Meet Lanni Maszerowski (they/them) | Maker & 5th Grade Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lanni Maszerowski (they/them) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lanni, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wouldn’t describe it as a thought process, it was more of a life process. As a thirteen-year-old, I began my entrepreneurial journey by designing and hardcoding blogs and websites for clients that found me through Blogger. I was self taught in every way, but found moderate success as a teen being commissioned to do projects that I now realize I was being massively underpaid for, hah! In my teens I also did logo design, t-shirt design, and I made button-style pins that I sold at my high school. After high school, I continued doing website commissions, though I wasn’t able to take on many clients due to my college workload. Most of the graphic design I did was for my classmates, making t-shirts and logos for clubs and organizations. I haven’t designed a website since college, but I kept up with logo and t-shirt design commissions, which is still a part of my business today. The big change in my business was when I taught myself hand lettering in 2016. I started taking on lettering-based commissions in 2017 and haven’t looked back. Because my business is not my career (I’m a fifth grade teacher by day), I spent the last few years saying I’d keep my business commission-only. I didn’t think I had the time (or talent) to create goods to sell. It felt too risky. I had been doing commission-based work for over 15 years, and I’m not a fan of change. But during the first year of the pandemic, after being furloughed from my part-time job, I realized I needed a new source of income. I decided to design some stickers and prints that I could list in my Etsy shop (which I had opened the year before as a way to organize my commissions). I finally chose a business name (after years of working under just my name), got my DBA, and pivoted to what I do know, which is selling my art online and at local craft shows here in Rochester, NY.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is centrally inspired by my need to leave a positive mark on our society in some small way. My art focuses on social justice, queer liberation in particular. I pair my art with information from my life (and research) as a queer non-binary person to help educate others. I work hard to make my art and information accessible to all. As a fifth grade teacher, my students are a huge inspiration to me. Much of what I share online is pulled directly from the work I do with them to become equitable and empathic citizens. I am also focused on mental health awareness, disability acceptance, and Black Lives Matter. This work isn’t easy. Sharing my truth online has often resulted in harassment and bullying, especially when it comes to advocating for queer and trans kids. I recently had to turn on “Limit Commenting to Followers” on Instagram because I couldn’t keep up with the hate comments from folks calling me a “groomer” and “ped*phile.” Maybe someday I’ll be able to open comments back up. For now, I am putting me and my emotional (and physical) safety first.

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?
Rochester, NY is my one true home. The best day would start at Bagel Land for breakfast. Best bagels in Rochester, hands-down! We would spend the morning shopping at some of my favorite shops like Peppermint, Little Button Craft, The Op Shop, Parkleigh, Archimage, Figgy Studio & Shop, and Stacy K Floral. Lunch could be at my newest obsession, The Pettit Poutinerie, where we can enjoy a flight or two of poutine. Maybe a mani and pedi at Gallery Salon in the afternoon. Then it’s off to dinner at Good Luck (burger, baby!) and a class at Rochester Brainery to end the night! My favorite classes are weaving with Courtney Craig and improv with Megan Mack – either is always a hit with new friends!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is no possible way to list all the people in my life that have helped lead me where I am today with my art and business, but I will try! Like many, I am thankful for my parents for encouraging my interest in art and digital work from a young age. They got me my first iMac in middle school, sparking my interest in graphic design, and when my recent iMac died last year and I was having trouble affording a new one, my dad surprised me with a pink one and a promise that he believed in me and my business. The second group of people I need to thank are my fellow Rochester makers and businesses. Anna Vos, Christy Roushey, Emily Bellinger, Jess Bird, Ashley Landon, Tiffany Nichols, Laura Babiuk, Sarah Kozak, Megan Zweigle, Champagne Manley, Courtney Craig, Laura Seymour, Kelsey Werzinger, Tanvi Asher, Danielle Raymo, Caitlin Moody, Molly O’Riley, Sarah Fredenburg (Syracuse, but close enough!), and so many, many more who inspire me daily. Third shoutout belongs to Ashley Ellis, my partner in crime in so many ways, who didn’t say, “I told you so” when I started vending after years of saying I wouldn’t, but totally deserved to. Lastly, my partner Mark, whose boundless love has changed my life forever.

Website: http://lannimade.etsy.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lannimade

Facebook: http://facebook.com/lannimade

Image Credits
Sarah Fredenburg Rachel Coutant