Couture Maps by Stephannie Barba

Hello Kitty for Sephora

2012-01-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Last summer I was delighted to be working with Sephora in creating illustrations for a new line of Hello Kitty products. Inspired by my favorite city, the Mon Amour collection depicts Paris street scenes, and my illustrated watercolor maps were also included on the packaging.

bisoux
xxoo

Happy New Year everyone!

2012-01-01T15:49:00.000-08:00

I love unique maps, and this one designed by Marsha Clarke comes from Seychelles Mind Body Spirit website, depicting the island locations of a new event taking place in the Seychelles. These remote islands are so beautiful and tranquil and are the perfect place for relaxing, enjoying nature and rejuvenating the mind, body and soul.

Here's to a happy, healthy and peaceful 2012!

Press from around the world: Dream Weddings Bali Style

2011-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

In my quest to travel around the world, I discovered the beautiful publication, Dream Weddings Bali Style while in Asia. As it turns out, the editor Lee Turner is from Seattle!

We are so honored to be featured in the current issue which showcases our travel inspired stationery. Our illustrated wedding map of the island of Bali is included which we told you about back in 2008. Read more about the Indonesian wedding of Giok and Johan here.

Go green map!

2011-05-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the new Go Green series of postage stamps released by the US post office this month, our newest postcard design depicts the green island of Mahé in the Indian Ocean. Included are the two Unesco World Heritage sites as well as a few organizations promoting sustainability and living green in the pristine islands of the Seychelles.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to receive a free copy of our unique perspective of this special island. It's great for anyone who loves this tropical paradise, dreams of traveling there or if you are just a fan of our work.

Created in collaboration with Vegan Seychelles, promoting sustainability and compassionate living in this pristine island nation.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-31T05:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

We've gone traveling to find a bit of sun and will be returning the studio in the spring. We look forward to seeing you then.

Warmest wishes,
Stephannie Barba
Travel inspired Illustration, Couture Maps & Vegan Seychelles

Summer update: fun new map ideas

2010-06-21T09:30:00.001-07:00

It's been a busy season, and we've added a lot of new products to our web site.

Feel free to stop by to say hello!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Celebrating 20 years of design!

2010-03-03T10:28:00.001-08:00

It's hard for me to believe, but 2010 marks my 20th year as a professional illustrator!

It all began when I was a student at Parsons School of Design in New York where I was studying illustration. My professors were working artists in the industry, and they were amazing instructors--always giving the best advice about working as a designer in New York City. They told me that staff jobs for illustrators didn't exist so I was taught how to freelance and manage my own business from an early age.

With the help and support of instructors, I began my freelance illustration career while still in art school, and it was a perfect fit for me! My style seemed to be what creative directors were looking for luckily, and I began working immediately for magazines, fashion houses, department stores and newspapers. This was just before the popularity of the internet, so I actually took the subway around the city to drop off my portfolios and met my clients in person. I definitely miss this aspect of my job!

It was when I began working at Kate's Paperie in New York City where I gained my love for paper, printing and stationery design. After developing new relationships with printers and paper vendors, I started creating my own line of stationery and maps using all of my own lettering styles for both the wedding industry and editorial.

I've since moved my life and work to beautiful San Francisco, and I find inspiration around me every day. Some of my other passions include traveling, vegan cooking, punk rock, French interior design and hanging out with my sweet dogs.

I've had the pleasure to work with so many amazing people, and to celebrate my 20th anniversary, all Couture Map orders placed in March can receive a complimentary watercolor map print , and all stationery orders can receive a complimentary digital note card design-- just let us know which one you are interested in. Our production schedule is currently full until May so book early to avoid disappointment!

Some of my early illustration jobs included two covers for the Bloomingdale's holiday catalog, 10 pages of lettering for Paper (a NYC based club-kid magazine), and a 6-page spread for Condé Nast Traveler.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's Day!!

Maui map postcards hand stitched by the amazing Anne Millett at Mira Aster. They are printed in shiny foil stamp ink and were created for our Hawaiian eco adventure.

Letterpress envelope featuring a lei of hibiscus.

Mahalo notecards hand sewn with very cute little fish fabric. Stitched stationery by Mira Aster. All illustrations by Stephannie Barba.

Press from around the globe: Wedding UK

2009-11-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

We work with clients around the world, and we are honored to have our maps and stationery featured in the current issue of Wedding (U.K.) Thank you to Victoria Sullivan for including our letterpress wedding day itinerary and save the date map as the best stationery around!

Large format map prints

2009-06-13T14:57:00.001-07:00

We've been creating a lot of new illustrations, including large map prints and paintings. The prints can be created up to 12" x 18", and the turn around time is approx. 2-4 weeks.

