Tennessee Made

If you landed here, that means you’re holding a piece of my work that was made right here in the great state of Tennessee! Grab a sweet tea and let me tell you about my Tennessee story:   

As a kid we'd travel from Charlotte, Tennessee to Gatlinburg every summer for my Daddy's Tennessee Water Authority meetings. It was a long five-hour trip for a young'un, so when we'd hit Knoxville, Daddy would hop off I-40 at exit 386B with the sole intention of driving through campus.    

My parents had a way of building up excitement for this little jaunt down Cumberland Avenue and in doing so, they actually created an unintentional consequence: a lifelong connection to the University of Tennessee. The pedestrian bridge that crosses Cumberland Avenue was a landmark for us. In my earlier years, it was the “mile marker” that indicated we were only an hour away from the hotel with the indoor pool, but as I moved into my formidable teenage years, it became a symbol of exploration, adventure, courage and my future.    

And then, it happened. On Saturday, September 30, 1995, I walked into Neyland Stadium for the first time. And my soul caught on fire. Sadly, at least for my parents, that moment voided all scholarship offers at other schools. There was no other option for my higher education. The University of Tennessee Knoxville would be my home for the next five years (yes, I said "5" and we’re going to skip those details).  I was the first person in my family to go to college and in 2001, I was the first to graduate. I left the university with a B.S. in Communications. Every day since then, I have tried to be a torchbearer – lighting the way for others and also shining light on UT Systems and the great state of Tennessee – all of which made me who am I today.   

In 2016, after living in Southern California for 9 years, I was hungry for change and I was craving ways to stay connected to my family and homeplace. So one hot summer vacation back at home, I picked up a camera and began photographing the landmarks and scenery that had always lived so vibrantly in my heart. My love for these places resonated in the photos, and the "Homeplace" line of coasters was born.   Those heartfelt connections and Tennessee pride propelled an entire brand: Preserve Press. It is a tangible reflection of my love for the Volunteer State, its people and its undeniable grit. I believe that time is precious and it is fleeting, so preserving precious memories, feelings and connections to the places and people that we hold dear is an antidote to an unstoppable ticking clock.   

In 2020, I said goodbye to California and came home to firmly plant my feet in the Dickson County soil where my ancestors farmed, built businesses and families. Tennessee never stopped calling me home and it feels so amazing to be back in its beauty surrounded by salt-of-the-earth people who work hard, love this state and love this country.  A few years ago I merely had a dream of manufacturing American-made goods in my home state. Today, I’m so proud and honored to say that by the end of 2022, Preserve Press will be manufacturing 90% of its goods within Tennessee’s borders! I believe in this place, her citizens and our future, and if I can play just a tiny role in boosting jobs, morale and state pride, then my heart will be full for the rest of my days.   

Preserve Press is proud to be a Made-in-the-USA company and a portion of our proceeds benefit higher education, cancer research and Tennesseans in need.   

If you would like to work with Preserve Press on custom goods, please email Janna Abraham at janna@preservepress.com.