You can find Anna’s work on Instagram at @letteringbyrose.
Describe your hobby/creative project.
The all-encompassing term I use to describe what I do is hand lettering. To me it’s all about making art out of words using various effects and designs. I started out with brush pens then made my way to embossing, watercolour, and eventually digital hand lettering. I love how versatile it can be and I am constantly learning new things. Items I have done for custom projects include cards, signs, mugs, wedding seating charts and placeholder nametags.
How long have you been here?
I was born and raised in Belleville and have lived here my whole life, minus the four years I spent at Queen’s University in Kingston.
What brought you to the region?
I moved back home when I finished school this past April and decided to take the Public Relations program at Loyalist College, but I do intend on staying here for the next few years at least.
How did you get started doing this hobby/creative project?
I first learned about hand lettering in 2017 when I took a workshop to learn the basics. I started my Instagram account in December of that year as a way to showcase my art to friends. When people I did not know started following me and asking to purchase my art I thought, “hey, I can really do something with this.” One thing I love most about hand lettering is that you can get a clear message across, if I have something I want to say I can turn it into a fun piece of art.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle of turning a hobby into a business?
Currently, I only use Instagram to showcase my work and communicate with potential customers. I am a full time student and also working part time, so finding spare time is definitely an obstacle. I have so many ideas in my head of what to do with this but I am trying to work through it right now, and also trying to think of how much I can realistically do with the little free time I have. Shopify is something I am keen on launching in the near future, but for now I am going to continue on a smaller scale. Maybe when I am done school in the spring I will bring these ideas into action.
Why is having a side hustle/creative project important for you?
I have always been a creative person. My art is a way of escaping the stress of everyday life and I can get lost in it real fast. I do it purely out of enjoyment, but making other people happy with my art feels so rewarding.
Where do you see this project going two years from now?
I am interested in growing my reach and beginning to use e-commerce. As I plan on staying in this region for a while, I think it would be fun to get into the market scene. We have a lot of great farmers markets as well as pop-up events happening around here and it would be awesome to be a part of that.
What’s your secret to surviving winter?
I keep busy with custom projects for Christmas and Valentines Day orders. If I’m not snuggled up with my cat and drinking tea, I do enjoy getting outdoors. I like to make use of our local trails and parks especially after a fresh snowfall – it looks so dreamy.
What’s your favourite part of living in the BoQ?
I love living in the Bay of Quinte because it has so much to offer. In just a short drive I can spend a day at the beach or go for a hike. I enjoy the smaller community feel where you can always run into somebody you know, but we are so close to Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal if you want to go to a bigger city.
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