Designing playing cards. Here’s the deal. If you knew the reality of my process you wouldn’t believe me. So I’ll vastly abbreviate and give you the specifics regarding the often harsh realities of certain and actual events that occurred in the past year.

FULTON’S CLIP JOINT

Project was conceived and lusted over two years ago. Dan Phillips worked with me sometimes in intervals of 13 hour sessions where we continually traded sketches, hand lettering (yes…the “Fulton’s” font really is hand drawn by me, and I have been a calligrapher for longer than I care to admit), images etc.

We would speak at length as if constructing everything from the real location (Physical, Architectural Clip Joint), to an actual Film Noir to film back in 1946. No detail was spared in our communication.

The vast archive of work Dan Phillips accumulated on paper is outrageous. I hope we make a book about the deck just so you can see the process of creating the damn thing. We loved every single second of it. A true blue dream come true.

Clip Joint would have never lived if Dan Buck wasn’t crazy enough to believe in me and my insanity since minute one. If you love Clip Joint thank DB first (then me and D. Phillips). Of course Dave Buck also checked his brain and drank the Kool Aid as well, but Dan was at the first meeting alone. (Dave’s a famous guy ya know).

Between 250-300 hours of hand illustration went into the deck alone. Not to mention the search for the perfect box paper and texture to print on…that’s another novel in itself. The problem with all of us here at D&D is our unwillingness to compromise. Our lives would be a hell of a lot easier if we could cut corners, quality, and passion out of our equation. But we can’t. It’s not in our DNA.

The deck holds many many many secrets. These are for me to know and for you to discover. No…I’m not being a smart ass–I just hate the notion that everything needs to be “spelled out” and hand fed nowadays. After all…that is why I love working within the genre and industry of magic. It’s all about the dream, belief, and the unknown. Live it.

I will however tell you that Dan Phillips and I are insane about detail. We scrutinize everything and give you your moneys worth.

Join me next time for the skinny on Fulton’s Chinatown.

As a child, Brad Fulton eagerly awaited the coming of Chinese New Year, a holiday where his Aunt Kareen and Uncle Dennis would present a beautiful bright red and gold envelope filled with lucky money. To commemorate those happy feelings and bring luck to you all, we present Fulton’s Chinatown Playing Cards.

“Chinatown Los Angeles holds a special place historically and personally. It has always evoked and cultivated an aura of magic, mystery, and vibrant energy. With this deck I pay respect to a holiday and location associated with good luck and endless possibilities.”

Hand illustrated by Dan Phillips, this new edition of Fulton’s branded playing cards was printed with the same quality as the Fulton’s Clip Joint Playing Cards and are packaged in the most beautiful box ever produced.

Reflections is a personal manifestation of Helder’s passion for magic featuring five remarkable effects with cards. Every nuance is explained. From conception, technique and audience management to creative solutions, the end result is enlightening.

However, this is not a guide for the magician wanting to learn a few quick tricks. These are audience tested performance pieces meant to be studied and applied. Reflections is an inspiring read not to be overlooked.

Inspired by a vintage aesthetic, these U.S. Regulation Playing Cards in plaid are offered in a Striking Arizona Red and a Casual California Blue. They’re the perfect accompaniment for everyday use, but also feature posh details and amusing activities never before paired with a deck of cards.

From the natural color palette, leatherette box, off-white faces, and illustrated joker of the majestic Buck to the crossword puzzles and definitive recipe for the world’s oldest known cocktail, the Sazerac, it’s no doubt these cards were designed for men and are among the finest ever produced.

Printed by the US Playing Card Company on a premium stock with a cambric finish.

We will host a redraw on January 27th for all unclaimed prizes so hold on to your tickets!

At the time, I had no clue what that entailed. I just thought it sounded like a great idea given the fact that I was obviously aware of their stringent attention to detail, obsession with functional quality, and high style to boot.

I asked a few questions as we paid for our tea and I waited for the change. “What are they called?” After a brief pause, perhaps to try and come up with a name on the spot, Dan replied, “We havenʼt decided.”

“Make one black, one white and call them Smoke & Mirrors”, I said in jest. The phrase was common to me, often said by my grandfather, and fresh in mind because I had recently been watching Lady from Shanghai by Orson Welles and contemplating the “mirror scene” and how it was accomplished photographically.

Dan and Dave said very little (if anything) and we went about our day sharing ideas, working on whatever project we had going on at the time, and having some laughs. Business as usual.

Months later Dan and Dave showed up at my studio with gift in hand. Two decks – one black, one white. They were the very first printed decks of Smoke and Mirrors, signed. I was absolutely stunned, proud, and could not believe my eyes. The moment I saw those decks my point of view regarding playing card design was forever altered.

Over the past year I revisited my little collection of various decks and carefully evaluated how I felt about each one. Many look nice, quite a few are below average, and less than a handful really take me to another place. For me, this is the intangible aspect of great card design – their ability to influence an atmosphere, alter a mood, and inspire cardists to create new moves based on emotion.

It seems silly that any product can actually help us create based on style alone, but they do. The cards in my little stash are of “optimum functional quality”, (I trust the twins evaluation) so my conclusions are purely emotional.

