Meet Dana Coleman | Hand Lettering Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I first graduated high school, I was the classic teenager who didn’t know what I wanted to pursue or if I should get a college degree or not. But I knew that my greatest desire was to one day be a wife and a mother, with the flexibility and set up to be able to stay at home with my children. So with that vision, I decided to take a skill that I had spent several years developing — hand lettering — and turn it into an online business that could be fully managed from home and on my own schedule. It has been quite a journey of growth since then, and though there have been many challenges that I have had to overcome in being an entrepreneur, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I am so grateful for the opportunity to work from home, and I love being able to use my creativity not only as a means of income, but more importantly, to make a difference in the lives of others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began my business in September of 2019, and at the time, I had no idea how to run a business, I had never made a social media post in my entire life (what on earth was a hashtag?), I didn’t have my own website, and I had only two products that I was launching my Etsy shop with.

Bella Marketplace started very small — with a few online followers, several orders from sweet, local friends, and not much of a business plan.

As I experimented with different products and designs over those following years, my vision and purpose in my business became more defined, and my passion for the things I was creating grew exponentially.

I started researching all kinds of business-related topics, trying out new ideas, and asking questions of people who were further along in their business-journey than I was.

I’ve found that the people who grow the most in their life ventures aren’t because they have all the necessary skills in and of themselves. They’re the ones who exercise their gifts and talents, but then know how to seek advice and help from others who are strong in the areas they are weak in. And that lesson has been absolutely crucial in getting me to where I am today in my business.

I had no idea how to build a website — but I have a brother who does. I didn’t know how to handle accounting — but I have a friend who is skilled in that area and had set that process up for her small business and was willing to teach me too. Never be afraid to ask for help — reach out to people who are willing to share their knowledge, exchange skills with them, and buy them a coffee. You will grow leaps and bounds beyond where you could get on your own!

As I acquired new skill sets, I launched my own website, started partnering with local businesses to sell wholesale in their boutiques + coffee shops, and I delved into the realm of markets. I had no idea back in 2019 just how many sweet people I would have the privilege of meeting through my business, and it has by far been one of my favorite parts of this whole journey!

Beauty + Truth — the two words that mark and define Bella Marketplace. I have a love for all things elegant, feminine, and beautiful, and a deep passion for truth. My life has been so affected and changed by Jesus Christ, that I cannot help but share about who He is through what I create. Scripture is a central part of my artwork because I believe that what we place in front of our eyes directly affects our mindset, which in turn, directly affects our actions. And I have experienced first hand the power of surrounding myself with the word of God all throughout my home.

My desire is to use my creative skills to letter designs on everyday products — such as drink ware and home decor prints — to provide reminders of truth all around people’s homes. In a world that is so broken, it is essential that we place things in front of our eyes on a daily basis that are uplifting, full of truth, and will remind us of the hope that we have in Jesus.

Whether you’re looking to add a touch of beauty and truth to your own home, or wanting to find an encouraging gift for a friend or family member, I hope you’ll find the perfect item right there at Bella Marketplace.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am all about downtown areas and finding the best coffee shops and cutest local stores! If I were to spend a day walking around with a friend who was visiting, I would take them to Old Town Fort Collins, browse a few of my favorite boutiques — Sunday Supply being at the top! — walk the Old Town Square, listen to street performers, try our hand at the pianos located around town for people to play, and grab a fun drink at Lima Coffee (I recommend their turmeric latte!). I highly recommend Lucille’s for the cutest brunch spot — located in a quaint yellow home and serving fresh Creole food all morning, eating there is such a fun experience. And it’s right across from the Lincoln Center, which is always showcasing incredibly talented musicians and exciting plays and musicals on their stage!

For a quieter atmosphere, but still located in Fort Collins, Jessup Farms is one of my favorite places. The farmhouse aesthetic is so charming, Bindle Coffee never disappoints, and Josh and John’s ice cream shop has a home there (need I say more? 😉

After a day or two of acclimating to the altitude, I would take a friend for a drive in the mountains, explore the downtown streets in Estes Park, and bring a picnic lunch to Alluvial Fan — one of my favorite mountain-water areas in Rocky Mountain National Park, either to hike or just enjoy the river!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so thankful for my amazing mom — the one who guided me through those uncertain post-high school years and encouraged me to take a skill that I loved to create a business that could support my future vision of working from home. Though I’ve always been a creative at heart, the business-side of life has never come naturally to me, so that has been a realm that I have learned to navigate very slowly over the last handful of years. I am SO grateful for sweet friends of mine and my older brother who have strengths in areas of business that I don’t know much about, and who have been willing to sit down and share their wealth of knowledge with me. I couldn’t have made it this far without them!

Website: https://thebellamarketplace.com

Instagram: @bellamarketplace

Facebook: @bellamarketplace

Image Credits
Rima Pshichenko — Rima’s Photography (she took the first + last photo, from our branding session…all other photos are taken by me)