PS Lettering Shop

Rachel Johnson of PS Lettering Shop is a full-time 4th grade teacher, newlywed, start up calligrapher and my second cousin, if I'm doing that math right. She just started her hand lettering shop and we had a lot of fun collaborating and shooting a few of her custom and holiday pieces this week! I was curious about her motivations behind hand lettering, as I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sit still long enough to learn, so she answered a few questions about her process to share along with some photos I captured of her work below. Read on for more from Rachel, along with a special code to get 20% off anything in her shop through January!

What drew you to calligraphy and hand lettering?

Creating things is something I really enjoy. I was initially drawn to hand lettering and calligraphy because It is so incredibly beautiful. I thought “I have decent handwriting, maybe I could practice and get it to look like that.” I really was under the impression that calligraphy was just extremely gorgeous and elaborate handwriting, so that is where I started.  Interestingly enough when I started researching and reading blogs like a crazy person about how to get my handwriting to be beautiful...I quickly realized that calligraphy isn’t handwriting at all. It really is more of an art form that I had originally thought. It involved many more strokes, and picking up my pen a whole lot more than you would if I just wrote in cursive.As strange as it sounds part of the enjoyment of teaching myself, was realizing how much I had to learn.

There is a lot of content out there on the subject of calligraphy, but most of my inspiration started with Lindsey Bugabee’s The Postman’s Knock and her incredible talent with a dip pen and ink. Perhaps the most inspiring part was her story of how she got into what she does now for a living--teach people how to make stunning creations! The whole process started close to a year ago, and I just opened my Etsy shop psletteringshop three weeks ago. There is still so much for me to learn though! Calligraphy is such a fascinating craft and it’s completely captured my interest.

How does an idea move into a created piece?

Because of my rather focused and type A personality, when I create things it tends to be all at once. I get inspired and I sort of channel all my energy into the idea that I got. Most of the Christmas pieces in my shop were all designed and created within a couple of days. Currently I have at least 4 lists in my phone of things I thought of while out and about that I want to try with calligraphy. Not all of them actually make it into my etsy shop, but some of them do! On a day when I’m feeling more patient, I start by practicing letter forms to keep my skills up, and then using my Rhodia grid paper to letter what I’ve been dreaming up. Then, it gets transferred onto higher quality paper. I’ve just recently been experimenting with new inks and variations of my dip pen. Most of the time, the pieces I’m most proud of come completely unexpectedly-- whims that end up on paper.

What is your favorite thing to put on a print?

My favorite thing to put on a piece is quickly becoming anything custom.  I have received quite a few customs since I’ve opened and each one of them has been different and unique. The most fulfilling part for me, is hearing the stories that go with them. Of their own accord, most customers have asked for particular custom pieces, and then told me why they want it, or what the phrase or word means to them. If it’s a name, they’ve included whose name it is, and the reason they want it on a print. I had one order recently from a teacher in Georgia, who wanted to remind her students that each day is new, free of mistakes and unkindness--so she had me design her a piece that said “Begin Again” to put up in her classroom. Creating with those things in mind makes putting my heart into a print almost effortless because it feels like I get to connect with the person receiving it.

How do you stay motivated to be creative when life gets busy?

This IS the question of life in general. Sometimes I wonder… if life will ever NOT be busy?!? Teaching has been an incredible growing experience, in which I have learned that time management and balance are the keys to being a sane person who actually has a life. I think this really applies to most things… being creative included! I give myself time to do it, even when things are busy. When things are particularly chaotic, I try and get innovative with how this happens.

What do you do when you’re not creating?

I enjoy being outside and getting active. Also, food. Seattle and it’s surrounding area is an incredible place to discover new food and just eat good things. I’ve been getting into cooking; I’m an amateur and fairweather runner.  It’s not really that I don’t have the skill (I have run one full marathon and countless small races), but I’m honestly just a wimpy runner that doesn’t like to be cold and wet.

Check out my Instagram to enter to win a custom 5x7 of your choice & a set of custom gift tags, and visit Ps Lettering Shop and use the code LETTERS to get 20% off your order!

shop girls

it's basically summer forever in SoCal, but we can't deny that Autumn is coming--and the best part of that, besides all-pumpkin-everything, is the excuse to incorporate some new staple pieces into your wardrobe. We have new vintage coming to the shop all this week, so check back to see these go up! happy shopping. xo. 

back to school SALE

As much as I hate to talk about Fall when Summer is in its sweetest season--it's coming. Which means school is coming, which means you'll need some vintage to rock. Shop our entire stock for 20% through September 1st! Dresses, tops, skirts, bags and more all at some bomb prices. And we have lots of new pieces to list soon! Shop East Magnolia Vintage for more! xo.

new vintage, or, how to dress like an Abnegation

I laughed when I told Angela I'd found another vintage jumpsuit for the shop, because I have a strange penchant for them, and she knows it--one of the first pieces I purchased when we started up was a blue, full-length, polka dot jumpsuit with pearl buttons and a lace peter pan collar. Totally over-the-top, totally 80s, totally lovable. I just can't pass up a good onesie. This one is a more minimalist, neutral piece, but still makes a subtle statement. I told my boyfriend I feel slightly Abnegation in it, which is totally the faction I'd be in anyway, a fact I'm pretty okay with. 

