Give a gift that gives back | Custom lettered ornament

It's #GivingTuesday! 

Customize an ornament!

Free greeting card with each order!

Every year, I try to do my small part in giving back during the holiday season. Using my talents to bless others inspires me to keep going on this creative journey, it's my "why".

This year, I'm partnering with The Visao Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to equip vulnerable youth in Africa with essential tools and resources they need to become change-makers in their communities.

I met Liesel, the founder of the organization earlier this year as she attended my workshops and meetups in Westchester. I was inspired by Liesel’s dedication as she shared with me how she wanted to learn calligraphy/hand-lettering so she would be able to bring new ideas to the students at Camp Visao, a week-long camp for the youth in Sierra Leone. Liesel spearheaded this foundation, along with its many amazing initiatives to fulfill the critical needs these youth require in order to succeed at life.

Photos provided by Visao Foundation

One of the Foundation’s newer initiatives, is Tools for School - which, ensures that children from families below the poverty threshold have the basic school supplies they need to have a successful school year.

With your help, my hope is to be able to sponsor 10 school supply kits ($250), which are filled with items such as exercise books, pens, pencils, ruler, eraser, sharpener, and art supplies. The Foundation’s team on the ground will begin assessing the students’ needs in January so the necessary items can be collected, assembled in kits, and distributed shortly thereafter.

To learn more about these kits and the Tools for School initiative, please visit The Visao Foundation website. Thank you so much for your support!

How you can help

Head over to my Etsy shop and purchase a custom lettered ornament. $5 of each sale will be donated to The Visao Foundation’s Tools for School initiative - I’ll be taking orders until December 14th!

As a THANK YOU for your support, each ornament order will include a FREE 5x7" folded Christmas card that I designed, which you can keep or mail to a friend (envelope included; while supplies last). Card will be selected at random (see photos above for designs).

Musings | It Is Well

When I picked up a brush pen four summers ago, it was during an uncertain time in my life. Hubs and I were six months into what was supposed to be a long-term move to Taiwan. It had been a tough adjustment, though it probably didn't look like it from our photos. Sure, we had plenty of adventures but things didn't really go as planned, job-wise (amongst other factors).

So we decided that summer, that we'd return to New York at the end of the year. We didn't know what we'd do about work or living arrangements when we got back so I spent every day that summer lettering my worries away (or tried to, at least).

Lettering became my form of meditation and prayer. Meditating on positive quotes, and God's word got me through the rest of the year - from dealing with a scary vertigo episode (on my birthday, no less) to getting my wisdom tooth out while hubs returned home for job interviews, to coming back, apartment hunting, and readjusting to life stateside (reverse culture shock is real, yo).

The reason why I'm sharing all of this is because I want to get back to that. I want to get back to a place where I can sing these words in any circumstance. My heart, mind, and soul need it. And maybe, you need it, too.

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul…

- Even If, Mercy Me

Free digital wallpaper available in my Subscriber Library!

Client Spotlight: Sézane's Mother's Day Event

This past Mother’s Day, I had the pleasure of participating in a special event at the lovely Parisian boutique, Sézane in New York City. For three days, I provided on-site calligraphy notes and cards for shoppers looking to add a personalized touch to their gifts for mom (and other special ladies in their life).

The Sézane experience is simply magical. Before you even step into the shop, you're greeted with a gorgeous floral display that's just begging to be photographed. 

Then, you're welcomed with delicious pastries by Maman, and the comfiest corner to relax and refresh.

Not only is the shop filled with the most beautiful collection of clothing, shoes, accessories, and stationery, there's also a free photo booth (by the fitting room) plus another seating area in the back!

Once shoppers completed their purchase, they were able to stop by my little set-up in the back for a complimentary card lettered by yours truly. I had a handful of ready-to-go cards, but clients were more than welcome to make special requests. 

Although it was a bit nerve-wracking at times (oh the pressure of live lettering!), I had so much fun chatting with each person that stopped by those three days. I hope I was able to make everyone's Mother's Day just a tad more special this year! Thanks to Sézane for having me!

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Are you a brand looking to offer a custom, creative, and on-trend experience for your clients? Let's work together - contact me to discuss private workshops, on-site calligraphy, and custom-lettered/designed gifts!