The Map That Started It All
How a Memory Became My First Custom Map — and Eventually, Atlas & Ink
Before Atlas & Ink ever existed, before I turned memories into map prints or created custom gifts for others, I made a map just for myself.
The First Custom Map: A Memory of the Ozarks
The very first map I ever created was never meant to be sold.
It was personal.
It was the Ozarks.
I spent long summer days there with my dad and grandparents. It's the kind of place that lingers in your senses... the hush of the wind, the ripple of water, the scent of pine and sun-warmed stone. I went to camp there. Fell in love with the lakes and wildlife. But what I loved most was who I shared it with.
I didn’t know the last time I’d visit would actually be the last.
I thought I’d be back soon. Sometimes I still do.
That first map became a way to hold on. A piece of handmade map art that felt like closure, and a quiet beginning. It wasn’t just a place on paper, it was a memory made visible.
And even now, that’s what a custom map is to me: a way back to the places that shaped us.
If the design feels familiar, there’s a reason - the map of the Ozarks is woven into a lot of my branding. Not just because it was the first, but because, after years away, I found my way back. Atlas & Ink was born here, surrounded by the lakes, hills, and quiet roads that inspired me from the start.
A Map for a Friend: Kansas City and the Gift I Couldn't Finish
The second map I made was for someone else.
It was Kansas City... the city where I grew up, and the backdrop to nearly all the friendships that shaped my early life. But time moves us in different directions, and slowly, those people began to leave.
One of them was my best friend.
She was moving away, and I wanted to give her something meaningful. Something to remind her of where we came from. So I started creating a custom map print of Kansas City, a sentimental gift made by hand. But I didn’t finish it in time.
Honestly, I think part of me hoped that if I didn’t finish it, she wouldn’t leave.
Every time I opened the file, I cried.
She left. And the map stayed with me.
Sometimes we make things for others that we need to hold for ourselves first.
Kansas City: The Map I Finally Let Go
That map stayed on my wall for months.
It had always been hers. But until she returned, I wasn’t ready to let go.
Eventually, she came back to visit... and I gave it to her.
That moment changed me.
It felt like handing her back a piece of home.
Like finally letting go of the past and making space for what comes next.
That map lived with me longer than any other. But the moment I gave it away, I realized something:
Some maps you keep.
Some maps you give away.
Either way, they mark you.
At Atlas & Ink, every map starts with a story - just like mine did.
Whether you’re marking a place you miss, gifting a map to someone you love, or simply decorating with meaning, our custom maps are made to last - designed with care, printed on quality paper, and crafted by a small business that believes in storytelling through art.
Explore meaningful map art made for memories, milestones, and everything in between.
