Our Story
The Pair
Amy and Mary Beth are a pair of accomplished graphic designers who share a love for fine printing and are addicted to everything paper. Each earned their BFA in graphic design, and then independently decided to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area, Amy from the Lone Star State of Texas and Mary Beth from New York. Eventually, their paths crossed while working in the same design department at a major corporation. As the years passed in corporate America and their creative genius became trapped, they realized a drastic change was needed, and fast! Each afternoon, over their still favorite cups of earl grey tea, they imagined a better life in design.
As luck would have it, the drastic change came in the form of downsizing, and they were soon free to build their dreams into a reality! With freedom came long drives up to Chandon and impromptu vacations to Mexico. On the plane back from Sayulita, Peculiar Pair was born.
Why We’re Peculiar
When they scribbled the word peculiar on their “company brainstorm list,” they instantly realized it was a perfect fit. Anyone who knows both of them can attest to their shared distaste for germs (Mary Beth swears she can see them) and almost obsessive fascination with type and old books.
Amy is a hypochondriac. She doesn’t like birds and the color blue and can’t stand it if her books are not lined up in decending order of height on her bookshelf. Don’t spill milk in Amy’s kitchen! You’d be hard pressed to find the paper towels; they are neatly hidden in the cabinets along with the appliances that normal people would choose to place on their counters.
Mary Beth is a hair twister, has been since childhood. She is an incessant list and pile maker and never wants to be enclosed in a room with a big fat lethargic fly. She doesn’t mind birds so much, but she can’t stand it when they trot around inside her local Starbucks dropping germs with every hop. She appreciates a nice set of white teeth, bald men and anything that resembles the smell of soap. Somehow, peculiar just seemed to fit.
Our Philosophy
Peculiar Pair Press prides themselves on their unique design sensibility. Simply put, their work is just different. Each design concept is carefully considered, whether for a group of notesets in their stationery line or wedding invitations for an excited bride.
Peculiar Pair Press also maintains high standards with regard to print quality. Throughout each step of the process Mary Beth and Amy are there to take care of every aspect. They inspect each impression with the utmost attention to detail, insuring quality and consistency.
They also provide concentrated customer care and will help you through your decisions, from incorporating your ideas during the design phase to understanding the advantages and limitations of letterpress printing. They welcome questions or conversation at any time.
Beautiful design, fine letterpress printing, and concentrated customer care are the elements that create the exceptional products and happy customers of Peculiar Pair Press.
