We recently connected with Sherri Petterez-Marriott and have shared our conversation below.

Sherri , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

100%! I absolutely wish I had started my business sooner but unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. I didn’t have the foresight of knowing what my passion would be until later in life. After working many years in the corporate world, marriage, and then staying at home for 12 years raising my daughter, it wasn’t until late 2019 when I formed my business and started my creative journey. I imagine it would’ve been amazing to have discovered this creative side in me early on, and to have realized the importance of work and doing what you love. If I had started early in my twenties or thirties, it would mean more time doing the things I love doing now and bypassing the stress and headaches that came from working for so many years in the corporate world. On the downside, the lack of social media back then would have prevented me from sharing my work with the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

A little about me. I am Mexican American, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I met my husband and best friend at work and we were married in 2003. Our jobs moved us out to Texas in 2005 and we’ve been here ever since. We have a beautiful daughter and a poodle/schnauzer named Roxy. I started Mon Sherri Ink in late 2019 after seeing a photograph of a wedding invitation with a beautifully calligraphed hand addressed envelope. I knew then and there that the wedding industry was where I wanted to be. Since then I’ve taken dozens of calligraphy courses to perfect and create my own style. I started with modern calligraphy and then moved to traditional copperplate. I currently work with brides offering this luxury service on everything from stationery, custom signs, and day of details like place cards, escort cards, and seating charts, all created by hand. What sets me apart from others is that I’m also a live event artist where I get to “perform” my craft live in front of customers. I’ve worked many luxury brand events personalizing client’s purchases with calligraphy, hand engraving and bottle painting. Doing live events is what I’m most proud of. It’s taken this shy, somewhat introverted gal out of her comfort zone. The beauty of it is that it’s not very difficult when you’re doing something you love and people really enjoy watching you do it.

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

When someone comes to me with a vision and I help bring their vision to life, or when someone takes the time and careful consideration of choosing a thoughtful and meaningful gift for a loved one or a dear friend and commissions me to personalize it, or when I’m asked to engrave a name, date, or initials on an heirloom that will be passed from generations to generations, THIS is the most rewarding aspect of what I do.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

When people tell me they have terrible handwriting and could never learn calligraphy or learn to do what I do. That’s not necessarily true. I remember reading somewhere that described calligraphy as being more similar to drawing than writing. I completely agree! Or when someone says they are just not “artistic”. I think we all have the ability to tap into our creative instincts. You never know what you’re good at until you try.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.monsherriink.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/monsherriink
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/monsherriink
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sherripetterezmarriott
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@sherripetterez-marriott9502

Image Credits
Jen Symes Justin Lee Burr Molly Murphy Photography