I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Spring means babies, right? What better way to announce the birth of your new bundle of joy than with a one-of-a-kind custom photo birth announcement? That's just the sort of thing that today's featured designer Jennifer Hickey creates at her company, Apple Blossom Prints.

Tell us a little more about what your company does. Apple Blossom Prints is a photo announcement, card and invitation company specializing in traditional, whimsical and modern photo birth announcements, holiday cards and other photo stationary. My designs capture the innocence of new baby and the whimsy of childhood. All of the designs are all fully customizable and range from the simple and bold to ornate and elegant. At Apple Blossom Prints the design options are as endless as the customer's style, taste and imagination. I create the designs using bright colors, bold prints, a little bit of whimsy and a touch of tradition. I like color combinations to be upbeat and unique. Our photo cards are offered in a variety of printing choices including archival quality photo paper or heavy weight cardstock in glossy, matte or pearl/metallic finishes. Full color back-side printing offers even more design possibilities on cardstock photo cards.

Soon-to-be parents patiently wait 9 long months to see their baby's face. At Apple Blossom Prints, I want baby's introduction to family and friends to be just as memorable and beautiful as the first time they looked into those eyes. Apple Blossom Prints offers playfully simple ways to capture baby's firsts – from the first yawn to the first holiday.

The photo card process: Customers place all orders via the website where they select a design. Customers then submit photos and within 1-2 business days receive a photo card proof. At Apple Blossom Prints no change is too small. The photo card will go through as many revisions as necessary until the perfect design is achieved. Once the proof is approved the order ships with 4-5 business days. At Apple Blossom Prints customer satisfaction is priority and no order is complete until the customer is 100% satisfied the design is perfect.

February 1 is just around the corner. Do you know what that means?

It means that the thank-you-note-statute-of-limitations is about to end.

If your gift-giving benefactors haven't received your handwritten gratitudes by January 30, you might was well pack up your bags and join in what we'll just called "Post-Holiday Purgatory." (You know what I'm talking about -- when your Aunt Myrtle starts a nasty family rumor that you didn't like her gift?)

To make sure Aunt Myrtle knows that you *loved* her "12 Days of Christmas" crocheted toaster cover, you should send her a shout-out of your appreciation on a note card from Little Tree Press.

Little Tree Press is a boutique design company, owned and operated by an inspired young designer with a impeccable style and a soft spot for the written word. Blending modern aesthetics with punchy-colors, the ready-made note cards, stationery, wrapping paper and custom invitations of Little Tree Press almost make you wish that such things as email and instant messenger had never been invented.

From mod wedding announcements to sassy camino striped place cards, Little Tree Press fits the gal who doesn't quite fit in the box -- i.e. the one who secretly thinks Aunt Myrtle's holiday-themed toaster cover is totally awesome.