The Fairfax Girl Team 
National Stationery Day is August 1st, but for one Arlington creator, stationery takes center stage every day. Theresa Esterlund is the owner of Open to Being, a letterpress studio located at 2424 26th Road S, Arlington. Theresa uses an antique letterpress to make custom designs, hosts private workshops, and instructs others on how to use the press. Theresa found her way to letterpress after a career in museum curation. Read on for more about Theresa Esterlund and Open to Being.
About Open to Being
Theresa opened her studio, Open to Being, in spring 2025 after leaving a decades-long career working as a museum curator for the Smithsonian Institution and other museums. The idea for it began in 2020, when everyone was soul-searching for purpose. Theresa took classes on letterpress and design at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville and eventually launched her business in 2023. After several months of selling her items at pop-up markets and other events, she found the brick-and-mortar space in Fairlington.
Theresa designs her own stationery and works with private clients, such as brides, to create bespoke items. She also teaches letterpress workshops at her studio at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.
Theresa is hosting an open house for Stationery Day, where guests will be invited to try their hand on the press, literally. They will be able to create their own cards on the press, which is a 1910 Chandler & Price treadle letterpress. We connected with Theresa ahead of the festivities to learn more about her business.
The Fairfax Girl: How did you decide to move from museum curation to being a designer?
Theresa Esterlund: My career in museum education taught me how powerful design and storytelling are in shaping the way people make meaning for themselves. For 25 years, I designed experiences that invited people to slow down, look more closely, and connect with art and ideas. I love art and history, but what interested me most was the human side of the work—how the way we treat people shapes not only learning, but also relationships and leadership. A few years ago, I realized I wanted to create something of my own.
TFG: What’s something that draws you to stationery + design?
TE: I love a beautiful piece of paper! Cotton cards feel so lovely to touch and hold. As an artist, I’m drawn to the history and craftsmanship of letterpress as well as the challenge of expressing a contemporary perspective through a centuries-old process.
TFG: How did you acquire the letterpress?
TE: When I was considering buying my own floor press, I put the word out to letterpress friends and colleagues. The woman who was selling the one I acquired was not in a hurry, so I was able to spend time “visiting” it, cleaning it, and getting it ready to move. She also loved sharing stories of her husband (it was one of his presses) and their life together, which made the whole experience so special, personal, and meaningful to me. The press was built in 1910, and I feel like I honor its whole history (known and unknown) every time I use it.
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TFG: What kind of reactions do you get from clients/shoppers?
TE: My favorite reaction is when someone puts a hand on their heart, smiles, and tells me a message on an Open to Being greeting card touched them. A customer told me that my cards feel so personal and she has a sensation of being wrapped up in the card – like in a warm blanket or a hug.
People visiting the studio + shop are always fascinated by the press, how it is run by foot treadle, how old it is, and how much work it takes to print with it. Workshop participants have such fun printing! Couples tell me how much they enjoyed the experience of printing their own invitations and also how special it was to spend time together making memories.
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TFG: What are some of your favorite things to work on?
TE: I love considering not just what words to put on a card, but how to create a poetic rhythm in the design. When you receive one of our cards, I want it to feel like someone you know is speaking to you. I hope that our cards invite and inspire more personal notes – but it’s also ok if the card itself is exactly what you want to say, especially for more difficult moments.
As a collage artist, I’ve always loved the physical process of making art. When I make time to “play” with letterpress, I really enjoy moving the type around to design a print, experimenting with layering and color in new ways, and allowing myself to not have a set plan so I can be open to possibilities and learning. Some of the limited edition prints that emerge from this playful process are the ones I’m happiest with.
One of my favorite things to do in the Arlington studio + shop is to work with designers and artists who want to make their ideas come to life in letterpress.
TFG: How has the business changed since its opening?
TE: In the beginning, I was very focused on building my letterpress skills while testing ideas and products. Since opening the Arlington space a little over a year ago, I can lean more into creating experiences for people, which I love doing. Over the past few months, I’ve also refined my work so that my artistic voice and vision feel much clearer. This month, I’m especially excited to launch my first wholesale collection and begin sharing Open to Being with retailers.
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TFG: How long have you lived in Northern Virginia?
TE: I’ve lived in Arlington County since 1995 (yikes!) when I moved here for my first museum job at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
TFG: Why do you think stationery still has an appeal in the digital age?
TE: Oh, so many reasons! Stationery is hands-on, personal, and tactile—to start. I think it brings us closer to ourselves and each other because it isn’t digital. Writing a note asks us to slow down, be present, and consider what we say in a way that’s different from typing a text or email. And of course, it reminds us how great it feels to receive something handwritten in the mail!
I also think two lasting effects of the pandemic have been a renewed appreciation for analog experiences and a deeper desire for meaningful connection. Stationery speaks to both.
It’s fascinating for me to see how that resonates across generations. As a member of Gen X, I think we occupy a unique place in the story of stationery. We grew up writing letters, learning cursive, and communicating on paper, then spent our adult lives adapting to email, texting, and social media as technology evolved. Consequently, we appreciate the value of both forms of communication, but I think many of us have a true affection for putting pen or pencil to paper.
What I love most is the enthusiasm I see from younger generations. For many, technology has always been part of daily life, which makes analog experiences feel fresh and intentional. Whether it’s journaling, paper arts, calligraphy, or sending a handwritten note, I think many people are looking for ways to slow down, express themselves, and connect more deeply—with themselves and with each other.
Open to Being is located at 2424 26th Road S, Arlington, by appointment only.
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