While craft stores are everywhere, the calligraphy supplies I use are often a little more specific than what’s available at Michael’s, JoAnn Fabrics, or Hobby Lobby. The good news is that there are lots of online options for purchasing these specialty tools!
People often think that having something custom-made for them is a really complicated process. If that’s you, that’s cool. I get where you’re coming from, but I’m here to try and change your mind! Just because something is special and an investment, doesn’t mean it has to be convoluted, off-limits, or beyond your reach. Let me explain how the custom stationery process works, from start to finish, for every couple that I get the privilege of welcoming into the Leah E. Moss Designs family.
With weddings, events, workshops, and art fairs getting postponed/canceled left and right, the paper community of vendors has had to be nimble and figure out ways to navigate this pandemic. When the stay-at-home order first came into play, I wasn’t sure what to do – I had to sit with the uncertainty for a bit. I’m in the process of developing something now as part of a pivot strategy, but these women sprang into action early on and came up with amazing changes to their business. They’ve each inspired me in their own way, and I can only hope that what I have up my sleeve is as helpful to and warmly received by the community as theirs have been. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting poolside at the clubhouse in my dad’s Floridian condo community. This Michigan gal is soaking up some serious sunshine while working remotely. Don’t worry too much about me – I’m wearing sunscreen! Ahem, sorry, not sorry. While traveling, it’s reminded me of something I put a lot of thought into while developing The Collection. I believe in convenience and excellence, at a fair price, for every couple in love. Thanks to the power of the internet, anyone nationwide is able to customize a dream wedding invitation, choose all the bells and whistles, and interface with a real, expert person who cares about her clients. If you’re looking for custom wedding invitations online, this is a perfect fit!
There are so many online education resources these days for creative people to choose from! Let me start this post by saying that I think that’s great. Anything from a YouTube tutorial to a Skillshare class to a full-blown, multi-week course has benefits – and I’ve taken lots of them, both to grow my creative skills and to flex my business muscles. This post is by no means saying these are bad options. Use what’s out there and soak up as much knowledge as you can! However, I’ve also had the pleasure of taking classes from instructors live and I’ve found that an in-person workshop option is your best bet.
I’m humbled that my sweet mentor and friend Shanna Skidmore featured me on her website. We chatted about lots of things in running a small business – including money. With Shanna’s help in The Blueprint Model, I found my confidence in pricing my work to earn a fair, livable wage in my business. Pricing seems to be a taboo topic, especially for creatives, but the fact is that in order to continue to serve your clients well, you need to price your work to reflect the full value you’re providing. Talking about money should be an open dialogue, and the price to your clients isn’t an emotional thing. It’s math – and that should give you confidence, when you know why you charge what you do.
When booking a calligrapher, it’s important to know that the artist’s work will match your style. This is especially important for weddings, where event branding is of the utmost importance. The seven calligraphy styles I offer are all different from one another, covering a wide range of tastes.
I love working from a home-based studio, and thought it would be fun to give you a sense of my day-to-day with a little studio tour! I converted the spare bedroom in our home to become my studio. This way, I have a designated place to “go to the office,” and it feels separate from the rest of our house. Full disclosure though – I still check emails from my kitchen counter!
It’s a small room, but it’s full of natural light, since it’s got huge windows on one wall, and another window on the side, too. Throughout the space, I have a ton of elephants, as part of my collection. I’ve been collecting elephant paraphernalia for years, and they’re symbols of good luck, so this was a natural fit for me when I designed my company logo. Having so many of them in this space (from all over the world!) is such a fun, visual reminder of something close to my heart.
