622 press turns NINE!

June 22, 2017May 29, 2017 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 2 Comments

A few months ago I was cleaning up after a long day of printing and my iTunes shuffled to a favorite old jam. As I was grooving and singing (and wondering what my neighbors thought of my song and dance routine through the open windows), I realized I had gone through the exact same steps to the exact same song once… more than once—countless times—before.

Over nine years, six homes, two countries, the beginning and end of a marriage, a ridiculously dramatic work life, family ups and downs, and a million other things, Bess has been the one constant in my life. Somehow this 135-year-old piece of machinery has always been whatever I needed—a creative outlet, a new skill to learn, something to fill my days when I was lonely, a boost of confidence, and finally a full time job I could move abroad.

So here’s to Bess, I can’t wait to see what the next nine years bring.

To Give Without Expecting anything in Return

February 17, 2016February 9, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

I can’t beleive I haven’t shared this with you all yet, as it was one of the more interesting experiences of my trip home, but I guess that’s what you get when you’re a bad blogger…

Last fall, I designed this logo (plus a few other options, but this is my favorite!) for Laura, a Madisonian I’ve known for years, we first met through the magazine I used to work for, I got my hair done at the salon she owned for a number of years, we have lots of friends in common. She is also an intuitive reader, or, for lack of a subtler word, a psychic.

While I was home in Wisconsin, I did something very much outside my comfort zone and went to a reading with her. I actually tried not to think about it before my appointment so as not to create expectations in my mind, but even after being acquainted with Laura all this time, the experience was still not what I expected. More than anything else, it was like having coffee with a friend who wants what’s best for you and gives great advice (and might know a thing or two you haven’t actually told her).

I left feeling renewed, uplifted about life in Bermuda, the relationship that brought me here and the direction I’m moving in career-wise. There’s been more than one little nugget of advice that has stuck with me since our chat, but the one producing the most tangible results right now is when we were talking about how to grow my business in a country that doesn’t allow me to work locally. Laura told me to give (my work, my time, my expertise, etc.) without expecting anything in return (particularly since I can’t currently accept money for any of those things). Say what you will about karma, but so far it’s working out in my favor.

A few weeks ago, I was putting together Valentine’s Day orders for two of my stockists. I had pulled all the cards from my stock, and I was just short on a few things for one of the stores, which means I would have had to do two printing days for less than $10 immediate profit. Then I remembered that I had a few extra cards in a different custom design for the other store and I decided to give them those for free. When I pulled the cards I was going to give away, I happened across the exact quantity of cards I needed for the first shop!

Perfect coincidences like that remind me that the universe is working in ways that you or I won’t see until the right time… and we just have to trust the journey.

Hello, again

January 24, 2016 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

Happy January, friends! Sorry I’ve been away for so long! Just after New Year’s, we left on a ten-day trip to the Bahamas. It’s a bit of a long story why we ended up there in January, but it was actually really good to have something to look forward to after the holidays.

I thought I’d get some blogging done while lounging by the pool, but as it turns out the weather was rainy and the orders were pouring in! While I was away, I designed two sets of business cards and started on two wedding orders! Printing plates should be here soon, I can’t wait to share them with you!

While we were traveling and since we’ve been back home I’ve been on an embroidery kick. It actually started just before Thanksgiving, when I got a wild hair to make embroidered napkins for all 10 of our dinner attendees.

The typography was so fun to work on that the first two hoops I tackled were type-based, of course! I just love the way calligraphy looks outlined in thread.

My latest two projects are my favorites—of course! The cacti hoop above is super cute and reminds me of an amazing hike in Arizona I took a few years ago. It’s also special because it was completely freehand—whereas usually I draw designs on paper first, trace them onto the fabric and stitch over my lines. I love how it turned out!

And then of course there’s this sweet reminder of home. I love it so much I’m keeping this one and offering them for custom order with any state (or country) and city—plus custom colors!

Swimming in Stars

November 10, 2015 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ Leave a comment

Last weekend I had what will perhaps turn out to be the most incredible experience of my time in Bermuda. We had spent the day out on a friend’s boat, and since there’s a good chance it would be the last boat day this year, we wanted to make the most of it.

After a day of calm water and clear skies, the sun set early—it is November after all. We were nestled between some of the smaller islands so trees blocked the lights from town and millions of stars were visible in the sky. At one point, silence fell as we marveled at the site over our heads.

Eventually the idea of a night swim came up, and when we jumped in, we discovered bioluminescent plankton in the water that lit up as they were disturbed. As we kicked our legs and moved our arms through the black water, it sparkled. Trails of tiny lights following our fingers and toes. Stars above us, stars around us, swimming in stars, reminding me how magical this world is.

The Story of a Blanket

January 28, 2015January 27, 2015 ~ Bess Paper Goods & Gifts ~ 1 Comment

Do you beleive objects have memories? I sort of beleive they do—at least in the sense of the memories they can trigger in you.

I’ve just finished a blanket that I started approximately one hundred years ago—ok, two—while my mom was in the hospital. This is the blanket that kept my hands busy while I kept vigil and listened to her ragged breathing in the ICU. That is my clearest memory of working on it—sitting in a dark hospital room illuminated just enough by some HGTV program, volume turned down so I could hear her take another breath.

And yet, four or five weeks later, we packed up the hospital room—pieces of blanket included—and took my mom home. My sisters and I cooked Easter dinner and decorated with a welcome home sign and were more thankful than I can describe that our still-fragile mother was back in the home she had raised us in.

The blanket got packed away for the summer—who wants to crochet when it’s 80 degrees out, amiright?—but then as the weather turned colder and my relationship with a man I thought I would marry fell apart, out she came again. First, I would bring my project to his house so I wasn’t bored when we stopped talking to each other. Then, as he needed more time to himself, I made progress at home, watching the circles pile up next to my couch.

All of that seems eons away as I finished the last few circles this fall and winter—although it still fits the theme, as I didn’t start working on it again until it started getting dark early and Andrew worked late and I felt a bit lonely.

So I suppose this blanket is imbued with sadness, but it also seems to have cultured strength and resilience in me. I may never have ended up taking so many chances without those tragic events that my blanket witnessed—and I certainly wouldn’t have ended up here.

She’s proudly on display now, making Bermuda feel a little more like home, and you know the memories that will come to me every time I walk by.