SCREEN TIME

Mountain Witch Screen Printing is nearing its official grand opening in Mariposa on Sept. 15 and the owners of the business want the retail shop to be for the community.

“We want to create a space for people,” co-owner Stephanie Pickard said during a recent interview at the shop, which is located at 5008 Highway 140 Unit C. She owns the business along with her partner William Willis.

Pickard went to college for graphic design and, though she didn’t work in the field extensively, she did some freelance work after graduation.

She said graphic design is one of her favorite forms of design because helping people bring their ideas to life “is like my favorite puzzle.”

Along the way, she began working at Pathos Screen Printing, which was owned by Ethos Youth Center. She discovered how much she enjoyed screen printing, finding it to be a cool way to make wearable art.

That was also where she met Willis, who works at Alliance for Community Transformations.

As someone who is admittedly not a fashion person, she said screen printing is right up her alley.

Pickard loved how big Pathos was in the community, and when the screen printing company closed, “I saw a need.”

She wants to have designs that give a voice to people who want/deserve to be heard.

But there is plenty more where that came from when it comes to what exactly the store will offer.

Pickard desires to eventually provide consignments for people to share their crafts/artistry, as well as consciously curated items.

She and Willis mentioned tarot cards as something that could be sold at the space, as well as fidget toys.

Custom vinyl is part of the offerings, as well as design help from Pickard.

“We want to create a community hub,” Pickard said. Willis stated the store could be a space for community groups or individuals to hang out and play games.

Ideas for the future include printing nights, tours and contests.

Pickard added she has talked to local musicians and artists and wants to provide them with a space to share their merchandise.

All of the clothes are sensory friendly, soft and not itchy. Pickard said she is very particular about offering breathable, comfortable fabric.

Sizes will range from extra small to 5X. Though there will be a small upcharge for shirts over 3X, both Pickard and Willis said they are trying to not pass the extra costs off to the customer.

The clothing will be unisex and inclusive. Willis said the style and designs of shirts will match (more feminine designs will have a feminine style), but the clothing is still gender neutral.

Willis’ son created two of the designs in the store.

When it comes to the name “Mountain Witch,” Pickard said she has always been into the “spooky aesthetic.” As a kid and, now, as an adult, she loves to dress up for Halloween.

She likes bringing fun, whimsy and a feminine vibe into the space.

Though she did not necessarily want to be “Yosemite-branded,” Mariposa is part of the mountains.

“It sort of found itself,” she said of the name.

Pickard had a lot of praise for Willis, noting he has been very supportive of her vision and “I couldn’t have done it without him.”

She wants to continue printing for the community. When someone wants something fun and silly, “it has a different energy.”

Since Mountain Witch is privately owned, there are less restrictions on what can be printed .

Pickard said some people may expect Pathos and Mountain Witch to be run the same way and, though she would like for that to be the case, she simply doesn’t have the same resources yet.

Starting hours, which will be expanded in the future, are Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She is taking orders and can be reached by email at printwitch@mountainwitch.shop. She will eventually have a website.

She has done some events, such as the recent Mariposa Pride, and is all about being part of the community.

“It has really been awesome,” Pickard said. The support from the community, which she is thankful for, has given her a lot of confidence.

Though she doesn’t think of herself as someone who feels prideful, opening Mountain Witch has been a dream. “Seeing it all come together makes me feel proud.” It is especially cool for her children to see it come to life.

And for aspiring business owners, starting up a business is hard and frustrating and it is possible to feel like “you don’t know what you thought you did.”

But over time, you will realize you do know a lot and it is a rewarding experience.

And, most importantly, “always ask for help.” She had a lot of it when first getting started and it made a lot of difference. She said people will always show up and lend a hand.