Hello!
aBOUT
Cross and Dot is a bespoke stationery and design studio based in Huntington Beach, CA.
Specializing in watercolor, every design is thoughtfully hand-painted and illustrated to create colorful paper goods and gifts to celebrate all of life's special moments and all things in between. From greeting cards to notepads, stickers, and other stationery goods, you can expect my products to have a mix of color, florals, and the occasional pun! Along with stationery products, I also offer personalized stationery, custom services for special occasions, and made-to-order illustrations and stamps.
C&D's aim is to provide pretty yet practical products that encourage meaningful connections, positive vibes, and uplifting sentiments.
MEET THE ARTIST
Most people would probably be surprised to find that I never thought that I would be an artist. I was not artistically inclined growing up, we’re talking stick figures! My original dream was to be a math teacher, which I pursued, lived out, and enjoyed fully for ten years. A few years into teaching, I found myself needing a creative outlet and that is when I discovered brush lettering and calligraphy. After a period of practicing in between classes and grading, I developed my skills well enough to start doing some custom wedding projects. In 2017, I noticed that there was a demand for brush lettering classes. This was the perfect opportunity to combine my newfound love of art with my long-time calling of being a teacher. It was a perfect opportunity to host lettering workshops! Continuing down this path allowed me to grow and expand my skillset into watercolor art and punny greeting cards. I began to realize that I was on to something as my side-hustle slowly evolved into a full-fledged business.
I took a bit of a hiatus from the business between 2019-2020 because of some major life changes; marriage to my amazing husband, relocation to sunny Southern California, a new job at another high school, and the birth of our beautiful first child. The past few years have been a bit of a whirlwind and it has been a challenge to navigate motherhood, work, and being a small business owner. Although I loved being a high school teacher, my newfound responsibility of being a mother presented a unique challenge in daycare costs. The cost-benefit of going away to work every day and paying someone else to raise our kids just didn’t add up. Fortunately, I was able to step away from teaching, become a full-time mom, and pursue Cross and Dot. There’s been slow and steady growth and there are many new and exciting things! I am now hosting workshops regularly and have sold out of every workshop year-to-date. Now in 2022, Cross and Dot expanded the catalog to more than 50 products and can be found in 13 stores nationwide!
A few of my favorite things...
☕ Days when I finish my coffee without having to reheat it.
☀️ Early quiet mornings
📺 Gilmore girls + CPD
💪 Pamela Rief workouts
👨👩👧👧Spending quality time with my husband and two little ones