Abbey Twehous is helping bring handwritten connection back, one custom card at a time.

Many artists dream of the day they can quit their jobs and make a full-time living from their art. For others, simply having a creative outlet is the dream, with the added bonus of it paying for itself or bringing in a little extra income. The latter is where Abbey Twehous finds herself.

Crafting has always been my go-to pastime,” she says. “Stationery products have been my primary gift for the people in my life for probably the last five years or so. Then, all my people were stocked up, and I wanted to keep going.”

So in January of this year, she took the next step, launching Sincerely Abbey & Co. to pursue her passion for custom stationery design.

It’s by no means my primary career path,” says Abbey. “This is not an endeavor I’m using to retire or financially rely on. After the kiddos go down in the evening or if we have a little bit of downtime, instead of just scrolling social media, I get to create things and share them with people in a meaningful way.”

Abbey’s product offerings have grown alongside her business, expanding beyond the 5×7 cards she started with to include notepads, enclosure cards with mini envelopes, and more. What began as gifts for friends and family has developed into a collection suited for a wide range of occasions, from bridal showers and weddings to baby showers, birthdays, and themed events like pickleball, golf, and gardening.

Created digitally and professionally printed, her designs blend a modern process with a more traditional form of connection.

Valuing that connection, Abbey intentionally focuses on outlets that allow for direct interaction with her customers rather than relying on more impersonal online platforms.

“I like chatting with people,” she says. “I like the back and forth. What excites me most is when people place their order and can’t wait to get it back, already thinking about who they’re going to write that first card to.”

Originally, Abbey admits she was careful about how she used her own stationery, saving it for the right moment. Now, she encourages people to use it freely, embracing the simple joy of sending a handwritten note.

“There’s something so special about a handwritten note,” she says. “I have a whole desk drawer full of them from the last decade, but I don’t have a whole drawer full of text messages.”

That sense of connection drives her work, as she creates personal, meaningful pieces that are meant to be shared.

Anyone interested in purchasing from Abbey can browse her designs and place an order through her Facebook page. She can also be found at pop-up events around Jefferson City, including The Schaefer House, Wildflower Lane, and Plate & Pour.