Who knew being a Calligrapher is legit?
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After years of studying Architecture at UiTM in Shah Alam and completing my degree in RGU, Scotland, alongside my husband, we came to a beautiful realization: the 9-to-5 grind, the late nights, and the constant overtime weren’t meant for us. We longed for something simpler, something with more time together. And me? I had always dreamed of being a soccer mom — a life full of laughter, family, and more freedom. So, I made that dream my reality.
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But it wasn’t until we had our third child that the spark of creativity truly lit. I knew I wanted to contribute more to the household (and also to my personal pocket), but most importantly, I wanted to do something of my own. I wanted a career I could pour my heart into while still being present for my children. Back then, calligraphy was on the rise, with those magical brush pens making everything look so effortless. And since I already had a bit of experience in Islamic calligraphy, I thought, “How hard could it be, right?”

Oh, but it was hard — more than I could have ever imagined. The learning curve, the practice (which was only 10% of the effort), the endless hours spent curating content and figuring out captions for social media, connecting with artists (and let’s not forget the many “working for exposure” moments, if you know what I mean), diving into commissioned work, managing my own finances... and then, of course, juggling the little ones at home. Whew! It felt as though the energy I once had slipped away, leaving behind only a trail of sleepless nights. Now, those permanent under-eye bags are my little reminder of how hard I’ve worked.

And yet, somehow, through it all, I found myself thriving. Fast forward to three more beautiful children, and here I am, still doing what I love. I could never have made it this far without the unwavering support of my family. I thank God every day for the blessings, for the opportunities that have come my way, and for the trust and encouragement from my industry friends and clients — without them, none of this would be possible. It’s an absolute privilege to continue this journey, not just for myself, but for my family, and I will carry on, as long as I can, chasing my passion with a heart full of gratitude.

xoxo,
Shatila S.



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