I am so happy to bring to you this new feature of MY RIGHT BRAIN (and wish I knew more about how to work the bells and whistles within typepad so that you could see my excitement and energy - but I can't figure it out and have officially settled with what you see below - which for now, I am ok with...kinda). It's something that I have wanted to do for a while, and since I announced it here, Eleanor was the first to respond, so to Eleanor - I THANK YOU :)..please cue the music and put your hands together for...
Business Name: e.m.papers
Location: Munich by way of SF Bay Area, California
Website: www.empapers.com, www.empapersblog.com
What do you make and where can we get it?
I make printable cards and paper goods, which you can download at www.empapers.com
How long have you been making it?
The printable part for the last year (very much 'on the side'), but the history goes back more than 10 years (see story behind business name question)
What has helped you get to where you are today?
I studied Graphic Design at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. In around 1996 I graduated and started out as a book designer at a small boutique design firm in San Francisco. Then the dotcom bubble started, and almost overnight I was a web designer. Through some complicated twists and turns I ended up in Munich, Germany where I was hired by Sapient, an Interactive/Web/IT consultancy. As soon as my organizational skills were noticed (sometimes a rarity among creatives) my mac became a PC and my Photoshop and Illustrator morphed into Excel and Powerpoint. I'm still there, and it has been an exceptional place to learn, but I miss designing, and designing things that I like, which drove me to turn my habit of making last-minute cards for birthdays and other occasions into a full-time side 'jobby'.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Time and knowing where to focus (so much to be distracted by and to do)
What is your greatest success (so far)?
Getting a mention on 'One pretty thing' and selling a lot of cards on Etsy last Valentine's day
What is the story behind your business name?
My friend Molly Hart and I started a stationery business in our early twenties. We didn't get very far, largely because I had wanderlust and moved to Europe and she went on to start a family and pursue her own design business and coaching practice. We were also just young and not that committed. We both would often look back and think 'We could have probably made a go of it' but with fondness rather than regret. Now that home printing has become so advanced and affordable and e commerce on the web has matured, I've resurrected the business selling our designs as printables.
Describe your average day?
I get up around 6 a.m. and have some coffee. I try to get in an hour or two of work on e.m.papers before I have to get ready and start my day job. I try to stop work at a sane hour, so I can putz around in our garden and make dinner. Once a week in the evenings, my fiance helps me with technology stuff (we're moving the store to a new platform) and I get some more e.m.papers work done.
Who or what inspires you?
Stationery stores, office supplies, lots of stuff I see on blogs, art book stores, wandering around many of Munich's cool neighborhoods.
Favorite Artist?
Not sure I have one. But I love Shepard Fairey, and I'm also really enjoying finding print and fine artists on Etsy. Some of my favorites are: blowegeri, Matte Stephens, Yee Haw Industries, and John W. Golden.
Current Playlist?
I'm living dangerously by letting our entire ipod music collection run on shuffle.
Currently Reading?
The Art of Eating - M.F.K. Fisher
A Whole New Mind - Daniel Pink
Description/photo of workspace
Five Fun Facts:
- 'Grease', 'Pretty and Pink' and 'Zapped' were all filmed at my High School
- I went to art school at a time when we had to learn about computers and cut ruby lith at the same time
- My Dad is a letterpress printer
- I really like living in Europe, but also love Northern California very much
- I believe there are few problems that can't be addressed by a good self-help book!
- I have a love-hate relationship with technology
Are you interested in offering our readers any discounts?
I have many, many free downloads in my shop (get 'em while they're hot!):
Birthday Card, Blank Card, Thank You Card, Father's Day Card, Gift Tags, and there's a lot more to be found wandering around the site and under freebies.
Thanks again for featuring me!
