Meet Kristara Schnippert of Kristara Calligraphy in Arts District

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristara Schnippert.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was 12 years old, I found a calligraphy book at my grandma’s house and fell in love with all of the beautiful letters. Back then, there were no Instagram feeds to stalk or YouTube videos to watch. I just had to read a lot of books and learn things the hard way—through lots of trial and error.

For as long as I can remember, calligraphy has been my passion, but I never imagined it would become my full-time job. Then, in my 20s, after helping so many friends with their wedding stationery and signage, I decided to make my calligraphy business official. Six months later, I was busy enough to make the leap to full time.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the reasons I started my business was because of my mom, who runs a successful embroidery and silkscreen business outside of Dallas. I grew up watching her balance motherhood with entrepreneurship and I knew that I wanted to set that example for my kids, too. However, I’ve always struggled with managing my work/life balance and it has gotten even more challenging since becoming a mom. I always feel like I should be doing more in every area of my life.

Kristara Calligraphy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Kristara Calligraphy is the first and only dedicated calligraphy studio and classroom in Houston. While a lot of people only associate calligraphy with weddings, I specialize in bringing modern calligraphy elements to corporate clients (including David Yurman, Cartier, Omega Watches, Kendra Scott, and Lululemon) by helping them add a personal touch to their stationery, events, and retail designs.

I also teach lettering and creative classes through my in-person workshops, online class, and book, Creative Calligraphy. I’ve applied my experience to teach more than 1,500 people and counting through my workshops. I’m proud to say that many of my students have gone on to address their own wedding invitations and even start their own businesses!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Calligraphy is all about practice, patience, and perseverance—and I think those characteristics also apply to entrepreneurship. Success doesn’t come overnight, but I think my passion and work ethic has helped me push through the most difficult moments. And as cliché as it sounds, learning from my mistakes (in calligraphy, in life, and in business) has played an important role in where I am today.

I feel like my definition of success changes almost daily (some days, it’s as simple as replying to all of my emails). But, in general, I’d say that I feel most successful when I have the opportunity to do great work for great clients.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1824 Spring Street #221 Houston, TX 77007
• Website: kristara.co
• Phone: 8328215037
• Email: hello@kristara.co
• Instagram: instagram.com/kristara
• Facebook: fb.com/kristaracalligraphy

Image Credit:
Carr Cormier Photography, Aelish Lasco Photography

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