Large display outside of the 1912

When I was first asked about this project by my manager in the winter of 2025, I didn’t yet know just how big its scope would become. We sat down over breakfast, and she asked me about my long-term goals. I was asked how I would feel about designing some products for M.Lovewell’s 10th shop birthday. Immediately, a light lit up inside of me. On the other side of that feeling was some hesitancy. Sure, I had worked on a few small projects for the shop previously, but did that really make me right for the job?

A year before this discussion, I had moved out on my own for the first time. I worked multiple jobs and didn’t know I struggled with an anxiety disorder for much of my life. I was adjusting to a life outside of the bubble of college. My life was changing a lot and fast. I didn’t have too much experience in art and design other than small projects here and there. I applied for a few design positions, only to be confronted with the hard reality that my Adobe Illustrator skills were just not up to par with true professionals. I was hopeful that I would get a remote apparel design job. But after six months of back and forth, an art test, and a moment of onboarding, I was ultimately ghosted by the company. Eventually, I put my art-making on the back burner. I didn’t understand then that I was just doing my best at adjusting to my new routines and life. Art was not going to serve me at the time, or so I believed.

Fast forward a couple years to where I knew I was getting let go from my job at the time. I applied to M.Lovewell in the hopes that I could use some similar skills there. Yes, I had some knowledge about stationery, and I thought it was plenty to get me through the next place. Little did I know, I was just at the very edge of the vast ocean of stationery goodies. I slowly grew to learn more and more about fountain pens, notebooks, paper types, washi tapes, and so many other little bits that make stationery so vast and exciting. Much of it was thanks to my team, who are so knowledgeable and passionate about the hobby. Somehow, I ended up with more stickers, washi tape, and notebooks than I would have ever previously thought to have collected. I have become an avid collector of paper goods and a journaler.

My first year at M.Lovewell I mostly worked on my own at the Orange location at the back of Contra coffee shop. Most of our customers were young college students and some fans of the M.Lovewell location in Santa Ana. Lots of people poked their head in on their way to the bathroom, since the shop was at the very back of the coffee house. It was very small, so I talked with everyone who came in one-on-one. I was able to talk with some regulars there and eventually make friends with some people as well. During this time, I saw my manager now and then when she dropped off inventory. But I didn’t have the chance to really work with other coworkers or truly feel like I was part of the team. Once Orange was permanently closed, I had to really learn my stuff to feel helpful at Santa Ana.

All of this is to say that it took me a while to build trust with my team. I was surprised when I was given the chance to work on such a special project when I felt like there were plenty of illustrators with much more experience than I. However, I couldn’t deny the bubbling excitement I felt at imagining

hello maple!

The first idea for Maple came from a stamp I had designed for M.Lovewell. She was a well-read, droopy eyed doggy. I think Liz particularly liked the sleepy eyes. I later made a sticker sheet for their 9th anniversary, including the dog in some designs. When it came to deciding colors, I looked to Maple’s fur for inspiration. She reminded me of a coffee foam top. Eventually, coffee also inspired her name, Maple. I knew she couldn’t be without a friend, so I created Luna the bunny as well. Initially, Luna’s head was shaped like a dumpling. We decided to stick with a more identifiable animal shape, so her head was smoothed out.

When it came to the project itself, I was very rusty with Illustrator. I took one class at university over 5 years ago, and let’s just say it did not come naturally to me. The program was not my first choice. But if I really wanted to complete this project, then it would have to be through Illustrator. I took a quick refresher course and then did as much of the project in traditional media as I could. Having to figure out technical issues through trial and error helped me retain more of the new information I learned. I’m sure I’m much better than I was before!

One of my favorite products to design was the washi tin. I got to play with different surfaces of a product and tie them in with a theme. I chose the illustration with Maple and Luna as the center, since I wanted it to embody friendship, nostalgia, and wonder. In the shop, the tin would be sold with 8 different washi tapes that the customer could pick out. I filled mine with the washi tapes that I designed!

At the start of the project, I knew we wanted to design a handful of things. As the project slowly grew bigger, the list grew as well! Some of the items I designed included:

• Small bags, handle bags, tissue paper

• Packing Tape, giveaway stickers, thank-you notes

• Washi tape sets

• Ishhoni notebook + pouch cover

• Sticker sheet

• Postcards

• Promotional Materials

• Logo

• …plus much more!