Meet Michelle Butler | Calligrapher & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, why did you pursue a creative career?
Mary Lou Cook once said, “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.” Calligraphy has given me an outlet to express my feelings, and it allows me to take risks, make mistakes and then turn those mistakes into something beautiful. Having a creative outlet to process my feelings has empowered me to turn the negative into the positive, and to help others do the same which is what led me to pursue my calligraphy business, Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy LLC.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy provides both calligraphy and hand lettering services to clients in the Katy and Houston areas. From envelopes and custom quotes to special event signage and bottle painting, Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy specializes in bringing beauty to the details in life’s smallest moments, largest moments, and everything in between. What sets me apart from other calligraphers is the attention to detail I give to my clients. Every product that I make is unique as it is handwritten and designed with each client’s needs in mind. My background is neither art or design, but education, having graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a specialization in Early Childhood Education. For the past 12 years, I have taught handwriting to 5- and 6-year-old students. What began as a hobby of creating fonts and decorative letters soon grew into a desire to learn the basics of calligraphy. Before long, I began sharing my love of lettering with others, and that is what led me to start my business. Because my education degree did not prepare me for running a business, I have had to learn business and marketing skills all while balancing my full-time teaching job. Each bump that occurs is a learning experience that will help me to better run my business and ensure that Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy will be successful in the years to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Houston is known for being a diverse city boasting a large variety of restaurants, nightlife, and daytime activities. The Katy area, located just outside of Houston, offers an equal variety of restaurants and activities for families and singles. For activities while visiting Katy, be sure to check out PopStroke, a Tiger Woods designed-putting course complete with an outdoor dining area, Typhoon Texas Waterpark, and La Centerra at Cinco Ranch and Palmer Kate Boutique in Old Katy for shopping. For dining, be sure to stop by Pearl and Vine and Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano. A few local places for drinks are No Label Brewing Co. located in an old rice silo and Katy Crossing Icehouse located in a renovated bank building in historic Old Town Katy, which has live music, an outdoor patio, and indoor bar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As I think about where Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy is today, it is because of the support, love and sacrifice of many people, family, and friends, who have helped me along the way. Specifically, I would like to shout out Megan Shaw and Kelsi Hagelstein of Palmer Kate Boutique, a women owned business in Katy, Texas that specializes in women’s clothing and accessories. They have both played an important part in the formation of my business. Megan and I met in 2016 when we were teaching elementary school together, and I met Kelsi through Megan several years later. Megan and Kelsi are some of the most generous, driven, and caring women I have met, and not only are they best friends and business owners, but wives and moms as well. Long before I formed Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy LLC, I remember dreaming of one day taking my hobby of hand lettering and turning it into a business that would help to encourage others. However, it seemed as though it was just a dream that was out of reach. Over time, as I watched Kelsi and Megan work hard to make their dreams of owning a successful fashion boutique a reality, I found encouragement and the inspiration I needed. In fact, it was at one of their pop-up events that they gave me advice that I will never forget. They said that if it was my dream to start a calligraphy business, that I should go for it. After that day, I began researching business formations and before long, Michelle Elizabeth Calligraphy LLC was official. From the beginning, Palmer Kate Boutique has continued to show their support by participating in markets together, through social media, client referrals and more. Thank you, Megan, and Kelsi, for your inspiration and encouragement. You both helped to make my dream a reality, and I look forward to continuing to partner together in the future!

Website: michelleecalligraphy.com

Instagram: michelleelizabethcalligraphy