Meet Maria, the maker behind Clover & Lamb. She designs and prints letterpress wedding invitations, wax seals, and day-of-event paper goods from her home studio in Sunriver, Oregon. Many of the products found in Clover & Lamb are pressed into 100% handmade cotton paper, which makes them that much more special. Through a series of questions, we got to know Maria and more about her business.
Briefly tell us about yourself:
After getting married in October 2019, I relocated to Oregon from the central valley of California. My husband Jonathan and I currently reside in Sunriver, Oregon, with our two furry children, Maibell (our dog), and Brook Trout (our kitty). When I’m not in the studio, which can be really hectic, I like leading a simple life. I enjoy being outside, cooking, or taking a break with my little family on the Deschutes River. I also enjoy researching and reading extensively on various topics, including science, skincare, and various plant and tree species. Since I like to sing, you will usually catch me humming all day long.
How did you get started with letterpress?
I have a background as a watercolor artist. I remember the exact moment I fell in love with letterpress – it was when I ordered handmade cotton paper for my watercolor paintings. When the shipment arrived, I carefully opened the box, one flap and then the other. Lying there, right on top of the tissue paper, was a beautiful letterpress thank you card. The letters were pressed into the fluffiest, most delightful paper I had ever seen; it took my breath away. I found it so lovely and intriguing that I became a student of letterpress without even owning one. It wasn’t until my birthday, two years later, that I decided to treat myself to my 1,000lb. dream – an 1889 Chandler & Price printing press. The rest is history! I recently acquired a hot foil press and now offer foiled paper goods, too!
Is there a story behind your business name?
There is! Before I launched my letterpress shop, Clover & Lamb was initially intended to be a place for me to sell watercolor paintings. The “Clover” in my business’s name is named after clover honey, which is frequently used in homemade watercolor paints. Honey is a binder that helps keep the gum Arabic in watercolor paints pliable and helps retain moisture. Retaining moisture in watercolor paints is essential; without honey’s moisture and moisturizing properties, the paint would become dry, brittle, and crack. The word “Lamb” in my business name stands for my trust and faith in the One who frequently prevents me from becoming brittle and breaking.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am motivated by my passion for graphic design and the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces in general. I can honestly state that I enjoy working on projects for my clients every day; however, I do take weekends off! One of my primary sources of inspiration is delicate jewelry. Melanie Casey’s organic, quaint designs inspire me regularly. Texturing is the second source of inspiration. I love coming up with new textures to integrate into my curated designs. I enjoy the full tactile process of letterpress printing. The intimate process of creating custom designs, mixing the ink, inking the plate, passing each paper through my hands one at a time, feeding it into the clamshell—it is all enchanting and, for me, pure joy.
Where do you create?
I have two workspaces in my home. Most of my work is done in the loft office of our chalet home. In this space, I use my computer to design and communicate with my clients. Also stored in the loft are my two printers, a laser jet, an inkjet, and my large, high-capacity paper cutter. I have open storage shelves with organizers for sample swatches, wax, ribbons and a large workspace to cut silks and create wax seals. I also have a storage shelving unit that houses my envelope inventory and the paper stocks I use for digital printing. The garage serves as my second workspace. My husband worked tirelessly for weeks to create a lovely workspace for me to letterpress. I have storage, a workbench, a glass table top for mixing inks, all of my handmade cotton paper inventory, and all of my oil- and rubber-based letterpress inks.
What does your day as a full-time maker look like?
I am an early riser, typically between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. I enjoy coffee and breakfast with my husband before we start our day. My first order of business every morning is to tend to the emails that have trickled in overnight. The various time zones and careers can mean emails at 3:30 am! After that, I follow my action item list according to deadlines for events and paper goods. I do sometimes work 14-hour days during the peak wedding season. Slower cooker meal prep in the morning during peak season is perfect so we don’t forget to eat! I letterpress twice a week, typically, as I have found it a better use of my time to stack my projects on the same press day.
What does your creative process look like?
My creative process often goes like this: The first thing I do after receiving an order for wedding invitations is chat with my customers about their wedding color palette. I photograph sample swatches in line with their palette, and they select their choices! This delightful component keeps my customers engaged; they seem to love it a lot! Once I have all the pertinent information to include in their wedding invitations, I create their digital mockups. During this stage of the mockup, I provide unlimited revisions. I want my clients to be happy, and if they are watching the clock and counting down to the last review before they have to pay to see more changes, it takes the fun and enjoyment out of the process for both of us. Sometimes, it’s just slight wording tweaks, and my main goal is to create their dream suite. I don’t want to charge $25 for every nit-picky change. I like to keep my creative process, most importantly, stress-free for myself and my clients. Once the final proofs are reviewed, I move on to production!
Why did you choose goimagine?
Before seeing the social media commercial, I had never heard of goimagine. After researching and exploring the platform, I knew it was where I wanted to be. I adore goimagine’s business strategy and dedication to helping children.
Is there anything else that makes your shop unique?
I would say what makes my shop unique is my love for customer service. In 2023, you can hardly get anyone on the phone when you have questions. I let my clients know that when ordering their wedding invitations, I understand how important this decision is. Letting them know I am available by email, text, or phone call whenever they have any questions makes them feel confident in their decision to order. I was hired by a sweet client just because I offered to make a phone call. Unfortunately, customer service is now a luxury service, but I am happy to offer it without charge, as it always should be.
Where can we find Clover & Lamb?
Occasionally, you may find my goods at different wedding events and pop-up shops. In addition to goimagine, I also have a website, and select products are available on Minted.
Shop: goimagine.com/cloverlamb Save 10% with code LuckyLamb
Instagram: @cloverandlamb
Stephanie is naturally creative and is passionate about art, design, and everything handmade. She has always enjoyed exploring new techniques and trends in the handmade industry and has channeled this into her role as the Creative Director and co-founder of goimagine. Through her love for creating, she has successfully sold her unique wares, which range from fine art to simple crafts, in both online and in-person markets.