About the Founder of Wishbrush

In an era of instant texts and digital DMs, Baleigh Shortreed is on a mission to bring back the "heart" of the written word.

As the founder of Wishbrush, a boutique stationery brand launched in late 2025, Baleigh is blending her lifelong love for crafts and drawing with a professional background in psychology to create something more than just paper products. She’s creating a canvas for connection.

From Lifeguard to Creative Entrepreneur

Baleigh’s journey to founding Wishbrush wasn’t a straight line, but every stop along the way added a unique layer to her vision. With a degree in Experimental Psychology and a minor in English from the University of South Carolina, she has always been fascinated by how we communicate.

Before Wishbrush, Baleigh made her mark in the Charleston creative scene as the co-founder of the sustainable candle company Aroma on the Rocks and as a manager at her family's business, Charleston Balloon Company. This mix of experience in eco-friendly product design and large-scale event management gave her the perfect toolkit to build a brand that is both aesthetically beautiful and sustainably minded.

The "Wishbrush" Vision: Why Blank is Better

The inspiration for Wishbrush was born from a simple frustration: a surplus of cards with pre-written "Hallmark" sentiments that often felt hollow. Baleigh noticed that the most meaningful part of a card was almost always the blank space—the place where the sender actually pours their heart out.

“Generic isn't a love language,” is a core philosophy at Wishbrush. Every design starts as extensive trend research, and is the painted or drawn digitally by Baleigh herself. Her hand-designed patterns—ranging from trendy checkers and bows to vibrant florals—are intended to look as good on a mantel as they do in a frame.

A Founder-Led, Sustainable Approach

Baleigh isn't just the artist; she's the engine behind the brand. Operating as a founder-led team, Wishbrush focuses on quality over quantity:

• Hand-Designed Art: Every pattern is born from a physical painting, giving the cards a textured, authentic feel.

• Sustainably Made: Products are made-to-order to reduce waste, ensuring that the brand remains as kind to the planet as it is to its customers.

• Local Heart, Global Reach: Based in Charleston, SC, Baleigh’s work is already gaining traction on platforms like Etsy and Faire, proving that the desire for a handwritten note is alive and well.

Get to Know Baleigh

When she isn’t painting new patterns or managing logistics, you can find Baleigh practicing yoga, sewing, or writing. An "early bird" and self-professed ambivert, she finds her greatest joy in the quiet moments of creation—a trait that shines through in the thoughtful, intentional designs of Wishbrush.

“We provide the canvas, so you can provide the heart.” - Baleigh