This Paper Ship

This Paper Ship is an illustration and design company located in a refurbished cotton mill in Saxapahaw, NC run by illustrators Joel and Ashley Selbey where they also live. It was both of their childhood dreams to be independent artists, but they took the leap by necessity when they were preparing to graduate with design degrees during 2008-2009’s difficult economy. When months had gone by without so much as an acknowledgement of their job applications, they decided to create their own jobs.

Their in-house art prints and greeting cards are available in their Etsy shop, licensed goods on their Society6 shop, and their fabrics on their Spoonflower webpage. They also sell their goods at small gift shops and boutiques in North Carolina, California, Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Washington (with many more on the way) and at a two West Elm locations (Durham, NC and Charlotte, NC).

Their queen of clubs is a cross between a traditional playing card queen and Lady Liberty holding her torch.