If you had told me in 2015 that I’d go from running a 1,000 lb letterpress to making lightweight earrings out of paper, I probably would have laughed. But here we are!
The Letterpress Days
I got my Chandler & Price letterpress in 2012—a literal beast of a machine built in 1903. When I officially launched Monday Morning Press in 2015, I was all about custom letterpress invitations for weddings, baby showers, and special events.
Picture me hand-feeding paper into the press, rolling out ink, and cranking out gorgeous designs one-by-one (and probably covered in ink). It was slow, it was hands-on, and I loved it.
In May 2019, I took my first step into in-person events with a table full of letterpress greeting cards at a local farmers market. And then...
The Accidental Pivot: Earrings from Paper?
That summer, surrounded by stacks of beautiful paper in my studio, I had a what if? moment.
💡 What if I turned some of these patterns into earrings?
At first, I printed textures on my letterpress to add dimension, but as demand grew, I had to find a way to keep up. That’s when I switched to digitally printed patterns—same gorgeous details, but way more efficient. And let me tell you—the response was unreal. Customers couldn’t believe these earrings were made out of paper (and so lightweight you’d forget you were even wearing them!). I perfected my own paper earring process over the following year and am very proud of how they started and how they have evolved!
From Letterpress to Jewelry (But Keeping the Name!)
As my earrings took off, I slowly stepped away from custom letterpress work. I never really looked back. With 3 young girls, custom work was becoming stressful, and earrings were a fun and creative, low pressure therapy for me. I just made what I wanted and put them out in the world, no deadlines or bridezillas!
I still have my press (she’s not going anywhere!) and use it for personal projects or invitations for family and friends. But when it comes to earrings, everything is done by hand and shapes are cut on a flatbed die cutter (that is hand-cranked).
And the name Monday Morning Press? That stayed. It was catchy, it stuck, and by then, it had gained some brand awareness around town. Plus, I love that it reminds me of where this all started—from printing paper to wearing it!
So tell me—were you around for the OG MMP days? Did you find me through letterpress or through earrings? Leave a comment below and let me know!
