Maker Spotlight - and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to - Dear Darling Design Studio

An awesome creative calligrapher and creator of bespoke illustrations, who loves all things rainbow and holographic... meet Darra of Dear Darling Design Studio!

It's been way too long since we've featured a Maker Spotlight over here on the blog (to be fair, we might have a Crafts & Brews and MayFair Maker Market to thank for that haha)!! This week we are thrilled to get to share a little more about a phenomenal local artist - painter, stationery extraordinaire, and lover of all things rainbow and fun! Oh and did we mention that the timing is perfect?! Today is Darra's birthday!!!

We first fell in love with Dear Darling's wedding invites and seating cards on Instagram (of course) and have been totally impressed with the way she can make every color and holographic touches feel perfectly romantic and elegant (and maybe make us want to plan our weddings again?!!)

We are so happy to be sharing a bit more about Darra's work today! Be sure to find her on Instagram HERE  and HERE, and read on to find out who her first favorite artist inspiration was ;)

Happy birthday, Darra!!





About Your Work

Whatcha workin' on right now? Adding stationery to my business. I wanted to add more of my personal art style into my wedding work! I had to figure out how to use the equipment I already had in a new way. I thought it would be hard to figure out how to add foiling, to print on handmade paper etc but it worked out easier than I thought! It came super naturally!

Any parts of this work that are extra challenging? Figuring out how to use the equipment in new ways. Everything I’m trying to do is really unique so there aren’t any tutorials on it!


What makes you happiest about this project? I used to get really upset every wedding season that my personal art fell to the wayside. This way I get to add more of my touch! Do more painting etc.



Tell Us A Little About You!


Outside of creating, what is something you love to do? Hah this is hard. Really Creating is my whole life, other than my son! If I’m not working on something that business related I love being able to paint for fun. I love taking my son to the park and spending time outdoors with him! Also thrifting 😍


What first inspired you to be a maker? I’ ve always been creative! I had an art teacher in 9th grade that told me that I had a gift and had to follow it. She forced me to be in her class the next year haha. But, Lisa Frank was my first artistic inspiration and still has a huge influence on my personal work.



Speed date round: What’s your favorite color, food, and animal?

Color: Rainbow 🌈🌈 hah I love anything holographic as well. But if I had to pick one color it would be opera pink.

Food:  Fajitas! 😜😜😜

Animal: Koala bears 🐨


What do you love most about your craft?  Watercolor. I love the textures, the organic shapes it makes, the paper. I could go on and on.

What's next for you and your business? Any goals you want to put into the universe?  I want to create a whole line of wedding invitation suites and start doing more of that!



How can people follow you?

Instagram@deardarlingdesignstudio  & @deardarlingweddings

Web: Deardarlingdesigns.com



Meet the Authors

When Marlayna isn't diving into BaM projects, she's also a wedding photographer, and the photographer at UMBC! When she's not photographing, she loves to kick back and relax with her husband Adam and their two cats Zoe and Annie! And when they're not at home, they love to travel and try new beers, cocktails, and of course, delicious food!
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