Meet Mary Elizabeth Kakales | Calligrapher, Stationary Designer, Graduate Student

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Elizabeth Kakales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Elizabeth, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I left teaching and began grad school, I suddenly found myself resting for the first time since I began working three years before. While teaching, I worked almost sixty hours a week, but as a graduate student, I was only required to be in class for twelve. This slower pace was a privilege and a gift, but I found myself itching to use my free time productively and get back to the working world.

I started looking around for part time work, and I was able to work in an exercise studio, help out with a chocolate chip cookie start up, and substitute at different schools in the Dallas area. I look back on that time with so much joy because I was able to work in so many industries that I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise, and I was able to work with incredible people who I’m thankful to count as friends to this day…what a gift!

As school started to pick up, though, I realized that I could no longer balance all of my schedules…as much as I tried, I couldn’t be three places at once! I was often reminded of my dad’s wisdom when I was growing up; he consistently shared that my brother and I should do all we could to be our own boss. Suddenly, that took on a new meaning! If I started my own business, I could set my own hours, scale up and back as much as I needed, and hopefully find better balance in my life. The problem was, though, that I did not know what business to start.

Fast forward to March of 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic; I suddenly found my program and my work entirely online. This meant that I like so many others found myself sitting in front of a computer for the majority of my day. Not only did I crave contact with my friends and family (thank goodness for FaceTime!), but I missed the tangible in such a virtual world…I found myself opting for physical books instead of reading on my Kindle, going on as many socially distanced walks as possible, and taking notes by hand instead of on the computer.

Believe it or not, handwriting my school notes is really what sparked Mary Elizabeth Lettering. I’ve never been able to sit still for very long, so to stay focused during my online classes, I picked up a calligraphy pen at Michael’s and started practicing. In the beginning, it was just a task to keep my hands busy enough to keep me from getting distracted during class, but the more I practiced, the more I loved it. Of course there are the official, formal calligraphy styles, but calligraphy allows so much room for creativity and personal style; also, it is seemingly a small detail on invitations or prints, but it can add a touch of beauty that would not have been there otherwise.

In whatever I do, I hope to leave people and things more beautiful than I found them, and I hope to open up the doors that I have been granted access through to make things more accessible for others. As friends started to remark that I should start doing calligraphy officially, I realized that it could afford me the opportunity to do those things that I just mentioned. I also realized that it could give me the opportunity to set my own hours and would be the perfect complement to my school schedule. Without really intending to, Mary Elizabeth Lettering was created!

I had an immense amount of fears, hesitations, and curiosities about making this business official, but at the end of the day, I realized that this is something that I am passionate about and want to continue to grow in. Also, I realized in a unique way, I can use this platform to connect with, encourage, and show compassion to those around me. Am I where I hope to be in the business? No, but that is the fun part! There is always a new skill to learn and practice, more stationary to create, more markets to expand to, and more people to encourage; my hope is that through it all, the foundation of this business is to serve and encourage people exactly where they are through beautiful lettering and calligraphy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This is another question where I have to ask, “How much space do I have?”

I know that there are definitely downsides of social media, but one of the benefits I’ve experienced is being able to appreciate the beautiful work that artists and calligraphers are doing across the world. There are SO many talented creatives! When I think about what sets me apart from these amazing individuals, it isn’t so much the calligraphy or stationary I produce as much as it is why I create these things.

I am so thankful to be blessed with a community who leaves things better and more beautiful than they found them, and my hope is to do the same. Calligraphy adds beauty to envelopes, invitations, and prints, and it can be a way of having the actual written word reflect the beauty of the word’s, phrase’s, or sentence’s meaning. As I have dipped my toes into stationary, I’ve realized that the venture is more about empowering those around me to enrich and encourage their communities through handwritten letters as much, if not more, than it is about creating beautiful prints and stationary.

