Squeezing in final moments together at the annual Diamond Awards Dinner. Photo by Chris Mayhew.
You just can’t put the 52 Plus Joker Conventions into words. If you’re a club member and you’ve never been, you are missing out on an incredible event that gathers a wide range of interests into one space, all for the love of playing cards. This year’s event in Niagara Falls lived up to and surpassed the expectations of convention veterans. All the parts and pieces make this gathering a beacon for collectors, card producers, artists, magicians, and more. The hodgepodge of collectors, from rare and antique decks to the latest innovations in printing techniques and quirky subjects, makes it a joy to attend.
For someone like me, the event gave me the insight and confidence to take on my own projects, work with printers, and fulfill orders. In 2025, attendees generously shared helpful information and tips, since a successful launch matters to everyone there. Now, I can share what I learned with the next designer and help them bring their dream deck to fruition. Together, we're contributing to tomorrow’s playing card history.
This year, Bicycle Baroque was nominated for Deck of the Year, and I was also nominated for Artist of the Year. What an honor, especially given the stiff competition. Even though I went home without the gleaming award, I was excited for the winners. This is a perfect opportunity to congratulate Lee McKenzie for Cavaliers, his stunning Deck of the Year inspired by cigar makers. Artist of the Year went to Lorenzo Gaggiotti, a titan in the playing card world who has been crowned five times by club members. I was thrilled to have my work considered alongside these two winners who raise the bar with each new deck.
Club Deck photos by Stacey Jay Kelly
I, like everyone else, was blown away by Stacey Jay Kelly’s club deck, Enthusiasts. The presentation of her working process for this masterpiece was also fascinating. The careful consideration of each card and the tuck case was a thoughtful journey through the club’s legacy. From start to finish, the deck is perfection and beautifully printed by Legends Playing Card Company. Stacey was delightful and generous with her time, granting her autograph to every request. If you haven’t purchased this club deck yet, do so quickly.
An added bonus was the club giveaway, a deck of cards honoring the Red Carpet and Diamond Awards. Printed by Shuffled, Ink, the deck captures the aesthetic of this glamorous annual evening. Artist Brendan Hong cleverly used the diamond design throughout the deck and tuck box to reinforce the theme. Rather than highlighting the traditional Ace of Spades, Brendan appropriately featured the Ace of Diamonds in his bold, clean style. The perky jokers are classic Brendan. Good luck getting one of these since they were quickly scarfed up at the dinner. I was lucky enough to nab an uncut sheet, too.
Diamond Awards Commemorative Deck by Brendan Hong.
While at the convention, I offered a special gilded edition of Bicycle Baroque. The limited edition of 52 signed and numbered decks quickly sold out. With just a dozen or so of the regular edition left in my studio, I'm ending distribution of this deck. An estimated 1500 regular edition decks are still available at Cardtopia.com, an online retail shop for U.S. Playing Card Company and Cartamundi. Some Baroque apparel remains in my online store, but the convention whittled down my inventory a good bit. Thank you to everyone who supported Bicycle Baroque and offered tons of encouragement along the way.
Now, it’s time to focus on Forbidden, a deck I’ve had in the queue for close to two years. I will be posting more about it in the coming months with publication updates and sneak peeks. I’m looking forward to making it a reality.
Bicycle Baroque Gilded Exclusive Edition.
