Life & Work with Ana Marin of Gardena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Marin

Hi Ana , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My creative journey officially started with calligraphy in 2019. I was experiencing a lot of burnout from my job then, and I wanted to use calligraphy as a meditative and therapeutic way to de-stress. I’d practice it every day after work and began painting and adding wax seals to gifts, letters, and cards. It wasn’t until 2021 that I officially launched Inspiring Letters to help others connect and create tangible memories of even the smallest milestones. The creative bug lives within me. As a former musician, I find joy and peace in creating anything, but the entrepreneur bug was inherited. Both of my parents have their own small businesses, and launching mine was just a matter of time, I feel.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While people may know me as the face of Inkspiring Letters, it wasn’t until recently that I quit my job. When I launched my business, the hope was that it would become my full-time passion. However, during the first couple of years of Inkspiring Letters, I was still working other jobs. My background in education allowed me to work as a tutor while keeping my sales job and growing my business. It was a lot of very long nights and lots of coffee, but Inkspiring Letters has exceeded my own expectations.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a multi-passionate person who specializes in wax seals and calligraphy. My business revolves around adding the finishing touches to event and brand stationery. Wax seals have a long history of being symbols of importance, and each design represents something personal from the sender. I wanted to bring that sense of intimacy and connection to more than just letters. In the modern world, letter-writing seems like a lost art, but I believe it remains just as important as it was hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago. And what are invitations if not simplified letters inviting those closest to you to celebrate something important? To me, wax seals and calligraphy represent more than just a handwritten note and sticker to seal an envelope; they invoke memories and create new ones.

I love creating custom pieces for my clients. It truly fills my heart with joy when I get a message or a picture of how they framed my work and have it in their homes. The best reviews are sometimes private, but they are the most meaningful.

I’m very proud and fortunate to have worked with some famous clients and popular brands in such a short time of being in business.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The hardest decision you will make is to simply do it. Putting yourself out there and constantly second-guessing your work and abilities was probably the hardest for me. Imposter syndrome is real! However, before launching anything, do the legwork. Make a plan, and then do it. There will always be “something” preventing you from being “ready,” and truthfully, no one is ever truly “ready” for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inkspiringletters.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkspiringletters/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/inkspiringletters/