There have definitely been challenges; in undergrad, I majored in Public Policy Leadership and General Studies, I began my professional career as a high school math teacher, and I am currently in graduate school to be a counselor. I say this to say, I have no artistic experience! I believe in the mission of creating beauty and connecting communities so much, though, that it is something that I have pushed myself to learn. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to grow in this area, slow down to take inspiration from everyday scenes around me, and empower individuals to reach out, connect, and let their communities know how thankful they are for them!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is one of my favorite questions to be asked! Although I’ve only been in Austin, TX for a year (and a COVID year at that), I’ve quickly fallen in love with it and have had quite a few friends come visit. Here is what I generally recommend for a weekend in the city!

Friday night, start out with a happy hour or hike up to Mount Bonnell; I think it’s one of the most beautiful views of the city. You can take a picnic or a bring a refreshment to enjoy the sunset and take in the beautiful landscape! Next is a trip to Matt’s El Rancho for dinner. They have the best margaritas, and ordering a Bob’s Dip for the table is a must. It also has a great atmosphere and is an Austin staple!

Saturday, the opportunities are endless. You can head down to the Greenbelt and go on a hike, or for something less strenuous, you can pick up coffee and stroll around Town Lake. My personal favorite is to pick up coffee and breakfast tacos at Medici, Taco Deli, or Central Market then stroll around the trail. In the afternoon, I recommend finding your way onto the water. There are boats, paddle boards, or kayaks for rent, and it’s one of the best ways to beat the Austin heat. You can also wander around South Congress and pick up a cowboy hat at Maufrais, Allen’s, or Goorin Bro’s, or grab some boots at Allen’s or Tecovas.

Capital Cruises has a great bat tour (you heard me correctly) on the water. I like to pack a little cooler and enjoy the sunset! Since you’re already downtown, head to a fun dinner at one of the places I listed below, and I like to finish up the night at Deep Eddy’s Cabaret. It’s a great bar that reminds me of home and is a little out of the fray of downtown.

Sunday, I usually head to a service at All Saints Presbyterian Church; that place and its people have become a second home, and I love sharing it with visitors! After church, I’ll usually pick up Fresa’s to go and have a picnic with the dogs at Zilker Park.

As I mentioned, Austin has no shortage of delicious food, and I highly recommend checking out Lin’s, Texas French Bread, Perla’s, Jeffrey’s, Josephine House, ATX Cocina, Hank’s, P6 for sunset drinks, Lutie’s, Uchi or Uchiko (especially their happy hour), Littlefields, Aba, Juiceland for a smoothie, Bar Peached, Red Ash for Italian, Fonda San Miguel, Grizzelda’s, Bufalina Pizza, the Wayback, Swedish Hill, Wu Chow, Tiny Boxwoods, Haymaker, Hank’s Austin, Clark’s Oyster Bar (their happy hour, too!)…the list could go on for ages!

There are also an abundance of breweries – check out Jester King, Lazarus, Austin Beerworks, or Central District Brewing!

Also, there are so many fun places to visit that I didn’t get to include on the list! The Austin Public Library on Cesar Chavez is beautiful and a great spot to read or study, and BookPeople on Lamar is one of my favorite stores. If you’re looking for shopping, the Domain is farther north but has lots to offer. Each neighborhood in Austin has a distinct personality, and if you have time, I recommend taking a spin through each of them!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my goodness…how much space do I have?

My mom once told me about a young man telling his dad that he wanted to be a musician full time; he was nervous how his father would react to the news since this was a sharp departure from his original plan. After hearing the news, though, the dad took a beat, stood up to grab his keys, and told his son to get in the car. He said, “Son, if you want to be a musician, we’re going to buy you the best guitar that we can afford.” I’m always reminded of that when I think about how my friends and family have supported my dreams. Whether it be my dream of becoming a counselor, my dream of running a calligraphy business, or whatever other dreams I have, my friends and family consistently ask, “How can I help?”

With Mary Elizabeth Lettering in particular, I am so thankful to my friends and family for answering all of my phone calls and texts, giving a listening ear, providing feedback on new ideas, helping me put pen to paper and think through what my ideas can look like practically, connecting me to new clients and vendors, and always being my biggest cheerleaders. They are a true blessing, and without their support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do!

Website: https://mkakales.wixsite.com/meklettering

Instagram: @_me_lettering

Image Credits
Tim Laielli, Annabelle Charles