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. 

 
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Join me on Instagram, won't you? 

 
I'm going to take liberties today and say that most creative ventures begin out of darkness.⁠ ⁠ We create to forget.⁠ ⁠ We create to escape reality.⁠ ⁠ We create to remind ourselves that we are capable.⁠ ⁠ When I started this business I was in arguably one of the darkest seasons of my adult life.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ I was 29 years old with a college degree, newly back in the states after an amazing year of living abroad and I was jobless. I had been turned down for every job I applied for that seemed to offer a decent living wage and I found myself applying for Medicaid.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ For the girl who graduated fifth in her high school class, the girl who won Snowball Queen, the girl who one year prior had a successful teaching career, this wasn't what my life was supposed to be like.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ I was lost. I spent more days than I'd like to admit laying in my bed crying. I cried a lot. I withdrew from friends and family. In fact, there will be people reading this today who are hearing this for the first time. I lost myself.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Eventually, I got up and I started writing and drawing and reading and sharing stories and I began to feel alive again.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ In time, I realized that I didn't have to find a job that wanted to hire me and I could create a job for myself. The strength found in that decision is immeasurable.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Keep creating. Encourage others to create. and for the love of all things good, if you meet someone who has just traveled, don't assume they are who they were when they left.⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #handlettering #handlettered #abmiscrafty #createeveryday #ohwowyes #handletteringartist #creativepreneur #thedesigntip #intentionalliving #traversecity #grandrapids #northernmichigan #paintedglobe #etsy #createcultivate #imperfectboss⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
I am surrounded by people who understand love. When we created our list of people to invite to our wedding we had two requirements: 1. Could we call said invitee at 2am if we needed something? If yes, move to question 2. If no, don't invite. 2. If said invitee was in a situation where we weren't present, would they stand up for us and our relationship? If yes, invite. If no, don't invite. We have done a damn fine job curating a team of humans who embody love and who understand that love takes work. And anyone who isn't afraid of a little work always has a place on my team. #ampersandletteringlab #handlettering #lgbtartist #michiganartist #michiganmuralist #designsponge #handlettereddesign #typespire #phwowyes #vsco @acunerd thanks for this perfect setup in your lovely home and for your endless love.
So much swimming, so many s'mores, so much family time!⁠ ⁠ Even in a job that requires so much from me seasonally, I still make time to walk away for a bit.⁠ ⁠ No one gives me permission. I don't need it. ⁠ ⁠ I make a choice. You can too. Your work doesn't define you. The way you choose to life your life does.⁠ My dad used to say "we make time for things that are important" He's right.⁠ ⁠ Still here. Lettering all the things and making time for night swims and ice cream.⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #handletteringartist #traversecity #northernmichigan #puremichigan #lgbtartist #michiganmuralist #michiganartist #artist #girlgetoutside #puremichigan #handlettering
On the count of three I dive in, head first.⁠ ⁠ As my body is enveloped by her cool waters, the sweet lady of the lake washes away the worries of the day.⁠ ⁠ She never judges.⁠ ⁠ And when I walk out I am better.⁠ ⁠ I'm Heather. A Traverse City, Michigan artist who draws and paints letters for a living. ⁠ ⁠ I am going to be in the water before you have your towel laid down and I am also going to be the first person you think of when you need something with words on it.⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #handletteringartist #fridayintroduction #summer #traversecity #puremichigan #lakelife #puremittigan #upnorth #michigan #northernmichigan #upnorthliving #ohwowyes #vsco #baylifemagazine
Look up from your phone for a second.⁠ ⁠ Notice someone else.⁠ ⁠ You aren't the only one here.⁠ ⁠ We get so wrapped up in our own shit that we don't notice other people.⁠ ⁠ We don't see that other people need us or that with the simplest action we can make some else's day brighter.⁠ ⁠ Yesterday an older lady stopped and touched my hair and said "Your hair is beautiful" It made my entire day.⁠ ⁠ Let this be our call to action. The world is bigger than us. ⁠ ⁠ Share some of the good vibes you've spread recently in the comments, so we can have a little library of good to pull ideas from when we need it.⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #spreadgoodvibes #goodvibes #handlettering #abmtravelbug #handletteredsuitcase #designspiration #thedailytype #goodtype @goodtype @away #vsco #handmadetype #moderncalligraphy #wanderlust #sheexplores #loveall #northernmichigan #traversecity #michiganartist #lettering #detroit #travelingram #moderncalligraphy ⁠ Photo: @ashleywierenga
