Calligrapher for Team USA - 2016 Rio Olympics
Houston calligrapher and wine bottle engraver
These white marble tiles were calligraphed with gold ink with a play on an ornate hand that I like to execute. And these beauties are out of the door! I really do love how these look with gold calligraphy. Cheers & congratulations to the Chicago Cubs as the 108 year drought is OVER!
It was such a pleasure engraving calligraphy in wine bottles this weekend for the Deutsch Family Wines (Josh Wines). As usual, it was so busy that I forgot to take a picture until the VERY end. This was the very last wine bottle. I believe that we engraved about 40 bottles that day in 3 hours. It was a busy day! Cheers!
I just LOVE IT when clients contact me with interesting ideas that are not the garden variety. This client wanted 5-6" agate stones in the natural color family for table names. The most interesting part was that the event planner informed me that they wanted to use villain names in calligraphy for the table names. So cheers to Freddy Krueger, Pennywise, Carrie White, Buffalo Bill and Leatherface! And guess what...these are for a wedding! How cool!
I just adore working on featured shoots....especially with The Everyday Hostess publication! It is always so much fun! This one featured work with agate stones, which of course is one of my favorite things to work with for calligraphy. Take a peek at my work and the work of great vendors mentioned below in the "vendor love" section. The link to the feature is below. Cheers!
Photography: Ashley Rutland
Styling: The Everyday Hostess
Vintage Rentals: Gold Dust Vintage Rentals
Florals: Fox and the Fleur
Agate Glasses and Barware: On the Rocks
Calligraphy: Bella Grafia, LLC
Another project featuring calligraphy on the white marble tiles drying before shipping out. I absolutely adore working with marble tiles. Cheers!
It's such a treat to see my hand lettering for Slinging Ink™ (commercial subsidiary of Bella Grafia) work recognized in my town of Houston by the Houston Business Award Program. Thank you!
As my work and style evolve over time, it only makes sense that that is reflected on what I post online. I just finished a quick project with my friends at Chanel. Here's a sample of what that calligraphy work looked like. Cheers!
Yes, I am having a moment with white marble tile right now. I bore easily and needed something new to write on :). This time it's what they call subway tiles. I love the elegant simplicity of the white marble and making it rectangular yields a chic aspect as well. Isn't it just great that calligraphy & hand lettering can take so many forms? Cheers!
This style came about because in art (not life) I LOVE mixing a little bit of chaos with beauty. The result is often so so cool & groovy. On these I placed a rose gold/copper under the Bella Grafia calligraphy script that of course I calligraphed by hand. (Anything else would be uncivilized :))
I've done something similar to this before, but with modern calligraphy and a bold "relaxed" title name. "Modern calligraphy" is not my go-to...I'm a bit of a purist, but once you understand traditional calligraphy, "modern calligraphy" is a cake-walk. I digress.... Here's the result! Have a groovy day!
I don't address envelopes too much anymore, but these were for my favorite client, Lola :). Obviously, certain numerals have been omitted for privacy.
#IPimpMyPen
When I was contacted about providing names in calligraphy for an event, I had no idea as to how they would be used. These dessert sized laser cut names were placed in little ornaments and served as place cards for an event in Los Angeles. Very cute!
This calligraphy project was from a recent order of laser cut names that I calligraphed for a wedding in LA. ADORE the name for "Queen B". How can you not love that? Cheers!
I recently had the pleasure of engraving for Calvin Klein fragrances. It was such a great event! Here is a bottle of Eternity and the client & I came up with this cute line for her husband. Cheers!
I do quite a few Houston calligraphy projects laser cut out of wood and sometimes acrylic. I was asked the other day how I start that process. Sounds so artsy :) Well here is how I start. I just calligraph them on paper.... Pretty simple, see! Just ignore the ones with x's...those would be the lovely mistakes. It happens. Cheers!
It has been a tremendous honor and my pleasure to provide calligraphy for Team USA for the Rio 2016 Olympics. It was all very "hush-hush" with contracts and such, but my role was to calligraph names for EACH Olympic athlete, coach, staff member etc. So of course, that was over 1,000 people hence I worked on-site at the Olympic processing center for the athletes for a few weeks. I must admit that it was pretty groovy writing out all of the names of those whose talent we have come to love and admire.
It was truly a cool experience and I honestly felt very proud to assist those that represent our awesome country better known as the United States. Cheers!
Hand lettering Agate Stones with rose gold ink is one of my favorite things to do. They look gold when facing them, but turn them at any slight angle and the ink is rose. Adore!
It's always such a pleasure working with the Narciso Rodriguez fragrance team for engraving events. This was one of my favorites from the most recent event. Cheers!
Who doesn't love Italian white marble with gold calligraphy? I have no idea. I just adore hand lettering on marble tiles right now. These were for an event in New York and this client chose my ornate Bella Grafia hand-calligraphed script. I also created a few with silver ink which honestly on initial thought, I questioned the idea based on visibility. I LOVE it when my clients prove me wrong and it turns out beautifully. The 2nd pic is the result of silver ink on the white marble tile. The subtle combination of silver ink on white screams for all lesser colors to bow down. ADORE!!!
As always, it is truly a pleasure and an honor to see my work featured in a publication. Smitten Magazine (Real Simple Magazine partner) featured a gorgeous photo shoot with ice cream where my work was used. It's amazing how this little passion for calligraphy and penmanship that started out as a hobby has taken on a life of its own. Cheers!
Summer sweet inspiration for a wedding that celebrates love AND ice cream!! http://smitten-mag.com/ice-cream-inspired-wedding-ideas/
I just adore placing calligraphy on white marble tile. Years ago, I started with ceramic tiles and those were great and I will still do that when asked. However, the beauty of hand lettering on these white marble tiles is unparalleled in my opinion. I'm happy that my clients agree.
About a week ago, I woke up and thought "let's do this with a more elegant shape". Hence, I came across these tiles that evoke a baroque/arabesque design. Love, love love these! Cheers!
This is the latest mirror that I completed for a wedding a few weeks again. Yes, you know that I'm working on getting better with posting my work in a timely fashion :). Ironically, this is the EXACT same mirror as my very first one years ago. On this one, I had to resort to using a "print" lettering for the guest names as there were 200 guest lines & not enough space to calligraph each name in an ornate hand. Turned out nicely, I think :). Cheers!
