My nostalgia for paper goods, trimmings, and vintage items goes far back. Maybe it was all the rummaging through my grandmother's old things as a kid or those early morning treks to flea markets with my father that got me hooked, I really can't say. All I know is I'm hooked!

Early in my career, I went on to work at an interior design showroom and eventually went on to study decorative arts history at Parsons School of Design. I had already earned my bachelor of fine arts degree in college so the progression to studying the history of decorative arts opened up a new world of possibilities for me. Historical influences from past centuries are ever present in our modern world and continue to influence the design world today. What can I say, this fascinates me ;)

I've always been a "card person," meaning I love sending them, and I love receiving them. After years of collecting beautiful fabrics and papers, the two interests merged into one artistic endeavor, and Blue Thistle Studio was born. But it didn't stop there...and my Etsy shop evolved so now it is known as BlueThistleStudio2.

By now you can probably tell that I'm wild about color and pattern! I love seeing how colors react to one another depending upon their surroundings and context. And I find that when fabric and paper come together in my hands, I have a tendency to treat them as miniature interior design projects, finding just the right trim or embellishment to really make the colors in a card pop.

Today, I have the pleasure of designing greeting cards, along with a few new ventures, like offering a curated selection of vintage + shabby chic decor, along with customized wedding favor bags. In addition, I work at and am a vendor for a funky vintage shop in real life, where inspiration can be found around almost every corner.

My customers can be assured that I take great care in selecting the perfect materials and colors for every item I create, whether constructed from paper, fabric, or a beautiful piece of vintage china. I try to use recycled, sustainable, or repurposed materials in crafting my items whenever possible. And in this age of technology, gadgets, and impersonal texting, I still believe in the enduring power of a hand-written note!