Personal Correspondence - Hand Lettering

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 :)!!!!

Over 100 Macallan Scotch Bottles Engraved @ Houston Spec's

Thanks to one of my favorite employees at Spec's, I have this picture.  It was pretty crazy as the Macallan scotch bottles were lined up and waiting for me to engrave but we got them engraved....all 100+ of them.  He said that I was flying through the bottles so fast that he just had to get a picture.  Love it!  Thanks for "looking out"! :)

Glamorous Wedding Inspiration - Style to the Aisle Magazine

It's always such a pleasure to see my work featured in a publication.  Today, it was featured in Style to the Aisle Magazine. Cheers!

Calligraphy: Bella Grafia Houston Calligraphy

Invitation Suite: Cotton Paperie - Couture Letterpress Stationery

Photography: Stacy Anderson Photography

Event Design: Mementos Events and Design
Florals: Monica's Brides & Touch of Glitz Flowers
Cake: Shazdeh Cakes
Make-up: Amber Hayes
Hair: Bris Hair Design
Tux: Michael Kors from Alvin Tuxedos
Custom Bow Tie: SwankNeck
Dress: Badgley Mischka from TOOTSIES
Linens: House of Hough
Fur Chair Covers: Rent The Foundry
Vintage Rentals: RELUVD
 

Houston Calligrapher
 

Save the Date - Houston Calligraphy

Working on a Save the Date in the modern calligraphy style.... Cheers!  

Ornate Roundhand on Crane Lettra - Houston Calligrapher

I absolutely love receiving quality paper from my clients.  A few weeks ago, I received a project from two of my favorite corporate clients (Neiman Marcus & Chanel) and the paper that they provided was Crane Lettra.  Crane Lettra is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS paper, but it gives most calligraphers trouble.  Crane Lettra demands respect, hence respect must be paid.  WHY?  It is 100% cotton, very thick and luxurious and when you apply something wet like ink along with a pointed nib to it, a few things can happen.

1. It feels like trying to glide a stick pin across the surface of a pin cushion...don't forget to make it beautiful too :).  

2. Upon ink placement, the paper becomes fibrous and lifts off of the page and then drags across the surface and changes the shape of your lettering in the process.  Oh yeah, don't forget to make it beautiful :)

3. You CAN NOT rush through that job or it will show.  No doubt!

I have "secret weapons" to drastically minimize these issues and they have become my "go-to's" for paper that is textured, less than ideal, questionable or so luxurious that I don't want to chance it.  Workhorses, basically.  Once you have the right materials & understand what is happening, it's not a big deal.  You just have to take it slow.  I love being a professional calligrapher in Houston and I hope that Houston loves me back.  Cheers!

Tattoo Design - Houston Calligrapher

Back from Thanksgiving holiday and I have a calligraphy tattoo design on the calendar along with a Save the Date design.  Here are a few glimpses of drafts for the tattoo.  Love this message!  This client is an amazing woman in the DC area that has taken life's best shots and said "bring it on".  I love it! 

Holiday Calligraphy Flourishes - Houston Calligrapher

Just wrapped a project with one of my favorite styles: FLOURISHES!  Remember the rules that I mentioned a few months ago for flourishes in calligraphy?  The rules apply here.  Cheers!

Business Casual - Houston Calligrapher

Last week, I worked with a Florida bride that opted for the Business Casual style.  She wanted something that was nice, but at the same time simple.  I think that this fit the bill and she loved them.   Cheers!

Cupcake Toppers - Houston Calligraphy

If you know me well, you know that I become bored very easily.  Sometimes that is a great thing.  Lately, I have been on my "anything but paper" journey.  Of course I will always have a passion for paper, but you need to spice things up a bit, yes?  So I had the idea to do cupcake toppers laser cut from my calligraphy.  What do you think?  

