Winter Envelope

This December I participated in an envelope exchange through the Society for Calligraphy. The calligraphy is a variation of copperplate. It was really fun to create this snowy scene. I received a very cute snowman design envelope from Florence!

Framed Gift

A new client came to me with a request to calligraph the lyrics from a Keith Urban song, Without You, on a large matte for a photograph. It is an anniversary gift she is giving to her husband. The challenge was figuring out the size and spacing to fit the lettering in perfectly. Okay, it's not perfect, but close : ) I've not done this before, but I think it's a great gift idea!

The Word is ART

I am ecstatic to tell you about a new gallery that is going to open on the 17th of November. And...I'm going to be an artist in the gallery! My good friend Renee Troy has had a dream to open her own gallery for as long as I have known her. About six weeks ago, Renee rented a beautiful space in Culver City and has been collecting artists and fixing up the place at record speed. It's shaping up beautifully. Above is the invitation I made up for the opening. Below is a sampling of just some of the artists' work. 

I've dabbled in watercolors and in jewelry making, but I never imagined I would be in a gallery. I know this will be a wonderful experience of growth for me. I am eternally grateful to Renee for continuing to be a shining example of creativity, strength and courage to move forward in life and keep evolving.

Below are examples of some of my work in the gallery. If you're anywhere near the area, it would be wonderful if you came by to check it out.

Oh So Beautiful Paper

I'm thrilled to share a post on Oh So Beautiful Paper . Several calendars are featured...and the one I did for Sugar Paper (see previous post) was one of them!

Calendar Calligraphy

I'm so excited to show you the lettering I did for Sugar Paper's new calendar! I love their choice to print in white on craft. Hope you like it too.

Wedding Menus

The calligraphy here was done on beautiful, heavy card stock. Though it doesn't show in the photo, the cards have a beveled shiny gold edge, and the calligraphy is also a shiny gold. I did these for Megan, whose wedding is today in Santa Barbara.

New Style

The style I"m using here is based on a popular new font, Carolyna. I've gotten lots of requests recently to do this script which is nice because I always have fun utilizing a wide variety of styles!

Script Table Names

I just completed these table name signs for a client. Since the pointed pen can only make a line so thick, after doing the lettering with the gold gouache, I went back in with my pen to make all the thick lines thicker. The style is a variation of copperplate.

Wedding Invitation & Monogram

This invitation is another pretty one produced by Sugar Paper. The client had requested this style of calligraphy for their names and then later wanted to add a coordinating monogram. The bride, Rebecca, really wanted an interesting ampersand to help make their monogram unique. Using pointed pen, copperplate style, I was able to create something she was happy with. I always find it especially inspiring and exciting to design something totally new and customized for each invitation.

Beloved

A friend and favorite client of mine, was asked to contribute a piece of fabric to be incorporated into the chuppah for an upcoming wedding. Janis came to me to letter this quote onto a handkerchief that she provided. It's fourteen inches square and very thin. I went to the art store to get fabric markers, but they didn't have the calligraphy tip that I wanted. I bought several pens and thankfully one of them worked without bleeding ~ the Marvy calligraphy marker. I sketched out the quote on tissue paper then using my light box, tautly taped the handkerchief over the layout and did my writing. I had to work fast to prevent any bleeding so it would have been better in the end to use a fabric marker. I'm just happy Janis liked it and hope the bride and groom do, too!

Monogram

I just received these samples from Tova Glenn, designer and owner of Brighten My Day in Atlanta. She is such a pleasure to work with. I was excited to see my monogram design letterpressed on a note card, invitation and envelope lining. I've never seen a lining with letterpress ~ very pretty! Also in the photo is an insert that has a foil stamped monogram. So fun to see the monogram used in so many ways.

Copying Fonts?

 I sometimes have clients come to me with a request to copy fonts that are entirely non-calligraphic. Generally, I recommend that the addressing diverge from trying to mimic a font that is obviously not calligraphic/ hand lettered and that I do something that coordinates with the font but does not try to copy that font. I recently got a request for such and agreed to do it because the quantity was so small. Copying a type/font that is rigid, non- calligraphic is quite time consuming. Here is a sample of the lettering. Happily, the client was quite pleased with my lettering.

Swash Script

I just finished these seating cards for a client. The font is Bickham Script which has a vast array of alternate swash letters. It's really fun to have the variety to choose from. And, I always love the way white lettering looks on chocolate brown!

Foil Stamped Stationery

I have had the pleasure of doing work several times for Tova Glenn of Brighten My Day , a wonderful invitation designer in Atlanta. She recently had a baby girl and requested I do calligraphy for her stationery. I see so much letterpress, which I love, but it was fun to see my lettering done in foil stamping. I particularly like the pink on pink!

Pink & Black Wedding

Another beautifully designed invitation by Sugar Paper. For this one I was asked to provide the calligraphy for just the bride and groom's names and words to highlight the other two pieces. We also used just the initials of the couple for the return address and response envelope. I like the simplicity of this invitation suite and love the addition of the pink letterpress on the borders.

Wedding Invitation

Here's a letter pressed invitation I did for the talented invitation designer, Tova Glenn of Brighten My Day . I had a lot of fun with the bride and groom's names on this one.

Wednesday night Vanity Fair, along with Anna Zegna and Colin Firth and his wife Livia, hosted a dinner at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. It was a fundraiser for Oxfam, an international organization that works in over 90 countries to end poverty and injustice. I was hired by Vanity Fair to personalize the menus with each guest's name. The style I used here is a variation of Spencerian calligraphy. In addition to calligraphing the menus, I was asked to be on site in case they needed any last minute changes or additions. The dinner for 50 people took place in one of the charming bungalows at the hotel. If you'd like to see a slide show of some of the guests, you can check it out here .

Valentine Card Take 2

Here's an addition to my last post showing the same greeting card in hot pink with gold foil stamp.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A new lettering design I did for Sugar Paper. I love that they used white letterpress on the kraft paper, plus who could resist the cute lining. Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Wedding Invitation

I received a request from sweet Danielle in Texas to design her wedding invitation. She and Brian had seen a sample of my calligraphy that had been used for a Sugar Paper mailer. They also sent me a photo of a layout they really liked. Originally I had recommended doing the bottom right copy in a very simple type, but Danielle was in love with all the curves and swirls, so I did it all in calligraphy. Congrats to Danielle & Brian on their upcoming nuptials!