Posts in Press

Feeling the Love

published by Fran Shea

I barely wept with gratitude when I found out Minnesota Business Magazine wanted to write about Zeichen Press for Martha Stewart’s American Made competition… And when Minnesota Business Magazine writer, Erica Rivera, told me to hush my pretty mouth so she could interview me, I did hush my pretty mouth. I do as I’m told. I DO.

Anyway, Erica wrote this masterpiece:

And then I scooped the litter box.

AND here’s a page about litter boxes from my STILL UNSOLD book:*color.31.sick and tired

Snail Mail : Our Bread & Butter

published by Fran Shea

There has been an ethical debate raging regarding snail shell art. Some feel that humans have the right to decorate the shells of living snails.

Inner City Snail art by London artist Slinkachu.

Where do I stand? The following new birthday card reveals my feelings on this sensitive subject:snail-mail-birthdayPlease respect my freedom of speech.

Speaking of freedom: Come down to Foiled Again on Saturday night for some free wine. While you’re there, you could buy some of our cards!

Two birds! One stone!downtown-journal

REAL SIMPLE meets Mad Men meets Zeichen Press meets Father’s Day

published by Fran Shea

I made this card

on the Poco No. 0

before Don Draper was a twinkle in Matthew Weiner‘s eye.

Or, a wiener in Matthew Twinkle’s eye.

I’m pretty sure that’s Don Draper, sans cigarette, putting the “A” in MAN. Don Draper, or my idea of the perfect man: Briefcase in hand, exiting the home.

REAL SIMPLE must feel the same way, because they included the card in their Father’s Day collection. I love that magazine. Like Martha Stewart LIVING, it makes me feel inspired andinadequate. I think that’s called having the eye of the tiger. Right? No? Oh, I don’t know.

The Donut Project

published by Fran Shea

We got an email from Kristen Caston at The Donut Project today. I was thinking that maybe somebody was going to send us delicious donuts. It turns out there is a group (gang) of young designers that comb the Earth in search of design goodness. There is so much goodness on this site that I forgot about the delicious donut. (Raised, sugar.) Have a look:

*A Woman of Letters/Serious Letterpress/Room and Board/Minnesota Monthly*

published by Fran Shea

Speaking of letters! The new prints arrived at all of the Room and Board stores across this great land. The photographs on their website are gorgeous and make me feel like I live in a crack house.

Room & Board red

I have nothing against crack houses, I’m sure the people that live in them are perfectly lovely and are just misunderstood.

The legendary, Katie Dohman (Minnesota Monthly) already wrote a little something about them. I’m feeling pretty fancy.

PR for Tanek, a pregnant cat and a squirrel in my kitchen

published by Fran Shea

Something weird(er) is going on around here. First, we witnessed a large orange cat date-raping our little Siamese (cat) – and THEN there was a squirrel sitting at my kitchen table eating an avocado.

squirrel-lunch1-450x337

LATER, I drove myself (I did!) to the edge of downtown for a stand-up meeting with the managing editor for Minnesota Business* and the guys from Tanek and Touchpoint. The meeting was in Touchpoint’s new (unfinished) space – which happens to be in the building that I imagine owning. So that’s a weird coincidence.

*The Managing Editor for Minnesota Business can be found here:

Je m’appelle Françoise

published by Fran Shea

If I were getting married I would design and letterpress print my own invitation.

What am I saying?? No, I wouldn’t. I don’t even send out the Christmas cards that I design and letterpress print. WHAT??!! I know. This is a blog post and a confession.

Anyway, Minnesota Bride included  one of our wedding invitations in a nice little spread they called “Vintage in Vogue.”

See?

minnesota-bride-logo-450x173mn-bride

2. Inspired by the couple’s romantic first meeting in the city of love, designer Fran Shea blended imagery from Paris with a vintage postcard theme to create a classic yet distinctive invite. Using letterpress printing and a unique accordion layout, this design evokes an aura of chic French elegance. Zeichen Press, 612.432.1943, zeichenpress.com

GRANDMA!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME??!!

published by Fran Shea

Grandmas don’t read HOW and they certainly do NOT read SWISS  MISS but they DO read Better Homes and Gardens. You know, BHG? See how I just dropped that abbrev? Grandma would thumb through the fashion and gossip mags at the checkout but like any good homemaker she would add the BHG to her cart. If she was feeling particular sassy, she’d throw in the DIY magazine (brought to you by the good people at BHG).

Oh, DIY! You know Martha Stewart (PS: Martha, I DO want to see how you hay your fields) reads you under the covers with a flashlight – praying that Alexis doesn’t march into the room and flip on the soft-and-natural light. 

DIY magazine is doing a story on handmade goods – a “Best in Show” collection of the various craft shows around the country. We’ll be featured in the “Printed and Pressed” spread. Mmmm, printed and pressed… that makes me want a panini. Here are some photos – we can’t decide, although I think #4 tells a good story. Sometimes I go into the shop at night and Jen is just standing there like that. Shudder.

Jen and Fran must be happy.Jen and Fran seem so content.

Fran with hand gun. Is Jen evil?scary-jen-and-fran-photosho

ONE MORE! (I photoshopped a smile on Jen’s face):

Jen is smiling.