About Us
Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of Fireweed Paper Ink!
Fireweed Paper Ink is a small, locally owned, Alaskan business that sells handmade stationery products. From greeting cards to vinyl stickers, bookmarks to post cards, we have it all! We have curated the perfect selection of gifts for you and your family, with our large selection you will have no issue finding the best gift for any occasion. In addition, to selling our stationery products, we work with our customers to create beautiful commissions and custom artworks. Whether its a personalized illustration or a custom logo, we can help with any and all of your design needs. So, find the perfect gift with Fireweed Paper Ink, because handmade is from the heart!
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Our Beginnings:
Starting back in 2019 as just another hobby, I never would have thought me crafting in my old bedroom would turn into my now job, but miraculously, it did. Here's how I did it, in the summer of 2019, after watching many Youtube videos about how to make stickers at home, I bought my very first Cricut machine. Of course me being a huge bullet journaler at the time, custom sticker sounded like a pretty perfect idea. So, after much experimentation and learning how to properly use my machines I made my very first sheet of stickers! No they weren't perfect but they were perfectly imperfect and that was all the motivation I needed to keep creating. For Christmas that year, my family all chipped in and gifted me an iPad to pursue my digital art. It was after being given this wonderful gift that I started drawing even more and although I was only a Freshman in high school, I knew that my art was something I wanted to make into a career.
Covid-
The Beginning of the Something New:
Now fast-forward to March of 2020, when ever kid across the U.S. was cheering that we would have an extra two weeks of spring break, and before we knew it, disaster struck. With everything closed and unavailable, our only decision was to make our own fun, and that's exactly what I did making stickers. After many dreadful months isolated in our homes, mastering our sourdough starters and candle making, I finally made it to August. This was a very crucial time for me, because this was when I decided to take my favorite hobby, and turn it into something that could be profitable. Just two months later, it was October, and my very first craft show! Although I only made about $300.00, I knew then and there, seeing my art bring someone else joy, stationery was my calling. After that one market, I continued on attending them and building my business, over the years I have expanded from just vinyl stickers, to sticky notes, notepads, and everything in between.
Making Progress:
Once I turned 18 in 2022, I made my business official and filed for a business license, so I could turn my small side hustle into a big business. In October of 2023 I opened my online shop. There was so much support at times it was overwhelming, but I couldn't be more grateful for both the support and for all the small steps that led me to exactly where I needed to be.
Setbacks and Rebuilding:
My business was thriving and then something completely out of my control happened, I lost my childhood home on December 29th, 2023 to a house fire, and with it my quite extensive workshop. I was crushed, seeing all that I worked for crumple beneath me, so I took a long sabbatical from my business to both breathe and of course, to start a new. It took me a long time, but after months of saving and taking the time I needed, I reopened my online store that fall, and was flooded with happy orders and wonderful messages. Which, was just what I needed to power through and make the rest of 2024 count.
Current Day:
Here I am, after all of the struggle, I was able to make my business into something I'm unbelievably proud of. I couldn't be happier for my job to be making people smile with my art; and I cant wait to see where 2025 takes me!
About the Owner:
Hello lovely people! My name is Lexie, and I am the owner and artist of Fireweed Paper Ink, although my business was created purely out of being bored during the Pandemic, I want to make my business something larger than life, so I hope you stick with me to see how I expand and make this business even better!