:

age two:

age three:

age four (see the full slideshow here):

  

 

I have to say, being a mom and watching your child grow up and turn into a person is hands down the most precious gift in life, and I feel blessed to have these photos and memories. Every year I make an album of these photos and I'm hoping I make it to 18 before he refuses — but knowing Landon and the ham that he is, he will be down with it.

{ all photos by Laura Novak }

the other paper doll

{ posted by Vanessa, owner + creative director }

I get asked almost once a week who my business partner is, if I have one — the other doll? Why are there two? Who is she? As she is about to give birth to her third child, I wanted to honor her with this post, and let the world know how much she means to me, and that although she isn't part of our day-to-day operation, she is part of me in so many ways. She will always be the reason I had the guts to start a company eight years ago.

Suzanne Cogan Gallagher has been my best friend since the fourth grade. She tells the story best — she knew we'd be BFF's for life when I sauntered onto the ski bus in 4th grade wearing a fluorescent yellow snowsuit. It was head to toe yellow, handed down from the neighbors, swimmingly too big for me... it was a beauty. 

Growing up in the Poconos, the Cogans were my second family. As an only child, you can bet there wasn't a cooler place to hang out than the Cogan shack, where Suz was one of five kids (most being older and wiser, and certainly "cooler" than we were). Known to the Cogan clan (still at age 34) as Eddie Hascal, it's pretty safe to say that I was a shoe-in for the sixth kid.

{ Suzanne, our friend Amy, and me, back in the day }

Separated in ninth grade with Suzanne moving to South Jersey, we wrote letters and racked up phone bills that my mom still reminds me about. We attended different colleges, and years later we ended up a mile apart again living in Havertown, PA. Our weddings were four weeks apart from each other nine years ago, we had our children 3 months apart, and still to this day we are best friends forever.

FLASHBACK — late 90's — I was working as a graphic artist at the University of Pennsylvania and Suzanne worked in healthcare. We were both planning our weddings... well. Suzanne actually planned our weddings. If you know me, you know I don't plan anything. I happened to design some pretty awesome stationery for our weddings (well, at the time we and everyone else thought it was awesome). When we look back now, we laugh.

Anyhow, Suzanne's forté was always in the details — I call her Martha. My forté was in scheming up the grand ideas that neither of us had any clue how the hell they would come to fruition, but I just knew one day they would. Eventually, our individual strengths clicked with one another and formed a business — Two Paperdolls. Somewhere through the process I learned the true meaning of the word faith, and have surrounded myself with a hell of team of people and a great support system. Our company as it stands today would be nothing without those people, especially Suzanne.

Our kids are best friends. Her boys, twins (of course), Jack and Luke are always on the lookout for my son Landon, in school, at parties — they're always sure to report on his antics or his latest shenanigans. In case I didn't mention, Landon is my "mini-me." He looks and acts just like me, and he's definitely got the "Eddie Hascal" in him. No doubt.

Suzanne has supported me endlessly through life's biggest events and been a rock in my life for twenty-five years. She's a role model in so many ways, from the way she raises her children, to the kind of spouse she is to Dan, to the constant kindness she showers on every person she meets.

Suz, it's an honor to call you my best friend, and I can't wait to meet that new little bean. Thank you for always loving me, supporting me, and most of all putting up with me.

Can you say ... AMAZING??

{ posted by Vanessa, owner + creative director }

so art is my life, total passion. i am obsessed, inspired, in awe of, and completely drawn to all things ART, and all artsy people. its a talent, and i kind of dig talent, lets face it, it's attractive ;) i remember starting out, at my dining room table, over seven years ago, with nothing, just a few clients here and there who liked my work. just a dream and no idea how to figure out how to make it real. for me it took a lot of gut feeling, risk, and a whole lotta 'you only live onces' to figure that out. lucky for me it all worked out well. there was never a plan. i don't believe in plans. but for some artists, it can be scary, and in this economy, extra scary. that said, i am so excited to introduce the most fabulous news of the year so far.... dun du dun dun....

my favorite little spot of NOLIBS lately has been developing quite nicely over the years, and has just launched a huge initiative geared toward artists of all shapes and sizes. it's the latest buzz, and i can't wait to see it come to fruition.

my new and adorable little passionate friend amber lynn has been so amazing in spearheading this venture with mega developer tower investments, inc. she has been working fast and furiously to bring the vision to life, and kudos to her, she is tearing it up. she came to us and asked for our help in this project, and not only was i THRILLED, {did i say thrilled} to participate, its been inspiring me all week long.

