How did you start?
In 2015, Ashleigh was starving for more connection with her day-to-day work as a Senior Graphic Designer for a well-known firm in Washington, D.C. As much as she thought that “it was ‘the place’” she felt a need to connect with others more joyfully and meaningfully. Enter Divine Intervention! After being fired from that job for "my illness really affecting my performance", I decided that I never wanted to beg anyone to tell me why I was no longer deserving, no longer enough. With my partner's and familial support, we started Type A Invitations® in 2015 creating custom wedding invitations from Ashleigh's rent-controlled D.C. apartment – loved that spot! This is a picture of our first ever custom order for Monica & Anthony's wedding!
Pandemic + Baby! + Alcoholism + Severe Post-Partum Depression + PMDD
Due to the world being shut down, in 2020, our events based business was forced to switch gears. We also were in the midst of being new parents with our daughter born just a couple weeks before lockdowns. We began tapping back into our true selves. Brian and I got sober (and that my friends still surprises me...all we did was drink and party pre-babe!). That summer, I was diagnosed with Severe Postpartum Depression. I sought talk therapists, lactation consultants, and psychiatric care. We began the painful process of healing unhealthy familial traumas. Two summer later, I was officially diagnosed with PMDD – which is considered a dis-ability. Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder is something that impacts my entire family, our whole life. Every two weeks I'm literally battling with my pain-body to the point of (at the worst times) suicidal thoughts and (at better, newish times) using all my strength to fend off toxic thought patterns so I don't fall any deeper the dysphoria quicksand. Now I run my business around my natural cycles and it's never been more aligned.
Type A Studio® Collections
In 2022, we participated in our first ever holiday art markets. Learned A LOT. Cried A LOT - both kinds. I had a team of four additional people over three time zones helping bring dis-advantaged voices to life through letterpress art, while doing it sustainably and with integrity. Fast forward to today with just my partner, child, and self running and creating, and evolving Type A. We hope to share true love and authenticity with the world through our cards, prints, stationery, and gifts.
Our Story
Type A is an eco-feminist design & letterpress studio in Maryland.
We believe that good design can change the world, and we're committed to using our privilege + skills to positively impact humankind and Mother Nature by donating 1% of each sale to House of Ruth Baltimore, MD and partnering with 1:Tree to plant a tree for every purchase.
Our products reflect our love of people and our planet through hand-pressed hemp paper cards, cotton paper stationery sets, and limited edition art prints... all made with love for the Thoughtfully Unique™.