Welcome to Bella Figura, a real artisan letterpress shop filled with people who love weddings, letterpress invitations, good design, and very heavy antique presses. We also love our jobs: working with clients who value, like we do, fine papers, great design, environmental practices, eco-friendly printing, and this cool historic letterpress craft.
Our staff
Debbie Urbanski, Co-owner
Describe your job. Coming up with cool ideas and then taking their pictures. Describe your life. raising two kids. thinking about writing. missing mountains. work. no sleep. Prized possession? Custom made red shoes from a Vermont shoemaker—a birthday gift from Harold. Shoe shopping makes me cry (wide feet with bunions) so these changed my life. Life goal: To convince my husband to hike the Annapurna circuit in Nepal (300K through 17,000 foot high mountain passes). Why work for a letterpress shop? The letterpress community of printers is one of the nicest, generous, passionate, hard core communities out there—I love being a part of it.
Harold Kyle, Co-owner
Describe your job. It’s different everyday but one things stays the same: it’s never boring! It’s a mixure of presses, databases, and making things run well. Prized posession Apart from my business and my family, I’d say a paper thickness guage used by my grandfather (and my namesake) from his days running a corrugated box plant. Why work for a letterpress shop? No one else would hire me at this point! Seriously: the craft tradition, tools, presses, and heritage make it one of the most rewarding ways to make a statement. Life goal: To retire with the knowledge that letterpress has been preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Adriana Sosnowski, Operations Manager
Describe your job: Ever-changing, exciting, challenging. Favorite thing about Central New York? Proximity and the four seasons! Hometown: Clay, New York. Environmental habits? Recycle, re-use and donate. Why work for a letterpress shop? We bring joy to many people!
Erich Dixon, Production Manager
Prized possession: I have a Babe Ruth autographed baseball that has been handed down through three generations that will continue to stay in my family forever. Favorite thing about Central New York: Family, friends, and the outdoors, including the changing of seasons which I feel keep things interesting. Why work for a letterpress shop? Letterpress printing is the most beautiful printing that there is, and I love the combination of old school machinery and new age production. Life goal: I would like to grow old in CNY and raise my family. I have been able to see much of the country, and I think CNY is the best place to be.
Jenna Tulman, Business Relations Coordinator
What is your most prized possession? My engagement ring... my fiance designed it himself. It makes me smile and think of him every time I see it. What city do you consider your hometown? Though I grew up in Chippewa Falls, WI, I think of Madison, WI as my home! What’s your favorite thing about Syracuse/Central New York? The nature around here is so beautiful. I am enjoying getting to know the seasons walking around Green Lakes State Park, sampling wine in the Finger Lakes, and dreaming away along the banks of Lake Ontario. Life goal: To be happy, healthy, climb Machu Picchu, and make a difference.
Erica Henriksen, Marketing Guru
Favorite thing about Central New York? The summers! There are so many fun things to do in this area in the summertime festivals and fireworks, wineries, hiking, camping, boating...the list goes on and on! Life goal: To travel the world and take tons of beautiful photos along the way. Describe your life. Busy, loving, fun, inquisitive, magical, happy, meaningful. What’s your favorite thing about working at the Delavan? Visiting other sections of the building—it’s kind of like going through a maze! Describe your job? Exciting!
Tiffany Button, Client Coordinator Lead
Describe your life in 10 words or less. I need only one word—blessed. Hometown. I was born and raised in Chittenango, New York, a small little town with a main street and a few traffic lights and an annual parade celebrating the life and works of L. Frank Baum who was born just outside of town. It’s quirky and quiet and it is the only place on earth I have ever called home. Prized possession? A letter my grandfather wrote to my grandmother when he was in Europe during WWII. What do you always carry with you? A good book (or two), my journal and a week’s supply of tea.
Jessica Tierney, Creative Lead
Describe your job. Creative, inspirational, beautiful design, typography, fun! Favorite thing about working at the Delavan? The great mix of local artists, and the beautiful handmade purses at Lilypad Creations right down the hall! Prized possession? A photo of me and my dad from when I was a baby. Life goal. To always incorporate beautiful design into my life and the life of others, and if I could also have a small farm full of miniature ponies and highland cows while making beautiful design, then my life would be perfect!
