Rosie’s set for Louie Awards trip

Notes & Queries clinches six finalists’ nominations with UK publishers

A “little work trip” may be on the cards for Rosie Harrison after the very welcome news that Rosie Made A Thing has reached the finals of the 2024 Louie Awards.

With the ceremony for the US GCA’s annual greeting card accolades taking place in San Francisco in April founder Rosie told PG Buzz: “Roll on the finals – I feel a little ‘work’ trip coming on for when the winners are announced at a bit of a do!”

**Above & top: Rosie Harrison (left) is planning a ‘work’ trip to San Francisco**

The news that eight UK card publishers collectively clinched 13 finalist places in the Louies 2024 broke in the early hours of Wednesday, 28 February, and plans are now afoot for a few to be making the trip to the US for the 16 April ceremony which kicks off the two-day Noted greeting card expo alongside the Gifted creative gift and home fair on 17-18 April.

Rosie added: “I hadn’t seen our name in the finalists’ list so thought the congrats were coming through to the wrong person – it’s thanks to our brilliant US distributors Calypso Cards for entering us.

“It’s great to be in the running for Seasonal/Humorous/$5.50 & below, Christmassy, funny and cheap – my key attributes!”

There are 87 publishers featured in the 57 award categories which each have three finalists, and Rosie joins Paper Salad, which scored a hat trick of nominations; The Art File and Redback Cards with two apiece; as well as Louise Mulgrew Designs, Ohh Deer, Paper D’Art, Pigeon Loft, and Roger La Borde representing the British contingent.

**Above: Alan Harnik and his Notes & Queries vice-president daughter Vanessa with the Paper Salad, The Art File, and Paper D’Art Louie Awards finalists**

“Notes & Queries is so pleased to be able to represent the best of the best in UK design,” said the US distributor’s president and founder Alan Harnik, reflected in the six finalists’ places for Paper Salad, The Art File and Paper D’Art, which are among the publishers it distributes.

“In honouring these cards and publishers what stands out is design and production. Each of these company’s cards reflects innovation in design and publishing production. Our focus has been to choose the best design-led paper product and sell these into the US marketplace.

“The US GCA and the Louie committee have recognised these companies and Notes & Queries as an important resource for the best in design.”

And John Morse-Brown, founder and chief operating officer at Pigeon Loft, commented on its Paper Engineering & Innovation nomination: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be a finalist! Along with all the other fantastic and incredibly creative entries, it shows the hand-written letter, far from being dead or dying, is most definitely on the rise.

**Above: Pigeon’s coo John Morse-Brown visits one of its latest stockists**

“I’m simply tapping in to a worldwide hunger to live more slowly and meaningfully, especially in our communication with one another. Long live the hand-written letter!”

For Helena Maratheftis at Roger La Borde, the Print & Production Excellence nomination was “incredible news”, as she explained the design has artwork by Monika Forsberg adapted into a lace-like laser-cut card.

“We put so much care into designing them so it’s a real delight to have this recognised by being finalists in this category,” Helena added.

“The Louie Awards received an historic 1,200-plus entries from 228 different companies this year, so the competition was fierce and we’re thrilled to be in the finals.”

**Above: Roger La Borde is a finalist in Print & Production Excellence**

It’s the 35th outing for the Louie Awards, which this year had seven new diversity categories “to highlight the unique voices and artists that make up the greeting card industry as a whole”, all judged by a panel of 78 card publishers, retailers, sales representatives, and stationery industry leaders at seven regional hubs across America.

The winners will be announced at the Louie Awards celebration on 16 April, at the Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture in San Francisco.