Calligrapher and artist Judy Orcutt of Quilligraphy presents her collection of cards, and talks about getting started in her handmade business.
ABI: What is your background, and how did you find what you loved to do?
JO: I had minimal exposure to art in school. My aptitudes were very high in science. So I pursued a degree in Pharmacy, and was a community pharmacist for almost 40 years. As a single parent, I was committed to providing for my two sons and myself.
Art charmed me and when I could, I would take some lessons – watercolor, drawing, pastels. But it was the lessons in calligraphy that fascinated me the most. They were offered through the local YWCA and the instructor taught the basic strokes and rules using a dip pen. I practiced for hours, loving the sound of the pen on the paper and pull of the pen while making strokes.
After practicing for several years, I decided to try to develop notecards. At first, they were rather plain. One day at a street show, I saw a product that had just one pressed flower on some computerized calligraphy. Mmmm… I can do much more than that. I hunted around for someone who was pressing flowers and learned how to do that.
Because of my botany background in pharmacy, this was a natural for me. Identifying the floral elements that I used to enhance the quotes, poetry, and my own writing was important to me. I have included that on the back of notecards. I attended an ABI workshop in Asheville, North Carolina in March of 2008, where I learned a lot about creating a product for sales.
ABI: Your work involves both visual design and writing. Tell us about that.
JO: The original art is done on Bristol board. I make my own colored ink, and press all my flowers which come from my yard and the yards of friends. Once I have a good original, I scan it and create a digital image which allows me to print my cards on demand.
ABI: How many ways do you sell your products?
JO: This has allowed me to sell wholesale, on consignment (locally, only) and through my website, which has a link into my Etsy shop. I have sold on several online sources and I have applied my designs to other products such as T-shirts, jewelry, and decoupaged boxes. And I do fundraisers usually involving breast cancer as I am a 20-year survivor!