Personal reaction to card presence in hand is difficult to explain. Some decks take me to 1970 Vegas and allow me to see myself as a character with thick amber shades and a maroon sport-coat, while others like Fultonʼs Clip Joint put me in 1946 with a sharp twist of bourbon and a tattered fedora – my intent while designing the deck.

Coming full circle from the original Smoke & Mirrors to Clip Joint was quite a journey. Now, looking at them side by side gives me a sense of pride in what we’ve created. Weʼre constantly seeking new ways to allow our products to open worlds for you to explore, and hope they bring you to a higher ground in your Cardistry endeavors.

Long before they were worth anything though, they were offered free if you stayed at Jerry’s Nugget Casino, which is why on the Jokers it reads, “Compliments of Jerry’s Nugget.” They could also be purchased in the gift shop for a dollar.

It wasn’t their bargain price that attracted all magicians though; they were printed with white borders which is unusual for casino cards but necessary for many effects. Additionally, their snappy stock and smooth plastic finish aids in their extreme durability and longevity. We also think their simple design and vibrant color was an appeal.

Out of the box, the cards command an expert’s touch. Perhaps this is why they’re favored by professionals. However, once broken in, they’re suitable for any skill level. The phenomenal aspect of Jerry’s Nugget’s though, and perhaps their greatest appeal, is the fact that they improve over time. There are stories of magicians using the same deck for years and we can certainly vouch for them. We still have the very first deck of Jerry’s we ever opened and they continue to handle like new.

Although printed in the 1970s, and used by magicians throughout the 80s, it wasn’t until the late 90′s that word of their distinct qualities began to spread. Our first introduction to these legendary cards was in 1999 from Lee Asher, who used them exclusively at the time and would even tear them up in his lectures. We immediately fell in love and they’ve been one of our favorite decks to use ever since. That same year however, word crossed the Atlantic and French magician Dominique Duvivier bought the last remaining supply from the casino and had them shipped back to his country. Don’t bother contacting him though, they are not for sale.

Luckily, we were able to acquire a personal supply in the early 2000s and use them sparingly. Since, we have learned of other magicians and collectors who have reserves of their own and recently Lee Asher partnered with one of these collectors and offers them for sale on his website every so often. You can also find them on auction sites such as eBay. However, because of their high demand and steep price, counterfeits have surfaced, which from the outside look identical, so be careful.

To our knowledge, it is not clear why Jerry’s Nugget’s handle so well. Although we do know they were printed by the US Playing Card Company in the 70s, not much more has been revealed. Many speculate it has to do with the chemicals used during fabrication or that the solid color for the back design had an affect. The fact the cards sat for decades before receiving any esteem could also be an explanation. The elements could certainly have altered the paper.

Whatever the recipe or reason, it is unlikely they will ever be reprinted or their unique characteristics matched. They’re a fine deck of cards used by such magicians as Frank Simon, Dai Vernon, Larry Jennings, Chris Kenner and others and for that we cherish them.

The t-shirt is made from a soft lightweight cotton and comes pre-washed. Graphics on the front, left sleeve and inside collar. Each order also includes a free deck of Fantastique playing cards.

Similar posts: Plumule des Cartes and 52 Leagues.

Like everything, the IDEA comes first. We never sit around and think finances or “How to make a quick buck…” I would never waste my time and creative energy working with people who came from this central motivating point. We typically begin the week catching up, getting on track and looking at our calendar; making sure everything is in place (you would all be shocked to learn of how many hurdles we leap to bring our ideas to life). From there, we begin to brainstorm or dream of inconceivable pet projects we feel our fans would cherish and USE.

We weigh our excitement and whittle away at the details. “Is it REALLY that special?” “Can we maintain ULTIMATE control and have it done right?” “How are our fans going to react/interact/accept it?” If we have cold feet about any of these issues we put the concept aside and return with a clear head (usually after a little trip to eat/drink coffee/ soak in some sights and sun in beautiful Downtown Los Angeles/Hollywood).

And this leads me to what I would consider the defining factor, INSPIRATION. As the Creative Director inspiration is key to my vision. Often I find myself on the Metro Mid Day cruising LA…making little photographs…dreaming away with either Dan or Dave, rambling on about The LA Lakers (or Dodgers), Cinema, watercolor paper texture, or the spicy mustard from Philippe the Original. Other days I am an hour south of our studio and sit alone on an old oak bench drinking my daily Oolong Tea. Some of our best designs have been born out of the most unrelated of situations. This is how creativity and ideas work. It all comes from dreams, vision and inspiration.

The perfect example is Fulton’s Clip Joint playing cards. Sitting on a bench during a storm gave birth to the seed idea that was ultimately realized in a deck of premium quality playing cards. 52 little dreams. Explain that? Well…I can do many things BUT define the intangible world of creation I cannot.

All in all it comes down to dreaming, engineering, producing and revising. Not always in that order…

In any case, our ultimate goal is to ensure that everything we represent makes you FEEL. Anybody can release a product for somebody to buy, our goal is to create something you EXPERIENCE.