I've calligraphed quite a few mirrors in the last few years, but this was by far the largest and it was just absolutely gorgeous in person. It measured 90" x 34"...had to use a small ladder for this one. This mirror was also cool as the client wanted a scattered organization with the lines as the mirror was much larger than what was needed for the list roughly 65 lines (about 100 guests). The monogram was nice as this was the first mirror where a client already had a monogram that was used from the invitation and wanted to incorporate that with the mirror....and I got to play with illustration a bit with the florals around the monogram.....Yes that was freehand :). Groovy times! Cheers!
It's no secret that my work has made a deviation away from paper over the last year. Obviously, I still work with paper, but it has definitely taken a backseat to glass, mirrors, wood, metal, acrylic etc. I just ADORE these laser cut names that are often used as place cards. This is my hand calligraphy taken to a larger size. Next medium that I plan to work in....FABRICS. Why not?! Cheers!
What do you do when a client wants gold ink, but the paper choice would make it difficult to see that ink on the chosen paper? (See USPS, I keep you in mind when I work :) Just change the canvas, of course. We decided to go with white ink on the envelopes except for the envelope for the guest of honor. On hers, I decided to add a little watercolor and lighten the canvas such that the gold ink would be more pronounced. Cheers!
Getting caught up on my personal correspondence. It's funny that this was the reason that I began my calligraphy journey when I moved to Houston years ago. I just wanted my personal correspondence to look nice. life is funny that way....
I must send out a thank you to Nikki Hite, my sorority sister that introduced me to Crane & Co paper when we were in college. Once I felt that paper, I was intoxicated with correspondence, etiquette with correspondence & all things paper from that day forward. She is probably in some way responsible for my being in this profession. You never know who will influence you... Cheers to random discussions in a dorm room :)!!!!
I have had the pleasure of working with this NYC bride since this summer for pieces ranging from invitations to this mirror seating chart. We played it a little conservative as her aesthetic is very classic and cool. I did play up the monogram and date just a touch...I couldn't help it :) Cheers!
I recently had a stationer out of New Orleans (one of my favorite cities) contact me for samples of my work. Love her company's name --- Box.Paper.Scissors. She was interested in the agate stones in various hands and a few envelopes. Here is the one that I sent with a calligraphic bird. Hope she and her clients like them. Cheers!
This piece was commissioned by a bride in Dallas, TX. These are the song lyrics to what will be the "first dance" at her wedding. We did something similar to the "just relax" hand as every word is connected in lowercase. We went with copperplate gold ink on ecru paper that is deckled at the top and has a slightly textured surface. Even with the texture, it calligraphed like a dream with a Zebra G nib. This is not my "go-to" nib by any stretch of the imagination, however it is like that old faithful, workhorse that you can use even when you are unsure of the "work conditions". It performs well on surfaces that I wouldn't dare use one of my treasured vintage nibs on.
I only wish that I could have found paper suitable for pointed pen that was deckled on all sides in smaller sheets....the next calligraphy materials hunt shall commence.
If you follow my work at all, you know that my studio is very 1800's for the majority of my work. Meaning, that I take the vintage approach to most of the work that I execute. I have found that hanging my envelope jobs to dry on what is similar to a clothesline allows for 1. easy comparison from one envelope to the other, 2. places them high above my 3 year old, Lola and obviously 3. by the time I complete the line, the earlier ones placed are dry.
This bride opted for Ornate Roundhand in black ink. It's funny because I don't use black extensively for wedding projects except for pieces that are going for reproduction (menus, invitation/save the date designs etc). However as I was working on this job, I was reminded of how simply classic black ink is. Simplicity is absolutely beautiful and should not be overlooked. Peace & Love!
It's so nice having penpals. This is what calligraphers do when they have a free moment. I'm in love with white ink on either black or dark gray paper. It creates a striking, but classic look.
