Hop on over to GetPapered to see the cutest valentines day cards+matching stickers! We’re in love.
It is quite fun to see what designs our customers are loving most season after season. This season our customers are loving Sharp & Sally’s Peace and Love note card. Customers also love Twist’s Nautical Rope and Red Square Overlay note card. Customers are loving a more masculine note card for dads, brothers and husbands.
Sally Sharp of Sharp & Sally
We’re so excited to introduce you to Sally Sharp, designer of Sharp & Sally. She designs with a modern take on classic looks…and we love it! We also love Sharp & Sally’s great color palettes! If you’re going to attend NSS be sure to stop by our booth and take a look at Sharp & Sally’s fabulous designs! Next week we’ll be featuring a sneak peek of SAS products here on the English Paper blog so be sure to check back next week!
Where are you from? And where do you currently live?
I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and I live there now too–we’ve been back a year and a half.
How would you describe your design style?
Classic but fresh… Not your mother’s version of traditional playful combinations of patterns, but always sophisticated. Sometimes over the top mix of patterns and colors
What inspires your design?
Usually textiles–both home and fashion. I could see a tiny glimpse of a garment in Vogue or a set decoration in an Anthropologie catalog. I was a prop-stylist before I started doing stationery, so I am very aware of catalog and magazine sets. The process is so artistic and innovative. If you really look at, for example, the Pottery Barn catalog: the level of thought that goes into the little details–the tabletop props are usually ripe with visual stimulation.
What is your design process? To elaborate, In what way do you go about getting your ideas out and onto the computer?
I look at everything I can get my hands on and then I draw a lot, sketch out ideas on notebook paper. I write a lot of lists of what I want to cover, content-wise… but then I start playing on the computer and it becomes an organic, creative process. I think it is fun to look back a few seasons later at the ideas I had sketched out and the ideas torn out of magazines… it is usually what I wanted content-wise, but not what I thought it would be.
I was just on a girls’ weekend and had brought a bunch of old stuff to sort through on the plane–to see if there were any great ideas from years back that I had not had time to produce.. I was working one morning before everyone woke up and they were very curious… they could see the point of origin from some of my old designs and see what I ended up with in the catalog. It was a kick to share that–it is usually such a personal journey. My husband doesn’t ask–though he did just laugh at a design I did and said, that looks very Athleta-esque… and it was!
How did you begin your path in graphic design?
I was a painting major in college and my advisor gave me great advice–learn graphic design. You’ll always be able to support yourself! So I went to Parson’s School of Design in NYC after college and took design all day/every day for a few months. While I was there someone from Martha Stewart called one of my professors and asked for a recommendation and I got my first job.
How did your interest in paper goods evolve?
I worked in the interior design world–magazines and catalogs. But when I got married, my husband lived in Chicago at the time. There was an opportunity there in a stationery dept. of a big publisher. I started designing stationery, seasonal products and photo albums for Target, Walmart and other big market stores. It was a completely different take on design and really fun to illustrate.
How long have you been in the design field?
Funny–does prom memorabelia and fraternity/sorority t-shirt designs count? I did yearbook in high school… I’ve always loved every form of art and design.
What is your favorite of your designs that English Paper Company carries?
Hmmm… there is a lot of new stuff. I think my favorite will be the new holiday album stuff (but maybe my favorite is what I just finished and I just finished it this weekend.)
Does the look and feel of SAS designs translate into your home decor or fashion style?
The sophistication, yes–the color palette, no! My house is pretty neutral, with pops of orange. My clothes are usually black. My mom bought my daughter a zebra print dress because she said it reminded her of one of my note cards. I cringe every time she wears it (she LOVES it, of course!)
Is there a design trend your loving right now?
I’m not as trend driven… I just like what I like. BUT, I love wallpaper being back. I love wall-paper! I frame it and hang it in my house. Maybe that is a lost career opportunity for me!
What is your absolute favorite part about designing paper goods?
That one day you can be channeling high-society, debutante vibe and the next, Dr. Suess… and it is all viable and worthy. Everything has an audience!
(May 4, 2010) – English Paper Company announced today the acquisition of Sharp & Sally. Sharp & Sally is a popular boutique paper company designed by Sally Ball Sharp. They are best known for their classic, yet whimsical designs including fold over notecards, invitations and holiday cards. Working with English Paper Company, this top selling stationery line will offer albums to retailers for the first time with two new albums in Holiday and Everyday designs. Sally Ball Sharp will continue to design for the line.
Sally’s background prior to launching her stationery line was interior design and photo-styling, working for House Beautiful magazine, Martha Stewart and propping photo-shoots for Williams-Sonoma brand catalogs. Her aesthetic is a contemporary update on classic style.
English Paper Company is delighted to acquire the Sharp & Sally brand.Sally Ball Sharp is one of the best designers in the industry,” said Whitney English Kolb, CEO of English Paper Company. “She has a time-honored brand, and her customers are very loyal. This will only grow as we expand the line by introducing it to our retailers.”
English Paper Company is a trusted resource in the social expression industry with brands like Whitney English, Hicks Paper Goods, Askew Design, Citrus+Clover, Oh, How Lovely, French Blue Designs and PaperConcierge.com. English Paper Company is committed to providing that same innovation, quality, customer care and service for Sharp & Sally. English Paper Company will drive sales, marketing, customer service, fulfillment and accounting for the line.
“I am thrilled to be joining the English Paper Company,” said Sally Ball Sharp, with Sharp & Sally. “I’ve admired the Whitney English line for years and I know this a great fit for us. Our customers will love being able to buy from both the Whitney English line and our line in one order! Our design sensibilities will complement each other well.”
Sharp & Sally will continue to fulfill orders through their warehouse in Jacksonville, Florida until June 1. Starting June 1, the Sharp & Sally line will be available through English Paper Company and their retailers.
You can follow Sharp & Sally on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharp-and-Sally/118598391488618 and Twitter at http://twitter.com/SharpandSally.
