Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Houseman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Susan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Working with Remy Cointreau USA as a gold leafing artist for the Louis XVIII de Remy Martin Grande Champagne Cognac during the F1 race in Las Vegas 2024.

This was an in studio commission with many moving parts, including communication with other countries and time zones. After having an interview, I was sent two coffrets to complete as a test to verify my skills with gold leafing. Gold leafing is an ancient art that is having its own revival recently. I was learning old and new skills and subsequently passed the test and in the process found the it all very meaningful. I ultimately completed over 67 coffrets and look forward to many more!

I would have enjoyed seeing how the recipients responded to the coffrets. I did visit the very elegant pop up store that was set up in the Wynn hotel casino for the race. I was speechless when I saw them on display in the store. I was moved to tears knowing that I was part of something very exclusive. I know the amount of work that goes into each decanter and its contents within the coffret as well as my own contribution as the gold leafing artist. I understand the challenges and the patience that’s required and I loved each one as if I was my own treasure.

The ultimate compliment was when I was asked to do the demo video of the gold leafing process for the Louis XVIII coffret. A video was made of me actually doing the gold leafing, I couldn’t share any information until after the launch of this iconic brand. I can’t even being to describe how honored I felt. The camera team was very kind and allowed me to act as if I was teaching a class, explaining the process. They even captured the magic of the gold leafing becoming sparkling dust as I conducted the process of burnishing.

For me it was bringing old world techniques to life with modern tools.

Susan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My calligraphy journey began almost 35 years ago when I bought my first calligraphy pen set at a hobby store. I wanted to create an art quote for my new home, but I was totally clueless. So, I enrolled in my first calligraphy class. Turns out, calligraphy means “beautiful letters,” and I was instantly hooked! My love for calligraphy has only grown stronger over the years.

Back then, I focused on learning the art form, creating pieces, and sending them to magazines for publication. This led me to design my own alphabet stamp line for Stampington & Company. I remember how thrilled I was when my calligraphy was first published. And guess what? I also got my first commission – someone actually paid me for my work!

Little did I know that every commission, publication, art show, class I taught, or took was helping me build my future business. I learned that being in business means networking is a must. Having a good social presence is also a requirement, because people can’t find your business if you don’t have one.

I’m so proud to say that Susan Houseman Designs has been around for 5 years now. We moved across the country from one state to another in 2023. Reestablishing myself as a live event artist in Vegas is both exciting and terrifying. I’m continuing to connect with luxury brands for brand activations.

Using my calligraphy skills to work on different surfaces and interact with the public is amazing. Seeing a guest’s face light up when they see their name hot-foiled on a leather journal or engraved on a thermos never gets old. I also enjoy the interaction with each client and their guests.

What makes me different from other artists is my extensive education and experience and creative mindset. I’m always finding and discovering my style in everything I do. I bring my creativity to everything I do, and I’m always open to trying new lettering styles.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’m a creative person who loves making things. I discovered calligraphy as a way to express my creativity. I enjoy creating my own artwork and sharing it with others. My mind is always full of ideas, and the more I learn about my craft, the more questions I have and the more I want to explore them.

The best part of all this is sharing my work with the world. Now I get to work live at events, helping my clients connect with their guests. I have a degree in Speech / Theatre, and live events really feed this part of my soul.

I may not be on a stage receiving applause, but my reward is with the people who are excited to witness and receive a keepsake item, while elevating my client’s business.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had a side hustle for years, and 2019 was the best year ever in the wedding industry. But then, in 2020, COVID hit and my mom passed away. I lost my way, my creativity went away, and I felt like I had hit rock bottom. My husband suggested I watch videos of calligraphy engraving. He even bought me my first portable engraver. I then signed up for an online engraving class.

During the lockdown, I channeled my creativity into designing what I called “Soul Stones” – these are glass stones with empowering words engraved on them. I also took the plunge and started my own business, Susan Houseman Designs, to trademark these beautiful creations. My friends and family were so supportive that they started buying them, and as soon as the lockdown lifted, I started a local boutique to sell them. Life was looking up, and I was having a blast engraving personalized gifts for my clients.

In 2021, I attended my first live event engraving event, and it was incredible! I was just starting my live event business in St. Louis and gaining recognition. But then, a new challenge came up: my husband got a job in Las Vegas at the end of 2022, and we were both thrilled about the opportunity. We moved to Vegas in early 2023, and even though I knew I wasn’t starting my calligraphy business from scratch, it was still quite intimidating. I was so grateful to have connected with other calligraphers in Vegas before my move and was able to book an event almost immediately.

My journey has shaped me into the artist I am today. No matter how tough things get, no matter how overwhelming they seem, or how sad I’ve felt, I still love what I do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susanhousemandesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanhousemandesigns/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-houseman-1798461b9/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@QSusie50?app=desktop

Image Credits
For Head Shot only: [email protected] The rest of the photos are mine from events and me at events. Please let me know if you have any questions before publishing