Coffee Date with Molly Jacques

From designing gorgeous fonts for Great Lakes Lettering to leading calligraphy workshops across the country and working with large names like Nike and Martha Stewart Weddings, Molly Jacques is one busy lady. She would humbly tell you that a large part of her success is by chance, but the proof is in her stunning portfolio. This twenty-something entrepreneur has a crazy amount of talent and after admiring her gorgeous calligraphy and illustration for years (and nearly fainting when I realized that she had been following along with me on Instagram), I was thrilled when she accepted my invitation for an Elle & Company Coffee Date.

It isn't every day that I get to have a Q&A with one of my favorite people in the design field. So today I'm pretending that I'm in Molly's studio, joining her for a nuked cup of coffee and chatting about life, design, and pug drifting (you'll see what I mean). You can join us, too. Meet Molly Jacques! 

What's in your coffee mug this morning?

Coffee, as always =)

What does a normal day-in-the-life of Molly Jacques look like?

A normal day for me usually looks a little like this...

7 AM : Wake up, coffee, take the pups for a long walk and give them a bit of attention. Spend a bit of time with my husband over breakfast discussing what we're doing that day.

8:30 (or) 9ish AM : Walk into my home office and open up my emails. Get back to clients that I'm working with on what WIP will be sent along that day.

9 AM - 12 PM : Work time. I can be found huddled over my sketchbook, scanner, or (a recent purchase) my cintiq companion.

12 PM : Lunch time! Luckily, I work from home so I just head on over to the kitchen and whip something yummy up. This usually involves nuking a cup of coffee from the morning coffee pot. (Let nothing go to waste!)

12 PM - 6 PM : More sketching, revising projects with clients, back and forth via emails, all that fun stuff. My puppies keeping me company all the while.

6 PM - 11 PM : This time is spent differently every single day. Exercise, spend time with friends, eat dinner, walk the pups, brainstorm side projects. Then, bed time!

In design school, I struggled to embrace my own design style. Have you had a similar experience? What advice do you have for other creative ladies about embracing your own individual design aesthetic?

Wow, YES! Design school is such a funny time. I remember always being on this emotional roller-coaster. Entering design competitions, never winning anything, seeing my friends flourish in their illustration skills and their so-called "voice". It was a constant battle of always comparing my work to my peers and always feeling sub-par or lacking vision. Fast forward four years later and now I realize that was TOTALLY normal and exactly what art school is all about. It takes time and patience and perseverance to start to create a visual voice and design aesthetic. Sometimes it comes more quickly to some than others. I feel like I'm just now starting to embrace my individual design aesthetic. It's funny - art school is an amazing community of artists all sharing one space but I think sometimes one's most honest work comes from spending a good chunk of time being alone without the temptation of comparison. 

My advice for other creative ladies is to be patient and gentle with yourself. Realize that you need time to discover your voice and aesthetic and that's okay. Just make sure you put in the work time - or else it will never happen!

What is one thing people might never guess about you?

I'm a total introvert. 100% full blooded. So much so that sometimes I'll go weeks without seeing someone else besides my puppies and husband (ha!). Traveling and teaching flexes my "people skills" muscles - if I didn't teach, I would probably be a hermit.

You were able to turn your passion for art and calligraphy into a successful business at the age of 24. What do you attribute most to your success and what advice do you have for other young, creative entrepreneurs?

First off, let me say how thankful I am to have a job that I sincerely love. Generation Y-ers are constantly seeking their "dream jobs" in hopes of truly enjoying getting up and going to work each day and rejecting what used to be considered a normal job. I'm beyond thankful that I get to do just that. I don't take it for granted (believe me!).

I attribute my success to a variety of things. First - luck (OR divine planning). I was at the right place at the right time. Secondly, authentic love for what I do and human beings. I know, that's kinda taking it far, but bear with me. My love for what I do has driven me to work crazy hard and master a skill set. Without that love for my craft - I never would have put in this many hard hours of practice and dedication. My cousin once told me: "Ya gotta kinda wanna". Great words of advice =)

Moreover, my love for human beings. This is really important. Because I'm an introvert (as I mentioned before) I find that I'm more fulfilled when I have meaningful relationships with people. I'm terrible at small talk and making "acquaintances". When I work with clients or try to reach out to the design community with ideas, I'm always keeping in mind how I can genuinely connect with people at a deeper level. Ultimately, I think this has worked in my favor in building a community around my little brand.

