Crafting Success: How Katie Prill Transformed Her Passion into Love and Lettering By Katie
Katie Prill was born and raised just outside Milwaukee, WI. When the time came to go to college, Katie’s path seemed clear as she enrolled in Marquette University’s nursing program, where she met her spouse while in the Air Force ROTC program. Katie was thrilled at the prospect of earning a commission and living out her dream of becoming a nurse in the Air Force. However, life had different plans when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder during her second semester of school, derailing her Air Force journey. But as Katie’s story shows, sometimes life’s detours lead to beautiful destinations.
Katie’s diagnosis meant she could no longer continue in the Air Force, but it didn’t mark the end of her military connection. Her relationship with her now-husband flourished during their college years, and they married just before graduation. As a “seasoned” military spouse, Katie has been by her husband’s side for over 16 years, navigating the challenges and rewards of military life together.
A Passion for Nursing and a Shift Toward Creativity
For nearly 12 years, Katie dedicated herself to the nursing profession, a career she loved deeply. But when COVID-19 struck, the world shifted, and so did Katie’s life. As her family PCSed from Alabama to South Dakota in June 2020, the uncertainty of the pandemic led to a pivotal decision: Katie would focus on being a stay-at-home mom to their two boys and begin homeschooling. This pause from nursing opened the door to a new passion that had been quietly growing—art and hand lettering. She took a leap of faith and started her own business, Love and Lettering By Katie.
What began as a hobby quickly transformed into a thriving business. She started an Instagram account to share her art, and with encouragement from a military spouse friend, she discovered Spouse-ly, an online marketplace for military-connected vendors. On September 13, 2020, Love and Lettering by Katie was officially born. Over the past four years, her business has grown to offer a wide range of products, including hand-lettered prints, stickers, apparel, and unique gifts like hand-painted oyster shells and ornaments. Her collections often focus on themes of empowerment, nostalgia, and personal growth, with a dash of sass and humor!
Lessons Learned on the Road Less Traveled
Throughout her journey, Katie has embraced the unpredictability of military life. I am so grateful for the opportunities I had, as well as the lessons learned. I watched myself grow up, become a mom, start a business, and find my voice in the unlikeliest of places. She advises others to keep an open mind about duty stations: Everyone will have their own opinions about different duty stations, and it’s easy to get swept up in those judgments. However, the assignment that others rave about might not be a great fit for you, while the one everyone criticizes could turn out to be your favorite. By creating a bucket list for each new location, she has found joy in making the most of every assignment, even those she wouldn’t choose to revisit. Not only will it help you stay positive, but it will also make the time fly by and leave you with unforgettable memories.
Reflecting on a Journey of Growth and Gratitude
Resiliency to Katie begins with giving yourself the grace to fully experience the emotions that accompany life’s challenges. We’re often conditioned to suppress our feelings and push forward, but I’ve learned that true strength lies in confronting those emotions head-on. I allow myself a set time to process—whether it’s through crying, journaling, or confiding in someone I trust—before shifting my focus to finding solutions. Life will always present new obstacles, but the resilience she’s cultivated as a military spouse, mother, and autoimmune warrior empowers her to keep moving forward, no matter what comes her way.
As Katie reflects on her journey, she feels immense gratitude for the twists and turns that have brought her to where she is today. From a career in nursing to a successful business owner, her story highlights the incredible power of resilience, creativity, and love. When the time comes for her husband to retire and they transition from active-duty life, she knows that they embraced every moment, leaving behind a legacy of strength, creativity, and unwavering determination.
Katie’s journey is a vivid reminder that life’s challenges, though often intimidating, can lead to some of the most unexpected and rewarding opportunities. Her evolution from nursing to art, from military dreams to entrepreneurial achievement, exemplifies how resilience, creativity, and the support of a close-knit community can guide us through even the toughest times, allowing us to emerge not just stronger, but also more aligned with our true passions and purpose.
To learn more about Katie and to see her products use the links below:
