My Biz: Danielle Chargo uses antique presses to make paper goods

When Danielle Chargo was looking for a new location for her business, Iron Leaf Press, the building had to meet one very specific criterion.

'My press had to fit through the doorway,” she said, referring to the largest of three antique presses she uses to create one-of-a-kind paper goods - such as wedding invitations, greeting cards, posters, business cards and stationery.

The elegant floor model platen press was manufactured in 1919.

'I told my new landlord-to-be that I had to measure the door first. The flywheel comes off the press and it will fit through most modern doorways, but a lot of these older buildings don't necessarily have that,” she said.

The press fit and last fall, Chargo moved from Lisbon to an 1800s-era building in Mount Vernon.

Chargo's love of design and printing began in 2005 after she completed a degree in graphic design at Grandview University in Des Moines. What started out as a hobby in her small apartment turned into a full-time passion, which led to a lucrative business.

Chargo has a collection of wood and metal type - some antique - that she uses for her designs. Her paper goods are sold at her shop in Mount Vernon as well as at stores and boutiques in Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, and Indianapolis.

Also, through Etsy, Iron Leaf Press paper products are sold worldwide.

Chargo said her largest order was 15,000 coasters for Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

'It was a fundraising drive and the coasters were round, to look like an ornament,” she said. 'Since this is a hand-fed press and treadle operated, you have to push on the bottom to make it run, so it's a matter of standing there all day and pushing up and down while feeding the paper. It took me six days to do them.”

Chargo said her busiest times are the spring, summer and fall wedding seasons.

'Since moving to Mount Vernon, my customer/business has changed in that it is more retail focused,” she said. 'My clients are people that want handmade things and personal design. They want something that feels nice; something that is very tactile.”

Chargo said luckily, her press is pretty solid and works well.

'There are 34 oil points on it, so basically I keep it oiled up and it works fine. They made this particular press until 1964,” she said.

There is a counter on the printer that she resets every month, 'just to see what my numbers are.”

And since the press is manual, even if the power goes out, she can keep working on her orders.

' Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com

AT A GLANCE

Owner: Danielle Chargo

Company: Iron Leaf Press

Address: 102 First St. SW, Mount Vernon

Phone: (319) 455-6113

Website: www.ironleafpress.com