Meet Tammy Schriewer | Designer + Lettering Artist + Lifelong Learner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammy Schriewer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It all started in the early 80s. I was a tender-hearted little gal who could be described as an “affection-is-my-love-language” gift giver – although I’m pretty sure we didn’t know those were a thing back then. I made cards and crafts for anyone who made me feel loved or special. And that might consist of an origami-ish, folded piece of wrapping paper with 5 shiny pennies taped to it decorated with stickers, hand-drawn hearts, stars, and all the bubble letters. My sister and my dad were the proud recipients of most of these glorious creations and even to this day, I have a couple my dad saved in a folder in his filing cabinet.

Ironically, after thinking I would pursue an accounting degree because math had always been my favorite subject, I ended up on a totally different path after my dad passed away my freshman year of college. After seeing a commercial for the local art college, I thought, “Wow, that looks cool” and a few years later, I ended up with a degree in graphic design.

I have worked for small design boutiques, large in-house creative teams and now, from home sweet home. All throughout the journey, I have been uncovering layers of design details that I loved growing up. And about 10 years into my career, a desire to strengthen my logo skillset turned into devoting myself to learning traditional pointed pen calligraphy, which led to calligraphy and then on to painting.

I guess what I love the most is how versatile the field is. As my personal life has changed and evolved from single design nerd to family-focused, work-at-home mom, my creative career has been able to pivot and adapt accordingly. Being able to blend my design experience, my love of paper and passion for learning continues to let my business evolve and grow – constantly producing new things. Like most recently, hand-cutting and making paper floral bouquets. So, it’s been so amazing to see my work come full circle to the place where it pretty much began as a kid, making stuff with my hands on Saturday afternoon.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Against all odds, after graduation, I was hired for my first design job 3 weeks after 9/11. (A miracle in itself!) I gleaned so much from a small team of seasoned designers, copywriters and was able to work on big projects with huge budgets, creating brands from naming, packaging, marketing and advertising. I got to dip my toes in so many different areas of design that I may not have been able to do at a big agency. I paid my dues, pulled the all-nighters, and may have even cried in the bathroom a time or two – but boy did I learn from it!

After that, I worked at another dearly-loved Dallas design boutique and then eventually jumped over to the in-house corporate side of design where a whole new level of complexity arose: designing branding and beauty packaging on a global scale at millions of units. This was normal for some but definitely a huge learning curve for me. The lifelong-learner in me geeked out though. I loved it. Grounded in design and artistry but balancing it with manufacturing, production, engineering, working in millimeters gave me the chance to use both sides of my brain! Nerd Heaven! *Side note: it was also during this time that I started calligraphy classes in the evenings at SMU as a creative outlet but also to build my chops for logos and custom type for projects at work.

Fast forward a decade and it became clear my time there was coming to an end and I had the chance to stay home with our girls and start a business of my own. With over fifteen years designing with some of the most talented people I know, I realized quickly that I would need a creative outlet even though being a mom was extremely fulfilling and busy! So, I started pouring myself into modern calligraphy, watercolor and anything else I could get my hands on – see, here’s that learning thing again.

So, here I am today, 20 years into design: creating art, and combining it with the joy of giving a gift. My company is Life Beautifully Designed. I create thoughtfully curated gifts for people who are looking for something unique to give to someone special or as a keepsake to hold on to. With a focus on lettering and calligraphy, projects range from a watercolor painting, a totally custom wedding suite, a 30’ chalkboard installation or handmade bouquet of paper flowers. I love to create. And making people feel special is at the core of every piece.

You were designed and created by a God who cares deeply for you. And made perfect through receiving that grace and unconditional love, your life is beautiful. It is an honor to use a gift He bestowed to me, to design a piece to make you or a loved one feel cherished and adored.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

The agenda would consist of: coffee, delicious food, more coffee, great conversation, wandering and then very likely, more coffee.

We would drink all.the.coffee. Hit up my favorites and look for more. Summer Moon, Heirloom Haul, The Nest in Frisco, then check out Houndstooth or Stupid Good because with names like those, we would just have to know more. We’d eat anywhere we’d have time to: Patina Green, Roti Grill, Javier’s, Jasper’s, HopDoddy and Shinsei if we felt like getting fancy.

We’d search for vintage treasures at little thrift stores, antique malls all over town. We’d visit Chestnut Square for the very best local honey ever made – Crooked Creek – yum. And head south toward Dallas hitting up thrift stores, design showrooms and Bishop Arts because my current stage of life keeps me pretty grounded in McKinney, Texas.

We might not buy much but we would love taking in all the inspiration and admiring the thoughtful craft that seemed so prevalent a few decades ago. And we would definitely get lost a few times because our eyes would be full of tears from laughing so hard. Oh, and the Arboretum because: flowers. And Fort Worth would be on the list if there was time! Museums, the water gardens, the stockyards and the Drover Hotel. But honestly, I wouldn’t think anything of it, if we stayed inside the whole time, making charcuterie boards and watching old movies on the couch either.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I wish I could make a list of every single person who played a role in this journey; it’s quite humbling to think of each person who has influenced my steps to where I am at today.

Creatively, I would say David Bieloh, Andy Gass, Paul Jerde, Willie Baronet, Gus Granger and Rob Alschbach have been the biggest supporters who have taught me more along the way, laying the foundation for designing with purpose and the technical side of product development. Susie-Melissa Cherry and Amanda Arneill were instrumental in my pursuit of calligraphy and lettering. Both teaching with clarity and fabulously within their specialty.

And then there is personally, without the devotion and love from my family and a few close friends: my dad – to whom I owe so much. My sister, who practically raised me. And my two daughters – Ava and Everlee, both creative in their own ways, who inspire me everyday. And, Lindsay Thomas, Sarah Smith, Emily McClure and Beth Wetton: there is no way I would have been able to march forward without them, even when it seemed like the path was impossible!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifebeautifullydesigned

Image Credits
Emily Megan Photography, Life Beautifully Designed