I started Lily & Val in 2012 making hand painted signs on a chalkboard surface. I painted them to look just like chalk, but the lettering was permanent. I absolutely loved these pieces, however, due to the vast amount of time it took to create each piece (tons!) and my garage being turned into a chalkboard manufacturing facility (nasty/harmful fumes) I could not keep up and had to stop offering these pieces. Since then, I have been hard at work finding a solution that would allow my artwork to be printed on a hard, usable chalkboard surface and look super authentic. Well, new samples arrived and I have found it. Mak and I were doing the happy dance when we finally held it in our hands (he added his thoughts on the upper left corner of the above pic). This material will allow me to create permanent designs that also have usable writing space. My chalk lettering and illustrations are actually printed onto the surface (the “Be full of joy” design above). The end result is a super realistic-looking piece of chalk art that will not rub off! The entire surface can be drawn on with chalk or chalk markers and erased with a damp cloth or eraser! Hooray!! Plus, it is ultra light for convenient shipping and displaying, frame-able or stand alone AND, of course, made locally here in PA. I. Am. So. Excited. And absolutely cannot wait to share this with you all. New chalkboard signage products will be unveiled with the launch of my new Wedding Collection in early February! Below is just one of the applications for these new products. The hand lettered menu header and footer are permanently on the sign with open middle space to add your own menu!
I am so thrilled for the launch of this collection. It will also include a brand new wedding placemat design (pictured below)! 2014 is off to a great start. ๐
2 Comments
What is this magical surface you found, and how do you print your work onto it??!
Jillian, it is a chalkboard/vinyl type material. It is printed onto a sheet and then attached to a base. ๐