designsgirl

wavy calligraphy

 
When a client asked for a wavy lettering, designsgirl was thrilled to experiment and came up with this style.

interlude: stella

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.

 

exalted indispensables no. 1

New to the designsgirl blog is "Exalted Indispensables: Indulgent, Utile and Simple Pleasures." These are things I have bought, made, discovered or use that make every day more delightful.  

I love tea and I have a sweet tooth so when I found Republic of Tea's new Strawberry Chocolate and Peppermint Chocolate teas in our local market, I swooped them up and scurried home to brew a cup.

Made with cocoa nibs, they taste great either hot or iced and they help me get past a daily desire to devour my husband's entire "Touch of Sea Salt Dark Chocolate" bar.

inside the pages of paperswell no. 1

Laura's photography inside the pages of our new paperswell magazine is so beautiful that I must share it... 

Here, we used wrapping paper from The Container Store and green curly willow from Nordstrom Home Store as pretty props for my "Heart Ribbon" invitation pieces.

We appreciate the photographs because they belie the chaos of home remodeling construction taking place all around us during this first shoot. Six hours later, Laura left my house dusty from head to toe.

Visit paperswell.com to purchase a digital or print copy.

Photo by Laura Dombrowski

 

bescal and the papery

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.

crystal, glass, porcelain

designsgirl's "hello love" rubber stamps with decorative door pulls are such great gifts and I am pleased that they are making their way into local shops.

I work with store owners to create custom designs including calligraphic sayings and words. Part of the fun is to create the packaging for each one.

 

interlude: equine sentimental

I am not particularly sentimental about my belongings, but like most people, I have a favorite article of clothing with which I refuse to part.

It is this conversation-starter of a skirt made by Claude Brown that I have owned for 15 years. What I love about it is its humor, art and sassiness and, when I wear it, people can call me a horse's ass and I do not take offense.

dream paper

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.

gibson- profile of a paperswell mascot

Gibson loves tennis balls and swimming; has an indifferent attitude toward her fellow canines but loves her big sister; possesses meaty thighs and beautiful feathers; and remarkably loves to have her teeth flossed nightly by the alpha male of our household.

kathleen

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.

paperswell and the tattered cover

Laura and I are so excited that our new art magazine paperswell: modern design ideas for paper goods & weddings is now in bookstores.

And not just any bookstore- The Tattered Cover Bookstores. The 40-year old Denver institution is a destination for not only loyal local patrons but visitors from around the globe including prominent folks like JK Rowling, Ansel Adams, Shirley Temple, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope and many dignitaries and U.S. presidents.

Please stop by one of the Tattered Cover Bookstore locations and ask Pete for a copy of paperswell if you are in the city.

 

 

 

calligraphy rubber stamp no. 3

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."