Where did the name of your studio come from?

From the beginning, we knew we wanted our studio to function not just as a place to produce our paper line of letterpress printed goods and teach printmaking to local youth but also as a place where artists, neighbors, leaders in our community could meet and get to know each other. We believe deeply in people power and believe that when neighbors know each other and learn about each other, mutual support, resolve and joy can thrive there. And we want more of that. That's what a meshwork does! It creates strength out of otherwise vulnerable units. mesh·work /ˈmeSHˌwərk/ noun - an interlaced structure; a network.  Meshwork is also a nod to the mesh screens we use to teach the youth screen printing. 

Who is on your team, and how did you come together?

Our team consists of Haylee and myself, Kyrie. We worked together previously at another letterpress studio for six years. I worked on the business side of things and Haylee printed. We both admired each other's work ethic and would talk about things we cared deeply about as easily as folks might talk about the weather or weekend plans. When Haylee left to go teach printmaking to wildly creative, under-resourced youth nearby, Kyrie was quick to follow with the shared vision of growing a creative business with a vision for building empowerment through the arts. It's only been 3 years but we've already seen so much come to life that was just a dream at the beginning and we owe so much of it to the incredible love & support from our neighborhood and city. 

How did you get into design and letterpress printing?

I've always been drawn to shape, color, arrangements and I knew design was a space where I found a lot of play and satisfaction. I studied at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design while working at a stationery store in Denver, CO (shout out to wordshop!) and fell in love with how those two worlds came together. Haylee studied printmaking at Metropolitan State College of Denver and received her masters at Ohio University in Athens, OH. She didn't dabble in letterpress printing until learning on the job at Sapling Press in Pittsburgh, PA.  

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Inspiration is everywhere! I'm drawn to design things for letterpress that I don't often see in this print method. Large, playful, unfussy shapes printed in bold colors. Detailed illustration is not my strong suit so our line leans into my love of shape and color and the infinite mash ups available there.

What kind of press(es) do you use?

Chandler and Price

Which press was used to print the Nicely Noted cards?

Chandler and Price