Elegant navy and white placecards.  The client provided the cards. I did the writing. I'm totally in love with the cards.  They are made from Paper Source materials.  They fit beautifully into a wine cork holder. 

Another recent envelope job.  The client wanted the last name to be the only large calligraphed item in the address.  What a great idea. I was very happy with how they turned out!

 

Recent wedding envelopes.  I love the little string tie .

Trying out a new look.

This is an invitation I created for a small bridal shower held at the Peninsula Chicago.  I picked gold and cream to match the beautiful decor of the hotel.  I used gold ink for the lettering and created a side wrap with decorative paper. 
I adore the elegant number 10 envelopes with the side flap.  I wish we could replace all envelopes with this kind.

Practice.  Writing random names and words.

 I bought these small wood tags, thinking I could make something pretty with them.

 So far, so good.  I stamped them with baby blue ink, and mixed some green ink. 

Unfortunately the ink feathered.  Bummer! Oh well, one for the recycle pile.

Dear Readers, my apologies for the very long time between posts! I hope to post some interesting calligraphy and other side projects in the next few months.

I was able to get some close-up shots of wet ink, fresh off the pen.  I think I need a macro lens to get closer.

Here are the results of experimenting with a small Brause broad nib.  This is a very different look from pointed pen calligraphy.  Although I love the look of swirls and cursive, after awhile, I'm drawn back to printing letters by hand.  It feels very elemental.

Curly Letters

My holiday card 2011

Here is my submission to the Paper Source Holiday Card Contest this year.  I saw the flyer for the contest in the store.  I'm pretty much in there every time I'm near the mall.

I normally don't enjoy crafty/scrapbook hobbies.  But I'm not sure what came over me this year.  Must have been all those colorful powders and stamps.  Or that the winner gets a $50 gift card.  Very clever marketing, I must say.  I spent that much getting all the supplies. 

I love Christmas songs and wanted to incorporate that into my design.  I had the snowflake rubber stamps, so I sang every song I could think of with the word "snow".  I don't know how many times I wrote that phrase over and over until I got just the look I wanted.  ( I'm a tad obsessive).  I created the large white snowflakes using versamark, embossing powder and a heat gun to set it. 

I lined the envelope with vellum and stamped it using versamark.

And here it is. Yay!

Tis the season

 I can't believe it's less than a month away from Christmas.  While laying on my sofa with Thanksgiving food coma, I realized I hadn't started on my cards this year.  Am I the only one who thinks there's always more time than there is?  So here are some attempts at a modern Christmas card.

I love Christmas carols.  They're one of the best parts of this season.

 Cerulean blue is not so Christmas-y.

 Holiday gift tags.

Just goofin around.