MARGARET MATHERS studied for her bachelor of fine arts degree for two years before leaving college to work and travel. After she got that out of her system, she became an apprentice at an advertising agency in Lake Placid, New York, thus beginning her graphic design career. In 1980, she packed her bags and set out for California in her yellow VW bug, stopping to visit a friend in Aspen along the way. Needless to say, she never made it to California. After a short stint as a waitress at Dudley’s Diner, she began working as a freelance graphic designer and continued to do so for the next 20 years. From 2000 to 2008, she worked for words pictures colours graphic design as senior designer and illustrator. She now serves as creative director and partner at ithree graphic design. Margaret lives in Carbondale, in a house that was built in 1915, with her husband Frank and their 14-year-old son, Henry. When not at work or being a rock climbing mom, Margaret can be found hiking and still having her breath taken away by the incredible mountains that surround us.

KIMI MISCHKE was born in Okinawa, Japan, and spent her formative years in Japan, Germany and Morocco. After 17 years living abroad, she moved to the U.S. to attend college. Kimi holds a bachelors degree in Japanese Studies from Colgate University and a teaching credential from University of Colorado. After serving as assistant media planner at Foote, Cone & Belding San Francisco, she headed for the hills of Alta, Utah. While there, she fell in love with rock climbing and telemarking, which led to three summers instructing for the Colorado Outward Bound School. She taught briefly and then worked for several of Aspen’s non-profit organizations including the Aspen Historical Society, Anderson Ranch Arts Center and Aspen Film. These experiences helped her realize that design is her true love and brought her to words pictures colours graphic design/iota stationery essentials in 2003. She remained with wpc/iota as Production Artist/Business Manager until 2008 when she became a partner at ithree graphic design. In addition to design and production, she handles business management and marketing for ithree. Kimi lives in Basalt with her husband, Joel, and their 5-year-old twins, Isabel and Mia, all of whom keep her busy, smiling and young at heart.

SHARON NEWSOM is a Florida native and earned a bachelors degree in Anthropology from the Florida State University. After moving west, she spent time working in the financial industry and retail management in Denver and the Roaring Fork Valley. Realizing that this was not her dream career, she leapt into the creative world and earned an associates degree in graphic design from Colorado Mountain College in 2007. She worked at words pictures colours graphic design for a year and a half until she became one of the three partners of ithree graphic design. She serves as Designer and Project Manager at ithree.     When not working, Sharon spends her time gardening, hiking, cycling and cross-country or telemark skiing. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, she enjoys reading, yoga and pairing robust wines with aged cheeses.