Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Pai.
Melanie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My first attempt at calligraphy started in 2017. It sounds almost silly on how I started now… but I was going through a bad break-up and my girlfriend who had picked up the hobby, suggested that I give it a try. So started lettering (terribly, might I add) to keep my mind occupied. I started with bible verses and inspirational quotes. Little by little, the curves, the lines, and the colors brought me a lot of peace and happiness. So I kept at it. Practiced it. Studied it. Practiced some more.
Now three years later, I am trying to grow a hobby into a side hustle. I am a modern calligrapher who loves to do my pieces by hand. I love the “hand-made” process because it allows me to add my own unique touch and personalize it for my clients.
Has it been a smooth road?
When has anything been easy when you’re trying to start from the ground up?
One of my struggles right now is time. I am currently still working a full-time job, so it is hard to focus all of my time and energy into calligraphy. This means it limits the amount of orders I can take and fulfill.
Another struggle is self-given pressure. Because I am making pieces that will be displayed in someone’s home or someone’s wedding, I want to be certain that the pieces I create are able tell a meaningful story within the context of their surroundings. I want them to emulate the joy of the occasion, whether big or small, but also serve as a reminder of love and gratitude from a daily standpoint. While I know perfection is unrealistic, at the end of the day, we are all our own worst critics.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Melty and Letters story. Tell us more about the business.
As the owner of “Melty and Letters”, I am part of the Goods and Services industry. I hand-write everything. Some of the products I specialize in are paper goods such as hand-made cards and home decor. I also create wedding signage such as welcome signs, table numbers, seating charts… etc.
I am most proud when my clients tell me that my pieces brought a smile to their face because they exceeded their expectations. What sets me apart from other calligraphers is that I work closely with my clients from start to finish, ensuring that the end product is what they envisioned. Throughout the process, I update my clients with sketches and progress photos. I also give them the option to add something that is personal to them. For example, I recently completed a wooden engagement party banner where the clients had asked for their names to be written in gold, engulfed in hearts. You want to know what I did? You bet I painted their names in the most lustrous gold Pantone I could find and added all the hearts to their heart’s content (pun intended) 🙂
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think calligraphy is going to continue to grow, mainly due to its versatility. We don’t always need a pen and paper to produce something. We can use paint on the wall, chalk on the sidewalk, or for a more technical medium, a tablet. It just depends on what clients want. And whatever that maybe, I know I can make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meltyandletters/
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