Have a new business? Want some ideas on advertising? Check out some of my tips over here on Carina’s blog, crow and canary. Carina showcases stationery designs and gifts on the west coast and her blog is full of helpful information.

Thank you Carina for having me on your blog!

Back to our regularly scheduled program…Today I bring you the husband + wife master minds behind Fugu Fugu Press, a small letterpress studio based in Pasadena, California. So let’s meet this talented duo.

Tell us a little about yourself.
Shino has been working as an illustrator doing children’s books, newspaper and magazines for years, and had experience working at Two Piglets before we started Fugu Fugu Press. Ken is a pianist and teacher, and loves all vintage things… especially machines. We had been talking for quite awhile about what kind of business to start and at one point had even talked about opening a bar. After a bit of looking though we came across a printshop here in LA that was selling off their presses and miscellaneous items and we made a deal and started our company!

How and why did you create Fugu Fugu Press?
Shino had been experimenting with a new look and design concept while still working at her former position at the letterpress card company, Two Piglets. We felt it was time to see how her new concept would do on its own, designed, printed and marketed by us!

Where did the name originate from?
We think blowfish are goofy and cute. We love fish, the ocean, swimming… and sushi. We thought Fugu sounded just unusual enough too, plus… blowfish are small, but they’re dangerous! (and yes, of course… “Fugu” is blowfish in Japanese)

What is a typical work day for you?
Shino gets up bright and early, does designs and invoices, and folds cards and packs shipments at the shop. Ken rolls in to the shop around noon and fidgets around for an hour or so, then curses at the presses and takes the dog out for a walk.

How do you keep distractions at bay?
Having a shop away from home totally helps. We don’t have internet or TV there. We rabidly listen to NPR, and that’s about it.

What are your best selling pieces/designs?
It takes a little while for the hot ones to emerge from the pack, but our “Big Thanks” whale card, “Preggers”, and “Father’s Day Bears” cards have done really well.
big thanks
preggers

Who/what are your inspiration?
Our friends inspire us constantly. We’re guessing that we love the same folks everybody else does here… Egg Press, Hello Lucky, Hatch Show Print, Red Cap cards, Night Owl paper goods, Maginating, and Blue Barnhouse to name a few. Thinking about our mortgage payment gets us out of bed in the morning.

Do you have any business advice that worked well for you that you’d care to share?
Design your own stuff. Print your own stuff. Limit your exposure to debt and keep your overheard low. Get to know people that do what you do, and apprentice with them or find some way to work in the industry for at least a year before jumping out there on your own. Try to see what “look” each card company has developed and why it’s working – or not working for them. And… be sure to listen to other people, but with only one ear.

What are your favorite hobbies?
We love swimming, hiking in the hills with our dog, having friends over for drinks… and Ken is on some big wild gardening kick lately. (He keeps whispering “heliconias… such pretty heliconias…” in his sleep.)

What’s currently on Ken and Shino’s wish list?
Cool modern outdoor furniture. And getting the dumpster back at the printshop.

Name your top 3 website/blogs.
“Blogdamnit!” from Blue Barnhouse. “Beast Pieces” from Studio on Fire. And of course, “Design*Sponge“.

Thanks Ken and Shino for sharing with us what you do!
website :: blog :: etsy shop

Custom and fill-in invitations available here.

These have been burning a hole in my computer for awhile waiting to be tweaked. Finally the light bulb went off and these were created. You can purchase them here and here.

We got back Wednesday from a short but fun vacation. Martha’s Vineyard will definitely be on our list next year for vacation spots. Here’s a little sneak peek from our vacation to Martha’s Vineyard…you can see the rest here!

This last picture wasn’t from our vacation but I just loved how it turned out.

Come on over to my friend Shauna’s place and enter a giveaway featuring little ol’ me! You’ve got until the end of the day Thursday the 23rd. Have fun!

Sunday I will aboard one of these…
ferry

on my way here…
martha’s vineyard

with these two beauties…
O.

