When I received the scholarship to take the Linocut Wallpaper class on the Letterpress, I wept. This past year and a half has been incredibly difficult—my career collapsed, and I found myself at a crossroads, needing to completely reinvent my life. Surface design had become a new devotion, and I felt a deep calling to explore whether I could build a new life within this creative field.
This particular class in wallpaper printing felt like a rare gem—something aligned so perfectly with what I longed to learn. Receiving a scholarship to attend, along with room and board, was a profound affirmation during a time of deep depression. I took it as a sign from the universe that I was on the right path.
Now, as the class winds down, I am just as grateful as I was when I first opened the scholarship email. Laura Baisden is an incredibly passionate teacher, and her TA, Elizabeth—herself a wallpaper professional—is equally knowledgeable, creative, and caring.
I write with immense gratitude for the opportunity to take this extraordinary class, to be nourished with beautiful food, to practice yoga, and to work in such a well-equipped print shop. Penland is, for me, a place of deep creativity and mindful care. This experience has been both transformative and affirming.
I hope Penland continues to be part of my journey. Thank you from the depths of my heart. “Thank you” feels far too small for the magnitude of what I feel.