'When we write, we remember.' Encouraging human souls to experience something good every day is the objective of Leah Spiros, calligrapher, engraver, painter, event artist and owner of Wrapped + Written.
Through her St. Louis-based company, she designs and makes commemorative goods that recipients keep to enhance their spaces while sparking smiles at each glance.
"As far back as I remember, I've loved words. Beautifully written words. My mom had the most lovely, consistent cursive, and her mom had distinct handwriting. I also remember being gifted a book on the poet Phyllis Wheatley. I was so inspired by her use of quill and inkwell, and the gorgeous samples of her writing. For my 9th or 10th birthday, my parents bought me a set of calligraphy pens, pretty papers and a portable office carrying case. I thought I'd arrived! However, as much as I loved to dream, create, read and write, I never knew or thought of it as a career until much later in my adult life," she recalls.
Then, nothing glass or metal was safe: "If I found it, it got engraved!"
Leah's services span calligraphy, hand engraving and product painting. She also can be booked to create these services for private commissions, brand activations and onsite events for luxury retail.
"I love creating one-of-a-kind, handmade statement pieces, and work with a variety of fine art mediums to create custom, bespoke luxury gifting for businesses, individuals and events," she explains. "Wrapped + Written has now been in business for six years. It's both humbling and exciting to look back at where I began and see where I am now. I've learned a ton, and there’s still so much more to learn, I'm looking forward to it."
Leah also assists others with tapping into their unique talents by conducting calligraphy workshop happy hours. She's also done hand-painted ornaments, personalized lemons as place cards, monogrammed leather tags and engraved tumblers for both commissions and special events, such as “Stanley Saturday” at The Vault Luxury Resale.
Examples of items she can monogram or engrave: leather bags/clutches/wallets, crystal, wine/alcohol/spirit/fragrance bottles, glassware, keepsake boxes, vases, envelopes, watches and awards/diplomas/certificates.
"I help people elevate their gift giving. Bespoke gifting goes beyond the name; everything about it captures something specific to recipients. Those gifts speak volumes," asserts Leah.
A few of her favorite created pieces are a hand-engraved song on a whiskey bottle; a bottle with a 360-degree hand-painted design with St. Louis toile background; and “snow globe” bar menus for a winter wonderland-themed event.