Hi, I’m Janice and this is Hamletta Studios
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to follow your heart and passion. The grass is green where you water it.
Hello and welcome! I’m so excited to have you here at Hamletta Studios—my little corner of creativity where playful art with sassy art inspires joy, confidence, and intentional living.
This blog is my way of sharing not only my art but also the heart behind it. I believe in creating things that bring light into the world—whether it’s through colorful illustrations, playful designs, relatable doodles or thoughtful journaling prompts.
Who I Am
I’m Janice, an artist who’s always been drawn to creating things that live inside my head. But let me be real with you: life isn’t always neat and tidy (especially when I’m a homeschooling mom of two little kids!). I’ve faced my share of awkward moments, anxious thoughts, and creative roadblocks. Through it all, art has been my anchor—a way to express myself, overcome challenges, and connect with others.
Me, as Annie, imagining all the creative possibilities for Hamletta Studios
What Hamletta Studios Is All About
Hamletta Studios isn’t just about playful art—it’s a celebration of joy, creativity, and connection. My mission is to inspire intentional living and lift your spirits with designs that spark self-expression and positivity. Whether it’s a sticker that makes you smile, a journal prompt that helps you reflect, or an affirmation that cheers you on, Hamletta Studios is here to bring warmth to your everyday moments and encourage you to embrace a life filled with purpose and play.
In this blog, you will find:
My personal story and why I create.
Affirmations and uplifting messages to brighten your day.
Tips for planning, journaling, and living with intention.
Sneak peeks into my creative process and upcoming projects.
Now that you know a bit about Hamletta Studios, here’s a fun Q&A to help you get to know me even better!
What inspired you to start Hamletta Studios, and what does the name mean to you?
I created Hamletta Studios in 2017 while working an office job, yearning for a creative outlet to reconnect with my inner child and make art that brought me joy. I had always dreamed of creating my own stationery line filled with an imaginary cast of whimsical characters.
One of my earliest muses was my childhood doll, Kimberly. She wasn’t just a toy; she was my best friend, my constant companion on countless adventures, and the keeper of so many magical memories. Kimberly holds a special place in my heart, so it felt only natural to honor her by bringing her to life as one of my characters. And just like in my childhood stories, she’s joined by her loyal penguin sidekick, Poovey—a nod to the friendship and imagination they inspired.
The name "Hamletta" has its own sweet story. When I was dating my now-husband, we found an adorable stuffed pig named Hamlet. I’ve always adored pigs—such intelligent, lovable creatures—and they inspired me to become a vegetarian at the age of 11. One day, I clipped a bow onto Hamlet and jokingly called her Hamletta. From that moment on, she became a cherished part of our home, and she still sits in my art studio today, cheering me on. When I was searching for a name that truly captured my brand’s essence, "Hamletta" felt like the perfect fit—a playful, heartfelt nod to my love of pigs and all things imaginative.
Real life Ms. Hamletta and her man at our wedding back in 2013.
Why did Hamletta Studios take a 7-year hiatus?
Hamletta Studios first came to life in April 2017, inspired by my passion for art and a dream of creating products featuring my own designs. I launched an Etsy store and was thrilled to see my stickers consistently selling—an experience that left me deeply grateful for the incredible support I received. But by the end of that year, life took a new direction—I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. At the time, I was working a full-time job and pouring my nights into drawing, printing, cutting, and shipping orders. The exhaustion, coupled with pregnancy anxiety, made me realize I needed to press pause and focus on the exciting journey into motherhood.
Fast forward to 2024, and life looks quite different. I’m now a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful kids. After my second child was born in 2021, I decided to leave my full-time job, and in 2022, my family moved away from my hometown, leaving behind my village of support. With that move came new challenges, like embracing the homeschooling lifestyle and juggling life as my kids’ primary caregiver.
In August 2024, I rediscovered my creative spark when I came across Stacie Bloomfield’s Leverage Your Art class. I decided it was time to invest in myself and pursue my lifelong dream of being an artist who designs products featuring my beloved imaginary characters. The class reignited my passion, and the community of classmates and friendships I gained inspired me to keep going. I completed the course in November 2024 and have been making steady progress on rebuilding Hamletta Studios, one day at a time, while balancing the beautiful chaos of family life.
What’s a typical day like for you as an artist and homeschool parent?
Art has always been a grounding force in my life, and I’m learning to weave it into the beautiful chaos of my days as a homeschooling mom. With a kindergartener and a preschooler, our family embraces the philosophy of letting children be children—allowing them the freedom to play, explore, and learn at their own pace. As a result, our days often follow their interests, creating a schedule that’s flexible (but unpredictable) and filled with curiosity-driven adventures. Each week can be unpredictable, and I often find myself squeezing in moments of creativity between lessons, cooking, cleaning, and everything in between.
Finding balance is a work in progress. I’m still rediscovering how to prioritize my creative outlet amidst our busy schedule, but I’m learning to embrace the flow and carve out those precious pockets of time to draw and create. My workflow may still be a work in progress, but every small step I take reminds me why I started this journey in the first place.
How did you first discover journaling, and what drew you to it?
I’ve been a notebook carrier for as long as I can remember. In first grade, I would lug around a wide-ruled notebook, filling its pages with characters and stories. Watching Harriet the Spy only fueled my love for notebooks—I adored the way she carried around her trusty composition book, and I wanted to be just like her. Over the years, I’ve had everything from children’s lock-and-key diaries to stacks of notebooks filled with cringy musings from my preteen and teenage years.
Journaling has always been my way of documenting life. It’s cathartic to pour my feelings onto the page, and it’s so much fun to revisit those memories later. The first time I journaled consistently for an entire year was my freshman year of college—a habit I still treasure. These days, I jot down the funny things my kids say or do, capturing little moments I know I’ll cherish forever. Journaling has always been a part of me, offering a way to process life and preserve it at the same time.
How do you incorporate journaling into your daily life?
Every evening, I engage in a peaceful bedtime ritual of journaling. As I settle into bed, I take time to document tomorrow's tasks and reflect on today's memorable moments. What makes this routine even more special is when my three-year-old joins me, armed with his own notebook. While I write, he expresses his creativity by filling his pages with drawings, stickers, stamps, and decorations.
I always carry a notebook with me to jot down ideas or quickly log feelings and events. There's something about having a blank page to process my thoughts and bring order to the chaos that just works for me. While I’ve tried countless digital apps for on-the-go note-taking, nothing compares to the simplicity of pen and paper—plus, I get way too distracted by all the apps on my phone!
What’s one dream or goal you have for Hamletta Studios in the next year?
One of my biggest dreams for Hamletta Studios this year is to grow my newsletter community and connect with more like-minded people who value building a positive mindset, living intentionally, and pursuing their passions. I truly enjoy being in the company of creative minds and love finding authentic ways to engage with my readers.
Another exciting goal is to design a collection of stationery and paper goods that reflect the playful and positive spirit of Hamletta Studios. I can’t wait to bring these ideas to life and finally re-open my online shop! It’s going to be a year full of creativity and connection, and I’m so excited to share it with everyone.
I believe my artistic journey will lead me to unexplored realms of wonder and inspiration.
Let’s Stay Connected!
This blog is just the beginning of the conversation. I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment, share your thoughts, or connect with me via my newsletter, email, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Thank you for being here and for letting me share my journey with you. Together, we’ll explore creativity, overcome challenges, and find joy in the beautiful mess of life.