Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claudia Brade. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Claudia , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I would say that being a calligrapher and starting my own business is my purpose professionally. With that, I did find my purpose, but I think more of it as my purpose found me. I never planned on the career I’m in now; I didn’t even know that being a calligrapher could be a full-time job. I feel like I got very lucky with this career finding me and this path opening up for me. It all started when I was invited to join a Copperplate Calligraphy class by my then boyfriend, who is now my husband. I remembered my mom having a book about calligraphy and was curious to join the workshop. My interest was sparked after the first few classes and I started to look up calligraphers and started following them on social media. Slowly, this world opened up to me and I’ll forever be grateful for all the fellow artists who shared their knowledge with me when I was just starting out. I’m also very grateful that I found my professional purpose, which is a very calming and settling feeling. I wouldn’t say that it was by choice, I think one event led to another and I was guided to where I’m at now. So my advice to find your own purpose would be to just let your control go and let new things come to you and guide you to your purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Claudia and I’m the owner of shescloudy calligraphy. I offer calligraphy, engraving and painting for weddings and events. My services include custom calligraphy on pretty much any surface. I love to make pretty things even prettier!
For brand activations and corporate events, I offer live calligraphy and engraving services, as well as bottle painting and hot foiling. I love to work on-site, helping my clients to elevate their brand with a customized keepsake for their patrons. For example, I live engrave or paint on-site on fragrances or other items such as candles and liquor bottles.
For wedding clients, I specialize in custom mirror signage and have a mirror rental collection that I deliver all over Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange County; and even as far as Riverside and Santa Barbara County. Most of my rentals are unique vintage pieces that are the perfect addition to elevate any event. I have mirrors in multiple sizes, the biggest one is a 5 by 7 feet floor-length golden mirror that is perfect for a large seating chart for an event with 250+ guests.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The hardest part for me in running my own business has been my time management, because I’m my own boss and there is nobody there to tell me what to do with my time. I set all my priorities and delegate tasks to myself on the daily. Having to constantly push yourself can be tiring, but it’s also very rewarding to be in complete control. So as the 3 most important things throughout my business journey I would list time-management, self-care and confidence. They all kind of go hand-in-hand in my opinion. As a business owner, you have to constantly believe in yourself and be confident about yourself and your work. You have to be your biggest supporter. In order to have that energy, I have to make time for self-care, so that I am able to give my best. It’s hard to do it all by yourself and it’s easy to get lost in the process. Being self-employed at first meant working 24/7 to me, but now I have a better work-life balance and take more time off to recharge my creativity.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I recently ordered something online and the box it came in had a quote on it: “It always seems impossible until it’s done”. I actually cut out the quote and keep it in plain sight every day now, because it’s so true. Life gets overwhelming sometimes, and there will always be challenges to overcome. Realizing that that’s life in its pure form has helped me to deal better with difficult situations. Life is an ebb and a flow, and there will be times when everything is easy; and times when everything feels overwhelming. But from experience, now I know that there is a solution for everything and that things will work out the way they are supposed to be. So whenever I feel overwhelmed, I try to calm myself by taking a deep breath and reminding myself of the quote I mentioned.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shescloudycalligraphy.com
- Instagram: @shescloudy_calligraphy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shescloudy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-brade-1a8370155/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shescloudy-calligraphy-los-angeles
Image Credits
Leah Marie Photography Brett Hickman Photography
