Passion and Purpose: Val Marie Paper

Today’s story about Passion and Purpose is from Valerie Metrejean Woerner of Val Marie Paper. This is such a small world. A few months ago I got an email from Valerie and she introduced herself and said that we had both attended Louisiana Tech University at the same time.

I was so excited! I love a fellow Louisiana girl and love that we have both been navigating this blogging world and our paths crossed again.

Valerie’s blog is full of beautiful images, pretty pretty paper, and a heart that is devoted to her family and the Lord.

Today she is sharing her story about how she came to find her passion in Val Marie Paper. My personal favorite item from the Val Marie Paper shop are these beautiful prayer journals.

Six years ago, I had just graduated college in journalism and started my first big girl job working at a newspaper.

Like most people, I had this pretty idea of what my career would be like. I imagined I’d be a magazine editor in a big city, writing and designing things that set my heart on fire. Instead, I found myself working from 4:00-midnight at our local paper in a pretty depressing atmosphere, with no creativity and little hope of moving up to a writer position.

I got the wildest hair that I should be a wedding planner. With a little research, I realized there weren’t any in town that I could work for, so if I wanted this, I’d have to start my own business.

Being an entrepreneur was never a dream of mine, but I did it! The business took off quickly and while planning weddings, I started using the design skills I had learned from the newspaper to create invitations.

My passion grew.

A year ago, I sold my event planning business and started designing stationery full time with hopes of working from home when the time came for our family to grow.

Today, I get to be home with my little girl Vivi Mae, designing and getting to write my heart on a blog that inspires me so much. I get the sweetest emails from people who say what I post matters. It’s a rewarding feeling and has deepened my passion for inspiring others even more.

A blog that started out as a simple way to promote my work and show the person behind the designs has become the perfect opportunity to fulfill my passion for writing and make an impact in the world despite spending most days just me and Vivi Mae.

I never would have guessed as I left my newspaper job feeling defeated that I was wrong about wanting to write and design, that I would find a path that included both of those things!