I think this piece would be so fun to dress up! Throw on a super chic black hat, some chunky jewelry, and heels? Or go simple and wear some strappy sandals and a fringe cross-over bag? The result would be anything but Abnegation (is it nerdy to keep bringing up Divergent? sorry, not sorry). Shop this piece here! 

We also just joined insta, @shopeastmagnolia. Follow along for more fun. 

creative friends: Angela of Garden and Sea

You know how some people just have creativity basically coming out of their eyeballs? That's Angela. She runs East Magnolia Vintage with me, she blogs, she crafts, she freelances, she writes, and if you didn't know yet--she runs a sweet crochet business, too. Over the years of our friendship we've had a chance to do some fun photography for garden and sea, and I was happy to continue the tradition with these perfectly slouchy beanies that she custom-made for us at the bf's request. 

These aren't available in shop (yet), but there are tons of other crochet goodies, and I heard a rumor that she's already gearing up for the fall rush of scarves, earwarmers, and more--and may even add some of these, too. We had fun shooting these, and it was our first time playing with Evan's light kit in our own little pop-up studio...in the middle of the night, with breaks for carrot cake. Because that's when inspiration usually strikes, right? Thanks for the hats, Ang! xo.

Follow If Found, Make. on fb to follow all of Angela's creative endeavors. 

etsy spotlight: Obvious State

This morning I'm simultaneously doing all my favorite things: drinking coffee, painting my nails, listening to Justin Timberlake Pandora, and Etsy-window-shopping--which may turn into real shopping, now that I've stumbled upon these literary prints from Obvious State. As an English major who is currently obsessed with black and white decor, these prints are basically what dreams are made of. These are just my favorites, there are so many more! All my fellow readers & writers, you have to browse this shop! 

shop girls

Nautical blouse // 1950s plaid cropped jacket

90s crop top & floral mini dress

Okay, I can't help but share a few more favorites from our shop right now. Spring is such a fun time for vintage--florals, crop tops, nautical themes, cropped jackets, fun denim, and excessively girly pieces--all things we love and have in shop. Also, how gorge is my biz partner? Babe. 

For those of you outside of SoCal who may be seeing the first signs of spring, what are you most looking forward to wearing in the coming warmer months?

E. Magnolia Vintage

DIY home studio

Last week Angela and I had a whirlwind 24 hours of totally re-working E. Magnolia Vintage. Since we've been in different cities for the past year or so, we've been shooting our pieces separately,which means our storefront has looked a little...discombobulated. And we're over it. So we spent a crazy day here in San Diego rushing to photograph all over our current pieces, as well as a ton of new ones. We worked hard, but also gave a little bit of time to daydreaming--talking about owning a brick-and-mortar shop one day, filled with vintage and modern pieces, housewares, beautiful paper goods, maybe even a shop puppy...and on and on. We dream of one day having our own studio space, with gorgeous wood floors and white walls and amazing lighting. But for now, we had to improvise. So we threw up this little DIY home studio to photograph our goods! 

Since my walls are a lame beige color, we purchased a 53" by 12 yard seamless paper roll at Calumet Photo in LA. We taped it to the wall next to the biggest window in the apartment (note my decorative duct tape...thanks Mom!) but we wanted to add a bit of whimsy to the photos, so we added this tissue paper garland. Angela had another cute idea of painting polka dots on the paper itself--you could do so many things to make this unique! Unfortunately for us, this happened to be the only day ever that San Diego decided to have rain and grey, grey, grey, so lighting was a bit of a battle. We're excited to mess with some studio lighting soon, but until then, we worked with what we had (aka lamps and Christmas lights). 

One thing that would have been helpful is a thin board to put between the carpet and the paper, to avoid crinkling and wrinkles. We will definitely have that for our next shooting day. We still have lots to learn, but are so happy with how our photos turned out and how much cleaner our storefront looks. Stop by the shop to see more, we will be adding more pieces all this week! xo. 

ps: this would also be so fun as a photobooth backdrop for a party, shower, or wedding! the possibilities are endless! 

East Magnolia Vintage

ps: Small Business Saturday!

ps: through Monday, get 15% off your entire purchase in my vintage shop with the code 'THANKFUL'! I'm so thankful for the chance to run an etsy shop with my good friend Angela, who pushes me to be more creative & more business savvy...and who finds the best vintage pieces (I want everything in this photo). Visit our shop here & support etsy/small business owners! xo.