Lastly, I think the fact that I'm always pushing myself to be better and different plays a large role.

In the words of Marty Neumeier: "Don't offer more - offer different". 

Your husband is also an artist. How did you two meet? (And on a scale of 1-10, how good is his calligraphy?)

HA! Cody is terrible at calligraphy (sorry Cody!). If he had an interest in it, I know he would be great at it. I always ask him if he wants to sit in on a calligraphy workshop but I think he just isn't that interested. Which is totally ok - he's amazing at his own craft.

Cody and I met while earning our undergrad degree at College for Creative Studies here in Detroit. He was always an amazing painter during those years and after graduating in the top of our class, he went on to earn his MFA from Kendall College of Art and Design. He now paints full time and teaches two classes at our Alma Mater CCS.

And just for fun, do you have any dog shaming photos and/or recent funny stories of Fievel and Dakota?

Oh dear - our dogs are crazy. We don't have kids yet so we're ridiculously obsessed with our puppies.

Fievel is a pug and Dakota is a golden retriever so the match in breed alone is hilarious (they're BFFs). Cody and I just bought a new house and it has these beautiful wooden floors throughout. For any dog owners who have wood floors in their house - you know how dogs slip and slide like crazy? It's double over here.

Anyways - anyone who owns a pug knows that they get these weird bursts of energy and just like to freak out for a while and then sleep for the rest of the day. I don't even know where he gets his crazy energy but it's hilarious because he sprints around our hardwood floors and drifts corners while snorting like a fully grown pig. When I say drifting - yes, like Fast and Furious.

Needless to say - they keep us entertained.

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Follow along with Molly

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Follow along with Fievel and Dakota on Instagram, too.

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Recent Coffee Dates

How I Stay Organized (and new Library additions!)

Staying organized has been one of my greatest challenges since making the leap to full-time entrepreneurship. In order to juggle multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work in a timely manner, I learned very quickly that I needed a system.

This summer I started to take more advantage of my own Daybook products and I've been putting them to use everyday. My Daybook binder has been extremely helpful for keeping up with client information, tasks, and projects. I have a section for my weekly planner, a section for home worksheets (like my Menu Planner and Cleaning Checklist), a section for the Elle & Company blog, and a section for each one of my branding clients.

I'm a big fan of my pretty blue Martha Stewart binder and colorful tabs. You too? You can find them at Staples in the Martha Stewart section along with more pretty office supplies. 

At the beginning of each day, I pull out my Day Planner and list out all of the day's priorities, to-dos, and appointments. At the start of each week, I list tasks in my weekly To-Do List so that I have a good idea of what needs to get done and when. And at the start of each month I write down blog post ideas using my Brainstorm sheet and schedule them into my Blog Calendar. When a client sends me their contract, I give it a 3-hole-punch and add it into my client section along with their timeline, Client Detail sheet, and Project Planner worksheet. I've developed my own little system by picking and choosing the Elle & Company worksheets that work best for me.

Having everything all in one place has made organization easier, especially when I need to take my binder on-the-go for a client meeting or a workday at the coffee shop. I'm able to run my business (and my life) more efficiently when I have a well-organized system for keeping everything in order. The Daybook binder is a one-stop-shop for me.

Whether you're a mom, a student, a business woman, or maybe all of the above, I know that life can be crazy for you, too. It helps to have a system in place to keep life organized, so I've added the 3 best-selling Daybook worksheets to the Elle & Company Library to help you start a "one-stop-shop" for your schedule like I have. 

The Day Planner is helpful for planning out your daily schedule, listing and ordering priorities, and keeping track of tasks. 

The Project Planner worksheet is a great blueprint for outlining important deadlines, action steps, and time estimates for students, moms, and business women alike. 

The Client Detail Sheet makes keeping up with client information a breeze by displaying contact details, payments, and meeting notes all on one page.

