week forty-three 2025

Ho ho holy moley! My print schedule is almost a full page and most of the printing is due in two weeks. Show season is ramping up and fast!

Much of last week was spent prepping for holiday shows. Running reports, counting inventory, ordering supplies, gathering paper and job jackets, creating a print production list and a show inventory wish list. The prep of shows takes so much more time than the actual show. I've created a very aggressive print schedule for the next month, wish me luck! I also wrapped up six holiday candle labels for The Scent Queens Candle Co. I love collaborating with other local businesses on design projects. This job was no exception. I believe they'll be debuting the week after Thanksgiving, you'll have to visit The Scent Queens and see for yourself.

In the shop, we put out several new planners this week! If you're in the market for a planner we can help - daily, weekly, monthly, we got 'em. We also restocked stickers. For all you waiting, Richard Scarry car stickers are back in stock. We still have a couple Halloween garlands and several fall garlands left in the shop too. Soon, it'll be all holiday - all the time. Get 'em while you can!

We ran out of complimentary whistles last week but fear not, more are on the way. I was able to print and fold the Pilsen Arts & Community House Whistle Zine on Saturday, as well as print out red cards. Whistles will be back again by Thursday. Thanks to all who've taken them to help keep our neighbors safe. I appreciate you.

The end of the week was all letterpress printing, all the time. I got in a full day of printing and made a very tiny dent in that ongoing print list. While at the shop on Saturday, I placed several wholesale orders between customers for the holiday season. I'm quite behind. We usually start putting out Holiday the first week in November and try to be done by the week of Thanksgiving. I had a mild panic attack when I looked at the calendar last week and realized November first is this week. So yeah. It's feeling a little frantic and it's only October. Save the Date - our final Letter Writing Meet Up of 2025 is happening Thursday, November 6th from 5-7. Join us and share the magic of snail mail with fellow stationery enthusiast. As always, we'll have our vintage typewriters for you to use and a good selection of our pens to try out. You can shop our stationery, or bring your own. No RSVP required, first come, first served. Stay two minutes or the full two hours. BYOB. Again, this is the final one of 2025. We'll start them up again in March.

Our first holiday market is coming up Saturday, November 8th. I'll have a selection of holiday cards, thank you notes and pencil sets. Hope to see you there!
Holiday Pop Up with Studio Silverman and Mikis Cookies
Saturday, November 8th
11am to 3pm
The Center of Order and Experimentation • 1727 W Grand Ave. • Chicago
Image from COE Instagram

Random, randomness...
•Pulling job jacks and cutting paper reams in half means plenty of time to listen to an audiobook. I listened to the third book of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series - As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. It was fine. Like most series books, they get less and less entertaining, in my opinion. But I hate the idea of not finishing books, even a series. 

•Tom and I had a date night Saturday. We headed to The Warbler in Lincoln Square, it was delicious. After we headed to Old Town School of Folk Music to see Fruit Bats. What a fun show! I had no idea Eric had taught at OTSFM or had written When You Love Somebody in his apartment at Montrose Ave and Albany Ave, right around the corner from our shop. It was a really great show.

Another week in the books! Thanks for following along.