We’re looking forward to introducing you to Carissa Flores. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Carissa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
When we search for joy, I find that we sometimes overcomplicate it, so I’ve recently been tapping back into some of my favorite things from younger years, such as swing dancing. I learned to swing dance in college, including Lindy hop and west coast swing, and I try to do it as often as I can.
It’s a super fun social activity that has a lot in common with calligraphy! When you swing dance, you are working with a structure or a basic pattern, and you get to add your own personality and flair in response to the music and your partner. In the same way, when I teach modern calligraphy, I explain that it has a few specific rules and basics, and then you get to infuse it with your own creativity and style.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a calligrapher! That means I use pointed pens dipped in ink, brush pens, and other tools to create beautiful letters. Since high school, I have been practicing calligraphy as a hobby, which came in handy when I got married in 2019! I loved filling all the details of my wedding with calligraphy, and it inspired me to start selling my calligraphy for other people’s weddings, on Etsy, and at craft fairs.
Three years ago, I was invited to teach calligraphy at a local event space, and I’ve been hosting calligraphy workshops ever since! I work in middle school education full-time, so I love the opportunity to share something fun and casual. Students in my calligraphy classes walk out with a basic knowledge of the tools and a fun new hobby to use for a long time!
There’s so much more that I can do with calligraphy as well: I can digitize my lettering to create custom vinyl decals, and I can engrave on glass surfaces like perfume bottles or wine glasses, which makes an excellent live activation at a brand’s shopping event or even a wedding or special event!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
When people think of calligraphy businesses, they usually think first about weddings. And it makes sense — there’s envelopes, welcome signs, place cards, menus, and so many other beautifully decorated elements to see! I really loved creating these gorgeous details to add a special, unique handmade feel to weddings, and I worked on dozens of weddings over the course of about three years.
However, my life has changed in big ways in the last couple of years, and with the restructuring, wedding calligraphy didn’t fit as well anymore. Instead, I’ve found a lot more joy and peace teaching calligraphy workshops to my neighbors, and it brings me a lot of life right now. I found that I was known to some people because of my work on weddings, so when I released it, I felt a bit like I was failing or giving up. But instead, I realized I’m simply creating space for the right things in my life, as well as leaving room in the industry for calligraphy professionals who are perfectly suited for the work. Maybe someday I’ll step back into the wedding space, but for now, I’m content to take a break because it no longer serves its purpose in my life.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: your creative output and ideas are good because they’re yours. Comparing yourself to others won’t get you very far — their version of creativity is taken. You can trust your own creative opinions and preferences, and don’t be afraid to use your ideas to develop a sense of style that is uniquely yours.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Each person is working toward creating a more fair and harmonious world, or they are working against it. Our actions, both big and small, have an impact of the world around us. People who have outsized amounts of power and money must be far more accountable than they are, but we all play a role.
When we start to think that small choices don’t matter, or we don’t speak up against small injustices, we’re adding to the chorus of other people who feel the same way, and it’s actually pretty loud. So it matters every single time we seek justice and mercy for one another.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that I spend my time spreading joy and sharing my skills and knowledge, and I hope that my impact multiplies long after I’m gone. When I teach someone to do calligraphy, I hope those skills turn into something meaningful for them far beyond a beginner class, whether that’s relaxing and giving them more space in their life, or creating a gift for someone that will spread more joy. When I’m teaching in my classroom, I hope that the knowledge that students gain serves them in compounding ways for the rest of their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dosfloresdesigns.com
- Instagram: @dosfloresdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dosfloresdesigns
Image Credits
Hazel Luna Design
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