Based in West Texas, Connar Joy Collective specializes in custom calligraphy, hand-lettering, design and signage for your wedding, event or home. In addition to custom calligraphy services, CJC offers calligraphy and lettering workshops, and a variety of ready-made products in the Connar Joy Shop.
Photo by Ashley Slater Photography
My name is Connar Joy Turner and I wear all the hats behind Connar Joy Collective. Everything that is produced here has been hand-calligraphed or hand-painted by me, so you are guaranteed an authentic and unique product.
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The JOY of the LORD is my strength. That's why Joy is in the middle of my name and in the middle of my business. He has blessed me with such a passion for lettering and my hope is that my work will bring joy to others and glory to His name. My prayer is always to create beautiful things that inspire others to look to their Creator.
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Did you know? I have a full-time career, so CJC is my side business. I'm the youngest of four sisters and I'm Aunt Kiki to eight precious nieces and nephews. My favorite things are holidays, celebrations, puppy chow, Diet Coke, the color pink and the Bachelor franchise.
My love for lettering sparked when I was three and got my very first Magna Doodle. Not kidding, I got a new one every other Christmas until I was like fourteen. I would only use my Magna Doodle to write. I would practice my cursive, print, bubble letters, block letters, funky letters, you name it. I'd write names, words, my future children's names and every thing in between. Shout out to Fisher Price for sparking the extreme love for lettering I have today.
In elementary school, I received the Handwriting Award every single year. Who cares about "Perfect Attendance" or "Best Reader" when the "Handwriting Award" is an option?! Right?? Also, when my third grade teacher taught us cursive, she called me up to her desk to tell me she loved my cursive and it looked just like "teacher handwriting." I took that odd compliment and ran with it. Those elementary examples are what gave me confidence in my lettering at a young age and fueled my interest in having the prettiest penmanship possible.
So, the first time I ever dipped my nib into the ink pot and drew my first letters, I teared up. Then I literally started crying. And then I tried to explain out loud the overwhelming feeling of pure JOY I felt when I was doing calligraphy for the first time, I straight up bawled my eyes out. Y’all. If that’s not passion, I don’t know what is. I love that the Lord has graciously given me a fierce passion and talent for my work.
