Meticulous Ink
What is it: An independent studio and store for the printed and written word on Bath’s street of artisans Walcot Street (see other favorites Landrace Bakery and A Yarn Story).
Why you’ll love it: If you are in love with paper and pens and print, this is your place. Founded in 2010 by printmaker, illustrator, and designer Athena Cauley-Yu, Meticulous Ink is all about the precision, charm, and timelessness that go hand in hand with letterpress printing. Cauley-Yu and her team can take you through projects that matter to you (think stationery, business cards, and invitations), but you can also browse the selection of Meticulous Ink designed stationery and paper goods, and the thoughtful selection of products for modern lettering, journaling and correspondence in the tiny space out front.
What you need to know: Now into its tenth year, Meticulous Ink was recently shortlisted in the Top Five of small business campaigner Holly Tucker’s High Street Shop of the Year awards (check out the rest of the inaugural Independent Awards nominees here).
How to bring this into your life: The popular lettering and calligraphy workshops that run during normal times now take shape in Calligraphy and Handbrush Lettering Kits to practice at home (check out Cauley-Yu’s youtube videos to go along with these).
In our gift edit: This was hard to get down to just a handful of things (so basically you can’t go wrong) but we’ll go with The Stationery Pick n Mix, the cutest pencils that exist, and a custom notebook.
Why we think it's special: Those massive metal machines you see when entering the store, they work, and are the heart of all that goes on here: from the two original Heidelberg printing presses from the 1960s that started the business to the full family that now includes a Stephenson Blake proofing press, and two tabletop Model Printing presses. Each has stories of their own and are a key part of keeping the tradition of letterpress going. Cauley-Yu is enthralled by the medium and dedicated through her projects to giving it modern relevance and contemporary designs. It's all about attention to the tiniest details: making the most of paper – in all its weight, textures, colors — understanding how inks change over time, and how to make something beautiful with accuracy (from cropping to the printing itself). Printing here isn’t about mass production, but happy humans collaborating at all stages of the process.
In their own words: “We proudly create bespoke design, and stationery printed the old fashioned way - using beautiful papers, time, patience, and a deep-rooted passion for being meticulous. At the very back of the studio we usually teach our lettering and calligraphy workshops, though sadly these are on hold at the moment. The space is calm and friendly, full of creative inspiration and tactile, analogue trinkets.”
Something to do: Given our current situation, this is a store that inspires us both to retreat — to create paper-based things in which to better understand ourselves. – and to reach out — to send those things out into the world for others to enjoy. Whether that’s making a journal that best reflects who you are and spending the months indoors filling its pages, or learning calligraphy and sending a note to a loved one, try to find a way to play with materials – with paper, pens, and print – and see which direction it takes you (and to whom).
