Hi! I'm Jill.
My favorite part about being a greeting card designer is when I hear from a customer or someone who received one of my cards. I hear stories of how they framed the card, how it made them laugh, cry or simply inspired them. It is these stories that make me feel like my profession makes a positive difference in the world.
My background is in art history and graphic design but in 2005 I fell in love with the art of letterpress printing and purchased an antique Vandercook Letterpress. I took a small collection of my card designs to a trade show and turned my love into a small business. Many of my illustrations are inspired by my fondness of animals and nature and I lean towards simple, delicate, typographical designs.
I DIDN'T CHOOSE THE MUG LIFE, THE MUG LIFE CHOSE ME!
In 2016 I expanded my line to include ceramic mugs! I sourced the best grade A ceramic mugs and inks available and printed some of my most popular card designs on the mugs. My favorites are the "Show Me Your Kitties" and "Be the Unicorn you Wish to See in the World" - Drawing cats and unicorns with inspirational messages just never gets old. And always a crowd-pleaser is the the "Gentleman, Scholar, Baller" coffee mug for guys!
THE 411
I was born and raised in California and I now live and work in Scottsdale, Arizona. My letterpress print shop is located in the historical "Old Town" district. This is where I mix ink, cut card stock, print, package and ship cards for both my wholesale and online sales. When I'm not busy creating I can be found at the park with my Golden Retriever, running, hiking, practicing yoga, pilates or seeking a new out-door adventure.
WHAT EXACTLY IS LETTERPRESS PRINTING?
Letterpress printing is the oldest form of printing. It is a very attractive, hands-on printing method that makes an impression in the card stock you can see and feel. I mix all my ink by hand and I print on 100% cotton paper, which enhances the tactile quality of the letterpress printing method. Each sheet of paper is individually hand-fed into the press, printing one ink color at a time. It is a labor-intensive printing technique and can be a slow process. I currently practice this labor of love on my 1948 Vandercook Letterpress that was originally owned by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.