Handmade Fountain-Pen-Friendly (Christmas) Stationery Cards

[Sharksteve]

I am proud to present a possible solution to the fountainpen-friendly stationery card dilemma:
I am married to my very talented wife IRIS , she learned and worked for years in a renowned stationery store in Vienna (Austria) and she is really good working with paper and stationery etc - I would call her a stationery expert. She heard my complaints about the lack of fountain pen (ink-) friendly stationery cards, and develloped her own handmade design, that I will show to you here.

Her handcrafted Fountain-Pen-Friendly Stationery Cards are made of the best available materials, and are done to be durable and elegant:

The Cards consist of an outer card made of FABRIANO* White Artist Paper (120g), and an inner layer of TOMOE RIVER** Paper.

The Papers expertly Cut on a manually operated cutting machine, and are hand - sewn with a high quality sewing silk thread matching the design or ink color your prefer, each threads end knot finished with a silver, gold, bronze or other colored (crimp-) bead (If you don't like the threads extended, the cards can off course be bound without he thread extension or the beads).

 

As the inner layer of tomoe river is very securely sewn into the card, the inner paper can be turned as in a book, it is possible to write on all "four pages", or just on the "inner two pages" of the tomoe river paper. The sewing holds nice, evenly spreading the tension along the thin Tomoe River paper (much better then any tack would).

My wife offers to make them for interested fountain pen network members on demand, and completely customized.

She offers her own designs, most of them are made in fountain pen ink, with matching sewing silk colors. (the cards look awesome when written with the same ink as printed on the outside)

It is possible to make the cards blank, without decor, so you can make your own decor.

Almost any color of sewing silk thread is possible.

Almost any decor is possible, in various ink colors (we have readily available: Noodlers Golden Brown, Navy; MB Irish Green, Lavender Purple, Blue, Blue Black; Edelstein Onyx, Topaz; Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite; all inks can have gold or silver dust added to them).


Some pictures of examples:

Christmas Cards in Red (Stars):
Decor made of Herbin 1670 Rouge Haematite fountain pen ink, deep-red or gold-brown sewing silk thread, gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk001.JPG

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk003.JPG

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk010.JPG

(ohh - the sheen )

see next post for part 2

Edited November 17, 2014 by Sharksteve

[Sharksteve]

Christmas Cards in Gold-Brown (Stars):
Decor made of Noodlers Golden Brown Fountain Pen Ink with gold powder added for golden sheen/shimmer, gold-brown sewing silk thread, gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk023.JPG

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk024.JPG

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk027.JPG

Christmas Cards in Violett-Grey-Gold (Stars):
Decor made of Thinned Pelikan Edelstein Onyx (Violett Grey) Fountain Pen Ink with Gold Powder added for golden sheen/shimmer, deep violett sewing silk thread, silver or gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk028.JPG

http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk030.JPG

Thanksgiving Cards in Golden Brown (Maple Leaf):
Decor made of Noodlers Golden Brown printed with real Maple Leaf, gold brown sewing silk thread, gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk020.JPG

Christmas Cards with Metallic Copper-Linocuts:
Decor made of handmade linocut prints in Schminke-Metallic-Copper, gold brown or copper colored sewing silk thread, gold- or bronze colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk039.JPG

Christmas Cards with Copper-Sheen Green Linocuts:
Decor made of handmade linocut prints in Schminke-Metallic-Copper and Green, copper- or green colored sewing silk thread, gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk036.JPG

Cards in Golden Brown and Irish Green (African Savannah):
Decor made of Noodlers Golden Brown and MB Irish Green Ink, gold brown or green sewing silk thread, gold-colored crimp beads, Fabriano-Artist Paper (outer layer), Tomoe River (inner layer)
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk046.JPG

Off Course they can be made blank for your own designs, with any colors of sewing silk and beads;

the way the cards are sewn can also be done to custom, they can be sewn full length, just in the middle, just on the edges:
http://www.austrianairports.com/karte/kartk048.JPG

 

What do you think? Anyone interested?

She would make the cards blank for a price of EUR 3,-
and with any decor for EUR 4,-.

She can also do a card decorated to your demand, or with a customized motive on the front (like a graphic depicting your home or any other motive, drawn after your photo and printed on the paper, with ink or watercolor wash or without), aks for prices on that.

We can also provide custom writing on the inside, price depending on your text (0,10 EUR per word, written in ink matching the color, with italic nib).

All cards are handprinted, handcut and -folded, handcolored, handsewn by Iris in Austria / Europe.

If you are interested, please contact me via PM or E-Mail.

 

If you don't like it, please don't hesitate to comment, that way we can improve or make it different. The goal is to make stationery cards for fountain pen and ink lovers, customized to any wishes.

All the best, Stefan

* the oldest european paper mill owned by the Fedrigoni Group, established in 1264 A.D. in Fabriano, Italy

** a very fountain pen friendly thin paper made by Tomoegawa Co. Ltd of Tokyo Japan

Edited November 17, 2014 by Sharksteve

[Sharksteve]

I have just a thing to ask, if you don't like it, I would appreciate any comment as to why or what you don't like (the whole idea, the Designs, the threads, the sewing, colors whatever). We want to create stationery greeting cards that are designed to custom for fountain pen friends, we Thank for all Kinds of Feedback.

If you want to have cards, FPNers will get a Special Discount!

[Art]

The cards are beautiful. They are certainly something that I'd consider for special cards for the holiday season. I wish you the best of luck with this project.

[graystranger]

These cards are astoundingly beautiful, so creative and practical too. I have nothing to suggest for improvement. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Daisy25]

Beautiful cards.

[jmccarty3]

Such beautiful cards. Are envelopes for them available?

[inkypete]

The look magnificent. Hard to buy in Australia given the current exchange rate but in terms of what they look like? Beautiful.

[Sharksteve]

Regarding envelopes: including are Artoz 1001 C6 envelopes (very nice, available in many colors, fine light ribbed texture), if one wants laid paper (like Artoz Rondo), the price would be about 50 Cents more.

[gwyneddd]

You're making me want to take out my linocut tools again. It's been years since I've rolled a brayer but those look stunning.

[ex-bugonaut]

A beautifully crafted product. Best of luck with it!