Hi there! I'm Heather.

I am so grateful that you have found your way to my creative little corner of the world. I'm Heather, formerly of Spoonfeather Designs, and owner of Ampersand Lettering Lab.

While a rebrand is a scary thing, it was also a necessary one. Hand lettered globes still have a piece of my heart, but I am here with the hope that ALL can bring even more beauty and joy to your life outside of the globe world. You can certainly still create a custom piece with me, but you can also buy a print for your home or a font for your business. 

More about me? I am a life-long letter lover and find any reason to letter on things! I picked up hand lettering more as an art form about two years ago. I am a former teacher who pivoted into small business ownership and I haven't looked back. I hang my winter hats up in Traverse City and I wake up every day thankful to call this town and this life my own. Thank you for coming along with me on my journey. It means the world to me. 

 
love-all-03.jpg
 

Join me on Instagram, won't you? 

 
I drew four big empty letters on a window and left colored paint markers on the windowsill. I asked those that passed to add to my letters by filling the with things they loved and we're proud of. They wrote words and names and dates and stories and drew tiny pictures to fill in those letters and bring them to life. This community completed mural lives at @blkmrktcoffee for a few more days. Go give it a look and a coffee clink and remember the power and the capacity for creativity that resides within the people you share space with in your community. #ampersandletteringlab #ladieswhopaint #pride #lgbtartist #lgbtmuralist #michiganmuralist #loveislove #muralist #windowpainting #community #goodtype #paintedletters #letteringmurals #handlettering #alwayshandpaint #loveall #letteringdesign #communitymural #traversecity #northernmichigan
This is the second Pride celebration I've participated in.⠀ ⠀ I know. You just mouthed the words "Huh!?!" and tilted your head to the side and furrowed your eyebrows a little, the way you do when you see your neighbor mowing the lawn in a bikini.⠀ ⠀ Don't worry. It's ok. I'm making that face as I type this and it feels exactly right.⠀ ⠀ Why did I wait so long?⠀ ⠀ In truth, I felt like pride wasn't for me. ⠀ ⠀ At the age of 24 I was launched into this group of people I knew nothing about, simply because of who I loved.⠀ ⠀ Pride was for people who had fought long and hard for equality and rights. ⠀ ⠀ Pride was for people who had overcome the struggles of their identity at a young age and always knew they were different. ⠀ ⠀ Pride was for people who owned rainbow things and waived flags.⠀ ⠀ I was none of those.⠀ ⠀ But guess what? I've learned that I belong here. ⠀ ⠀ There is a place in this community for me. ⠀ ⠀ For you. ⠀ ⠀ For us.⠀ ⠀ We don't have to have the same story.⠀ ⠀ PS this photo is from the amazing sign making party we had on Wednesday. My heart is still exploding from your love and support. I can't wait to see you all waving them in the parade today!! #ampersandletteringlab @upnorthpride #upnorthpride #northernmichigan #handlettered #handlettering #pride #pridemonth #marriageequality #loveislove #lgbt #lgbtartist #michiganartist #lgbtmuralist #screenprinting #handmade #prideposter #traversecity #genderequality ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
I am tall & fierce⠀ ⠀ I am feminine & masculine⠀ ⠀ I am emotional & strong⠀ ⠀ I am no bullshit & take no shit⠀ ⠀ I'm Heather, the stubborn, eyeglass wearing hand lettering artist of &LL (Ampersand Lettering Lab) ⠀ ⠀ I'm so thankful you're here!⠀ ⠀ Happy Friday! #ampersandletteringlab #fridayintroduction #northernmichigan #michiganartist #lgbtartist #lgbt #queerartist #pride #pridemonth #loveislove #ladieswholetter #michigan #createeveryday #imperfectishuman @allenkentphoto
Pride looks like a lot of things.  Pride looks like holding hands with your wife and not letting it go when someone approaches.  Pride looks like going to a pride event.  Pride looks wearing eyeliner for the first time in public.  Last night pride looked like the loveliest group of human beings on the planet sitting around tables sharing stories and hugs and scooting over to make room for strangers while coloring posters that said things like "all love needs is you" and "all for love and love for all".  Thank you, Traverse City for making space for the queer community to be seen and heard and celebrated. It was an honor to create with you all last night.   I can't wait to see where your beautiful posters end up and hopefully I'll see a bunch of you marching on Saturday.  #ampersandletteringlab #upnorthpride #pride #pridemonth #lgbtq #loveislove #handlettering #handlettered #handletteringartist #lgbtartist #michiganartist #lettersbyhand #handdrawn #prideposter #northernmichigan #traversecity #marriageequality #equality #screenprinting
