I've Been Creating Since 7th Grade. Blood and Ink Creative Is What Happened Next.

Some people find their thing later in life. I found mine in seventh grade. If you ask my mother, she would say she found it for me. She was the journalism teacher, and she handed me a camera and pointed me toward the football field before I had much say in the matter. As it turns out, she knew exactly what she was doing. The moment I started telling stories through images, words, and design, I realized it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.

That was a long time ago. And I have not stopped creating since.

The Long Road Here

Over the past two decades, I built a career out of creativity. I earned a journalism degree from Texas A&M, where I studied public relations, advertising, media writing, and graphic design. I went on to teach journalism, yearbook, and graphic design to high school students which led to state-winning journalism teams and national recognition for my kiddos. I then spent years as a university Vice President overseeing marketing, branding, digital media, social media, photography, and strategic communications. I have written grants, built brands, led crisis communications teams, and taught college courses in writing, graphic design, and photojournalism.

What I am trying to say is: this is not a hobby that became a side hustle. This is a lifetime of storytelling and design that finally found its truest form.

Blood and Ink Creative is that form.

What’s in a Name?

Blood and Ink. It sounds a little dramatic, maybe. A little bold. But that’s intentional.

Blood is the personal — the emotion, the passion, the relationships, the things that matter so deeply they are woven into who you are. Ink is the craft — words, design, art, the act of making something out of nothing and putting it into the world.

Every single thing in this shop lives at that intersection. Nothing here was made carelessly. It was all made with intention — by someone who has spent her whole life pouring herself into the act of creating.

A Featured Artist Worth Knowing: Meet Rachel Bogenshutz

Some of you already know about Rachel. But for those who don’t, let me introduce you to one of the most important people in my life.

I held Rachel before I ever held my own baby sister. She is not just a friend; she is family. And her art? It is unmistakably, beautifully, boldly her. Every piece she creates is layered with the same passion and complexity that makes her one of a kind as a person.

Rachel is a Texas-based abstract artist whose work is vivid, raw, and deeply expressive. Her pieces don’t whisper…they speak. When you put one of her prints on your wall, your room changes. You can feel the intention in every layer, every color choice, every stroke.

I am so proud to carry a selection of her work in this shop. Head to the Art & Home section to find her pieces. More of her work will be added over time, so keep watching.

What You’ll Find at Blood and Ink Creative

This shop is a little bit of everything for the creatively minded. And that, is completely on purpose.

If you are a bookworm who tracks their reading goals and drinks coffee and has strong feelings about a good journal, you are in the right place. If you are someone who wants their walls to say something about who they are, someone who appreciates art that is layered and unexpected and real, you are absolutely in the right place. And if you are someone who wants a graphic tee that makes people laugh, or a mug that says exactly what you’re thinking before your first cup of coffee — well, welcome home.

You’ll find original abstract art prints, graphic tees, hardcover journals, book lover gifts, digital downloads, Canva templates, mugs, and more. It’s eclectic. It’s intentional. And it’s made with care.
Every. Single. Piece.

What This Blog Will Be

Now that the shop has found its footing, it’s time to build something around it: a space where creativity gets to breathe a little more.

Each month, I’ll be sharing something new here. Gift guides for the people in your life who are impossible to shop for. Reading content for the bookish crowd. Behind-the-scenes looks at Rachel’s art. Home décor ideas for people who want their space to feel like theirs. Tutorials on how to use digital templates even if you have never opened Canva in your life.

Think of it as a creative corner of the internet. One where a lifelong storyteller finally gets to tell her own story.

Come On In

Whether you found this blog through Pinterest, Instagram, Etsy, or a friend who sent you a link at 11pm saying “you need to see this.” I’m glad you’re here.

Browse the shop. Fall in love with a piece of Rachel’s art. Grab a journal. Find a gift for a loved one.

And if you want to keep up with what’s coming next — new art, new products, new blog posts — follow my Etsy shop or social media. This is just the beginning.

With love and ink,

Rebecca (Becky)

Blood and Ink Creative