I know Houston. Like know it know it. It’s a familiarity that can only come from a lifetime of shopping and eating and sneaking around and getting lost in a place. I’ll never know San Antonio in that way, but since moving here a little over three months ago, I’ve made it my part time job to get to know this city and its offerings. We’re dating, San Antonio and I. And things are getting pretty serious.
You ever meet someone and immediately get that first-pick-of-any-kind-of-team vibe from them? That’s how I felt when I met Meg of Belle & Union. She just seems to have figured it out and done so without sacrificing style and grace. Her store is a gem and if you never get a chance to see it in person (you absolutely should make sure you do), you can always come back here for a virtual peek inside. Meet Meg.
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The name Belle and Union, how did that come about?
Belle & Union is the marriage of two souls – myself and my husband, combining our love of each other and our talents to create this company. I’m the creative mind – the self named boss lady and doodler, and the Southern belle of the two, where he is the Northern Yankee and mechanically minded one. Letterpress is a labor of love, and it takes the technical production skills that he has to bring my doodles to life. I love the idea of two seemingly opposite things coming together to form something new and wonderful all on its own.
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What’s the steeper learning curve – card-making and letterpress printing or business administration?
Business administration, hands down. There are so many levels and parts that seem never ending – and just when I feel like I have a handle on things I get thrown a curve ball. Card-making and letterpress is more about being creative, which I will take all day long over number crunching and paperwork.
What’s the oddest request you’ve received from a customer or client?
I once had to mock-up rubber tires (for your car) with images – think daisies or camo on the wall of your tire. It was – interesting to say the least.
I once had to mock-up rubber tires (for your car) with images – think daisies or camo on the wall of your tire. It was – interesting to say the least.
How often are you creating new cards and what all does that process entail?
I’m constantly adding phrases to a list on my phone, whenever I hear something or see something that sparks an idea. We try to launch new cards quarterly, so when it is time to get going on that I head to my list. From there I start off doodling in one of my many sketchbooks. Once I’m happy with a design and layout, I will digitize the art which then allows me to have our letterpress plates made. From there it is just about printing and getting it out on the shelf! It’s a process that can be as quick as one to two weeks, or drawn out over years. I have some phrases that I’ve been hanging onto for a long time, that I never could get a design I’m happy with. But you never know when inspiration will strike!
You’re a pretty recent transplant as well. In what ways do you feel San Antonio has been an upgrade from the last city in which you lived?
We have all the things! My last town was just that – a town. There wasn’t a lot of options in terms of locally owned restaurants or shops, merely a handful, so having access to all these amazing local artisans and restauranteurs is such a luxury.
Was it your idea from the start to add home goods and kitchenware to your stationery business or did the acquisition of those products just sort of evolve over time?
The original collection we launched had 32 letterpress printed greeting cards and 6 tea towels, among other things such as gift wrap and notepads. The tea towels were completely on a whim – turns out they were a big hit! We found our niche within the foodie market, so we embraced that and began designing products we wanted for our own kitchen. Josh is actually a food scientist (from his former life as a helicopter mechanic) so he lieks to think it is his influence that helped sway the collection that direction as well.
Quickies
1. Beach or lake: Beach.
2. If you could see one of them perform live tomorrow…Michael Jackson or Prince: Michael Jackson.
3. Beer, wine, cocktails, neither: I like the sweet stuff – so moscato wine or fruity drinks with rum.
4. Jeans or dresses: Yes? Ha – dresses in summer, jeans in winter.
5. Three words to describe you: creative, passionate, perfectionist
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