Mirrors are the new Paper....Houston Calligraphy

Usually my calendar is crazy, but this week was interesting in that I had 1 day that was free for ....creative....whatever.  Yesterday, I had a client contact me for a mirror that was needed ASAP.  Usually I can't accommodate those requests, but yesterday I could.  She found this awesome mirror and needed it calligraphed for her wedding that is basically.....now.  I know...welcome to weddings.  But she had everything ready to go and I had 1 day that was clear so for me it was no big deal.  

When I got married, there was no instagram and twitter.  So imagine my elation when she said that she had a hashtag for the wedding.  SERIOUSLY???!!!  I didn't even know that that was a thing for weddings.  I love it!  AND I got to play around with a little illustration in making the instagram and twitter logos.  They better not send a "cease and desist" letter....  Cheers! 

Paper is so passé. Calligraphy Seating Chart Mirror - New York City

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!

#houstoncalligraphy #houstoncalligrapher #weddings #love

It's so hard to get good pictures of mirrors....they see everything :)

Houston Calligraphy - Perspective Style

These were executed with the Perspective style.  All lowercase, connected and at an angle.  I used a copper ink that looks orange on black paper.  The sample (1st picture) was created with metallic pink ink.  On these, we place the stamp in the upper left corner and USPS is totally cool with that.  Cheers!

Lasercut Table Numbers - Houston Calligrapher

Yes, I'm still on my "anything, but paper" journey and I love it!  Just completed these laser cut table numbers for a wedding in Miami.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these!  Cheers!

Houston Calligrapher - Lasercut Place Cards

Paper is so passé.  Just completed these beauties for a client in LA for her Thanksgiving gathering next month.  Shipping them out Monday.  How smart is that!  I love it!

Featured Interview with Style Me Pretty

10 Pretty Things We Love About: Bella Grafia

It was such a pleasure sitting down with Style Me Pretty @smpweddings to discuss everything from my inspirations to the resulting aesthetic.  Calligraphy truly does set the tone for events & it is my pleasure to assist so many wonderful people in doing just that.  Cheers!  Check out the interview via this link or the attached picture below: 

http://www.stylemepretty.com/?p=539859

Photography: Alicia Pyne Photography @aliciapyne
Photography: Mustard Seed Photography  @mustardseedphotography

Graphic Design : Meagan Morris 

Man's Best Friend - Houston Engraving

Unfortunately, I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet and friend.  I lost my Sidney (my sweet, opinionated Westie) a few years ago and still think of him often.  A few weeks ago, I was contacted about engraving a pet's urn.  In all honesty, this is something that I have never done and it frankly is just not on my radar.  However, the crematorium that took care of Dexter did him a serious disservice by writing his name on the urn with a gold sharpie....not even in a nice script.  Just a plain, old, sad gold sharpie.  THAT'S JUST WRONG.  So I hope that engraving Dexter's urn not only pleases his parents but also puts him at peace.  Peace & Love

#houstonengraver #love #houstoncalligraphy #houstoncalligrapher

Houston Best Calligraphy Award - Slinging Ink

I love it when I wake up in the morning to see that my city likes my work :)  The Houston Business Award Program has awarded Slinging Ink (my commercial hand lettering side of business) with the Houston Best Calligrapher Award for 2015.  I'll take it.  Here's the press release: 

http://houstontx.houstontx.local-best.com/PressReleaseub.aspx?cc=DE3E-RBFH-69QQ

Engraved Bracelet - Houston Engraver

The older I get the more I love jewelry and I have always had an affinity for silver.  I recently had a bride request something simple, but cool for herself while I was working on her wedding stationery.  We landed on engraving a silver bracelet.  I figured why not offer something like this to all of my clients.  Here it 'tis!  Available on the website and the Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaGrafiaInk?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar

#houstoncalligraphy #houstoncalligrapher #weddings #engravedjewelry #personalizedjewelry #engravedbracelet

Calligraphic Bird for Wedding Invitations

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!

Lasercut Names/Placecards - Houston Calligraphy

This year has really been my "anything but paper" year with my work.  These laser cut wood names were created for a client out of St. Louis for an event.  I think that these came out nicely as she will be using them as placecards.  Cheers!

#houstoncalligrapher #houstoncalligraphy #weddings