ask a designer: port2port press

i'm thrilled to post another installment of "ask a designer". this week our featured designer will be maria of port2port press. i met maria before she started port2port and have been so thrilled and impressed with the way she's built her business and managed the challenges of running a stationery company on your own. she's stayed true to her vision and has managed to create a (very) devoted group of fans that dilligently follow both her blog and card society. maria does practically everything on her own so she's a wonderful resource for those of you looking to do something similar. i'll be taking questions for maria through friday evening and then we'll have her answers on monday. so, if you'd like to ask maria a question please leave them below in the comment section (not via email, please). i'll post reminders through friday as well. [thanks to maria for taking the time to participate] you can find some additional information on maria's background below...

maria vettese launched port2port in portland, maine in january of 2006. after 8 years in design and art direction, she decided to go forward with her sort of accidental dream of being able to produce art and sell it at affordable
prices using tools she was truly passionate about; tools with which she could truly get her hands dirty. in college, maria began experimenting with letterpress printing on a large vandercook press producing short-run books, broadsides and prints. She spent her early twenties working in small book publishing and spending hours working on typography. while laying out books, she gained a keen eye for simple structure and form. in her late-twenties maria further honed her eye for all that is artistic while working as an art director and stylist for various small to large-sized companies
including chicago’s chocolatier vosges haut-chocolat.

a move across country in 2004 is what gave maria the final bit of momentum to start port2port press. now located on the east coast and only blocks from the ocean, she finds that most days are filled with slow moments- time to notice the beauty in everyday occurrences. she uses her own photography, the newest fashion bits, paper arts and other handmade crafters’ work as inspiration. in march of 2007 port2port press launched the photographs & prints project: 1 idea, 5 photographs, 1 letterpress print. this project includes original photography as well as signed & numbered letterpress prints. slso in 2007, maria plans to continue collaborative work with artists from all over the globe.