I love the new “Magazines: The Power of Print” campaign. I spotted it in this month’s Glamour. Created by WPP’s Young & Rubicam.

“We surf the Internet. We swim in magazines.

The Internet is exhilarating. Magazines are enveloping.

The Internet grabs you. Magazines embrace you.

The Internet is impulsive. Magazines are immersive.

And both media are growing.

Barely noticed amidst the thunderous Internet clamor is the simple fact that magazine readership has risen over the past five years. Even in the age of the Internet, even among the groups one would assume are most singularly hooked on digital media, the appeal of magazines is growing.

Think of it this way: during the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership actually increased 11 percent.

What it proves, once again, is that a new medium doesn’t necessarily displace an existing one. Just as movies didn’t kill radio. Just as TV didn’t kill movies. An established medium can continue to flourish so long as it continues to offer a unique experience. And, as reader loyalty and growth demonstrate, magazines do.

Which is why people aren’t giving up swimming, just because they also enjoy surfing.”

Classic Sesame Street film – A LOST DOG poster for Ace

Do you remember this letterpress spot on Sesame Street circa 1970? I honestly do, but forgot how sweet it was until I saw it again on Beast Pieces. I haven’t seen anything as cool on that show since… except maybe Murray. Watch it here.

I ordered this Clint Eastwood is Danger print for my guy for his Valentine’s Day present. It will be perfect in his stark white office. I also love this ‘Stache Clash Deadwood from Ole Rattlesnake, but hate to encourage his facial hair growth. Lindsey, or Ole Rattlesnake as she’s called, is a UW-Madison student working on her M.F.A. in printmaking. You may have seen her web-famous “Mustachio Nut” poster, but although it’s now sold out, I’m sure this bright gal has more up her sleeve… keep those prints coming!

Another talent at Bella Figura is Jamie Karosos. This Stevens Point local was awarded the 2008 Design*Sponge Scholarship out of a field of 2,000 applicants. Her design style is overwhelmingly unique, full of energy and a sophisticated playfulness with hand-drawn imperfections of joy. Inspiration for her designs come from pattern, her heritage, porch sitting, list writing, the cyclical nature of everything, interconnection, adjectives, stitches, camping, and rummage sale-ing. Check out Jamie’s Joyful Yarrow and Buttonpom designs here.

Calligraphy + Letterpress = Classy Invitations. Bella Figura, a sister company to Smock, creates and prints modern calligraphy wedding invites. While their designer, Debi Zeinert resides in Port Washington, WI, their wind-powered letterpresses are in up-state New York. Their environmental printing techniques and attention to detail make these invites extremely unique and perfect for your next classy event. Check them out at bellafigura.com.

Hamilton Wood Type is a printing museum in Two Rivers, WI that is the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. With 1.5 million pieces of wood type and more than 1,000 styles and sizes of patterns, Hamilton’s collection is one of the premier wood type collections in the world. Beginning May 22nd, this museum will celebrate their 10th anniversary with all sorts of events. The celebration begins with  a sneak-preview of Kartemquin Film’s Type Face, a commemorative poster show and an open house that invites local, regional and national visitors to the area. Their anniversary celebration also includes a workshop by Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print for a long-weekend, May 22-24th. Jim’s work is known internationally and he regularly leads letterpress workshops throughout the country. Support this museum and check out woodtype.org.

Madison design firm, Swink, created this groovy direct mail piece to invite clients to reconsider the way they market themselves. Swink hopes that their campfire will spark some good conversation and if you drop them a line, who knows, maybe they’ll even bring the marshmallows. And although they live over the border, we also have to give props to Midwest letterpress team, Studio on Fire who executed this pop-out piece. It was a 3/2 PMS letterpress job plus laser cutting – also notice the overprint of blue and orange to create the brown – brilliant!

The Little Friends of Printmaking, a husband and wife team living and working in Milwaukee, run this well-known silkscreen company and are becoming a lot more than “little” these days. Their work is best known for their clever layering and loose process, which can be seen in this “Visit Milwaukee” print. Visit their online store to see the entire “Baddies” series and this new print called “Core 77/ACD”, made for the NYC design conference. With enough traffic, maybe this team will consider updating the rest of their website… but who needs a website when you have a blog?!

Stop hiding those little stickers from your afternoon snack under your desk. Instead, hang this clever poster in your office and keep track of your daily fruit intake. Vik, the brains behind this design, suggests a variety of apples such as a Belle De Boskoop, Newtown Pippin, Peasgood Nonsuch, or Turley Winesap. Who knew there were so many apples available with such interesting names and stickers? This large letterpress poster (18×23) is run in two colors (Pantone 7532U and a light varnish) on substantial Strathmore 130# cover stock. Purchase Vik’s poster here and see this Wisconsinite’s work at v-i-k.com. Chiquita bananas will be so jealous!

Don’t you love receiving a beautiful piece of mail? One with a well thought out label design or colorful envelope? Julie at Bohtieque Design agrees and puts a lot of thought into her custom address labels. Working from her home studio in Black River Falls, Julie suggests using her labels to customize your stationery, packages, gifts and book tags. Most sets include one sheet of 30 self-adhesive labels, starting around just $5.50. See all of her work at 1000 Markets, Etsy and Bohtieque.com.