Where It All Started
ABOUT US
Bonjour & Bienvenue!
Welcome to La Folie Press! In French, "La Folie" translates to "madness" or "craziness”. Here at La Folie Press, you’ll find gorgeous letterpress paper products and gifts to make you smile (or maybe even snort-laugh) through "la folie" of life.
La Folie Press was created by its owner and founder, Caroline Wingard, in 2021. The creation of the business was inspired by an unexpected crossroads in Caroline’s life when, at thirty years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This bummer of a bombshell resulted in a year’s worth of treatment, a change in career paths, and the termination of a long-term relationship.
It was at the peak of this “life shit storm” that she realized the best way for her to cope with life’s curveballs was to acknowledge and embrace them with her own brand of unfiltered honesty and humor. Before long, Caroline realized other people experiencing their own version of a “life shit storm” felt comforted by this approach as well. And with that, she took her life-long love of writing, comedy, and stationery products to create La Folie Press.
After finishing cancer treatment in 2022, Caroline bought and restored her first vintage printing press and began creating the snarky letterpress greeting cards La Folie Press is known for. Today, Caroline remains cancer-free and is thrilled to have found a community that appreciates snark as much as she does. These days, she can be found in Boston with her Frenchie Luna designing new products and working on her printing press.
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL
Paris, of course!
MY FAVORITE DRINK
A nice, hot london fog
MY FAVORITE BOOK
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
MY FAVORITE MUSICIAN
Taylor Swift (yup, we're swifties!)
LET'S BREAK THE ICE
Meet Owner & Founder, Caroline
ALL ABOUT OUR
LETTERPRESS PRODUCTS
What's Letterpress?
Letterpress printing is a traditional printing technique that dates back to the 15th century. Earlier techniques involved utilizing metal or wooden type and blocks to create an impression on paper. At La Folie Press, we utilize custom made acrylic plates to make our impressions.
The process begins with setting the plate onto the press bed of a chandler & price printing press and then using inks and pressure to transfer the design onto paper. This type of printing is highly tactile, as the impression of the inked type pressing into the paper creates a three-dimensional effect.
Letterpress printing is known for its crisp lines and clear text, making it ideal for creating invitations, business cards, and other high-end printed materials. Its legacy and continued popularity today testify to the enduring beauty and quality of this elegant printing technique.
What makes your products specIal?
The process of creating letterpress goods is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, which makes them a true labor of love. Each piece is carefully printed by hand using a vintage letterpress machine, which require expert craftsmanship to operate.
The result is a beautifully crafted piece that has both character and depth, with a unique texture that cannot be achieved with digital printing methods. The ink is absorbed into the paper fibers, creating a soft, velvety finish that looks and feels elegant.
Overall, letterpress goods embody a rich history and a sense of craftsmanship that is often overlooked in today's fast-paced, digital world. They offer a one-of-a-kind, tactile experience that cannot be replicated by any other means, making them truly special and cherished items.
Who makes your products?
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Caroline Wingard, owner & founder of La Folie Press, handmakes all letterpress products herself in her studio.
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Do you take custom orders?
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If you have a custom order in mind, feel free to reach out and we'll see what we can do!