Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda.

Hi Amanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

The Scribblist began as a side-hustle while I was in graduate school pursuing my MFA in Fine Art. What started as a simple Etsy shop where I sold hand-lettered quotes and inspirational messages drawn on paper has since evolved into a full-time thriving stationery business. The brand, and my own style, has evolved over time and my work is now heavily rooted in whimsical watercolor paintings that make their way onto a wide range of stationery products (greeting cards, wrapping paper, notepads and more), hand-painted murals, and custom luxury wedding invitations.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

As with most things in life, taking the road less traveled is never easy (and being an entrepreneur falls into that category for me!) When I began this journey, I had very little to no knowledge on how to run a business. You just learn how to figure things out as you go (along with lots of Google searches). You learn to have thick skin, to be okay with failure, and how to pick yourself back up and keep going. I often think about a line I heard once – the difference between people who have succeeded in their goals and those who haven’t, is just that one person decided to take action and the other didn’t. We can choose to let our fears hold us back, or we can just take that first step, stumble along the way, and keep going despite the challenges we face.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I specialize in whimsical watercolor paintings and hand-lettering/calligraphy. My work embraces a bright and bold color palette and a sense of unbridled joy, while giving a nod to the vintage aesthetic I personally love so much. I adore the custom aspect of my work, from pet portraits to invitations designed to tell a unique love story. It feels like an honor to be trusted with such cherished aspects of someone else’s life. I used to worry about my style being too specific, too feminine, or too whimsical, but I have learned to embrace those aspects. They bring me joy, feel authentic to myself and my work, and by embracing that, I am able to create work that I am proud of and that others seem to connect to on a deeper level as well.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

I feel like getting comfortable with facing the possibility of failure is key to entrepreneurial success. I don’t mean expecting failure, but being okay if that ends up being the outcome and doing it anyways. Risk taking is key, and if I never took the many leaps of faith it took to get here, I’d still be waiting on that cliff. You don’t have to have it all figured out, or have the perfect set of tools, or tons of money to invest – you just have to be willing to start and to keep making the next best decision you can make each day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thescribblist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescribblist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheScribblist/