Relax, create, unplug,
and get away from it all!
Melinda Stockwell
Melinda (Mel) grew up on a Century Farm in SE Iowa and graduated from Coe College with a BA in Arts in 1992. In 2011, with over 17 years of experience as Art Director and Director of Marketing in the publishing industry, she started building her business. The Calico Press is a full service graphic design and letterpress print shop located in a 30x40 building on her small farm. Her shop holds 6 platen presses, 3 proof presses, 1 large cylinder press, 1 etching press, several paper cutters and a ludlow leadcaster. She offers classes in her shop, colleges, museums, and national printers' conferences. Classes cover Letterpress Printing, Monoprinting, Linoleum Prints, Marbling Paper, and Paper Making.
The fuel behind this passion is rescuing and restoring old printing presses. Saving them from being scraped and increasing their demand by instructing others on their uses. If its heavy, old, and rusty- Mel loves it.
