Mama's Sauce

CreativeMornings with Mama

brooks — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Our co-founder, Nick Sambrato, gave one heck of a talk for CreativeMornings Orlando. The theme was money and he took a really neat tack with the topic. In his talk, Nick explores what it’s like to be a part of Orlando’s vibrant creative community and questions why Orlando loses so many talented folks to bigger markets like NYC and San Francisco. He explains that money is a cog in the wheel of community: creating opportunity for the ones we love.

Grouper Identity by Kyle Miller

brooks — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:36:29 +0000

Our buddy Kyle Miller sent this beauty our way last year. It’s a blast when we get to be a part of such an extensive and well-thought-out identity package. If you’re not familiar, Grouper is a social club that sets up drinks between 2 groups of friends: 3 guys and 3 girls.

These business cards did a little Groupering of their own: 3 different colorways with matching edges kept us plenty busy. The cards were letterpress printed on French Paper Company Madero Beach 140 lb. cover that was then duplexed to 280 lb. cover.

Shirts were silkscreen printed by our bosom buddies over at Real Thread:

Hats by Ebbets Field Flannels:

See more of the identity here.

When the Man Comes Around

brooks — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:52:51 +0000

Our noble ally Aaron Draplin came by the shop today for a visit. If, for some strange reason, you follow our work and not his, stop what you’re doing and take a gander at the DDC Portfolio. Many a dark day have we mustered our moxy from a few clips of Draplin raising a ruckus on stage at design conferences. In case you were wondering, this guy is the genuine article. None of his chutzpah is manufactured or contrived. It’s real-life chutzpah. Really. If you don’t believe us, take a look at at his father (the Draplin standing next to Draplin)…who shall henceforth be your hero.

It was cool to hear Aaron share his thoughts about our recent collaboration, Love Letters, and his drive to leverage creative resources for noble causes. We’re definitely gonna be in the kitchen with Draplin on some upcoming projects in that vein. Then again…he did yell “I’m never coming back” as he walked out the door.

This seems like a good time to mention that we’ll be on the bill with Draplin at Creative South in April. All you southern folk who give a rip about doing good work oughta come hang! More on this later.

Love Letters is Live!

brooks — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:29:43 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Love Letters is officially completed and orders are shipping today! We are so thankful for the efforts of each designer that contributed to the project as well as each of you who’ve already pre-ordered your set.

Our good friends over at Fiction heard about what we’re trying to do with Love Letters and came by to make a beautiful little film about the project. Side note: if you haven’t seen it, check out the film they made about our Kluge (which is now a Vimeo Staff Pick).

We still have sets for sale, so Click Here to get yours!

“A” by Fuzzco

“E” by Justin Mezzell

“I” by Aaron Draplin

“O” by Dana Tanamachi

“U” by Jon Contino

Ampersand by Jessica Hische

“Y” by Ross Moody, 55 Hi’s

Whether or not you’ve been to visit the Hamilton Wood Type & Print Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the legacy and craft housed there has had an incredible impact on everyone in the graphic design and printmaking industries. Because of this, we were shaken to hear of their current plight. They’re being forced to relocate and need help raising funds to move and store their incredible type collection.

To help raise money and awareness for the museum, we’re releasing a set of 7 letterpress printed alphabet coasters inspired by the legacy and craft of Hamilton Wood Type & Print Museum. The set, made with paper donated by Neenah Paper and French Paper, includes A, E, I, O, U, &, and Y. As if the cause weren’t enough to mobilize conscientious creatives, this project has a roster to die for:

A: Fuzzco

U: Jon Contino

Y: Ross Moody

Click here to order your set now!

The Many Hanging Chads of Tommy Perez.

brooks — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:03:08 +0000

“Business in the front; party in the back,” proclaimed Minneapolis-based designer, Tommy Perez, as he came at us with an ambitious idea for play-with-able letterpress business cards. We told him that if he wanted to play around, he should find a print shop that thought letterpress was a game rather than a respectable and historic craft.

JK/LOL.

