Old School Stationers greeting cards get back to basics

If you're looking for a greeting card worthy of a handwritten note, look no further than Portland's Old School Stationers, the creation of Arlington, Wash., native and former Microsoftie Brian Reed. The charming letterpress line features hand-drawn images of trees, animals and birds on cards ($8 each), journals ($20) and wall prints ($42).

Having done his time in corporate America and countless hours before a computer, Reed was ready to get back to basics and use his hands. He eschews a mouse in favor of a pencil and cranks out cards on a hand-run antique letterpress circa 1917. The paper is imported from an Italian family-owned mill that's been in business for more than 350 years.

Reed's work is influenced by the Arlington of his younger days, when the town was tiny and men still walked around in cowboy boots, hats and big belt buckles. "It was the boondocks, with dairy cows, corn fields and giant second-growth cedar trees," says Reed, who credits his environment as the foundation for his work.

His family's summer camping trips are the inspiration for two new collections -- Leaves and Trees and Camping Circa 1960s. The nostalgic images conjure up simpler times when dad enjoyed the great outdoors and smoked his pipe while fishing, and you wore a simple pair of pants and regular shoes to hike, instead of the latest high-tech gear.

Reed began his stationery career making cards, and then expanded to wall art. "Most of my cards wound up on the wall instead of being mailed so I started doing the wall prints," he explains. He has a keen eye for color and creates pleasing hues by slowly building up colors, layer by layer. "It's labor intensive, a lot of trial and error and I throw out a lot more than I keep," he says. "Some of my best things are a mistake."

Old School Stationers cards are available locally at Lucca Great Finds, Fireworks and Real Card Company, and the company's entire collection is available online.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company