HANDMADE BY ME is the inspiration of Gregorio Pinto, a Venezuelan-born artist and ecommerce professional now living between in Los Angeles and New York; whose approach to handmade greeting cards is a uniquely combination of traditional craft work with the sleek industrial look of modern era. The emphasis giving to the cards’ tactile and visual characteristics is summed up by Handmade By Me motto: “Feelings from the heart, feelings for the hand”.
A reinterpretation of ink-on-paper cards, there original pieces accentuate the sentimental value greeting cards have as keepsakes. People who receive Handmade By Me cards display them prominently and keep them longer. Each piece is individually and manually crafted by the artist himself, with no machine ever involved in the process.
The tremendous popularity of his handmade greeting cards and gifts among his friends inspired him in 1996 to set up shop and offer his work to the public. As an immigrant American citizen, his decision to become an entrepreneur offered the additional opportunity to enhance his understanding of American culture.
Keeping pace with Manhattan’s artistic and creative dynamism, Gregorio constantly enhances his portfolio with new cards that incorporate the finest materials and the latest trend in graphic design. The wide assortment of unusual textures from his cards come from regular survey of stores and craft suppliers in New York City. and LA. Saturday night visits to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and weekend tours of Fifth and Madison avenues provide him with a constant reminder of his artistic challenges.
Floating Icons, his metallic line, is the first line of greeting cards made entirely of metal, and was triggered by Gregorio’s hearing the Tim Man’s lament “If I Only Had a Heart”.
Recycle it’s the Law, includes some of his most delicate pieces, combining the most textured papers to achieve a very evocative and tactile piece of correspondence.
The Kaleidoscope line, featuring holographic plastic and repeated gold icons, was inspired by sense of prosperity that has defined America for the past several years.
The Velvet Rope line, featuring larger gold icons over a delicate velvet surface – evoking jewelry boxes and display – emphasizes how treasured a handmade card can be. Other lines using corrugated paper and acetate complete his portfolio.
His cards (more than two hundred different designs) have been displayed exclusively in the windows of several fine stores in Manhattan (Uno Mundo and Eclectic Home), Boston (Papyrus at Prudential Center), Provincetown (Century) and Fire Island (Next Wave World). One of his cards was selected for the presentation in the Best New Product Display at The National Stationery Show 2000.
Gregorio has also designed the windows and the decorated the interior o CIBO, a fashionable restaurant located in midtown Manhattan, few blocks away from the headquarters of The United Nation; as well as its display case in the lobby of the prestigious Daily News Building. Most recently, he has created striking handmade pieces – easily installed on top venetian blinds –as decoration accent in the main dining room for special events and holidays.
Handmade By Me creations have appeared at many silent auctions for diverse charities nationwide. Gregorio dreams of designing e-greeting cards that will translate into cyberspace the the complexity and delight of the experience of choosing, sending and receiving a handmade greeting cards.
Inside each card is a blank piece of fine paper for a personal message. The cards are individually wrapped in premium quality cellophane and come with an envelope that matches the style of the card. Hand canceled mail and padded envelope are highlight recommended when mailing some designs.
Gregorio Pinto, is also an e-commerce professional who recently launched his career as a professional photographer with his first exhibit which was acquired in its entirety by one of most important private collections in USA.
He is currently working on his next exhibit and first book "Vintage Present, Vanishing Past" capturing the vanishing old signs in downtown LA.
Check part of his portfolio
https://www.instagram.com/pintoxicated/
Below 'vintage photos' from first attendance to National Stationery Show 2000 in New York.