Cheers to incredible birthday wishes, being looped in on the stunning photo gallery of a wedding my signage was at and getting all of the things checked off my to do list by Friday so I can scoot out of here for a while for family vacation!⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #wedding #weddingstyle #weddingsignage #northernmichigan #traversecity #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lgbtartist #puremichigan #vsco #charlevoix #leelanau #engaged #bride #weddingstyle
Today is my birthday!⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ As I reflect on another solid orbit around the sun, I can't help but feel all the feels.⠀⁠ ⁠ Intense feelings of pride, love and gratitude for a year full of growth and learning. Always learning.⁠ ⠀⁠ We've settled into our place.⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ I'm settling into my me-ness.⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Thirty-three has nodded in my direction on her way out the door this morning and said "Damn, girl, I see you! You're doing it!" ⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Thirty-four, here I am!⁠ ⁠ Forever grateful to have you all here to celebrate the good stuff and with through the hard stuff on the daily. ⁠ ⁠ XO H⠀⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #birthday #traversecity #northernmichigan #letteringartist #handletteringartist #lgbtartist #muralist #birthdaygirl #birthdayvibes #theeverygirl
Back in the studio today lettering on all the things and still daydreaming of this beautiful install @blkmrktcoffee during pride week!⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #loveall #northernmichigan #ladieswhopaint #lgbtartist #lgbtmuralist #michiganmuralist #michigan #mural #handlettering #ladieswholetter #handletteredtype #goodtype #windowart #windowmural #pride
I have spent a lot of time paying attention to my increasing ambivalence about flags during a time in our country that makes me feel overwrought at best.⁠ ⁠ The first, a rainbow flag that represents inclusion, equality, diversity, tolerance and justice. A flag that represents a group of people I feel loved and accepted by. A flag that represents a safe harbor and open arms.⁠ ⁠ And the other, a red, white and blue flag that in theory also represents those same things but seems to be stuck in a state of perpetual confusion as to who it supports.⁠ ⁠ Two flags that represent the same ideals, yet the difference between the two is that I don't question the motives behind someone waiving a rainbow flag.⁠ ⁠ On this fourth of July, let us remember that true devotion to your country does not show itself in a t-shirt emblazoned with a red, white and blue flag, or a home decorated in patriotic bunting. It shows itself in casting a ballot, attending a march, acknowledging and respecting our native and tribal lands, and supporting legislation that moves minority groups toward equality and inclusion.⁠ ⁠ And while I recognize the great privilege I am granted by being born in this country, I also recognize that with this privilege comes my responsibility to continue working toward the very qualities that our American flag represents, for everyone.⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #fourthofjuly #america #lgbt #americanflag #pride #northernmichigan #traversecity #pride365 #loveislove #equality #vote #july4th #july4 #independenceday #imissobama
Upon our first meeting, if I get the vibes that you're a good human, I'll want to be your friend. I mean, we aren't talking "inner circle, I'm disclosing my deepest darkest feelings" kind of friends. But definitely "I genuinely care about your well-being" friends. ⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ In my mind, there doesn't need to be a "getting to know you" phase or an awkward first couple of times that we hang out and test out our potential friendship. If you're a quality human, I'm coming in strong. ⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Friendship doesn't need to be difficult. There are no rules. Yet somehow I feel like as a society we've written friendship rules for adults.⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Lately I feel as if I'm setting myself up for failure in friendship because there is no tough screening process to be my friend. It would hurt less to pull back from people before I start feeling like I'm the only one investing in a new friendship. Not everyone loves as big as I do. Realizing that is tough. I've tried mentally to pull back and not care as much about connecting with every good human I interact with, but the potential of gaining a fellow good human in my corner is too hard to pass up. ⠀⁠ ⠀⁠ Despite my frustration, my desire to surround myself with good people always wins. This highly emotional head and heart run me and I proudly own every little bit of it.⁠ ⁠ So thankful to have crossed hearts and minds with @pattiegonia last month and when Wyn casually said "I took a photo in front of your wings. Let me air drop it to you." I knew in an instant we shared the same sense of good human-ness. ⁠ ⁠ #ampersandletteringlab #wearyourwingstc #downtowntc #pattiegonia #rei #friendshipgoals #goodhuman #lgbtartist #lgbtmuralist #northernmichigan #traversecity #pride #pride365 #loveislove #muralist #wingsmural #michiganartist #equality #dragqueen