Mirabel Press is a letterpress print shop and design studio located just north of Atlanta. Mirabel is owned and operated by the very adorable Kristen and her husband Cody. I had the great fortune of visiting the Mirabel studio and see firsthand all 4 of their grand, antique printing presses. Kristen and Cody have such a passion for what they do and truly take pride in each and every piece that they hand press. I’m very excited to feature Mirabel Press and their work today.
Lemiga: Why do you love letterpress?
Mirabel: Letterpress is so rich in history, character, and elegance. It is the oldest form of printing, with unparalleled distinction and uncommon beauty. Our oldest press is 125 years old, and it has been such an adventure and a joy to take part in this unique form of printing! Every invitation and announcement that we print is individually handled and pressed, creating a unique impression on each piece. We believe that handmade items carry a distinctive significance, and find that combining exceptional graphic design, plush 100% cotton paper, and visibly deep impressions makes for an unmatched impression.
We love what we do and we know that each piece that we produce for our clients is shared with their closest friends and family. We are so rewarded to share in one of life’s most memorable events! The inherent value and the uncommon results of using the letterpress technique makes our work a labor of love that we are proud to offer to our Mirabel clients. 
Lemiga: What type of stationery do you design – weddings, personal, corporate, etc.?
Mirabel: We work with all different types of clients, with projects ranging from weddings, birth announcements, party events, and business and personal correspondence. Mirabel can help create the perfect piece for life’s most memorable celebrations.
Lemiga: Tell us a little about your design process for custom clients.
Mirabel: We help guide our clients in the design process to customize each project completely to preference. It is our goal that the design reflect the client’s personality and style, while also being completely distinctive in its nature.
First, we’ll work with the client to find out how many pieces are desired for a particular order, and then we will work on a design proof based on the client’s wishes. Once the design is final, a metal plate is made with the custom design. This design can then be hand-pressed into the paper, making a visible impression in each invitation. Our cotton paper is thick, with a notably soft texture that maximizes the letterpress imprint, giving your invitation a memorable quality. We ship the finished pieces within 3 weeks of the final proof approval. (Rush delivery is available at an additional charge determined by the turn around time.)
Lemiga: Which is your favorite press to use?
Mirabel: We now have four vintage presses, with our oldest presses being about 125 years old. We purchased the first two from a seller in Tignall, Georgia who had the presses stored on a trailer in the middle of 984 acres of cow pasture! We named these beautiful machines Omer and Maude, and we set them up side-by-side in our studio. So far, Omer has pressed the most paper for us, but all of our presses are valuable and each offers unique features for printing. We have also acquired a 1960′s Heidelberg Windmill and a Poco Proof Press No. 2. The Heidelberg we fondly call Helga and the Poco Press we have dubbed Gus.
Lemiga: What makes Mirabel Press unique in the stationery market?
Mirabel: Letterpress printing is heralded for its unique beauty and tactile quality, attributes that were lost after it was replaced by faster and cheaper printing methods of the 20th century. Each piece of our stationery is hand-pressed individually, and each piece possesses its own character. The 100% cotton paper is the perfect platform to showcase the texture that is produced by the impression of letterpress. Every aspect of letterpress stationery boasts quality, uniqueness, and character!
All photos by 6 of Four
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