"Who knew being a Calligrapher is legit?"

After years of studying Architecture in UiTM, Shah Alam and finished in RGU, Scotland together with my husband, we both knew we weren't cut out for the overtime job requirement. Having had a lifelong dream of being a soccer mom, I decided to do exactly just that!

It was not until we had our third child, when I decided to help out with the household (*cough* and also my *cough*) income. I knew I wanted to start something, while still being able to stay-at-home with the kids. Back then, Calligraphy was on the rise with all 'em fancy brush pens. And since I already had some basics in Islamic Calligraphy, how hard could it be, right?

But oh boy, yes it could. Having to juggle between learning and practicing the new art (which might only make up for 10% from everything); marketing which meant curating contents (and figuring out captions) for social medias; connecting and collaborating with so many other artists (which also meant a lot of "working for exposure", iykyk); actually doing the commissioned works; being my own Finance Manager; on top of babysitting all the kids (phew!), this freelance job had basically sucked up whatever youth and energy I had. I now have all those sleepless nights to blame for my now permanent eyebags. Funny enough, that I had failed to escape working overtime anyway.

Fast forward to two more kids later, I am still doing what I love. Of course, I would never have made it through without my family's undying support.  Thank God for all the blessings and opportunities I've had over the years, and for having trusting and supportive clients, without which I wouldn't have made it this far. And it would mean the world to me if I can carry on doing this for me, and my family, for as long as I could.

xoxo,
Shatila S.