Rising Stars: Meet Morgan Sandell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Sandell.

Hi Morgan, 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 backstories with our readers?
Like many other stationer stories, my journey began in 2017 when one of my college friends asked me to design her wedding invitations. I had just graduated college at the time with a BA in graphic design and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I picked up every mundane graphic design job I could find until I had an epiphany: Do I really love designing logos for every type of job and brand and every kind of market?

The design world is infinite and broad and I just wanted to find a niche that felt like me and fit my style. I wanted my work to have meaning on a deeper level. It was at that moment when creating my friend’s invitations that I knew I had found the magical “it” I’d been longing to discover.

Cut to today, I’ve had the utmost pleasure crafting wedding stationery for couples worldwide from my Kansas City home. I recently quit my full-time corporate artist position that I had since 2017 to pursue my dream full-time. It was a lot of hard work but I am so proud of how far I’ve come and where I’m at now.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not going to lie, it’s been a wild roller coaster of imposter syndrome, fear, and comparison. I struggled with anything and everything you could possibly go through mentally and there have been so many times when I wanted to give up. I would tell myself that if I just quit, the struggles and stress would stop. Social media didn’t make it any better.

In the very beginning days of my business, I would scroll and scroll to see how others would do things and just soak it all up like a sponge. I didn’t know how to do anything at the time so that was my way of figuring it all out on my own. I went through and tried to find every free resource, download, and podcast to learn how I could get a better workflow, where to source proper materials, how others set up their websites, etc. As helpful as it was, I think I started simultaneously comparing myself to others’ work and where they were at in life and in their career. It slowly started eating away at my confidence.

I even started hating my own work because it wasn’t like theirs. I was losing my authenticity. On top of all this, I had a full-time job so there was no time to get any projects done. Aka, I pretty much had no social life. It has taken me years to work through this and I’m not perfect but I can finally say I am on a better path today. After quitting my full-time job, I have so much more time to get things done and I can focus my time and energy on the thing I love.

Something that also helped was muting every single stationer I follow on Instagram. This feature is amazing and highly recommend it. It has been the key to my sanity!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Consider me your go-to girl for fine art calligraphy and wedding stationery as well as opulent branding for fine art wedding vendors. Design that has it all: Old World opulence, feminine touches, and Paris-worthy romance.

It’s these delicate touches and craftsmanship that come together to create exceptional heirlooms and timeless brands. I pride myself in getting to know my client’s story and merging that with all the luxurious paper goods: foil, handmade paper, silk ribbons, and wax seals.

What do you think about luck?
When looking back, I feel like I was pretty much on autopilot most of my life. I went through the motions all throughout public school and college just taking one step after the next to get to the end goal of having a “typical life” everyone is supposed to have.

I’m thankful to say that luck has been on my side most of my life but it wasn’t until after college when it really hit me that I was the one that had to take control of my life. My life wasn’t dictated by my parents or school anymore. I had to do the work to find that next step, it wasn’t going to come to me.

At the same time, I got my corporate job, I discovered my love for stationery. I don’t think I’ve necessarily had bad luck in my life, just learning curves. I needed to go through certain things in order to grow personally and within my career.

Pricing:

• Pricing is custom to every client but stationery can range from $3000-$8000+
• Branding packages are $1400 or $1750+

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@morganrileydesign.com
• Website: https://morganrileydesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganrileydesign/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/morganrileydesign/

Image Credits
Jenny Shipley Photography and Victorian Gardens