We recently connected with Amy Heitman and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

The first dollar I ever earned as a creative was in sixth grade. I had entered a watercolor still life painting of a few apples on a plate in our school fine arts festival and received a letter from our principal asking if they could purchase the painting to hang in the hallway as part of a new gallery. I was so excited and honored to have someone value something I’d created.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I fell into the stationery world 12 years ago after my first daughter was born. I had taught art for a few years before she was born and left teaching to stay home with her. I had painted a few murals throughout the school district I had taught in and our community and thinking I may be able to pursue that more part-time, I created a portfolio website with that idea. After launching the site, rather than more mural-work, I began to get a lot of requests for custom wedding stationery (mostly from friends and friends of friends who were getting married at the time). I fell in love with stationery design and opened an Etsy shop one month before getting put on bed rest while pregnant with our second. I spent five months on bed rest and the Etsy shop was such an incredible blessing during that season. After a few years of creating solely custom event stationery I felt a stirring to create paper goods that people could be used for a wider and deeper purpose to connect with those they love, and send words of encouragement, love and hope to others. With that premise I launched our first stationery collection in 2015, and continue to make them-knowing the power our words have to bless others and the life carefully chosen words can bring. Ive seen the powerful way written words connect us. I believe it is a way we can love our neighbor and hope our goods carry beauty into the places that need it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to reflect and carry on the work of the Creator. I believe we were created in the image of the Creator and given the ability to create and love being able to be a part of this in my own small way. I love seeing ideas evolve and come to life in the form of something tangible. It is also so rewarding to hear from people that have received one of my cards and been encouraged or touched by it in some way.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The past year and half or so I’ve begun meeting every other week with a master-mind group of super talented ladies who also own stationery companies. It has been such a joy to meet with them, learn from them, bounce ideas off one other and encourage one another. Their insight has been invaluable and so refreshing each time we meet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amyheitman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_heitman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyheitmanstudio

Image Credits
Meg Pearson