Picture
Caption: Studio Stories Girls Can Tell
Picture
Caption: Hello! I'm Sara from Girls Can Tell gift co. I'm delighted to share peeks into my studio and process today, beginning with my desk. I spend a few hours in the morning taking care of business-y things, like emailing reps and clients, sourcing materials, editing photos or cleaning up illustrations, and occasionally watching celebrities read mean tweets. For the record, I probably would have mocked a photo of this desk this clean a few months ago, but one of my goals for 2015 was to create spaces that I actually wanted to be in and work in, so I've made an effort to keep my desk nice and clean, and treat myself to little things like fresh flowers. It may sound crazy, but I think it's increased my productivity.
Picture
Picture
Caption: It took several years, but I'm lucky to have found an amazing local print partner for all my screenprinted items. Adam (at the bottom left) and his top notch printing team (that's Joe in the middle) have been printing my work since 2012. It took a long time for me to feel okay about not printing each and every thing that I design myself, but now I know it was absolutely the right move, since it's allowed me the time to take on fun new projects (like my own brick and mortar shop, @occasionette!)
Picture
Picture
Caption: I visit the print shop as often as I can to talk ink color, new materials, and donuts. I like to stop by if I know there's a new design on press or to pick up finished pieces I'm super excited about.
Picture
Picture
Caption: Tea towels are what Girls Can Tell gift co. is generally known for - I've been printing and selling my illustrated tea towels since 2006. Here is my towel bin cave, where all the towels live for the (hopefully short) time between when they come back from the printer and when they ship out. It's not pretty, but it's real.
Picture
Picture
Caption: Finding great spots to snap fresh photos for our catalog and website can be tricky, but Philadelphia is full of completely amazing spaces and even more amazing people, which is incredibly helpful. I'm always delighted when I have a chance to work in a gem of a spot like @maggpierental's gorgeous warehouse, where I shot our most recent catalog.
Picture
Picture
Caption: When I sit down to work on a new design, I've just kind of spread out wherever I'm comfortable - usually all over my coffee table (with The West Wing on for background noise). I draw in ink on white trace, scan and clean the illustrations up digitally. Then I vectorize and send the files over to my printer, or in the case of my newest products, to the lasercutter. Seeing and touching a new product in real life for the first time is always magical. And that's Girls Can Tell gift co! Thanks, Erin, for always championing the process, and for inviting me to be part of this fantastic series! xo!
Picture
Caption: For a new story, follow @ameliapresents on Instagram each week.