Daily Inspiration: Meet Marie Button

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Button.

Hi Marie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Towards the end of 2019, I made the choice to return to school to get my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Art Therapy. I was teaching second grade at a school I loved, but I knew there was more that I wanted to do for my students. I have my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, and I had found that the impact I hoped to make in kiddos’ lives was in the social, emotional space. I also knew I wanted to change the conversation surrounding mental health in my own community online and here in Colorado Springs. In 2020, after teaching online for five months, I decided to quit my job as a teacher and start an online product shop focused on mental health awareness. The goal was to put good vibes out into the world while I went back to school.

It started as a small batch online shop, with mugs and paper products displaying important messages. My love for mental health advocacy has only grown, and so has this business. By fall of last year, I moved into a beautiful co-op here in Colorado Springs, called Eclectic OCC. They were opening a second location and I would be able to reach more of the local community. Eclectic is comprised of a fantastic group of creators, fair traders, small business owners, and artists. I get to work with other local business owners every time I step in the shop, and I am lucky to be a part of such a great community. So, now I have my online shop for Button Designs, and a small little space in Eclectic OCC.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle has been keeping up with social media, marketing, and the always-changing online world. I went from teaching second grade math, to checking in on Instagram analytics and tracking my follower count. I think that social media can really take a toll on mental health in itself. Since I’m trying to promote taking care of you, having raw conversations, and advocating ending the stigma, it has been hard balancing my own self-care with success in the social media space. I am still figuring it out, and learning as I go.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in hand-lettering, calligraphy, simple line drawings, and faceless digital portraits. When it comes to handwriting, I was always obsessed. I would even change my handwriting from one school year to the next, because I found typography to be so beautiful. It says a lot about your personality–the way you write. I love hand-lettering so much. I was known in college for writing posters for folks, creating prints of funny or inappropriate song lyrics, or just helping people with presentations. Of course now, I’m still known for my handwriting, but it’s more than that. I’m known for putting my handwriting on stickers, mugs, cards, and prints. I am most proud of the fact that I am able to create beautiful things like my Dad always has.

He inspires me a lot, being that he’s a talented artist and he cares about people. I am mostly just proud that we share a love of art and I have taken after him in a small way. I think what sets me apart is what I use my handwriting for. I don’t just write things in pretty lettering anymore–while that was fun in my younger days. I design things that mean something in the mental health world. Each mug that has my hand-lettering on it, can serve as a reminder to someone that they are loved, important, valued, and that they matter so much.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am not the most tech-savvy person, but Lightroom is super helpful when it comes to posting streamlined content on social media. I have a few presets I use on the app to help with my work. I also highly recommend Procreate for iPad to anyone who wants to get started in hand-lettering/digital design. The two podcasts I listen to the most have absolutely nothing to do with work or business, but they bring me down to earth, make me laugh, and remind me of my “why” which mental health advocacy is. The podcasts are Chatty Broads, and My Favorite Murder. Both have raw and open dialogue surround mental health, and other important topics, that have given me a lot of inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Email: mariebuttondesigns@gmail.com
• Website: www.mariebuttondesigns.com
• Instagram: @buttondesigns_
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Button-Designs-10413681176239/
• Other: https://shopeclecticco.com/

Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography