PITTSBURG, Kan. — This Sunday, Sullivan Book Arts and Wyrd Hoard Letterpress and Photography will celebrate their first year at the brick-and-mortar location at 202 W. 4th Street.

“We're throwing a party to thank the Pittsburg community for its warm welcome and support during this first year,” Sullivan Book Arts Owner Olive Sullivan said in an email.

From 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 21, community members can enjoy food, music and crafts while chatting with the owners of the studio. An open mic will be hosted by local musician Bill Goodwin then The Fun Club will play tunes. Guests are invited to bring a t-shirt and create a commemorative t-shirt using a linoleum block print. Party-goes can also create a collage from recycled book pages or make a Father’s Day card.

The event will be catered by TOAST and patrons also can enjoy a slice of cake. In case of rain, the party will be relocated to 604 W. Euclid Street.

Sullivan and Wyrd Hoard Owner Angel Abshire have spent the past year working on numerous projects for community members and organizations. One of their biggest and most beloved projects so far was working with Miners Hall Museum in Franklin. For the museum’s annual fundraiser, Sullivan created three custom journals, and Abshire printed hundreds of custom cards that patrons can purchase to support the museum. Each person who purchases a card can write a brief note in one of the journals, documenting the mining history of the region. At the end of 2026, the journals will be put into a time capsule to be opened in 25 years.

Another meaningful project to the duo was repairing a Bible for a 7-year-old girl who had lost one leg to cancer. The girl wanted her father's Precious Moments Bible repaired so she could use it. While Sullivan expected the family to choose a white leather cover similar to the original, the girl’s grandmother chose what Sullivan calls the dragon leather, which is a mix of purples, blues, and deep pinks.

"If that little girl wants a dragon leather Bible to help her through this ordeal," said Sullivan, who is also a cancer survivor, "who am I to argue?"

Prior to setting up shop in the building on 4th Street, Sullivan and Abshire were working out of their homes. When the building came up for rent, they jumped on it and moved their vintage presses and other equipment into the space.

Sullivan Book Arts is a bookbinding and repair shop that specializes in handmade journals and repairing bindings on items like Bibles, children's books and more. The shop also offers workshops in cyanotype, altered book making, letter making and others.

Sullivan learned this niche skill by apprenticing with Sharen May of Drennan Bookbinding in Joplin, and she also earned a certificate in bookbinding from the San Francisco Center for the Book. Abshire, of Wyrd Hoard Letterpress, studied printmaking and letterpress at Pittsburg State University.

Although some challenges have arisen as Sullivan is currently caring for her mother who is recovering from a broken hip, her clients and community members have been patient and gracious, Sullivan said.

“The support we've gotten from the community has been so gratifying,” Sullivan said in a message. “It's been a difficult year for me personally, and our customers have extended grace and patience. We continue to learn and grow.”

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.