Meet the Snail Who Loves Letterpress
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Did you know that lumaca means snail in Italian? It’s a fitting name for the business founded by designer Alaina Cherup. A snail is the perfect creature to embody Alaina’s love of snail mail (and the planet).
As she says, “a living reminder to slow down and live in intention.”
That’s a brave move in 2023.
Over a decade later, Alaina continues to conceptualize and create beautiful stationery for clients. This past year she’s been at The Fort, using the letterpress at Columbus Printed Arts Center. We took a few photos and caught up:
What’s your deeper connection to being a maker?
Since childhood, the natural world has always captivated me. I really wasn’t any different than most kids my age. I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up (shocking, I know).
And how did paper become part of your path?
The natural world STILL captivates me, and I find myself not only drawn to nature-focused artistic expression, but also to protecting the natural beauty that I treasure. Lumaca Paper was formed out of the profound connection between these two practices, and the tangible expression of ideas in the form of printed matter has always had a piece of my heart.
Alaina at Columbus Printed Arts Center, 2000 South High
How did you learn the craft of letterpress?
Completely self taught. Solo trial and error after buying my first press from an OSU professor on Craigslist in 2011.
Over ten years later, your work doesn’t fit into a single style. Why?
I love the convergence of things: thoughtful design, sustainable materials, old fashioned printing methods, a touch of fine art. All that makes the work engaging and unique for my clients.
Custom wedding invitations letterpressed at The Fort
What makes the work rewarding?
When a client fully trusts my creative process and our ideas tangibly come to life. To have them see an idea take on physical space, to be seen and touched. And to know there’s thought behind it all. Most importantly, to create work that induces emotion!
