Saturday, December 31, 2011

No calligraphy for me this weekend...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Noodler's Flex Nib Piston Fill Resin Fountain Pen - Panther Pink:((  Well...it IS New Year's so I guess I should take a break.  But really, we're heading to Miami to see the Dolphin's last home game and hopefully one more in the W column.  One of these days though I'm going to get one of those Noodlers fountain pens with the flexible nib.  Maybe THEN practice will be a little more portable and no matter where I go I can write. 

Anyhoo...I hope everyone has a blessed and safe celebration and 2012 is a better year than 2011, or really the last several years.  My resolution?  To get good enough that I can sell some pieces so I can then buy more supplies and gadgets!!   Cheers!

Blog post with pics:   http://www.inknouveau.com/2010/12/noodlers-flex-nib-pen.html 

where to find them:
http://www.gouletpens.com/Noodlers_Flex_Nib_Pens_s/903.htm

Friday, December 30, 2011

Dazzling Diamonds and glue pens

I like sparkly stuff.   Found this neat glitter by Stampin' Up called Dazzling Diamonds that adds a lovely shimmer to penwork.  It doesn't show up well in pictures so anyone interested in this sort of thing will have to trust me on this.   What I like to do is get a ballpoint glue pen.   Martha Stewart makes some and you can get them at Michael's, Joann's, and probably Hobby Lobby.   Here's a card I stamped the other night with a plain, wintery scene.  It's pretty simple as it is.  But sweep the glue pen across the 'ground' and branches, sprinkle with the glitter, tamp off the excess and VOILA!...it's a winter wonderland.
 
It's easy to use and looks just as pretty with flourished pieces.   Oh...another thing that helps is to find those tiny spoons often served with ice cream.  They are perfect for getting a bit of glitter or embossing powder out without having to dump the jar.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Ozment writing system

One of the things I've learned about penwork is the role muscle memory plays in crafting the letters.  That's why when I practice I try really hard to do it the right way--warming up first, making sure my posture is good, making sure I am using the large muscles of my arm and not wiggling my wrist as in normal writing, etc.   Seems someone back in the day dreamed up a way to help people get that  motion down with a series of cards embossed with the correct forms of Spencerian letters.   Included was a stylus to trace the grooves.   I haven't tried Spencerian yet though I'm interested.   If and when I do, this may help.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tree earrings

Before I pack up things for the year, I wanted to quickly post this because I will be putting these with the other Christmas 'jewelry' I have.   I had an idea to do tiny flourished earrings using extra small glass ornaments.  I did the tree as I normally would but much smaller and to fit within a 1" circle.   Centering the circle over the design, punch as usual.  Now the tricky part.  I had to be fast on this because I didn't want the paper to stay curled.  Curl the paper around a smaller object like a skewer and quickly insert in to glass ornament.  I then used sharply pointed tweezers and then toothpicks to move the paper around until position correctly.   A dab of glitter glue on the end of a toothpick and placed at the bottom of the sphere helped to hold the paper in place.  After setting, I added earring wires to the ornament wire and re-attached the ornament top.  The black paper doesn't show the tree as well as I'd like so the next one I make, probably next year, I'll use lighter paper.  It was a fun experiment and I have some larger glass ornaments I plan to use for something similar--maybe personalize with someone's name, add another flourish, who knows? 




Morning practice

I feel better about my nine's now.   I think I like the one's without that ball thing at the end best.  Seems when it has to be curved back up it just looks weird.   Played a little with some zero's and I like the one with the X on top.   Got to stop now, other duties calling..laundry.  Yuck

Calligraphy suitcase

I've mentioned this in a previous post so thought I'd explain what it is.  Basically it's an old cosmetic case--probably a man's since it came with a suit brush and shoe polishing cloth.   Fake alligator exterior, really disgusting taffeta interior.  I ripped out the guts, cleaned and painted, then decoupaged (remember that from the 70s and wooden purses?) the exterior.  I put some thin cork inside, decorative contact paper, and cork squares on the lid section for push pins.  On the outside I also added a 'chalkboard' on the top just because.  It's the perfect size for my small lightpad, some practice pads and sheets, corner punches, a light, ruler, nibs, colored pencils, nib holders and other things I like to have with me.   The only drawback is the way it's carried, which doesn't lend itself to liquid items.  Soooooo...I'm working on another cosmetic case that is a vintage woman's.  Both have keys which will keep things from accidentally flying out.  Will post pics of the second when I'm done.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Envelope maker

One of the gals in our local Scribes received this as a Secret Santa after our annual luncheon.  I've made envies with instructions online before but this makes it soooooooo much easier.   You can find it at their website or cheaper (I think) on Amazon. 
http://www.crafterscompanion.com/The-Enveloper_p_29.html

I can not only create envelopes but line them, create little envelope boxes if I make a card that needs some space, etc.   Another neat tool for the growing arsenal.

