Meet Claire Braby | Stationer & Calligrapher

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

Hi Claire, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I first started my business, there was no balance. I say that with a slight chuckle now because I’m so far grown from it, but at the time it was purely exhausting. I think when you start a business, you hold an incredible amount of passion and you see the endless opportunities and so your excitement drives you for a bit. You think that the only way your business will be successful is if you pour every ounce of yourself into it. I learned quickly that it can be detrimental if you don’t catch the reigns and take a breath. It is SO important to pace yourself. Someone once told me: “it’s a marathon, not a sprint”, and that has stuck with me ever since. At the beginning I wanted to do everything. I said ‘yes’ to a lot, and I spent every waking moment ideating & brainstorming the future of what I wanted Scrolling Calligraphy to be. Now mind you, I wasn’t full-time with my business when I started. I worked 3 other jobs until I felt comfortable stepping out with calligraphy alone and letting go of the other forms of income which wasn’t until my second year in business. So needless to say, my brain was on over-drive for that entire first year of business. As any entrepreneur knows, the first year [in business] is a full year of learning…everything! When I graduated into my second year of operating my calligraphy business, it was my goal to ensure that I provided myself with a healthy balance of work & play. I knew if I kept going on the trajectory of constant brain activity I would quickly fall into burnout. I absolutely did not want that to happen so I worked smarter & started to reel in and define working hours. At first it was pretty hard to do because I felt that if I “let anything go” ie: not responding to an email after-hours, I’d be losing business. And I did. There were a handful of times when I didn’t get to respond to an email or phone call until the next day and by then it was too late for the client as they had already found someone else for the job. That was discouraging but my gut told me to be true to myself and also continue taking care of what’s most important: me. I really learned that my business can’t run without me, so I have to be well taken care of in order to be successful. I also know that deep down what’s meant for me will not pass me.
So, fast forward to my fifth year in business and I have the healthiest relationship with my work. I schedule out time to work on my business and in my business and I make sure to give myself time away from my work to continue to cultivate inspiration & maintain the energy that my art requires. This has taken a lot of practice but I’m truly grateful for the discipline and patience with myself through it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Where to begin?!

I wouldn’t categorize entrepreneurship as easy. It takes dedication, stamina, moxie… loads of learning and hours upon hours of energy. I would say it’s not for the faint of heart. There’s so much I’ve learned about business and about myself along the way. I’ve learned that the energy & passion you have for your art also has to be shared with the admin side of your business. Very quickly I realized that –oh yeah–I am the accountant, the receptionist, the CEO, the CFO, the COO, the marketing manager, the sales representative, the runner…. all the jobs were mine on top of being the artist. Learning how to delegate some of those positions was the key to keeping my energy focused on my art. At times that was difficult financially, but I knew that in the long run it would be worth it.
I learned that having a contract is very important when you’re working as an artist who does custom work. It’s never fun pouring energy, time, and talent into a piece that ends up not being purchased because the client changed their mind. That was a quick lesson!

I learned that I have more networking capability than I thought. Growing up, I was always a shy person especially when it came to sharing my art or music talents. I felt embarrassed and that my talent wasn’t good enough. I have realized over the years that each of us holds very individualized styles–even if we’re doing the same art form, we each bring such a different style and that’s pretty dang cool. It’s taken me a bit of time, but I have gotten SO much better at marketing myself and showing my work in a proud way. That has probably surprised me the most.

I think what sets me apart from other calligraphers and stationers is that I offer a unique combination of watercolor, sketching, and calligraphy into my designs. I also never get offended by a client’s feedback on proof-work. At the end of the day, I can separate the fact that I’m creating for them; while it’s still my art, it’s ultimately theirs too. I want you the client to be extremely proud of what you are presenting to your guests/family/friends and I’ll do whatever it takes to reach that goal together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

We would absolutely have to do all of my favorites! 

Stops at:
Alfred’s Coffee, lunch at NoMoo and a walk down Melrose with a quick stop at MTP on a Sunday.
Rodeo Drive for the glitz, a hike in Runyon,
a stroll through Studio City with stops at Annabelle’s book shop & Joan’s on 3rd.
A walk on the Santa Monica Pier with a view of a quintessential California sunset.
Brunch at the Polo Lounge and shopping at the Grove.
Dinner at Gracias Madre–best vegan food (aside from my absolute fave Taco Vega which closed, sadly).
Warner Brothers tour and a day at Disneyland or Universal.
Finishing the week with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl–one of the most iconic concert venues.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

A huge shoutout goes to everyone who has believed in me over the course of my life so far. From my art teachers who always saw my talent (even when I didn’t) to friends, family, and clients who continuously stand on the sidelines cheering for me without hesitation. Probably my biggest shoutout goes to a dear friend, Shandon, who pushed me off “the ledge” and encouraged me to start my own business. She taught me SO much about running a business and being an entrepreneur and was the sole-being who believed in my art & talent even before I did. I am beyond grateful for the encouragement and endless knowledge. So often you can run into gate-keepers in this industry and she was not one of them. I vow to be the same for future business owners in my arena.

Lastly, anyone thinking about starting their own business should read the book Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. BEST advice ever.

Website: www.scrollingcalligraphy.com

Instagram: @scrollingcalligraphy

Image Credits
Chaviano Creative, Faye Gedik, and Nicole M. Ryan Photography