MoS Giveaway: Bell'Invito Letterpress Studio

We are so pleased to announce that Matters of Style has partnered with Bell'Invito Letterpress Studio for this week's fantastic giveaway. One very lucky MoS reader will win a set of 12 Don Carney Zodiac Cards from Bell'Invito's newest line, custom made for whichever sign the winner chooses! Bell'Invito offers only the creme de la creme of letterpress stationery- the Zodiac Collection card sets retail for $120- so this is an opportunity you will not want to pass up!

All Bell'Invito Photographs by Kevin Dotolo

Whether or not you know him by name, we're sure you will recognize Don Carney's vintage-inspired pen and ink drawings that are meticulously crafted to resemble woodblock prints. He is the co-founder of Patch NYC, where you can find his drawings, pillows, and totes, and he's also begun selling drawings at select select Jonathan Adler stores.

We think that the zodiac signs are a perfect medium for Carney's style of illustration, don't you? Although we are neither scorpio nor cancer, we'd still take anything bedecked with that gorgeous scorpion or the feisty crab! In addition to cards, the Zodiac Collection also features desk calendars, bookmarks, gift tags, and bookplates. The collection is a result of a collaboration between Carney and Bell'Invito founder Heather Wiese Alexander. 

   

Above photos by Victoria Wall

We love hearing stories like Heather's about people who harness their creative talents and turn them into a business endeavor. How inspiring! Heather, a successful graphic designer and art director for Neiman Marcus, had at one time lived in Florence, and sought a way to combine her love of Italian style and their meticulous craftsmanship with her skill for modern design. Through happenchance she discovered forgotten family heirlooms, a number of late nineteenth-century presses from her husband's family printing business that stood covered in dust for decades. She quickly realized their unique style of printing was perfect for her handcrafted stationery, and Bell’Invito was born. Today, Dallas-based Bell’Invito prints its stationery using presses that date back to the late 1800’s.

   

In addition to offering couture design work, customizable motifs, and desk accessories, Bell'Invito offers a variety of boxed stationery sets, each of which come in a lacquer box (perfect for putting under the Christmas tree!).

From the Nautical Collection, we are particularly taken with the Octopus (and how fantastic is that envelope lining?)...

...followed closely by the Crab.

From their Architectural Fall Collection, we were drawn to the Fall Chandelier (wouldn't this be a terrific signature stationery for an interior designer?)

The Fall Victorian Row House reminds us so much of the row houses around Washington, DC!

From the Architectural Spring Collection, we are swooning as much over the envelope lining as we are the notecard designs.  Take, for example, the elegant Spring Key.

From the Boudoir Collection, we are smitten with Blue Hydrangea.

And since we are never ones to pass up anything chinoiserie, we must make note of Koi, from the Eastern Collection...

...and the fantastically chic Pagoda design.

From the detailed, cozy Valet Collection, we would love to receive a note written on the Spectacle card.

Or a note from a dashing gentleman written on the Derby card.

And if you have really been a good girl this year, we'd suggest asking Santa for this Hostess Set!

Now back to the giveaway- Bell'Invito is giving MoS readers the chance to win their very own custom set of Don Carney Zodiac Cards! To enter the giveaway, simply click over to the Bell'Invito website and peruse their wonderful selection, then leave us a comment on this post telling us 1) your astrological sign and 2) your favorite item or design on the Bell'Invito site. Should you choose to comment anonymously, please give yourself some sort of name so we can identify you should you win!





We'll select the lucky winner using random.org and announce the winner on our blog on Tuesday, November 3rd. The winner will be able to choose whatever astrological sign he/she wishes, and the cards will be custom made by Bell'Invito and shipped directly to the winner.





We can't wait to hear from you and see who wins! Thank you to Bell'Invito for this fabulous opportunity!