An Origin Story
Do you ever look back at one moment in your life and recognize the exact moment you stepped onto a new path?
This moment happened for me while driving, as most good thoughts do. The car and the shower are magical in that way. My best friend had just launched her own pop up bookstore in Arkansas, and I was bursting with the desire to participate in it with her. Without thinking through any logistics or details, I called her and said, “Hey! I could make bookish stickers for you!” And since she is a yes girl and a cheerleader and dreamer she agreed it was obviously the best idea anyone has ever had.
I have always been artsy, but at this point I had never drawn digitally or made a sticker and had no idea where to start. I also had no idea how many bookish stickers already existed in the world, which is good because I would have stopped before I even started.
A few months later, I was a part of a worldwide holiday card exchange, and as I was writing my good intentions out to strangers I’d never met, I was reminded how much I’ve always loved sending mail.
As a kid, my mom would give me the church bulletin and we’d send out cards to people on the prayer list. In high school, I was always writing notes and sneaking them into lockers. In college, I would spend Saturday mornings sending cards to friends near and far, and when I lived abroad, friends and family received pages long epistles covered in exotic stamps and markings.
It only seemed natural to marry these two things together, stickers and snail mail, and the monthly handwritten letter subscription was born.
I guess my takeaway is this: Go with your gut, and go with your gifts. The rest can be figured out. Sometimes a quick idea can blossom into something you could never foresee.
AddPeace Studio stickers are now in bookstores in over 20 states, and I’ve sent out hundreds of letters since 2022. Making stickers allows me to connect with others over shared thoughts and interests, and sending letters allows me to pour out a little deeper. Go with your gut, go with your gifts, and you can’t go wrong.