the artist's piazza mission is to create a home for philadelphia artists to thrive, grow, and collaborate. we are determined to curate an eclectic collection of shops that will fuel a creative epicenter for arts and culture in the city. we are looking for fashionistas, fine artists, musicians, photographers, interior designers, furniture designers, graphic designers, jewelry makers,... those that have passion for what they do well.

the piazza will have a running program of free events every night that is dedicated to providing public access to exemplary multicultural music, dance, film, and art programs.  the piazza strives to promote the importance of the arts in the enrichment and quality of community life and serves a broad audience from throughout the greater philadelphia region.

so what does this mean for you...
dope free programming that will keep and maintain a steady flow of traffic 7 days a week in a space that holds 5,000 people.

what else...

• farmer's market every weekend
• festivals/fairs every month starting in may
• a free monthly magazine that will be used to promote not only the  piazza, but focus on you the tenants every month
• a website which will include podcast and music features, ...taking the piazza and broadcasting it to the world
• an online piazza store that you can sell your goodies.
• holler when we say... diner!.... and a bar by tommy up in the piazza.

what is available?
* 45 retail spaces ranging from 450-1,000 sq.feet
* rent ranging from $650-$950
* month to month leasing if desired
* april and may are free ....only pay for june.

this is an amazing opportunity for philadelphia artists of all forms!  due to the overwhelming response we have received to this project and in an effort to streamline the process of selecting vendors for the piazza, we will be accepting applications from artists. in an effort to make the piazza a mutifaceted center for all things art, applications will be reviewed by a panel, and offers will be made to qualified candidates upon selection no later than march 15th. we are looking to have diversity among artist types, forms, etc.

* rsvp asap for the piazza preview party to amber.amberlynn.lynn@gmail.com

we're working on a blog that will be up shortly, so that y'all can follow the development and news on the piazza here.

{photos courtesy of http://www.philebrity.com}

i heart coffee.

{ posted by Vanessa, owner + creative director }

i've been thinking lately about how much i just love coffee. i need it. and on the days i try to fool myself to think i don't, well those days are usually not good ones.

this christmas i went a little crazy and bought a tassimo coffee maker that i think its way cool. it makes lattes and caps and wowsers, it even does it for me. now that is sheer convenience in my world of being a mom and a business owner, and leading a generally nonstop life. i'm also a big fan of the little keurigs as well, i splurged a year ago, (back in the day when splurging was allowed around here), and got one for the office that all of the dolls sure do love.

its always been a big dream of mine to own a coffee shop, and i think often of how much i love the atmosphere of a cute and homey place that you can go and chat with friends, find dogs chilling out, or read the latest, and listen to great tunes. since my hands are full enough with our two lovely businesses, i don't think i will own my own coffee shop in this lifetime, but i sure do like to visit this one. one shot coffee in the perfectly cute and growing little neighborhood of northern liberties in philly has become part of my routine when i am in the city. every time you walk in there, its like home. friendly, artsy people are everywhere and there is never a day without a pooch in there. thankfully we're still allowed back after my monster great dane puppy, clark knocked a plate of muffins on the floor, broke a plate, and ate a cherry turnover off the counter. needless to say, he is also, a big fan of this place.

{ photos courtesy of http://www.myspace.com/1shotcoffee }

melissa has done a fantastic job with the place and we just love it there. my favorite has got to be a skinny vanilla latte and a will's bagel, with honey and almonds. amazing.

being an artist, i stumbled upon something known in the java world as 'coffee art' - how cool is this??? i mean who wouldn't want to order a latte and have a monkey face in it. that just makes me smile. in all the hustle and bustle of daily life, its the little things in life that keep us going. here are some more fab designs on found compliments of http://www.weirdomatic.com/coffee-art.html

{ photos courtesy of http://www.weirdomatic.com + http://brownbettydesserts.com }

if you're ever in no libs, take a trip to 'the walk' and check out this cute little place, and of course, you cant leave there without walking next door to the fabu brown betty's. i have yet to taste a better cupcake!!

wow - and then... i found this amazing cool site that makes art using coffee, these rock. Check out this fabulous "Coffee_Personalities_Poster" 

{ photos courtesy of http://www.justcoffeeart.com }

ok so now thats it's um 2 pm, i think i'll go grab a cup and start working on some sweet logo projects! happy friday!