Tommy picked his four favorite French Paper Co. Pop-Tone colors and we mixed inks to match. Tommy’s idea was to die cut the cards so that the outlines of each letter in his name became a little foldable tab. The whimsical Pop-Tone papers were duplexed to the back of the card so that a little folding would bring the party right on through to the front.

For more inspiration/diversion, take gander at Tommy’s Kwik Krafts.

From back to front: Pop-Tone Razzle Berry, Grape Jelly, Sour Apple, and Blu Raspberry.

We don’t normally give the press this much candy at once, but…

Hogan pulled a few mental muscles on this one.

Back view of cutting die. This is what we used to punch out the cards and crease the hinges of the letters.

The Ordinary Business Cards by Fuzzco

brooks — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:26:57 +0000

The eerily talented folks up at Fuzzco sent this gem our way last month. Luckily, we had already been creeping on the beautiful site they built for Charleston’s newest fancy seafood & oyster hall: The Ordinary. Needless to say, we were giddy to get started.

One must hold one’s card just so.

Silkscreen printing allows us to print nice, bright colors on nice, dark papers…nice.

Love Letters Update: Check’s in the mail!

brooks — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:09:54 +0000

We’re pleased to report that we have received 50 pre-orders for Love Letters and we’re sending Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum our first check for the proceeds. We couldn’t be more pleased to send this check for $1,100 along to the good folks in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

We’re still taking pre-orders, so CLICK HERE to reserve your set now!

Spring 2013 Internship

brooks — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:19:22 +0000

We are feverishly elated to announce that the Mama’s Sauce Internship Program is now officially sponsored by French Paper Co.

No one shares our awkwardly intense enthusiasm for inspiring young print designers more than the fine folks at French. Together, we aim to build a program that introduces aspiring print designers to the world of spot color in a unique and hands-on sorta way.

Here’s a rundown of our new & improved educational gauntlet for Spring 2013:

French Paper Treasure Chest:

The kindly souls over at French Paper Co. will be supplying Mama’s interns with an arsenal of inspiring goods that are essential for any aspiring spot color print designer / paper geek.

Spot Color Seminar:

Learn a bit about the ins & outs of designing for spot color printing and demonstrate that learning by designing and printing a screen printed project.

French Sample Room:

Select intern projects will be proudly displayed in the French Sample Room.

Guest Professor:

Spring 2013 interns will have their portfolios personally reviewed by this semester’s Guest Professor: James White of Signalnoise Studio. This is a golden opportunity to hear a Canadian accent in a professional setting.

Hard work:

The only way to learn how to look at print is to look at print. A lot. We instill our obsession with quality in our interns by teaching them to check every single print that comes off press. Every printer at Mama’s Sauce got their start in quality control and it’s the only reason they can print the way they do.

Press Time:

Get to know letterpress and silkscreen printing by getting all up in the business of our presses. Learn to oil them, clean them, and help our pressmen run them.

The internships are unpaid, but we’ll happily work with your educational institution so that your work here is rewarded with credit. If you are not a student, don’t be afraid to throw your name in the hat!

If this sounds like something that makes you want to pee your pants, don’t fight that feeling. Click here to apply.

Love Letters Update: Artwork + Pre-Orders

brooks — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:59:18 +0000

We’re pleased as punch to give a first look at the artwork contributed for Love Letters! $22 of the purchase price from this set of letterpress printed coasters will got to help sustain the Hamilton Wood Type & Print Museum. Paper for the coasters and packaging has been generously donated by Neenah Paper and French Paper Co.

Click here to order.

This is a terrific opportunity to celebrate a legacy of influence and inspiration. We can’t thank these designers enough for their incredible contribution:

A: Fuzzco

U: Jon Contino

Y: Ross Moody

Click here to order.

Love Letters.

brooks — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:51:42 +0000

To help raise money and awareness for the museum, we’re releasing a set of 7 letterpress printed alphabet coasters inspired by the legacy and craft of Hamilton Wood Type & Print Museum. The set, made with French Paper, includes A, E, I, O, U, &, and Y. As if the cause weren’t enough to mobilize conscientious creatives, this project has a roster to die for:

A: Fuzzco

U: Jon Contino

Y: Ross Moody

Click here to order your set now!