On any given day, my studio is a study in contrasts: vintage equipment meets modern design, meticulous planning gives way to spontaneous inspiration, and a 100-year-old press creates invitations for tomorrow’s celebrations. Most mornings, you’ll find me at one of my workstations with a warm drink in hand, my dog sprawled nearby, and sunlight pooling across the room.

Since sharing glimpses of this space on social media, I’ve received many questions about how I built it. Today, I’m finally opening the doors to give you a peek inside. This room has been my creative sanctuary since 2024, when my dreams of having a dedicated creative space came true.

Whether you’re a fellow creative, a bride-to-be curious about the process, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful paper goods, I’m excited to walk you through this space and share what a day in my studio really looks like. Pull up a chair, grab your coffee, and let’s explore together.

How did you get started with letterpress, and when did you create this dedicated studio space?

The first time I held a letterpress invitation during university—where I studied fine arts and graphic design—something magic took hold of me. The extra-thick cotton paper, the way the ink sat on the surface like paint, the impression I could feel with my fingertips. I’d never encountered anything that bridged art and design so perfectly, and I knew it would define my creative future.

Soon after, I designed my first wedding suite as a favor to a friend of a friend, then promptly shelved the dream for a corporate salary after graduation. After seven years behind the desk, I was finally ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship. My husband and I converted our apartment’s spare room into this studio in 2024, and I haven’t looked back.

Having a dedicated space changes everything. I can leave projects mid-process, acquire new equipment as I grow, and even invite clients in. There’s something irreplaceable about watching someone touch the paper samples, witnessing them being inspired by the stationery on the walls, hearing the press in action, and understanding that their invitations will be made right here, by hand.

Can you walk us through your printing setup and essential tools?

My press is a Chandler & Price Pilot from the early 1900s, purchased from a couple in Minnesota who used to restore vintage presses. After months of searching for something print-ready, affordable, and available in the Pacific Northwest, I finally found her. I named her June—which later became the studio’s namesake.

The beauty of letterpress is its simplicity. I use palette knives, ink, polymer plates, and lots of handmade paper. The process is wonderfully uncomplicated, but there is a true art form to producing the perfect print where the results—those deep impressions and rich colors—feel almost magical.

Beyond the press, I use a Canon digital printer for envelopes, a handmade wooden flower press for botanical elements, and recently added a Cricut for custom shapes. My dream addition for the near-future is a hot foil press for metallics and sculpted embossing. There’s always something new to explore.

If you’re looking for an antique letterpress of your own, I recommend searching on Briar Press, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. However, the most helpful thing you can do is connect with the printing community in your area and the right machine will find you!

How did you choose the name June for your letterpress?

The word June is derived from Juno—Roman goddess of marriage—which, of course, feels very fitting for a wedding stationery studio. June is also the most popular month for weddings, my birth month, and my middle name (from my great grandmother who was also born in June!). For all these reasons, this word just felt completely aligned.

What role do botanicals and natural elements play in your work?

In a world that moves too fast and lives too much on screens, connecting with nature keeps me grounded. Working with plants and flowers isn’t just aesthetic—it’s one of the most inspired parts of my creative process. It slows me down and reminds me why handmade work matters. And I love the energy brought by working with materials that used to be alive.

Incorporating botanicals into luxury stationery creates an unexpected rawness, a kind of imperfect beauty that contrasts with the precision of letterpress. I use my wooden flower press to create pressed florals for wax seals and cyanotype prints, and I also weave in floral illustrations and sketches quite often.

Both dried and fresh flowers serve practical purposes too. I style them into my photography to bring organic texture to the frame, or pluck a single bud from my dried hydrangea installation to artfully obscure guest information when photographing client work. These small touches reinforce the handmade, natural ethos that defines June Press.

What does your creative process look like, from concept to final piece?

Every project begins with a mood board. Instead of pulling images of existing invitation designs, I focus on my client’s wedding flowers, their venue’s landscape and architecture, and the materials, textures, and color palettes I feel would be a good fit for their project. We’re exploring how the stationery should feel, not just how it should look. This keeps the work original and deeply personal.

From there, we iterate through sketches and design proofs, refining until everything aligns. Then comes my favorite part: production. Designs become polymer plates. The press brings ink to paper. I tie silk ribbons, glue envelope liners, press custom wax seals, and assemble each piece by hand.

Before sealing the final envelope, I pause. This paper will arrive in someone’s mailbox and become part of a love story. That never gets old.

What’s a typical day like for you?

