ABOUT US



OUR MISSION AND VISION


we connect people through paper. 
at penelope's press, we strive to
...celebrate the craft of letterpress and the art of the written word
...create products that celebrate life's occasions, from the everyday to the milestone moments 
...cultivate gratitude and spread love in all that we do to the people that surround us-- our loyal customers, our fellow independent business owners, and the community we serve and beyond


OUR STORY

top: Debbie with two of her printing presses, bottom left: Debbie with her sister and youngest child holding products drawn by them, bottom right: Debbie and her husband/booth helper

 

Our love affair with paper began in childhood and continues to fuel our passion today.  We are fond of handwritten letters, thoughtfully chosen cards, and good old-fashioned mail.  With timeless simplicity in mind, we handcraft each card in-house—from the hand-drawn illustrations to every piece of paper that is hand-fed through our 100+ year-old printing presses.  We cherish yesteryear by preserving the craft of letterpress and encouraging the art of written correspondence.

Founded in 2009 by Debbie Lee, penelope's press is a letterpress print and design studio whose signature style fuses modern and classic elements, featuring simple design, clean typography, hand-drawn illustrations, and subtle pops of color.  The cards are designed by Debbie, adorned with illustrations from her children, sister, and herself.  They are letterpress printed one sheet at a time and one color at a time, then packaged and shipped with love from the heart of the Midwest.  What started as a small venture has grown into a full-service letterpress studio that ships stationery, greeting cards, wedding suites, and custom-designed projects to clients and select retailers around the globe.  penelope’s press is proud to have been featured in print and online publications and is humbled to have a clientele that includes notable celebrities and retailers, both big and small.

A Chicago-born Illinois native, Debbie relocated to the southwest suburbs of Chicago, where she currently resides with her husband (her part-time press mover, booth helper, and shipping assistant), children (who illustrate for penelope’s press in between their extracurricular activities and busy social calendars), and three bunnies.