Voyage Tampa Magazine Interview
I was recently interviewed by Voyage Tampa Magazine.
What an honor to be chosen for their “Hidden Gems” feature. You can view the full article here: https://voyagetampa.com/interview/meet-sarah-holt-of-tampa-seminole-heights
I wanted to elaborate a little bit more about the questions they asked. If you want to know more about me, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.
Few things in life are linear. How did my creative journey begin?
My creative journey began when it was time to pick my major for college. Going to a public school, I enjoyed history and art, choosing eventually to get a BA of Fine Art in Studio Art. During my undergrad, I loved printmaking and focused mainly on Intaglio and Screen Printing. Some years after graduating my husband, Philip Holt, tattooer and owner of RedLetterOne https://www.redletterone.com/, purchased an antique Chandler and Price 10 X 15 letterpress. We had no idea how to use it. After taking a few classes and a lot of experimentation, I began running small jobs for friends. Mostly business cards and stationery.
After several years I began to master the art of letterpress and improved my graphic design skills to offer custom logos, stationery, and wedding invitations. A decade later, my skills and love for letterpress have multiplied greatly. I have had the joy of designing and printing for dozens of brides and businesses.
My favorite part of any print job is taking clients along for the magic. I always share photos and videos of the process. I have a private print studio in Seminole Heights and an office for consultations located in the heart of South Tampa. It can be difficult to compete on social media, I have to remind myself that I print for the joy of it and the couples I work with, not for superficial likes.
Has my letterpress journey been smooth so far?
Short answer, no, nope, absolutely not. Learning any new skill or craft brings many obstacles that must be overcome! I have spent a lot of this year reframing the concept of failure. You cannot grow if you don’t take risks. Sometimes risk means failure but smile because that always leads to growth, if you let it.
All small business owners know the responsibility of wearing multiple hats. While it is expected that I had to learn how to master my craft (operating an antique 1920s press), I have also grown in my ability to design (Adobe Illustrator), manage supply inventory, build websites, photograph flat lays, edit photos, manage projects, and much more.
I consider all of there joys but they don’t come without their sacrifice and challenge. Creative block is my least favored challenge because you never know when it will strike or how long it will stick around for before breakthrough.
What else am I currently focused on?
In addition to having my degree in art, I also have a Master’s of Science in Marketing. I wanted to learn more about brand management and creative direction. So I also offer marketing services, in addition to digital and letterpress print services. I love working with brands as much as I do brides.
Many letterpress printers today focus on their style, but I have a different approach, where I ask clients to set the tone. They share their mood board or vision with me and from that I create something unique to them. I managed a custom tattoo studio for a decade and I that has had a huge impact on how I approach working with clients and creating custom designs.
Hobby wise, I am a brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt, I train at Matt Arroyo’s gym, Gracie Tampa South in SoHo, https://gracietampasouth.com/. I also enjoy practicing Hot 26 yoga at Bella Prana https://bellaprana.com/. Letterpress is physically demanding, the press requires me to stand in uncomfortable postures for long periods, making repetitive motions, and using a lot of strength to slow down the wheel between each press. Working out and stretching helps me stay strong and restore the wear and tear it puts on my body. Learning a self defense martial art has taught me so much about failure, consistency, and embracing the uncomfortable.
I also have a wonderful family that keeps me busy! I’m married to my loving husband and best friend, I have four bonus children between the ages of 15 - 26, two dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks) and a spicy black cat. We’re heavily involved at Grace Family Church in South Tampa and love getting to be a part of the community there.
What matters to me most as a business owner?
I’m deeply committed to creating an incredible experience for each and every client. Making sure they are elated and informed through every step of the process is the most important thing to me. I am always so grateful that clients trust me with such deeply personal work and I don’t take it lightly. I am also a perfectionist, so every detail matters, sometimes too much but it’s always worth it in the end.
I strive to work collaboratively with clients. I want them to be as involved as they would like to be. Sharing the magic of letterpress along the way is something I cherish, especially in today’s digital world, sharing my craft feels like a very special privilege.
What’s your average pricing:
Low End $1,000
Average Booking $2,500
High End $4,500
What’s the best way to get in touch?
Click on any of the contact us links on my website, or send me an email to: monpetitpaperco@gmail.com