Sarah Walroth, Graphic Design Lead
Describe your life! Creative, wonderful, busy, lucky, happy! Describe your job. Designing, multitasking, brides, creativity, communication, beautiful, letterpress, details, great! Environmental habits? Ride my bicycle to work whenever possible, and walk to almost everywhere else I need to go. Prized possession? A gold-trimmed preserved rose my fiancé gave me as an anniversary gift. Your hometown? Niskayuna, New York, a fairly small town just outside of Albany. Life goal: For myself and everyone I love to be happy.
Christopher Gannon, Client Coordinator
Your life? Oil painter, sculptor, photographer, guitar maker, musician, traveler. Prized possession? Hand-made 2009 Carl Thompson guitar. What do you always carry with you? A Rhodia sketch pad, some kind of writing utensil, a phone, my wallet, my keys, a satchel, and a travel mug full of tea. Environmental habits? Grow vegetables, compost kitchen scraps, recycle, and drive a diesel car (tanked with biodiesel when I can find/afford it). Hometown? New York City. Why work for a letterpress shop? Being able to put your hands on something completely beautiful that you’ve played a role in creating. Every single day.
Christie Jones, Client Coordinator
Describe your job in 10 words or less: Creative, Inspiring, Exciting, Rewarding, Fun! What do you always carry with you? Phone, notebook & pen, iPod touch, wallet, (in the winter-GLOVES), a coffee cup, and either a backpack or bag. What do you do that’s environmental in your daily life or work? Recycle, use organic cleaning products, and I never buy bottled water! Why work for a letterpress shop? It is the perfect mixture—helping people, and seeing something creative and new (everyday!). Life goal: To live a life of love, never grow complacent, and to record an album with my husband.
Sean Mahady, Client Coordinator
What city do you consider your hometown? North Syracuse, New York. Describe your life in 10 words or less. Laid back, just taking it one day at a time. What’s your favorite thing about working at the Delavan? Its a stones throw away from Sakana Ya sushi bar! What’s your favorite thing about Syracuse/Central New York? My friends and family. Life goal: To retire young! Why work for a letterpress shop? Its nice to be part of a process that makes beautiful products.
Lindsy Aragona, Graphic Designer
Describe your life in 10 words or less. My life is full of love, friends, family, laughter and lots of goofiness. What is your most prized possession? My engagement ring, passed down from my grandmother and given to me by my amazing fiance. What do you always carry with you? A bottle of water. What’s your favorite thing about Syracuse/Central New York? Having all of the seasons. I love to play in the spring/summer and hibernate in the fall/winter. What is your favorite Bella Figura invitation? Glamorous Blooms, by Kamal Patel. Why work for a letterpress shop? It produces the finest, most beautiful works of art and is run by true, hands-on artisans.
Racheal Decker, Graphic Designer
What city do you consider your hometown? A little place called Whitesboro, about 10 minutes from Utica, New York. Describe your job in 10 words or less. Designing pretty things to print on paper. My dream job. What’s your favorite thing about working at the Delavan? That it’s a little art hub tucked away in downtown Syracuse. What do you do that’s environmental in your daily life or work? Up-cycling & recycling have to be up there on my list of enviromentally friendly things I do. I love when I can re-purpose something and know that it’s not just junk taking up space somewhere. Hidden Talent: I am a cupcake rock star! My personal favorite—raspberry filled chocolate cupcake with raspberry butter cream frosting.
Brit Hammett, Graphic Designer
What is your favorite Bella Figura invitation? Popular Country. There is a great usage of typography and modernism. What’s your favorite thing about working at the Delavan? I love the space. Exposed brick and piping creates such a beautiful atmosphere. Describe your job in 10 words or less. I make beautiful things for love, with love. What is your most prized possession? My grandmother’s ring. She gave it to me when I graduated from college. It is a nice heirloom to represent an accomplishment. What do you always carry with you? I always carry chapstick. Weird, I know, but an awful predicament if I didn’t have it!
Brenda Fox, Graphic Designer
Describe your life in 10 words or less. Colorful and quirky. What is your most prized possession? A book titled “the learners” signed to me from writer and illustrator Chip Kidd. What do you always carry with you? Tech pens, tea bags and chapstick. What’s your favorite thing about working at the Delavan? Lots of creative people and exposed brick. What’s your favorite thing about Syracuse/Central New York? The Roji Tea Lounge and the Erie Canal Pathway. Why work for a letterpress shop? It combines old technology with new, and does it well.