Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Fortune.

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

The journey to Letter your Life Designs began around June of 2013 (after being gifted a crafting machine December of 2012). I can remember sitting in the room that held my six foot table, washer and dryer while I came up with a name. I have always been one who enjoyed creating and more importantly gifting home made crafts to loved ones. This all began after having many friends suggest I begin created and selling my creations. My number one seller at the time was an 11×14 floating frame created with vinyl and all of a baby’s stats (weddings were close behind) but my oh my how it has transformed over the years.

But back to the name as I want to share how I got here. Our lives are filled with words and those words are created from letters….whether through letters written to friends, quotes of inspiration we read or the love story in a book we cannot put down. So, I wanted to “Letter your life” and with that came unique and custom designs.

From there it was all the ups and downs of life as well as the business. Looking for ways to make custom designs work to opening an Etsy shop only to quickly close it in panic thinking I had failed (FYI – fail = first attempt in learning; a key phrase I learned later in life). I had moved cross country on my own (moved back), married, had a child and divorced but the love for my business and creating always remained. Enter March of 2022, when I feel everything changed; for the better.

I continued seeing ads for a CO2 laser that intrigued me and caught my eye. It was one of those things that continued popping up and I didn’t know why yet I knew enough the universe is always sending us signs. During a conversation with my best friend she, as always, gave her full support and said “go for it!” I purchased the laser, all in and my business forever changed in the best way possible. From there I began creating and quickly feel in love with the medium, acrylic. I was in love with all the vibrant colors and quickly began creating business signs (for offices to 23″ sold keys for realtors) baby milestone discs to custom ornaments. I was LOVING my business again. That’s when the thought (that had previously been there before came back) could I make this my full time job.

Fast forward to 2023 and the wheels began turning. I felt more than ever that I no longer aligned with corporate and after taking many other risks in my life on myself, I felt this would be the largest yet most rewarding. Within 9 months I had begun working on myself more internally in order to prepare for this large task at hand but on the way the wheels kept turning and my soul kept yelling. My son and I had moved into a new home and I saw a shop for rent. Now, my first thought was to purchase the next laser and all I needed was some space to rent in order to fit it. Little did I know I would open a 1,200 sq shop that also has retail space.

Now, the shop is located at 326 N Washington Street in North Attleboro, MA where people can come from all over and connect on their design but don’t worry, we still ship all over the US!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I wish! Yet, looking back on so many areas of my life, without the speed bumps and challenges we wouldn’t be where we were in life. Life presents us with challenges in order to see where we have room to grow, heal, reflect and evolve.

I feel the biggest struggle along the way was learning how to believe in myself and fully invest in my talents. I am not saying this from an ego way as I feel most people shy away from who they are in fear of what others may think. I know for me, it was years of not being my authentic self. Now, after taking the time to understand who I am, what I want to be and what feels good for my soul, I find it easier to work through the struggles that come from every day life.

And for those reading this, DO NOT give up on what feels right for you and your life. May your soul shine you and you be authentically YOU. Also, surround yourself with people that support your dreams, not bring them down.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

We are most known for our custom work. Often times customers will come to us with an idea but allow us to bring the vision to life. Acrylic is the number one product that we work with and we create anything from keychains and name tags up to our largest sign to date (part of a three piece wedding sign) was a 28×56″ Silver mirror seating chart. For those that are local we tell them we are Etsy at their doorstep but ship orders all over the US (as well as to Canada). We also work with Baltic birch wood but have been branching out with engraving tumblers, cutting boards, slate and other mediums.

I am proud of everything as each sign/order that is created and put together is unique to the customer. Even when two customers purchase the same item they have their own individual stories as to why. So, if I had to say what I am most proud of – it’s not given up on myself and my dreams. Challenges are still faced but I have learned how to embrace them and ask “what did this teach me?” Every order is unique and allows for new opportunities to create.

There are two things I feel set us apart from others. One – we are not afraid of color. It’s so important for customers to be unique and true to themselves with their order. We honor uniqueness every day. Two – when it comes to local, I have been connecting with different local artists. A few are the local framer, where we have engraved on matboard to help elevate their business. Another is a local wood maker, where our laser can assist with deep and intricate fonts where they then fill with epoxy. We have also connected with other laser business owners to help each other out; whether it’s cutting larger scale items or supplying acrylic when they are in need.

How do you think about luck?

I don’t believe in good or bad luck, I believe everything happens for a reason (the good, the bad and the ugly). Knowing that I had started my business in 2013 and it started off hot (then slowed down) then picked up and so on, I noticed that the times that were high were to show me how much I loved creating (or remind me). Then the times that were slow, I learned that I always had an itch to create more but I wasn’t sure in what capacity and can remember always telling myself I want more orders yet they didn’t start coming more consistently until I purchased my laser. A point in my life where I was learning to love myself unconditionally, find my true passion and recognizing that when things flow easily versus forced we can recognize what aligns with us. The biggest role that played in my life and business is to not give up on myself or my dreams and I hope the same for those reading this too!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://letteryourlifedesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letteryourlifedesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letteryourlifedesigns
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-fortune-568b0511/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LetteryourLifeDesigns
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/letter-your-life-designs-north-attleboro
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetterYourLifeDesign

Image Credits

Noli French from Frenchs Fotos (@frenchsfotos)