Original paintings are also available at any size. Feel free to contact us for pricing and turn around time.

Gooseberry Press Launch!

2009-04-21T20:38:00.001-07:00

We've paired up with Gooseberry Press to create a line of très chic vegan city totes as well as many other products which will be unveiled soon. They are making their debut at the stationery show next month so please stop by and say hi!

photos property of Gooseberry Press © 2009

Washingtonian Bride & Groom

2009-02-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to be featured in the premiere inaugural issue of Washingtonian Bride & Groom. Special thanks to Eleni and Renée Comet for their beautiful work.

Bonne St. Valentin!

2009-02-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

To celebrate our favorite holiday we've created a Valentine's Day card of our favorite holiday spot, the island of La Digue in the Indian Ocean. It is the perfect place to relax, paint and enjoy nature.

One of our favorite artists, Barbara Jenson, works on the island and creates beautiful portraits of Seychellois women as well as vibrant Creole scenes. George Camille also exhibits on the island in a gorgeous new studio named The Green House.

Feel free to contact us if you would like a copy of our new letterpress map. They are also available at the tourist office on La Digue.

Happy * Holidays from San Francisco!

2008-12-21T14:28:00.001-08:00

Created in collaboration with the lovely Anne at Mira Aster , our new San Francisco map will be welcoming the new president and his family to their new home at the White House.

Couture Wedding Maps: Destination Bali

2008-11-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

Our studio works with clients all over the world, and this project is for a wonderful couple Giok and Johan who contacted me from Malaysia and are getting married on the Indonesian island of Bali. It includes the calligraphy and illustration for a pocket fold design with a hand painted invitation, itinerary card and map.

The map is painted in watercolor and includes our signature Couture Maps kissing fish logo.

We supplied the digital files to her so she was able to oversee the printing and production locally. This option is great for overseas clients who are creative and wish to save on the expense of international postage and customs fees.

Couture Wedding Maps: Destination Big Sur

2008-11-15T08:05:00.001-08:00

My wonderful clients Casey and Shelby were married at a dream destination, Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. Their wedding map was created to show the different wedding locations and also included shuttle information for traveling around the area.

If you've never been to Post Ranch, it is a stunning retreat on the California coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Everything about it is perfection including a wonderful relaxing spa, the award winning restaurant Sierra Mar and the gracious staff. In the summer there is regular bus service to Big Sur from Monterey and Carmel, however, in the off season, it runs only on the weekends.

Tree house at Post Ranch.

Wild turkeys at Post Ranch.

Parsons School of Design

2008-11-14T21:20:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite professors at Parsons School of Design (now Parsons the New School for Design), illustrator Sergio Baradat, has created a beautiful, vibrant collection of tropical fruit stamps for the United States Postal Service.

As a student at Parsons, this image I created in Sergio's class, was the award winning illustration for the Parsons poster.

Change!

2008-11-04T18:28:00.001-08:00

Our wedding maps featured in première issue of Stationery Trends magazine

2008-10-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

We love all things paper so we are delighted to be featured in the new trade magazine, Stationery Trends. Special thanks to the editor Sarah Schwartz for including us throughout the issue.

Vintage Calligraphy

2008-09-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

Long before the internet and email, we were creating stationery from our little Greenwich Village studio. These are circa early 1990's.

All images are from the library of Stephannie Barba.

Couture Maps created for American Express

2008-09-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the première of the new American Express card, we have been honored with the task of creating a series of maps which can be seen around New York.

Winter in the Seychelles

2008-09-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

After about three days of traveling and spending a fantstic night in London, I've finally made it to the Indian Ocean! It's hot, but even more beautiful than I imagined.

Couture Map postcard of the main islands of the Seychelles.

Gorgeous postage stamps that depict the amazing wildlife found on these remote islands.

Map stamp of the Seychelles

French Press

2008-09-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

The New York map is featured in my very favorite magazine, Maison Française in their l'édition spéciale. Click here to see more great press we've received from all over the world.

Couture Maps Press: The Bride's Guide Martha Stewart Weddings

2007-08-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

We love Darcy Miller, the editor of Martha Stewart Weddings so we were thrilled to be featured on her site The Bride's Guide! Our illustrated wedding map of Sarasota, Florida features our clients Katie and Mario's wedding locations including the very posh Sarasota Ritz Carlton where the festivities took place. The map was included with their wedding stationery and also printed on canvas tote bags handed out to all of the guests lucky enough to be invited.

Thanks Darcy!

Couture Maps is launched!

2006-10-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to be the first site on the internet to offer hand drawn personalized wedding maps! Please feel free to browse our beautiful new website and contact us to order a set of our spectacular samples.

Or just stop by to say hi!