Nerd Press - A One-Woman Show
I started Nerd Press in 2013 when I transitioned from working full-time for fiber artist Nick Cave to working part-time selling modern furniture. I knew I wanted to keep my hands busy with my extra free time and thought it would be fun to try living out a childhood dream of mine - creating a small line of greeting cards. (Yes, I was a total dork growing up. Still am. Hence, Nerd Press!)
Nerd Press started as a very small collection of general greeting cards I made from my original ink and watercolor illustrations. My goal with the line was to keep it playful and colorful - cards that would brighten a person's day! I also wanted to keep my cards low cost because I myself am a frugal minded person who struggles paying loads of $$$ for a card. Thus, my line of small, but sweet, whimsical cards was born!
As the years went by and I started selling my cards in local Chicago shops, the line grew to include holiday cards and other gift items. Soon people were asking me if I could make Chicago-themed baby clothes. I thought, why not?! So I revisited my notes from a silkscreening class I took a while back, and boom, started screen printing baby clothes!
Almost all Nerd Press goods are created by me by hand in my home studio in Chicago. In my art-making practice, I try to balance both being sustainable and low cost. The cards are designed, illustrated, inkjet printed, cut, folded, and packaged by hand. I print on paper from the American mill, French Paper, out of Niles, Michigan. My silkscreens are all handmade from recycled picture frames and fabric I thrift. I do all of the burning, printing, and heat setting by hand. Eco-friendly, non-toxic water-based inks are used.
I hope you love these Nerd Press products as much as I do! Thank you for your support!
