I own and operate The Calico Press, a small printshop on our farm in Southeast Iowa. When my career of 18 years in Print & Design was shaken by the recession in 2010, I took advantage to gather my print belongings to one location and open the doors for business. To say that my business is multi-faceted is an understatement. Daily projects can range from designing brochures to carving linoleum to restoring antique printing presses. In 1988, I was first introduced to an etching press at Coe College where I earned my BA. Together with a farm upbringing and knowledge of metal working, a passion ignited. That passion has grown to include all aspects of printing: providing quality letterpress works, fine art prints, computer generated graphic design, and preserving early print-related processes by instructing classes throughout the US.

In addition to running a print shop, I am also the Director of Villages Folk School, a member of Printers’ Hall in Mt. Pleasant, the Amalgamated Printers Assoc., Fort Madison Area Arts Assoc. and Fairfield Art Assoc. I have taught classes at the Ladies of Letterpress and Amalgamated Printers Assoc. annual conferences; as well as Hamilton Wood Type Museum & several midwest high schools, colleges and universities. I am active with the Iowa Arts Council’s statewide efforts to support and encourage rural, traditional, and folk artists, as well as focusing on creative placemaking within Van Buren County.

I enjoy living in an old farmhouse, working on trucks, hunting, fishing, spending time with family and apparently anything heavy, greasy, rusty, or hard to move.