Hi, I’m Dawn Mancuso—watercolor artist, designer, teacher, and owner of A Little Hello Co., a stationery and watercolor studio based in Clermont, Florida.

I create stationery and paper goods featuring my hand-painted illustrations—playful, feminine designs rooted in vibrant florals and coastal charm. Everything begins with a watercolor painting, then is thoughtfully designed into something both beautiful and functional: planners, notecards, stickers, calendars, and more, created to bring a little art into your everyday life.

I also teach in-person watercolor classes designed to make painting approachable, creative, and fun. And while our Downtown Clermont retail shop has closed, A Little Hello Co. is very much still here. You can shop with us online, find us back at weekly markets throughout the fall, holiday, and spring seasons, and join us for an expanded schedule of watercolor classes.

HOW IT STARTED

Before launching A Little Hello Co., I spent much of my career working as a creative director and designer for brands including Disney, Tupperware, and Universal. When I was laid off during the pandemic, I returned to painting as a daily creative practice. It quickly became much more than an outlet.

I began sharing my work locally—first through galleries and farmers markets, then through prints, cards, and eventually a full line of stationery. As demand grew, so did the vision. In 2024, we launched our first collection of planners and calendars, designed to support focus, creativity, and connection.

In 2025, that vision grew again when we opened our first brick-and-mortar shop in historic Downtown Clermont. It wasn’t just a retail store. It was also my working watercolor and production studio, a classroom, and a little creative space where customers could see the artwork and stationery being made.

30 DAYS TO LEAVE

In August 2026, that chapter came to an unexpected end when we were given just 30 days to leave our downtown space after our lease was terminated so another local business could take over the space.

I shared more about that experience in my blog post, Thirty Days to Leave: What Happened to Nine Clermont Small Businesses. The transition has been incredibly difficult. There was very little time to process the loss of a space we had worked so hard to build, much less pack up a working studio, classroom, retail shop, and production space and figure out what came next.

But closing the storefront did not mean closing A Little Hello Co.

In many ways, we’re returning to our roots. We’re heading back to the weekly markets where so much of this business began, with plans for the fall, holiday, and spring seasons. I’ve also expanded our watercolor class schedule, giving me more opportunities to do one of my favorite things: gather around a table with other people and paint.

And we’re looking forward.

I don’t know exactly what the next physical home for A Little Hello Co. will look like yet, but I’m excited about the possibilities. What began at a farmers market, grew into a stationery company, and eventually became a little downtown shop is evolving once again.

The name “A Little Hello” was inspired by the simple messages I sent to my family during the pandemic lockdown. “Just a little hello…” became a daily ritual—a reminder that small gestures can have a lasting impact. That idea still sits at the heart of everything I create.

A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND

In addition to my work in design and illustration, I’m a classically trained chef with experience as a food stylist and photographer. My work has appeared on Food Network, the Today Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and in publications including Brides and The Knot.

I’m also actively involved in our local arts community and currently serve as President of the Board of Directors for the South Lake Art League, supporting its mission to encourage creativity and the arts in the South Lake community.

These days, I split my time between painting, designing new products, teaching watercolor, packing orders, preparing for markets, and my work with the Art League—with the occasional dinner party thrown in for good measure.

Thank you for being here, and especially to everyone who has supported A Little Hello Co. through this unexpected transition. The storefront may be closed, but we’re still painting, creating, teaching, and saying little hellos.

-Dawn