The Wonderful World of Mandalas and The Little Alphabet Book of Hand-Lettered Type mini coloring books were illustrated by Mye De Leon.  Mye started designing when she opened her first scrapbook design shop in 2009 and spent more than 7 years designing products for memory keepers. Her passion for lettering though, started when she was in grade school. She learned brush and speedball lettering in highschool and has spent some time designing materials for screen printing for a family business. She put lettering aside when she pursued Engineering in College until 2014, when circumstances brought her back to her roots.

Mandalas is super intricate and mesmerizing to look at, while the Little Alphabet Book is super fun and cute.  We asked Mye a few questions about her work, just like we did with Sara Hopkins last week.  It's been so fun to get a closer look into the work of the artists of our coloring books.   

How did you get your start in design? 

It was after I gave birth to my twin daughters. I saw one of my former colleagues digital scrapbook pages and asked how it was done. I studied Photoshop and different scrapbook techniques and then started creating for a few designers. There was something lacking in the scrapbooking stores, so I started creating for myself. My love for patterns made me want to design scrapbook papers and from there, I started having my own product line. The rest is history. 

What kinds of ideas, places, or things inspire you?

Every little inspiration is an inspiration. Animals, rocks, leaves, people, places, and even little things have something in them that is unique and that I can draw inspiration from. I don't limit myself to something in particular. I keep an open mind and observe everything around me. I believe I've become more aware of my surroundings now more than ever.

What colors are you drawn to and why?

I love bright and vibrant colors because they make me very happy and that feeling resonates with all of my creations.

What projects are you working on right now?

Right now, I'm working on a book cover concept and I'm very excited about it. Hopefully, it makes the final round and I can see it as the official cover next year.

Aside from that, I'm working on some personal projects to help improve my skills. That's a very important thing for me.

You focus a lot on lettering, why are you drawn to it?

To be honest, had I known that I will end up with a career involving letters, I would have done this professionally a long time ago. It's not just that I am drawn to it - it is what makes me "ME'. I've been lettering since age 10 and stopped when I was in college to pursue Engineering. A long time passed before I rediscovered my love for letters. I have no regrets though. Every step I took was a part of who I am today.

 What are some of your favorite things to design other than lettering?

Patterns! I love surface pattern design too. That's probably why I have learned to love designing scrapbook products as well.

What do you do when you’re not designing?

I am super domesticated. I hang out with the kids at home, cook something, do the laundry. I'm a housewife and a mother when I am not in front of my pens and papers and my computer.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your work?

I love a variety of styles. I love evolving and I love growing. I always say, design is a continuous process of improvement. That is my mantra. I never stop learning and I always find something new that will help me improve my skills more.

Thank you Mye!  It was so fun to hear more about your work!