We are so excited to give you a larger introduction to Amanda Krovic. Her cards have made their way into our boxes a few times, and we love all things Amanda Krovic Designs! Read our interview with her about work and motherhood.

Tell us a little about your company. How did you get started lettering?

I’m the artist and calligrapher behind Amanda Krovic Design – a full-service lettering shop selling paper goods and providing lettering work for weddings, events, and logo design for small brands. I’ve always had a love for handwriting since I was young, but it wasn’t until I began planning my own wedding that I decided to try out my skill in calligraphy.  After taking a few local classes and hand lettering my own wedding envelopes and signage, something clicked inside of me and I developed a passion for the art. From there, a few friends hired me on for their weddings, and the business just blossomed from there very organically.

What are your favorite items to create?

There is something so special about good old fashioned snail mail, so I will always have a heart for designing hand lettered cards. But I also love to see where my art prints land, many of which I’ve seen framed on walls next to wedding and newborn photos, and that just makes my heart flutter!

Tell us a bit about your motherhood journey as a working creative. What are some of the highlights? What about the tough parts?

My motherhood journey as a working creative has always stemmed from balance. Aside from staying home full-time to care for my daughter, my creative work runs on a part-time schedule that ebbs and flows depending on the season (Spring and Fall are my busy seasons for weddings). While we attempt a routine most days, we all know that life with a baby or toddler can change at any second. Some days are harder than others, when a fussy baby and no nap comes into play, which leave me barely any time to respond to an email. The highlight is being able to be present at home during these early years in my daughter’s life. Being able to catch all of the milestones has been such a blessing. The tough side is knowing that each day can be vastly different and you can’t have a set schedule for work flow. My projects either get done during nap time or once Faire is in bed at night, but then that also cuts into time between my husband and I when he gets home from work. So it’s just learning to balance it all, which I know I’ll likely be figuring out said balance for the next two decades.

What was your favorite pregnancy self-care tip? Did you have any special things you did to feel most like yourself during that special time?

Having lived in New York City up until I was 38 weeks pregnant with my daughter, I never realized how much all of the daily walking (5-6 miles daily!) would benefit my pregnancy until postpartum. The walking, in combination with prenatal pilates, really helped keep the baby weight down and ultimately helped during labor and delivery.

I would certainly say some form of exercise is a great self-care tip. We are expecting baby #2 in early January and I’ve been enjoying barre classes this time around. The occasional pedicure and prenatal massage are also great ways to relax and pamper.

What are some of your must have baby items?

Realistically, this list could go on and on but I know how different every baby can be, and what works for one may not work for another. Here are the top items that became such lifesavers for us in those early days and I anxiously await to put them to use again in the New Year!

–DockATot: This magical pillow works wonders in the snooze department. It’s a comfortable and safe option for your baby to nap and it helped us with transitioning our daughter from the bassinet to the crib. Worth every penny!

-Nursing Cover: We loved our Covered Goods nursing cover, which also doubles as a car seat cover.

–Solly Baby Wrap: My favorite method of baby wearing in the newborn stage. Also, one of my favorite items to gift at baby showers!

–Gathre Mats: Beautiful bonded leather mats that are entirely wipeable and basically a necessity for all the messes. We love the micro size for quick diaper changes on the go, the midi size for a highchair mat, and the maxi for picnics at the beach or the park.

-A Good Rocker: I can’t stress this one enough. You will spend a great deal of time nursing and bonding with your new baby, so it’s worth investing in a rocker you can comfortably sit in for long periods of time. We ultimately went with the Nursery Works Sleepytime Rocker for both aesthetic and comfort factors, but also the weaving texture and color hides milk and spit ups.

How would you encourage other working mamas? What advice would you give to a new mama juggling motherhood and work starting out?

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I know I am extremely lucky to be in the position I am, being my own boss in a creative industry I love, with the ability to stay at home and raise my daughter. But it does have many rough days and the grass isn’t always greener (I promise, it’s more than just coffee shops and cute babies we see on Instagram!). I find it’s been helpful to stay as organized as possible to manage a healthy home and work-life balance. Keeping reminders and appointments both on my iPhone and a physical day planner have been key for this Type-A mama. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to say ‘NO.’ Learning to turn down opportunities more often has been the best thing for me in this new season, allowing me to slow down and soak up more precious moments with my tiny tribe.

Amanda Krovic

Lettering + Design
amandakrovic.com | @amandakrovic

All photo cred goes to Kaytee Lauren – www.kayteelauren.com.