By Chris Olsen
As soon as she could hold a pencil, Jacki Lake was obsessed with lettering. Early on, she created greeting cards for family members. She designed posters and flyers for student government in high school, and for social organizations in college. Back then, she viewed the art of lettering as something she simply loved to do. Her journey as an artist was more about creative expression than following a career path.
She pursued a degree in psychology rather than design, though she discovered later how closely the two are related. After college, Jacki worked at a law firm, married, had a son and then a daughter. As a full-time parent, she continued to find ways to incorporate lettering into her daily life. She created chalk art signage and menu boards for local San Diego, California, restaurants and hotels. She added invitations and announcements to her repertoire—all handcrafted. Referrals from delighted clients led to new projects.
Jacki found more time to devote to her art once her kids were in college. She discovered digital design tools and taught herself hand lettering on an iPad. It unlocked a new level of creativity for her. She developed a passion for lettering quotes with colorful backgrounds, bold graphics and florals. Her work featured irreverent phrases like “Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right” and “Stop saying yes to shit you hate.” With this art form, she felt she could truly express herself.
“I am authentically me in my work and I don’t take myself too seriously,” Jacki said.
As she took more risks, Jacki realized the power of art to evoke emotions and build connections with her audience. It led her to a community of creatives in lettering and illustration where members present design challenges and prompts and share their work on social media. She started attending in-person events and forming friendships with other artists. Being part of a community helped Jacki sharpen her skills and gain the confidence to pursue art as a career path.
In her 50s, Jacki’s life transformed personally and professionally. She went through a divorce and officially launched Lake House Designs. Her adult children, Josh and Liv, who both work in creative fields, were her biggest cheerleaders. They encouraged her to continue using art to share her point of view and to take the leap to business ownership.
“I never thought my art could lead to a small business at this point in my life,” Jacki said. “But here I am, following my passion.”
Jacki is as known for her warm and genuine personality as she is for her sarcastic and inspirational messages. Her designs appear on a range of items—everything from refrigerator magnets to stationery—which are available online and at boutiques all over the country. She also does custom work and commissions and collaborates with like-minded organizations.
When the U.S. government launched Operation Metro Surge in early 2026, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Publish Her began raising awareness and funds for mutual aid to support immigrant women and families. Publish Her and Lake House Designs partnered on an exclusive “Keep Going” hardcover notebook journal with proceeds benefiting initiatives that support immigrant women.
“What a dream collaboration to help raise awareness and much-needed funds for immigrant women’s initiatives,” Jacki said. “As a proud Filipina American, this cause is important to me.”