In addition to the 3 worksheets above, the Library is stocked with 10 more helpful Daybook inserts:

Elle & Company Library subscribers have unlimited access to these worksheets and all of the other printable paper goods that are filling up our collection, including art prints, cards, gift tags, resume templates, and more. And for $6.99 a month and the ability to cancel at any time, it's a steal! Would you like to try it out? Click here for more information or click the link below to subscribe to our growing collection of printable paper goods!

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Recent Library Additions

My Instagram Philosophy

I'm a huge fan of Instagram. I love following along with friends, keeping up with some of my favorite creative ladies, and sharing bits and pieces of my life through photos. Instagram gives me the opportunity to share about Elle & Company and connect with people I may not have met otherwise. It's just fun.

Sometimes it can be tricky striking a balance between business and personal posts in the midst of it all. There are a million different articles out there about how you can use your Instagram account to gain more followers, sell more products, and create a loyal following. There are tips and tricks on which filters and settings you should use, how to set up the perfect shot, and yes, even how to take the perfect selfie.

But one of my favorite things about Instagram is that everyone can use it a little differently. There's no right or wrong way to go about posting photos and sharing life; everyone has their own spin on this social media outlet. It's truly what works for you. So I've come up with my own Instagram philosophy, a few simple things I try to stick to as I'm posting about life, business and everything in between.

Get creative. 

Instagram is another creative outlet for me, a "sketchbook" for my photos. It's an opportunity to share my view behind the lens and capture pretty things. So yes, I just might style my desk for a shot or move near a window to improve the lighting in a photo. It's fun to experiment and get creative with my camera phone, even if it is a picture of my little fake succulent, my coffee cup, and my Bible. The artsy designer in me just can't resist.

Be social.

After all, it is called social media. I try my hardest to respond to comments and interact with the people I follow along with. Jake and I are very much people-people; we love hanging out in large groups and making new friends. In-person interaction is a little different than connecting over social media, but I still like to start conversations, network, and reach out to people. 

Stay positive. 

Positivity and thankfulness are contagious, but so is negativity. While I never want to be fake or inauthentic over social media, I do want to be cautious of sharing my problems and frustrations with the world. I like to stay positive and see posts as an opportunity to share joy and thankfulness. 

Don't stress.

Some days I just don't have anything to post about and other days I have 10 photos to share. While the type-A planner in me loves consistency, I don't like scrambling just to come up with an Instagram post. I'll share as I have content and take a break here and there when I need it. When it becomes another business task or a chore, I miss out on the whole reason I created an Instagram account in the first place. Which leads me to the last part of my Instagram philosophy...

Have fun.

It's easy to get wrapped up in numbers. It's nice to gain a following, especially when my income depends on my business. But for me, likes and follows aren't the main purpose of this social media outlet. I started using Instagram because it was fun and I'll continue to use it because it's fun. 

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What's your Instagram philosophy? What do you love most about this social media outlet and how do you stay sane in the midst of likes and follows? For all you creative business ladies and bloggers out there, I would love to hear how you try to bridge the gap between personal and business-related posts, too.

Weekly Truth - Beatitudes Week 1

I've been slowly inching through the book of Matthew in my quiet time lately, learning more about Jesus and his ministry on earth. Last week I read through the beatitudes, a group of pronouncements where Jesus calls certain people blessed. "Blessed are the poor in spirit... blessed are those who mourn... blessed are the meek... blessed are the pure in heart..." I've heard those 8 verses and I've read over them a number of times, but for some reason I keep coming back to them when I open my Bible each morning. I feel the need to study them more.

So for the next 8 weeks I'm highlighting the beatitudes in this Weekly Truth series. Each week I'll focus on a different verse, study the significance behind it, and memorize it with the help of a new phone wallpaper and the Scripture cards I've been adding to the Library. I haven't done a series like this on the blog before, but I'm excited to dig into God's Word and unpack it's implications for how we live each day. I would love for you to join me.

The Beatitudes, Week 1

We are told it's good to believe in ourselves. They say that we already have what it takes to achieve our dreams, conquer our fears, and overcome our obstacles. When we're down or discouraged, the world encourages us to "believe in ourselves and we will find the strength we need to accomplish our goals." And it sounds good to our already self-seeking hearts, so we strive to become even more self-sufficient. We shape our lives around this pursuit of self-reliance, self-determination, self-confidence, and self-esteem hoping to find joy and satisfaction. 

