better late than never?

after a long hiatus, a + z has decided to begin blogging again. with a vengeance. or maybe just with regularity...stay tuned!

awaiting with baited breath...

the stationery show is fast approaching! only one half of a + z ink will be making the trip this year...(unfortunately someone has to hold down the fort and review enumerator questionaires in Birmingham....) zane will be madly blogging away from new york in between wining and dining our printers. for the past few days, we've been getting invites and announcement from our printers as well as from new printers that will be debuting this year at the Javits. also, zane will be hitting the books and attending seminars on upcoming wedding trends with the editor of Stewart Weddings and taking down every word at the stationery rock-star panel with Birmingham-natives from Prentiss Douthit and Night Owl Press. stay tuned...

hip hip hooray!

(blushing!) how exciting is it to be mentioned in a blog that we do not write? this last week, i was looking for blog fodder on spark's award from stationery trends magazine (post coming shortly...) and stumbled upon our own retailer profile! check it out...

tuesday is my favorite day of the week for the paper!

(science times!) just thought we would share some pictures...today is the 20th of april and a sunny day in the 'ham!

you're invited!

this thursday night (22 april 2010), a + z ink is co-hosting a mini party@ Liv On Fifth (2201 5th Ave So) with a local Stella & Dot rep. there will be drinks, snacks, and lots of browsing of cute jewelry and stylish stationery! if you'd like to drop by, we'd love to have you from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

somewhat related...

(hopefully my partner won't yell at me for posting this...it is somewhat related...) snoopy and i were doing our daily blog reading in bed this morning and came upon this (via INK+WIT - a very interesting read, by the way)...from fineline designs

spark letterpress love: 15% discount on calling cards!

didn't we all have calling cards when we were little? as a child, i don't think i ever gave a single birthday card with my presents. instead, one calling card (mint-green seashells or pink flowers?) was always scotch-taped to the wrapped present. having worked a short stint at a stationery printer, i'm glad to report that calling cards are still popular for the kiddies. and now for the parents, too! calling cards an are excellent "business card" for the stay-at-home parent. give your card to other parents to schedule playdates or to network at pta meetings.

and if your 401K is your baby, order some letterpress business cards. spark will even press your own logo! as a business lady, i intentionally have two sets of business cards. i have digitally flat printed cards i leave in stacks at wedding shows and often toss into the "win a free lunch" bowl. but i covet my letterpress cards...the thick stock and deep impressions make me swoon...at your next business card exchange, make a lasting impression with letterpress!

until 31 may 2010, any spark letterpress order of five hundred (or more!) calling cards will receive a 15% discount on the cost of printing.

oh, my!

how exciting is it to be mentioned in someone else's blog?? neillie butler, an event and wedding planner, met with a + z last month, and we earned a mention on her blog! (my heart just skipped a beat!) check out her advice on choosing paper collateral for your event...

spark letterpress love: free calling cards or gift tags!

with minimum purchase (700.00) in spark's custom wedding papers (save-the-dates, invitations, reply cards, coasters, menus, programs, notes, and so much more!), receive 100 free calling cards or gift tags. all spark designs do have coordinating gift tag / calling card designs but you're free to choose any wedding love or stationery love style. (hint: if you're looking to save some moolah, a set of calling cards makes an excellent gift for your maid of honor...or for that lovely girl from the stationery store...)

the fine print: valid through 31 May 2010. Does not apply to die-cut shapes.

spark letterpress love: free belly bands!

spark's pocketfolds usually come with a string and button closure that we just love. but, if that's not your thing, then ask us to skip the string and button and use a belly band instead! from now until the end of may (the 31st to be exact...), any purchase of pocketfolds can receive free printed belly bands!

if you buy unprinted or one color letterpress pocketfolds, then you can get unprinted an unprinted or 1 color belly band wraps.

if you go all out and buy two color letterpress pocketfolds, then you can get unprinted, 1 color, or 2 color belly band wraps!

coordinating belly band wraps are available for all spark wedding love designs...but they're only free until the end of may...

we heart specials!

here at a + z ink, we looooove specials and promotions! there's nothing quite like getting something for nothing. while all my economics professors always told me there's no such thing as a free lunch, i stand firm on the existence of free stationery! until the end of may, spark letterpress love is offering some amazing deals...

what we do and where to find us...

while letterpress and modern invitations have taken off in other major cities, we noticed that birmingham, al is definitely behind the times in this aspect. seizing upon this opportunity, we decided to set up shop and offer the good people of the magic city new paper options. a + z ink not only meets all paper needs for weddings but also offers social stationery, corporate stationery, baby announcements, invitations and collateral for events and anything else you might desire (paper-wise, at least). we are the exclusive retailers in the state for several of our lines. (over the next couple of weeks, we'll be posting interviews with our printers! stay tuned...) check out their websites:

Spark Letterpress Love

Float Paperie

The Happy Envelope

Wiley Valentine !

while we scour the birmingham area for a suitable brick and mortar location, we're meeting with clients at Engaged Wedding Library in downtown Homewood (click for directions). engaged is an amazing resource for prospective brides, pulling together all wedding resources into a charming little library. it's open monday through saturday, and you can check out a binder of our samples.

nice to meet you!

heyLo, all you fans of letterpress and fine papergoods!

a + z ink is a new stationery experience for birmingham, alabama.

a little bit more about us:

alexa (the a) has always been a stationery nerd and, during a fortuitous break from paid employment, decided to start her own business with an old middle-school chum, zane (the z). while her background is in medical anthropology and his is in public relations, both of their

passions now lie in papergoods.

and about what we do:

we believe that everyone deserves good press...letterpress, that is...here at a + z ink, we offer individualized service for every customer. whether you need an entire invitation suite (invitation + reply card + programs + menus + coasters + thank you notes) or simply calling cards, a + z ink has it covered! we believe that your stationery should reflect your individuality and personal style. all of our lines are 100% customizable and your satisfaction is our first priority!