We love our shop cards - and PARIS doors~

And, here is our latest/newest card!  
You are the first to see it~

This card's design began with a photo of a favorite PARIS door (our 2012 visit).  The gorgeous, colorful doors complement the pale stone buildings well.

All the news from the card back.  Thanks for following our shop hours, we know it's not easy and we love seeing you!

Ah - that's my sister Jeanne - she was with Adam and I in 2012

And, ooh la la, more PARIS doors for you, in bleu

And more~

gris~
noir~
et, rouge~
Our June Market is next week: Tues June 4 (9-noon), Thu-Fri-Sat June 6-7-8 (9-5), and Sunday June 9 (noon-5).  TERESA

Our newest shop card~

Our shop cards are a long-standing favorite~ I'm happy to present the newest card, fresh for 2012~
If you'd like to receive one around the first of the new year, send your postal address to me at theporch@bwig.net
We're celebrating YOU at our 9th anniversary January 5-6-7-8 Market! Watch for all the extra fun (like discounts!) and gift certificate prizes. ~TERESA

New: the SPRING shop card~

New shop postcards are on their way!
We were ready for a fresh look: light and bright. After (alot) of fussing over the design, it's done/gone/too late to do anything more to it~

I had a few images I knew I wanted to use - mostly Dover Publications free clipart. Like these feathery plumes~


Fading them out and flipping them, they're now the fan tail on the bird~
Our shop postcards are a long-standing tradition at The PORCH & Atelier. Be sure to pick one up next time you're here, or join our postal mailing list and we'll be happy to send them out to you~ TERESA

Design inspiration: the shop cards

The PORCH & Atelier postcards are a standard here - seven years of designing the cards has been enjoyable for me, and feedback shows that I should continue. I've been told that many of you have collected them over the years - merci~

Mid-year 2010 shop card front

For the first few years, a new card was designed and mailed out each month. Over time, our email contact list is now the larger list, and we're more concerned about being 'green'. But, our printed cards continue, and are mailed about every three months~

I watch for card design inspiration, and actually had other plans for the summer card - until I received this clipart sample from Dover Publications last week. Look at their confidence and beauty! What a statement~So, the card design started out like this-- And, then I saw the bleu-grey colors in these baroque styles.

Also from Dover~

Some cropping and fading--

Mid-year 2010 shop card back

Eh voila! You're the first to see our newest card, and it will more than likely be 'tweaked' again before printing. Drop me an email if you're interested in joining our card mailing list: theporch@bwig.net

~TERESA

The Spring shop card~

Designing each shop card allows for unlimited creativity and inspiration (translation: stop me now/give me a deadline). I learn with each card, and I especially listen to what you like on the cards~

The next two cards shown are past favorites from this time of year~Scanned fabrics and vintage wallpapers are popular~A favorite damask I've used.

Seven years of shop cards: they're a mainstay here~
I start by pulling together graphics, photos, details and colors to get the desired effect~


This year's Spring card just seems to need some beautiful pink French ribbon, don't you think?

The semi-final draft. If you come to our March 2-3-4-5-6-7 Market, the glossy white, fresh cards will be here. You can also join our mailing list using your email or postal address - just let me know~ TERESA theporch@bwig.net

The shop card~ part deux

Here it is! Almost ready to send off for printing. I've found that checking back on it and taking fresh looks for style changes is my 'style'. I did use the faded urn - in the center, the 20% does pop, and the blue satin ribbon frames the right side. I added two more 'blue and white' features: on the left is carving from a Paris door photo, and the fern effect is a scan of a vintage textile scrap from a friend (thank you, Susan~).
The backside shows more of the ribbon and fabric, and our bird. Something new for me since discovering it for the last card? I'm enjoying using the 'transparency' feature, and placing some great graphics behind the print.

~If you live in Minnesota, you know it's a good day to be indoors, designing!

Today

Our Porch & Atelier cards always show this bird- somewhere.

This bird has been with us for over six years already~

I'm working on the January shop card design. I have an idea what I want, and this is too soft.

A favorite graphic, but too sepia-soft for a fresh January punch.
I like this graphic, but now it's feeling droopy to me. The teal color and fade on the 20% aren't doing anything for me, either. I want the 20% off to POP on the card~At the top of my favorites list, this urn from Dover clipart. That mix again: structure with freeform.Here it is, faded to about 50% transparency.
Ah, it's coming together. For January, I love crisp, fresh, white and some blue. So, I'll more than likely use the urn graphic, and for sure this French satin ribbon. You'll have to see what I actually end up doing! If you're interested in joining our card postal mailing list, let me know: theporch@bwig.net
I'm always working a month or two ahead on cards, so thanks for joining me on this diversion from December and the holidays. ~TERESA