who’s behind the umbrella?
Even from a very early age, owner and principal designer, Jane Tomlinson had a passion for design and an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. At the age of 6 that meant pulling her red Radio Flyer wagon up and down the block convincing neighbors to purchase garden rocks she hand-painted to look like ladybugs.
A few decades later, it meant blissfully designing her own wedding invitation and realizing her dream of creative autonomy as requests poured in from friends and acquaintances who wanted her design flair for their weddings and special events too. So Jane waved goodbye to the Chicago-based strategic communications firm where she had sharpened her design skills and business savvy and she established Ink Umbrella Design in 2005.
Today, her business has expanded to include an expansive line of custom and ready-made wedding and social invitations and a bevy of corporate and small business clients who look to Ink Umbrella as their partner for creative branding and visual communications.
Jane brings a turnkey approach to creative execution with strong project management and communication skills, agency-minded customer service and a degree in Public Relations from Miami University (Ohio).
Her personal approach and strong work ethic results in creative, one-of-a-kind solutions that keep her clients happy and makes the world a prettier place.
what’s in a name?
Ink Umbrella is a double entendré. Literally, it refers to the umbrella of varied creative/design services we offer, but Jane holds the other meaning closer to her heart.
Carrying around her trusty {yet fashionable} umbrella at a party {it wasn’t raining} sparked a conversation with a cute redhead who later became her husband {and the very best reason to design a wedding invitation}.
Jane lives in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood with her husband, Joe, their daughter, Caroline and golden retriever, Henry… and of course, that trusty umbrella.