About
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Small boutique style design studio specializing in custom invitations and stationery. Based in, and inspired by, the beautiful Black Dirt Region. Focused on providing quality, personalized designs, made with love.
Brand Story
Black Walnut Designs was inspired by the historic land, Black Walnut Island, Dulcia is proud to call home. She takes as many walks as possible through the black dirt fields and enjoying all of the sensory experiences it offers - the wind, the smells, the beauty, the change of seasons, and watching the plants sprout and grow until harvested.
On Black Walnut Island, we are able to enjoy some of the oldest trees in the Black Dirt Region and are surrounded by a wonderful community of neighbors, local businesses and farmers. Every year, black walnuts fall on our back yard, these incredible trees are where Black Walnut Island get its name. Black Walnuts symbolize clarity and focus by some Native American tribes and they’re also associated with intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration. You can also make ink out of fallen walnuts and the obvious fact, paper is made from trees.
As a local small business, the land we live on and the nature that surrounds us is important and continues to aid in the creative juices of Black Walnut Designs.
About the Founder
Dulcia Reitano was born in Canterbury, Kent, England to a Zoo Keeper and Conservation Biologist from the Bronx. She had a very unique and creative upbringing which shaped who she is today. She has an older sister (human) and little brother (gorilla) named Kwam. Kwam was hand reared by her parent’s when his own mother rejected him. Dulcia was raised with a strong compassion towards animals and others. Her empathy and love of others is brought into her business and life on a daily basis.
Dulcia earned the nickname “Doodles” at a very young age and she has continued to draw and learn more creative techniques ever since.
At 4, Dulcia was relocated to Crema, Italy. At first, the language and culture was a huge adjustment, but she quickly fell in love with the hospitality of the Italian culture and made friendships she still cherishes today. The architecture and arts have inspired her and left a longstanding impact on her life and career as a creative.
At 8, Dulcia was relocated, one again, to Washingtonville, NY, a small town in the Hudson Valley. As most teens, Dulcia became obsessed with fashion magazines and wanted to be a fashion designer. Her first job, at a mere 15, was as an assistant Fashion Designer for a local small business, Santiago Couture. With her first real job, she learned hard work gets rewarded. She learned how to make custom Bridal gowns and had the honor of making all of her prom dresses. Once Dulcia graduated high school, she went to Rockland Community College and moved to Warwick where she enjoyed walking to work at a local cafe and attending many Apple Fests.
Dulcia’s next steps, after a severe burn, were applying and getting accepted into the art program at SUNY New Paltz where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design. Her passion and dedication was rooted in her childhood, but it’s only grown in her formative years. You could say she’s come full circle, back in the wedding business where she began at 15. In a different field, but as a creative none the less. Dulcia enjoys the excitement and emotion of a wedding and nothing brings her more joy than sharing those special moments and creating custom designs to illustrate a story and message. All life events where we come together to celebrate need to be announced in the most special way, for they are the most meaningful moments of our lives. Dulcia would be honored to share in those moments with you and add you to her happy list of clients.
Days off you can find Dulcia hiking, kayaking, at a local brewery or winery and most definitely kissing dogs!
Drop us a line!
Dulcia@blackwalnutdesignsllc.com
Black Walnut Island
Warwick, NY 10990
