11/12/2021
On this day, one year ago, Gauthier Design Co (which was Gauthier Paper Co at the time) sent out it’s first order 🥰. 40+ orders later and I’m still at it! This little side project I started has taught me a lot about myself, though I still have an ungodly amount left to learn.
I started GDC as a creative outlet that would just be a fun and easy hobby and, while it is fun (mostly), I wouldn’t always categorize it as easy lol. I knew I wanted it to be something I built from the ground up, that it would pay homage to my last name (a name of which I hold enormous pride for), and ya know, it’d be cool if it became uber successful idk, like overnight maybe? 😂 The naivety was strong a year ago.
Until GDC, I never really considered myself a “creative” type….I’m not sure I would even say I am today. What I CAN say is this: I am ridiculously hyper-critical of anything I create. I pick every project apart and beat myself up about any flaw - from a letter being slightly off-center to realizing I folded white-core cardstock instead of solid and now I can see the tiniest bit of white in the creases.
Here’s the thing though: all of those flaws we as “creatives” focus so intently on are hardly EVER noticed by the recipient. Seriously. Multiple times I have sent out an order and had anxiety for days waiting for it to be delivered bc I assumed the customer would see those teeny tiny flaws and rip me apart with a horrible review. Wanna know what I received instead? Reviews like the ones posted here.
So, to every single person I am fortunate enough to call a customer; to anyone that saw one of my projects and loved it so much that they bought one for themselves; to any person in my life who has seen me try and build something of my own this past year and been nothing but supportive - thank you from the bottom of my heart 🖤.
Here’s to another year, all of the successes AND learning opportunities, and ideally even more growth 😂.
-Leigh, Gauthier Design Co 🖤