A favorite gadget

How many times do you go to a workshop, need a power source and are no where near one?   I found this at Radio Shack and love it.  It's a power inverter with ports for many devices.  I use it mainly with my Artograph lightpad.  Since the lightpad only uses a few amps and the unit is for 90 watts, I've been able to leave it on all day without running out of power.   It is a bit heavy but small so it fits in my calligraphy suitcase.  It cost around $60 on sale and definitely worth it.
Here's what it looks like:


Monday, December 26, 2011

Number 9





A little practice tonight with the number '9'.  I think I see where some of my problems may lie.  I put an X over the one I like best of this cut.  I can't make a 9 the way I normally would.  I have to make the right side first, then join the loop.  Didn't worry about the little ball thing at this time.  I can add that later.  I want to get the basic '9' nailed. 
I start with a small hairline arch at the top and establish the long curving stroke--watching the slant at the same time.  Then I go back in to the hairline at the top and sweep around, trying to maintain an oval, and attach just above the top of the 'x' height line.  I did try a few zeros, but it's probably best if I just concentrate on one number at a time.
I've noticed with other letters and numbers that sometimes it helps to deviate from the way I normally would make them.  Maybe it tricks my brain and hand in to doing better by not falling back on the old way which doesn't work with pointed pen writing?

Post-Christmas practice

OK...New Year's resolution:  I'm going to focus like a laser on the things that bug me the most in my writing--starting with the numbers 0 and 9.   Just to get an idea of where my starting point is, here is an example of both from this year's envies. 


Only thing halfway right about this is the angle.  There should be a smooth hairline at the top and bottom with an even swell in the middle on both sides.  And what is that break at the bottom?   Pathetic.
Again, the angle...henh.  But there should be hairlines at the tip and bottom with a little swell and a balancing swell on the right. 



   No where near what they should be.   It'll be tomorrow late before I can sit down to practice but I'll start with the zero and post pics tomorrow. 

Saturday, December 24, 2011

She shoots...she SCORES!

Not really. Anyone who knows me knows I am pretty far from being an athlete of any sort. Unless there's food involved by I digress. I'm excited though because I've recently bid and won on eBay some boxes of vintage nibs. Whole boxes.   They'll probably come next week but I have two boxes each of Hunt 100 and 103, and  Esterbrook 354 and 355.   I've never tried them but they sound like good nibs.   Last week I managed to get a mixed bag of vintage nibs and included were some Eagle 830s.  I'd never tried a bowl-shaped nib but found I liked it and when a box came up for auction, I got that one.  So I'm neck deep in vintage nibs and will have a good time trying them out and sharing with other pen people.  Happy Holidays indeed.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!

It's almost here...the BIG day.  There will be quite a bit to do from here on out, cooking and the like, so I doubt if I'll get to post any new practice pieces.  Here's something I did back in October, a practice Christmas tree.  I think this was the third one I did so I was starting to feel more comfortable with it.  Like many things, it gets easier to figure out what you like or don't like the more you do it.  I was fairly happy with this BUT (and this is big for me) I have a tendency to overdo it.  Flourishing is a load of fun and it's nice to let your imagination run wild but perhaps I should dial it back a bit eh?.  With that, I say Merry Christmas to all, and to all...well, you know the rest.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A fiend for flourishing


I love flourishing.  Really.Love.It.   Based on the work of penman in the Victorian era, flourishing usually has some plant elements that complement the strokes.  This little cartouche was from a bookmark I did in November.  I used some inexpensive burgundy pearl watercolor for the word, then filled it out with simple holly leaves and gold watercolor berries.   In studying the work of the penman from the 1800s, rarely were the plant elements botanically correct.  Leaves, flowers, etc were more suggestions of types of plants.  People get it though and I just think it's lovely to look at and great fun to do.  

The obligatory first post

     Hard to say why I started a blog now. Another way of chronicling what I do and a different way to critique myself.   As I was finishing my Christmas cards last week, I remembered the first Christmas I tried to address envelopes.  Buried in boxes of decorations I found some from 2009.  I had taken my first classes in copperplate engrossing and felt pretty darn good about myself.  So as I sat down last year to do envelopes, I compared the two and was a little embarrassed at how good I thought I was.   Bleck.   On the bright side, there was improvement.  I'd like to think there is even more improvement in this year's envies.  It's always a good idea to save pieces and date them.  They provide a time capsule of sorts, can help show progress or regress, and can give a much needed lift.

I still hate some of my numbers, my "R"s look weird sometimes but I think I'm starting to figure out what I like and don't like (that little ball thing on majascules drives me bonkers). 

Oh yeah....see that nifty little inky blurb at the bottom of the 'h' of the 2011 pic?  Hate it when that happens.   I'm sure Edie isn't going to flog me for that!  :)   Cheers!