I had the honor of sitting down for lunch with one of my favorite people in the world, Mrs. Leigh Anne Spencer, of Leigh Makes Designs. Leigh Makes Designs is a company she recently started of handmade invitations, flyers, business cards, stationary, and basically anything else she can dream up. She allowed me to entice her with lunch, and grill her about her business. Now, I didn't decide to interview her simply to give us an excuse to hang out (well, maybe that was a tiny part of it....), I really want everyone to know how amazing she is, and how darling her designs are. Here are her response to my questions:
Q: How did you get started? Why did you decide to start your own business?
A: Well, I make things for people all the time, I always have. Anything that anyone needs, even random things like stationary or drawings. I literally just enjoy making things for people. And I love that reaction I get from people when they say "You made this?" It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling! It's just so natural, this is something that I need to do in order to be happy.
Q: Describe your design style.
A: A little bit of everything! I want everything I design to be pretty, and it has to have a little bit of humor in it. It needs to be fun. I'm not a super serious person, so I think that it's important to reflect that in my work. Everything I do needs to have a little but of whimsy in it to be me. I do like to create more serious things as well, and it always shocks me when I do and it turns out great. I like to do a lot of unusal things in my work. I like to mix handmade elements with digital elements. I think it adds a bit of charm to my designs. My style really stems from my art school background, and my love of drawing. So, I'd say my style is handmade plus digital, a little serious, and a lot of fun!
Q: What's your favorite medium to work with?
A: This is going to sound totally boring, but pencil and paper. The fact that anything I do ever comes out in color is amazing! I love sketching, it's something I'm comfortable with. So that's always my starting point.
Q: What types of events do you typically design for?
A: Right now, with just starting out, I'm doing a lot of party invitations. And a lot of them have been for kids, which has been really fun. I don't bridal show invitations, but not an entire wedding suite yet. I do have one coming up, and I'm so excited about it! I enjoy the freedom of being able to make a little bit of everything, and why not? I recently made a banner for a non-profit in Austin, and it was completely handmade, not digital at all, and it turned out fantastic! I love being asked to do different things. I think as a designer, it pushed yourself to try new things.
Q: Describe your ideal client or project.
A: I like to do projects for other vendors, especially in the wedding industry. I'm currently working with a photographer making his flyers and business cards. My favorite clients are the ones who love to take risks, and who want something totally outside of the box. It's really exciting as a design to do something different!
Q: What are some long term goals that you have for Leigh Makes Designs?
A: I want to do this full time, everyday, all the time. I'd really like to get into more artistic designs. Projects that take a lot more design effort, and things people haven't seen before.
Q: What are some short term goals?
A: I definitely want to have a more steady clientel. I need to work on my blog, and I need to set up my website.
Q: You recently participated in a styled photo shoot. What was that like?
A: The photographer from my wedding, Sarah E. Evans, and Tamara Menges of Tamara Menges Designs, have started a lot of projects in and around Southeast Texas, a lot of styled shoots. I told Sarah, the photographer, that I had started my own business and she immediately asked me to be a part of it. These girls are great, because they are so helpful, they just want to help get you going. I really wasn't sure if I had the means to even participate. It felt so official. It's really what jumpstarted everything for me. Being published with them in a magazine, it was my push. It was just an amazing experience to work with such nice people who believed in me. It definitely gave me the confidence to just go for it.
Q: What or who is your biggest motivation?
A: Honestly, just being an artist in general. I think a lot of it stems from my dance and choreography background, and creating something out of nothing. It's a lot like taking a blank canvas and creating something beautiful. It's really natural motivation.
Q: What project have you done that you're most proud of?
A: It's a little strange, I never thought I'd be doing this. It's helped me to become so organized. I think that this business is really what I'm most proud of. The fact that I've started something on my own. And people depend on me and believe in me. I feel like a have things to prove, and I know that I can do this.
Q: Anything you'd like to add?
A: I have a lot of new and exciting things coming up! I'm doing collaborations with others in the wedding industry, which is so much fun. My moto, for Leigh Makes Designs and in my life in general, is Live. Create. Enjoy. This is something that I really take to heart. I've always wanted to be able to do what I love for a living, and this business is allowing me to do just that!
Here are some examples of her work :)
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| Seriously, the cutest birthday invitations, ever |
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| So beautiful and simple |
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| Stamped, and hand painted |
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| How lovely is this marble design? |
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| Her self designed logo |
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| Adorable packaging |
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