Two Paperdolls
Two Paperdolls, LLC is a full-service letterpress and design house in Wayne, Pennsylvania that specializes in custom invitations, web design, branding and identity. The company uses antique letterpress machines to create invitations and paper prints for sale online and in several retail locations.
History
Two Paperdolls began simply as a hobby for Vanessa Kreckel, owner and creative director at the company. Kreckel, the associate director of athletic communications and director of publications at the University of Pennsylvania at the time, created custom invitations for friends and family on the side, gaining a following around the Main Line in the process. The invitations Kreckel made created a buzz along the Main Line and her reputation grew by word-of-mouth.
Kreckel majored in communications with a minor in computer science at Cedar Crest College. Later, Kreckel was employed by Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, coaching the womens field hockey and lacrosse teams as well as serving as the sports information director, designing media guides and other materials for the school. Kreckel dedicated her evenings and weekends to designing and creating custom invitations for friends and family.
In 2000, Kreckel opened Two Paperdolls in the Main Line neighborhood of Wayne, Pennsylvania. Two Paperdolls opened its doors on Louella Court in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Due to a substantial increase in business, Two Paperdolls later moved from its original location on Louella Court to its current location on West Avenue in Wayne . The current space is much larger than its previous home, enabling the company to house its printing presses and production studio in the same space as the rest of the company.
In 2006, Kreckel founded Louella Press, a line that includes letterpress note cards and stationary. Louella Press is carried in at least 250 retail locations around the United States, Canada and Europe.
In 2009, Pressed 55 was formed as another branch of Two Paperdolls, serving as its print-only arm of the business for designers looking to have their work printed with letterpress.
Pressed 55 and Louella Press are currently operating under the brand name Two Paperdolls.
Offerings at Two Paperdolls
Two Paperdolls continues to design and create custom invitations but has expanded its offerings to include:
- Custom designed invitations
- Letterpressed prints of individual designs
- Logo design
- Web design and development
- Corporate branding
- Retail line of t-shirt and accessories
Currently, Two Paperdolls sells products in its own web-based retail shops on Etsy and Bigcartel. Additionally, Two Paperdolls products are sold in various retail locations.
The Letterpress Machines
Two Paperdolls has been using presses that date back as far as 1902 for the majority of their letterpress products. The company uses a total of six printing presses, including two Heidelberg Windmills, Chandler and Price presses and the hand-crank Vandercook press. Two Paperdolls uses these machines to press designs into thick cotton paper, creating unique TEXtures with added dimension.
Two Paperdolls occasionally hosts letterpress workshops at their current location in Wayne.
Recent News
Art in the Age Poster Exhibition
Two Paperdolls recently participated in a First Friday event at Art in the Age, creating letterpress poster designs depicting famous quotes from notable First Ladies from U.S. history. The designs were on display at Art in the Age Mechanical Reproduction in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, PA on February 3, 2012.
Awards and Recognitions
Two Paperdolls has garnered many awards for their letterpress designs and web designs.
- Best of Main Line, Stationer (2005, 2006, 2007)
- Main Line Today, Best Stationer (2007, 2008)
- Davey Award Winner, Silver (2007)
- HOW Magazine - Award of Merit, Self Promotion, 2007