Dixie Design Collective offers hand-drawn cards by local artists

When Mountain Brook resident Jennifer Hunt started planning for her annual Christmas card in October of last year, she thought of a talented, local calligrapher and illustrator she had recently run into. Hunt emailed Birmingham-based Holly Hollon, known in the industry for her hand-drawn logos, branding systems and wedding stationery suites.

“Holly emailed me back and told me she was already booked through the end of the year,” Hunt said. “She’d been booked since June.”

With nowhere else to turn for the hand-lettered cards she wanted, Hunt began browsing through online card sites.

“There was nothing I liked,” said Hunt. 

Everything was too mainstream, she said, too ordinary. Hunt, who moonlights as an accountant and an art dealer, is a self-proclaimed perfectionist. She values the attention to detail found in handmade cards with unique art and delicate calligraphy. 

Resolved that she would never again be without the perfect Christmas card, Hunt took matters into her own hands. In the spring, Hunt reached out to Hollon with a plan.

“I wanted to create a company where clients like me could find attention to detail, the beautiful art, the hand-made look,” said Hunt, “without having to pay the price of hiring a private designer.”

Hollon, who had at one point designed cards for other online sites, recognized that Hunt wanted to create a product that would celebrate not just the final product, but the craftsmanship of the artist behind it.

“When you buy a card from a mainstream site, you have no idea who designed it,” Hollon said. “I’m proud of my work; it’s all very personal to me. I want my clients to know the artist behind the work.”

With Hollon on board as the company’s creative director, Hunt founded Dixie Design Collective.

The website, now live, currently features 120 designs created by the company’s 10 artists. 

“There’s nothing else out there like it,” Hollon said. “You’re buying a Dixie Design card, but you’re also buying a Holly Hollon card, or a Katherine Ross card, an Angela Welch card.” 

Hunt said that in handpicking the designers, she deliberately picked a variety of different artist styles.

“All the cards have a classic elegance about them,” Hunt said, “but some may be a little more whimsical or formal, depending on one’s taste.”

The company, named after Hunt’s childhood dog, Dixie, finds much of its inspiration in the South. 

“The South is synonymous with tradition and etiquette, and we want our cards to reflect that,” Hunt said.

Hollon said clients as far away as New York and Los Angeles seek her out because of the South’s reputation.

“They always tell me there is something different about vendors from around here,” Hollon said, “and I think it’s our roots in tradition and detail.”

Hunt said clients can personalize each card with their own photos and messages, and the cards come in a variety of offerings.

“We have tri-folds and bi-folds,” she said, “flat cards and landscape cards. There are cards where you can upload one picture or three, and some where there’s no need for pictures.”

The site offers cards with scripture and ones that read “Happy Holidays.” There are also cards for other religious holidays, Hunt said. 

All cards, she said, are looked over by staff to ensure any personalized aspects of the card look correct. If a picture is blurry or doesn’t fit properly, Hunt said, Dixie Design will contact the customer and work out any changes. 

“We want to make sure all our cards are as close to perfect as we can get them,” Hunt said. 

Though the site currently only has holiday cards for sale, designers are already busy at work preparing for the site’s spring 2016 offerings, which will include wedding-related cards, stationary, baby and kids cards, as well as invitations. 

“We want to offer cards for just about every occasion,” Hunt said, “and we are working on it.”

Matching envelopes and gift tags will allow customers to create complete suites as well. Cards range in price from $2.69 to $3.95 each and are sold in sets of 25. All cards can be customized, ordered and delivered in 14 days or less, Hunt said. 

To view and order the cards, or to learn more about the designers, visit www.dixie-design.com.

For tips on holiday planning, visit the From the Desk of Dixie blog.