About

At Wishbone Letterpress, we bring your stories to life through beautifully handcrafted stationery. Owned by Danielle Bliss and established in 2011, we specialize in blending traditional letterpress techniques with contemporary design to create one-of-a-kind custom stationery pieces. From bespoke wedding invitations to personalized event announcements, we take pride in our meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality. At Wishbone Letterpress, we believe in the power of thoughtfully designed paper goods to capture the essence of your celebration and create lasting memories.

Half of our business is dedicated to custom projects, working closely with clients to turn their visions into unique stationery. The other half focuses on our greeting card line and wholesale offerings. We bring our playful sense of humor to the greeting card side of the business, where we write and design all our thoughtful and cheeky creations. This partnership results in unique cards that are as fun as they are heartfelt, making Wishbone Letterpress your go-to source for delightful stationery.

While many of our clients are based in the Hudson Valley, Catskills and NYC, we've successfully worked remotely with clients from across the United States. We can't wait to collaborate with you on your next special occasion!

Danielle Bliss

Owner/Creative Director/Designer/Printer

Danielle, a lifetime Hudson Valley resident, brings her professional expertise working for companies like Nickelodeon, CBS News, Microsoft, Amazon Fresh, and Hulu, to Wishbone Letterpress. She discovered letterpress printing in 2009 and has been passionate about it ever since. While managing the day-to-day operations, she also collaborates with custom clients on weddings, parties, and announcements, guiding them through the design and printing process. When not working, Danielle enjoys hanging out with her two sassy tuxedo cats, making spotify playlists, and searching for the best spicy fried chicken sandwich.

Joe Venditti

Creative Mastermind/Printer/Production

Joe (also born and raised in the HV) works as a geothermal heating and cooling Engineer by day and moonlights as a graphic designer and letterpress printer on nights and weekends. His degree in Fine Art and Sculpture laid the foundation for a creative career focused on word based art, a perfect fit for designing and brainstorming greeting cards. When he's not dreaming up new designs, he can be found cooking up a gourmet meal, collecting records, or catching live music at one of the Hudson Valley’s many music venues.

FAQs

What is letterpress?

Letterpress is a traditional printing technique that dates back centuries and involves pressing a design into paper using a printing press. This method uses raised surfaces, such as plates or type, which are inked and then pressed onto the paper to create a textured, tactile effect. The process results in beautifully detailed prints that leaves an impression that is pushed down into the paper. Each print is unique due to slight variations in the pressure and inking, giving letterpress its characteristic charm. This time-honored technique is popular for custom wedding invitations, greeting cards, and other special occasion stationery because of its quality and artisanal appeal.

What is the cost and labor breakdown for letterpress?

Letterpress is a more expensive form of printmaking due to several factors that contribute to its artisanal quality and labor-intensive process:

Skilled Labor: The technique requires skilled artisans to prepare the design plates, adjust the press, and carefully operate the machinery. Each print must be precisely crafted, making the process labor-intensive.
Setup Time: Setting up a letterpress job involves preparing plates and ensuring the alignment and pressure are perfect for the design. This setup time is longer compared to digital printing.
Materials: Letterpress printing uses high-quality paper and ink, often requiring specific types to achieve the desired tactile effect. The cost of these premium materials can add up.
Limited Production Speed: The process is slower than digital printing since each piece is manually fed through the press. The additional time and effort per print increase the overall cost.
Custom Plates and Dies: Letterpress printing often requires custom plates or dies for each design. The creation of these specialized items adds to the overall expense.
Hand-Finished Details: Letterpress prints may include hand-finished details such as foil stamping or embossing, which require additional steps and expertise.
Unique and High-Quality Output: The distinct, elegant look of letterpress prints, along with their unique tactile quality, justifies the higher price point for many customers.

Do you offer more cost effective methods of printing?

We offer digital printing as a more budget-friendly option for those with specific needs. This flat printing method often uses smoother paper, which works well with digital technology, and is great for projects that require a faster turnaround, like table numbers, escort cards, and signage. We're also developing a line of templated designs specifically for this printing method, providing clients with pre-designed options that offer a more affordable alternative to custom design, and letterpress.

What information should I include when reaching out for a quote?

Desired print method.
Amount needed, when it comes to weddings or parties, think households/couples, not one per person.
If it’s letterpress, how many colors would you like printed? Each color requires a separate printing plate and print run.

What is the turnaround for custom projects?

We usually require 6-8 weeks at a minimum, but this could be longer if we already have a lot of clients booked for that time frame. Book us early to reserve space on our calendar. We do take a limited amount of jobs per month.

Studio & Machines