We've struggled with this religion of self-admiration since the beginning when Adam and Eve sought their own independence. It's the human condition, our selfish tendency, and the reason that following Christ is a stumbling block to so many. Our sinful hearts don't want to replace self-reliance with the childlike God-reliance that Jesus calls us to. Our pride would rather celebrate our strengths than boast in our weaknesses. And self-determination is easier to pursue than humble submission to Christ.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by calling the poor in spirit blessed. Examples of the poor in spirit are seen all throughout Scripture:

• "Abraham answered and said, 'Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes." Genesis 18:27
• "'I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for only with my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.'" Genesis 32:10
• "And I said, 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'" Isaiah 6:5
• "John answered them, 'I baptize you with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.'" John 1:27
• "But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'" Luke 5:8

The poor in spirit are those who know who they are in light of who God is. They see their unworthiness and their hopelessness apart from Him. They acknowledge their wicked ways in light of God's perfection. And they understand their need for a Redeemer to restore the relationship that they've ruined with God. Oh what a stark contrast to the self-reliance and self-confidence that the world prescribes as the answer to all of our problems!

So what is the true solution when we're paralyzed by guilt, uselessness, or low self-esteem? Jon Piper says it wonderfully:

"The biblical answer to the paralysis of low self-esteem is not high self-esteem; it is sovereign grace. You can test whether you agree with this by whether you can gladly repeat the words of Isaiah 41:14, 'Fear not, you worm Jacob... I will help you, says the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.' In other words, God's way of freeing and mobilizing people who see themselves as worms is not to tell them they are beautiful butterflies but rather to say, "I will help you. I am your redeemer... Go to Egypt now, and I will be with you."

As easy as it is to buy into the self-seeking advice of the world, my prayer is that we would acknowledge our helplessness and draw near to Jesus this week.

Are you an Elle & Company Library subscriber? This week's Scripture cards were just added to the printable collection. Would you like to subscribe to the Elle & Company Library? Click here to set up your account today!

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Each week I design a new iPhone background with a different verse and share it on the blog. Seeing Scripture several times throughout my day reminds me of truth, strengthens my faith, and helps me me memorize God's Word so I can accurately share it with others. Feel free to download, pin, and share these backgrounds as many times as you would like!

Monday's Letters

Dear Mr. Hooker, every time I have a small victory or a happy surprise, "cha-ching" is my first verbal response. You've teased me about this phrase for years and made me feel like a dork, but this morning you had a change of heart and encouraged me to use it as a "trademark hashtag." One small step for you, one giant success for me. #chaching

Dear Mom, I remember being so surprised to see you and Dad crying as the nurses wheeled my little 5-year-old body back to the operating room to remove my pesky tonsils. Last week we took your new grand-kitty to get spayed, and the experience helped me understand your tears. Okay, so cats are a little different than children, and I didn't get teary-eyed, but the poor thing was pretty pitiful. Thankfully, like me, she quickly returned to her normal spunky self. 

Dear Allyson, our houses have gone from being 3 minutes up the road to 3 hours away this past year. I miss knowing your close and randomly stopping by talk to you and steal hugs from my nieces and nephews, but the times that I do see you are even more special. Speaking of, are you free this upcoming Saturday afternoon? We just might be making a quick trip in ;)

Dear Jake, so often I look forward to big events in life, but these past two years of marriage have taught me to soak up the small, day-to-day moments in between. This weekend was quiet - a Saturday morning coffee date, a walk around our neighborhood, a tag-teamed cleaning spree around the Suite - but it was just what my busy heart needed. I'm blessed to spend all of life's moments, both big and small, with you.

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Happy Monday! Do you think my use of "cha-ching" is dorky? What's your signature phrase? And for all of you pet-people out there, please make me feel a little less ridiculous by sharing some pet-parenting moments. Thanks in advance :)

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Recent Letters

Each Monday I write four letters: two letters to my husband and two random letters to whatever else is on my heart each week. What originally started as a fun way to record events and funny stories pleasantly developed into a weekly habit of practicing thankfulness.