As a business owner, one of the nicest things that can happen is to have clients call on you again.
It may occur within a few months or a few years as in the case of Mary Arzt of Sharp and Co. in Maryland. Mary has hired me over the course of four years to do the calligraphy for both of her nieces' weddings.
I do not know how many nieces and nephews Mary has but I hope there will be enough to pass the five year mark of client/calligrapher engagements. That would be a very nice thing.
| | |
|
"Cascade" is one of the wedding invitation designs I created for Bella Figura in 2012.
Being "flowery" does not come easily to me in my work. "Cascade" is about as "florid" as I get and that is why it is one of my favorites.
This custom "Cascade" invitation looks ultra modern with my calligraphy shown in a pretty spring green.
To see "Cascade", visit Bella Figura.
| | |
|
I was thrilled to learn last year that my new calligraphy style called "Stella" would be made into a stationery font for the fabulous letterpress and paper goods company Smock.
Type foundry P22 created "Stella" from my hand lettering. The process of creating a font is fascinating and requires the calligrapher to create an alphabet from 26 panagrams and also to create a series of ligatures, swashes, symbols, flourishes and cartouches.
"Stella", who joins my "Bescal" stationery font, will be introduced at the National Stationery Show next week and will be available for custom wedding invitations and stationery printing at Smockpaper.com and at Smock retailers across the globe.
| | |
|
Carolyn Brandhorst, owner of The Papery of Philadelphia, contacted designsgirl to provide calligraphy for her bridal client's wedding invitation envelopes. I mixed a Leaf Green and an Olive Green gouache to match the lime green striped envelope liners.
My "Bescal" calligraphy font, created for Smock Paper, was used for the invitation and envelope flap.
| | |
|
Calligraphers look for the best papers on which to do reproduction work.
I use a bleed-proof paper by Borden & Riley but the best, best surface on which I write is my designsgirl mailing labels.
They are a dream- smooth, pliable, creamy. What makes it so is the adhesive backing that provides just the right amount of cushion for the nib pressure.
| | |
|
New England bride Kathleen Johnston ordered her letterpressed wedding invitations through Bella Figura and commissioned designsgirl to create the calligraphy for her custom design.
Kathleen chose the "Bescal" style of calligraphy for her invitation, response card and envelope flap.
| | |
|
People are clamouring for calligraphy rubber stamps this spring and I love designing them. Whether it is a monogram, return address or name, there is something special about having a custom stamp for correspondence.
One of my delightful clients has commissioned designsgirl to hand letter Coco Chanel's famous Chanelisms to sell in her beautiful store. I referred to Edmonde Charles-Roux's book "Chanel and her world" which lists some of her most famous and also lesser-known maxims.
Here are a few of my favorites...
"Coquetry. It's a triumph of the spirit over the senses."
"If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent their growing."
| | |
|
New mother Paige Reberry asked designsgirl to hand letter a special quote that Paige could frame.
I used the digital file to print on a oak leaf paper I bought at Paper Source in Chicago years ago and added some scrub oak with acorns I cut last summer in our yard. The acorns turned brown but the leaves are still green!
| | |
|
I was jubilant to hear from designer Jamie Arvelo Grab of Jamie Lynn, Inc. whose jaw-dropping fanciful, hand-drawn, hand-painted illustrations turned into letterpress perfection I absolutely adore.
She asked designsgirl to hand letter the wedding envelopes and provide calligraphic treatments for her client Becky's wedding invitation.
Here is a sample of Jamie's sublime work and the calligraphy I did for the couple's envelopes.
| | |
|
Style Me Pretty has the loveliest chronicle of my clients Kristine's and Hisashi's Hawaiian wedding. I did the calligraphy for the Bella Figura wedding invitation, envelopes, place cards and reception signs.
This is a truly delightful couple with great spirit and humor and it was a thrill to see images from their beautiful wedding.
To see more, visit stylemepretty.com.
| | |
|
Denver bride Shantel Field and her fiance Michael will be marrying at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Denver for their summer wedding and asked designsgirl to hand letter their wedding envelopes which were made of a beautiful silver metallic coated paper.
| | |
|