7:00 AM – Wake-up stretches, morning skincare, and a hearty breakfast. Usually eggs or sausage with veggies, lox toast, or a protein shake if I’m in a hurry.

8:30 AM – Walk or hike with my dog, Renly. This is my time for phone calls with my mom, a good podcast, or a walking meditation—whatever I need that morning. If we’re back early enough, I’ll squeeze in a strength training workout at home.

9:30 AM – Work begins. Emails, quick tasks, then diving into whatever the day demands: printing, designing, ordering supplies, creating social content, business admin, appointments, or trips to the post office. I also love to fit in my personal errands while everyone else is at work! At home I can be easily distracted so a good lo-fi album keeps me focused. Or, if my day is filled with printing and assembly, the June Press Radio playlist I created on Spotify is a fave!

1:00 PM – Lunch break, which I’m admittedly bad at taking. If my husband’s working in-office, I take my dog for a second walk and get some mid-day sunshine.

5:30 PM – When I’m supposed to stop work for the day. When I actually stop? Often closer to 6:30 or 7. I’m working on this!

6:30 PM – Dinner with my husband, then good conversation, a cozy tv show, or tackling something on our personal to-do list. This is when I have to be very intentional about not going back to work or scrolling on my phone but, inevitably, some evenings are spent in those ways too.

9:00 PM – Screens off. Evening skincare, bedtime stretches, reading, sleep. I savor a long and cozy bedtime routine!

How do you balance the aesthetic beauty of your studio with its functionality?

I have a philosophy: beauty and function are equals, not competitors. Both must exist in every corner of my space.

I achieve this by choosing beautiful tools and displaying them as décor. My storage baskets are natural fiber, my paper clips live in handmade ceramic dishes, my calligraphy pens and palette knives rest in vintage cups, and glass ink bottles are proudly displayed on open shelving. The less attractive necessities hide in drawers. The result is a space where stagnant energy and clutter doesn’t exist, my most-used tools are always within reach, and they’re beautiful enough to make even mundane tasks feel inspiring.

This approach requires more time and sometimes greater investment, but when every corner sparks creativity instead of distraction, it’s worth it.

Finding vintage furniture at the right specifications was the real challenge. My letterpress needs a 30-inch table height, which isn’t standard. The vintage baker’s table June sits on is the perfect height and had a beautiful patina. It took months to find, but it was worth the wait.

What’s been the most challenging aspect of running a studio from home?

Equipment limitations. I dream of a full-sized floor model press, but that requires a garage or ground-floor studio with a wide entrance and reinforced flooring that isn’t feasible for me right now.

The other challenge is mental: sometimes it’s hard to turn on work brain when I have lots of personal to-dos around the house, but usually it’s trickier to turn off work brain when the studio is just down the hall. There’s no commute to create separation, no barrier to entry between me and an unfinished project after dinner. But I’m learning that this is a valuable lesson in discipline and priorities.

The trade-off is worth it. My dog has company. I can throw in laundry between projects and make fresh, healthy meals anytime. My morning walks can be as long as I want since I’m not sitting in traffic, and I get to look out beautiful windows all day.

What are your favorite parts about this space?

Functionally, the center island. It’s the perfect height for assembling invitation suites, with storage below and seating when I need it.

Aesthetically, my vintage writing desk. Beautiful dappled light and shadows cast against the warm, broken-in wood from sunshine filtering through the tree outside my window, and the feminine energy of that corner sparks much of my inspiration—it’s where I photograph most of my work and where I do all computer stuff and calligraphy.

Of course June, the press herself, is my absolute favorite. She’s the heart of everything. Every impression she makes reminds me why I fell in love with this craft.

Photography by Miranda Florer | Florals by Twisted Bramble

Thank you for taking this tour with me. This studio is more than a workspace—it’s where June Press comes to life, where my vision for combining traditional craft with modern design takes tangible form.

Studios evolve constantly, just like the work we create in them. I’m always dreaming of new equipment, refining processes, pushing my creativity further. I’m excited to see where this journey leads—and so grateful for where this studio rests today. I’m beyond excited you’re following along!

If you’re planning a wedding or special event and want stationery that tells your unique story, I’d love to connect. Feel free to explore my portfolio or inquire about a project anytime.

For more behind-the-scenes moments, inspiration, and current project sneak peeks, find me on Instagram at @junepress. I love connecting with fellow stationery enthusiasts and anyone who believes beautiful paper goods still matter.

Until next time, may your mailbox be full of beautiful paper sent with love.