Today is the @upnorthpride sign making party.  An event that two years ago I wouldn't have attended because it was "too gay" and I wasn't that kind of gay.  In two short years I have gone from thinking pride was a celebration for other people to finding a seat at the table next to some of the fiercest folks in the fight.  Join me tonight from 6-7:30 at @rarebirdbrewpub as I host one of my favorite free events of the summer! I have created three original hand lettered designs for you to choose from. Leave your drama at home, but bring all the good vibes and glitter that you want!  #ampersandletteringlab #pride #upnorthpride #pridemonth #handlettering #signmaking #screenprinting #lovewins #lgbtq #lgbtartist #lgbtmuralist #samelove #northernmichigan #traversecity #splitfountain #rainbow #michiganartist #michigan #pride2019 #equality
I met you on an airplane ten years ago yesterday.  I didn't have even the slightest clue that throughout the course of the next year I was going to fall in love with you.  I knew that I liked how it felt to be noticed by you.  I knew that I liked how well you took care of yourself.  I knew that I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible.  I have never felt like I had to change to be loved by you.   You make me feel safe and brave and strong.  Falling in love with you was one of the biggest pivots in my life. One I can not thank the universe enough for.  How did you meet your person? I'd love to know!  #ampersandletteringlab #lgbtq #pride #lgbtcouples #loveislove #marriageequality #lovewins #pridemonth #lgbtartist #lgbtmuralist #northernmichigan #samelove #lovestory    
Other people will always judge you.⠀ ⠀ For the history of ever, people have been and will be judged by others. ⠀ ⠀ You'll be too loud. Too emotional. Too feminine. Too masculine. Too pretty. Too ugly. Too bossy. Too strong. Too gay. Too straight. Too tall. Too small. Too everything. ⠀ ⠀ You're always going to be too something for someone.⠀ ⠀ And you know what? Who cares? ⠀ ⠀ You do you. ⠀ ⠀ Don't trade in your version of you for their version of you. ⠀ ⠀ #ampersandletteringlab #lettering #handlettering #theeverygirl #vsco #vscocam #beyou #empoweredwomen #crativepreneur #womenwhopaint #traversecity #northernmichigan #lgbt #pride
As early as I can remember I was the girl that people came to when they needed things written.⠀ ⠀ Maybe it was a birthday card that the whole class was going to sign for our teacher to surprise her, maybe it was the awards for the end of season banquet, maybe it was the posters for field day...⠀ ⠀ Whatever the task, my answer was always a resounding "yes!"⠀ ⠀ I'm Heather. ⠀ ⠀ I've built Ampersand Lettering Lab on letters and love.⠀ ⠀ I draw letters for a living.⠀ ⠀ I still take a break for a mid-morning snack. ⠀ ⠀ And I'm still the girl people come to when they need things written. #ampersandletteringlab #fridayintroduction #northernmichigan #lgbtartist #muralist #michiganmuralist #handlettering #bossbabe
When Christy and I first started our relationship we were not out to anyone.⠀ ⠀ We lived in hiding for 6 months.⠀ ⠀ There was nothing in our contracts at work that would protect us for our sexuality.⠀ ⠀ We were years from marriage equality being the law of the land and we were scared.⠀ ⠀ One day we decided that the & looked like a person giving a hug and we thought that if we hid that in text messages and emails that it could be our secret "I love you" without running the risk of getting caught.⠀ ⠀ For years, the ampersand was our secret I love you. It is still something that holds lots of meaning for us. In fact, it was my first tattoo.⠀ ⠀ When I was in the midst of rebranding I knew that who I was and what I represented would never be hidden again. I would be 100% Heather at every turn. No one would follow along or meet me in person and not know who I was. Logically, I knew the ampersand had to be part of that story.⠀ ⠀ #ampersandletteringlab #ampersand #samelove #pride #muralist #ladieswholetter #ladieswhopaint #brandstory #branding #brandinginspiration #loveislove #lovestory #pridemonth #traversecity #northernmichigan #michiganmuralist #michiganartist #lgbtartist
When I first started telling people about my love, I would skip past the part where they responded rationally and supportively and start imagining how horribly they were going to react to my truth. My armour was always on. I was always prepared to be hurt by words. And in truth, I was very rarely met with adversity. After nine years of coming out to people daily, my reminder is to let people love you. Don't write their story. You don't want them to write yours, give them the same respect. We are conditioned by media to think everyone is going to turn their backs on us and walk out of our lives. Not every person is that example just as you or your loved one isn't the only example of what it means to be queer. Everyone is on this journey together. Be kind. #ampersandletteringlab #lgbt #pride #pridemonth #lgbtartist #loveislove #handlettering #michiganartist #northernmichigan