We would read anything written in Laura Hooper Calligraphy’s gorgeous lettering style. (Seriously. Bills, report cards, you name it.) Her lovely letter forms and swooping strokes have made her a standout in the wedding invitation world—and we couldn’t be happier that she’s partnered with our Signature team to create a mini-collection. Laura lives and breathes calligraphy. Since her first gig addressing a friend’s wedding invitations, she’s created a business that includes handwriting services, invitations and party products, and calligraphy lessons, kits, and supplies. We jumped all over the chance to chat with her.
Tell us a little bit about the inspiration and vision for your Signature + Laura Hooper Calligraphy collection.
My vision for this collection was to maintain the elegance of calligraphy while adding a modern touch with the colors, scripts, and texture of materials.
What’s your favorite card in the collection? What inspired it? Who would you send it to?
My favorite card in the collection is the Happy Birthday card with the removable, hot-pink cake topper. It’s adorable, fun, and practical for the recipient! I would definitely send this to any of my friends, my mom, my sister—it’s perfect for any gal’s birthday!
How would you describe your collection in five words?
Bright, beautiful, fun, useful, and thoughtful.
Tell us a little bit about your brand.
I started Laura Hooper Calligraphy 15 years ago. What began as envelope addressing for wedding envelopes has grown over the years to include full-service wedding stationery design and printing as well as handwritten calligraphy work. We have also pioneered calligraphy workshops and brought the art of modern pointed pen to over 3,300 students around the US, Canada, and a little bit in Europe through our in-person classes, as well as over 5,000 individuals through our starter kits for at-home learning.
When someone thinks of Laura Hooper Calligraphy, what do you want them to think of first?
The elegance of calligraphy, with a modern, approachable twist.
What five words best describe Laura Hooper Calligraphy?
Romantic, timeless, relatable, creative, educational.
Where did the idea of starting Laura Hooper Calligraphy come from?
The idea came from my dad, actually. I had addressed my best friend’s wedding envelopes when we were seniors in college and then he recommended me for his co-worker’s daughter’s wedding. After a couple referral orders, he encouraged me to make a website. It was called Laura Hooper’s Art!
You teach calligraphy to others—what inspires that passion?
When I started my business, calligraphy was considered a dying art form. It was commonly considered an unnecessary extravagance for weddings, usually encouraged by a bride’s mother or grandmother. It brings such joy to see the resurgence—due in large part to social media and the evolving wedding industry—and to have the opportunity and ability to help be part of that my sharing the art with others is truly amazing. I never would have imagined this amount of interest when I started my business so long ago.
When you’re not designing, what are a few of your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobby is gardening. I have a pretty large yard and have been planting and cultivating for the past couple seasons. I always look forward to seeing how my beautiful blooms do each year and they make plenty of appearances on my Instagram feed when the time comes.
How do you decide what to include on your blog?
Our blog is focused mostly towards providing calligraphy tips and business advice & inspiration. Everything I’ve learned with calligraphy and for running my business, I basically figured out on my own along the way via Google and a lot of trial and error. To save other creative entrepreneurs any of that stress/headache/frustration is a privilege. I don’t pretend that my way is always right or that there is even only one way to go about any task, but I find joy in sharing my knowledge & experience to potential help other aspiring calligraphers and small business owners.
Is there anything unique about your working process or how you dream up ideas or create content?
I’d say it’s unique in that I don’t really draft – I usually just do. I like to create things and my first instinct is usually to just jump in and give it a try!
What’s your work space like?
Well this is art, so it can get somewhat messy, but overall I’d say that my space is quite nice! I want to want to be in my work space, so I’ve created a space for myself that is inviting and in line with the rest of our brand. Having a beautiful studio brings me joy and allows me to continue to plug along through the both the good days and the not-as-good days of owning a small business.
Are there any trends that you’re especially loving right now?
Metallics. I hope they stay around for a very long time!
If you took the day off tomorrow, how would you spend your time?
Relaxing at home with my husband and our pups. Probably doing a bit of gardening and then grilling on our deck. I’m very much a homebody.
See the Signature + Laura Hooper Calligraphy collection for yourself at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store or online.
Laura,
I discovered your amazing cards while shopping at Kroger. Regretfully, I did not buy one that had a special message, Love You More. How can I get that card?
Debra
Hi, Debra,
Not sure EXACTLY which card you were looking for, but we have quite a few that say “Love you more” on Hallmark’s website. Hope this helps! —Trish