Do you love trying new things, especially analog experiences that take you away from your phone?
A Stationery Date is a private letterpress workshop for two at my Arlington, VA letterpress studio + shop. You’ll make personalized note cards or hand-bound journals and have a rare chance to operate a working historic printing press—the kind you’ve “only seen in museums,” as one visitor put it.
My studio is small, and working on my 1910 press (named Vera) takes individual attention. I’ve designed Stationery Dates around that intimacy, with time for each person to participate and for you to enjoy being together.
A space to slow down, unwind, and be
“The studio itself feels like a hidden creative oasis.”
— Open to Being visitor
The studio has big windows and lots of natural light, with an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. During your two-hour workshop, you’ll have the space all to yourselves, with me there to guide you.
I handle the prep and cleanup so you can enjoy being present. You can settle into the making whether you’ve done something like this before or are trying it for the first time.
I love introducing people to letterpress in a setting where we have time to talk, ask questions, and enjoy the process. Working with just two people gives me time to learn what interests each of you and help you explore it.
History—in the making
It’s likely the press—the centerpiece of the studio—that will draw you in and spark your curiosity. Vera was made in 1910, and I still use this treadle-operated press to print Open to Being stationery.
As you ink the press and print, you’ll step briefly into a professional craft that was essential to disseminating information long before digital technology. The metal type you’ll use has formed other people’s words for many, many decades. You’ll handle those same letters as you arrange your own name, initials, or a favorite word.
Every time I print, I’m aware of the many skilled and creative people who came before me. Sometimes I wonder who worked Vera and what they printed. I think about how I can honor the history of letterpress printing while also taking it in new directions.
Working with these old tools gives you a feel for the time, skill, and care behind communication that now happens with a few clicks. That experience continues when you pick up a pen and write on the stationery you made. You’re keeping another enduring practice alive: taking the time to put something of yourself on paper for someone else to hold.
Making memories and connections
A woman and her sister both waited several months to send the first cards they had printed together because they wanted to save them for “the right moment.”
It can feel like you’re holding onto the memory when you hold onto what you make. And when you’re ready to send a card, something you made together becomes part of another connection.
“The whole experience was personal, easy, and a ton of fun. I couldn't recommend working with her enough for couples looking for a fun date night.”
— Workshop participant
Gift a Stationery Date
Do you have a special occasion to celebrate with someone? Or want to plan a unique “date night”?
A Stationery Date can be a thoughtful way to celebrate a birthday or a first anniversary—traditionally marked with a paper gift. Or simply make time for someone whose company you enjoy.
You can also give the experience to a couple, friends, sisters, or a mother and daughter who would enjoy making something together. Gift recipients choose what to make: personalized note cards or hand-bound journals. You’re giving them time to spend with each other, something new to discover, and stationery that holds a memory of their day.
Please allow at least four weeks’ notice when requesting your Stationery Date. Dates are subject to availability, but if you have a special occasion in mind, I’ll do my best to accommodate it.