Shop will be closed July 18-26, reopening the 27th. You are still able to place orders but they will be processed the 27th in the order received.

Have a great week my friends!

xo
Bridgett

1. White Matte Bottles Collection via Sara Paloma Pottery
2. Custom Letterpress Stationery via Parrott Design Studio
3. Linen Table Napkin Ith/Eat via placed
4. Newborn Stork’s Nest Photography Prop Hanging Photo Prop via Cat Girl 1216

Remember when I posted about Jennifer’s print, Blogs + Tea and wondered if she’s make one for Blogs + Coffee. Well lookey here, she did! A must for my office.

photo courtesy of Jennifer Ramos

After visiting giggle a few months past, it is now one of my new favorite children’s stores.
twin bedding set

desk + chair

elephant bank

I am just giddy with excitement to be able to share Sara and her shop with you. While looking for prints for my home, I stumbled across Warm Whispers and was completely smitten with every single piece. I browsed through her shop not once, but too many to count. I’m happy to have a print sitting on my desk now and a few more on their way. I hope you enjoy learning more about Sara as much as I have.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I started my own online boutique “Sadie Olive” back in March of 2007. Since then I have also added graphic designer, and photographer to my job duties. I totally love what I do, and love that I get to work from home. I live in Orange County, CA and enjoy decorating my home, and shopping for antiques. My photography style changes from month to month, but for now I am inspired by muted color, natural light, sun flare, and vintage processing.

How and why did you create Warm Whispers?
I started Warm Whispers so that I could have a separate space for my photography prints. Until then I had sold a few prints in my boutique at Sadie olive, but always felt confined to the style of that site. Warm Whispers allows me to share the images that inspire me, and lets me branch out into different styles.

Where did the name originate from?
I actually “borrowed” the name from a song I fell in love with by Missy Higgins. It’s the song that plays on my blog now. I felt it had an ethereal feel to it, and it fit right in with the sun-soaked images I am drawn to. {One of my new favorite songs, thanks Sara!}

What is a typical work day for you?
I wake up around 8:30 (when I’m being good) give my pup, Hannah, a kiss and commute to my home office on the other side of the house (it usually takes me about 6 seconds with no traffic). Then I sit and work at my computer in my pajamas all day long. When I finish for the day, my husband comes home from work and cooks me dinner. …lol…. Oh my, if he was reading this he’d kill me, but it’s mostly true! ) I’m a lucky girl.

How do you keep distractions at bay?
I struggle with this, as I have been distracted easily lately. Generally, I have two days that I like to take time off for antique shopping (Thursday and Friday), so I focus, focus, on getting all my work done before then so I can shop without feeling guilty. I find that setting little goals like this helps me from time to time.

What are your best selling pieces/designs?
Warm Whispers just recently opened (about a week ago), so I can’t say I have had any sales as of yet, but my postcards have done really well for me on the Sadie Olive site. They also feature my photography and design work.

Who/what are your inspiration?
This changes often, but these five photographers always seem to light a spark in me when I view their work.
Anna Wolf
Dan Brouillette
Jennifer Altman
Heather Evans Smith
Alicia Bock

Do you have any business advice that worked well for you that you’d care to share?
Don’t be afraid to do what you love and do it the way you love to do it. And don’t let the negative comments affect you to much. (Something I still struggle with).

What are your favorite hobbies?
Photography, antiquing, decorating, shopping.

What’s currently on Sara’s wish list?
I have my eye on a few lenses for my Canon. I would also love to learn to shoot weddings! It’s on the top of my wish list.

Name your top 3 favorite website/blogs.
These change often, but right now I am smitten with these three:
All the beautiful things
Fotopastele
Follow Studio

Thank you so much Sara for taking the time to share some insight with us. Your work is truly amazing and I’m excited to see what you else you have in store.

You can find Sara here, here, here, and here.

*There will be no Modern Monday next week as I will be on vacation at Martha’s Vineyard.*