Flourish Friday - Calligraphy from Around the World

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I hope all of you in the States had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I am happy all four of us are home together (oops, five - sorry, Sheba!) for the first time since August.  Now, if I can just escape the laundry room and kitchen long enough to enjoy the kids before they head back to university...

This past week I was informed that A Place to Flourish was chosen as one of "40 Fantastic Calligraphy Blogs" by Web Design Schools Guide - what an honor!  You can read the article and see the other 39 sites on the list by clicking here.  Explore their blog to see and read other interesting articles, such as "50 Best Blogs for Watercolor Artists."

Another great site for exploring the World Wide Web for calligraphy is the link page of Lettergekletter.  Thanks to Lejla Kollar for bringing this site to my attention several months ago.  You can browse calligraphy sites by country.  Although the list is not exhaustive, it is pretty comprehensive.  Go to Calligraphy From Around the World by clicking here.

Go Forth and Flourish!!

Flourish Friday - Waxing Poetic Jewelry

www.waxingpoetic.com

Patti Pagliei of Waxing Poetic jewelry contacted me last year to do some flourished script for a new line of charms she was creating.  These are just a few of the designs I did for her.

www.waxingpoetic.com

I'm not sure how Patti's carvers managed to maintain the thin strokes as well as they did.  I'm sure it was quite a challenge - especially given the small size!

www.waxingpoetic.com

I think they were originally going to be very, small charms, but these are pendant size.

www.waxingpoetic.com

I think they are lovely!

www.waxingpoetic.com

Especially on her!! :)

www.waxingpoetic.com

If you're lucky enough to find yourself in the Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley, check out the Waxing Poetic new, flagship store.  

To visit the Waxing Poetic website and see their beautiful -- and letter and alphabet friendly jewelry-- click here.

Find a store near you that carries the Waxing Poetic line by clicking here.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Feathers

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here is a Flourish Friday Feather for you!

I used McCaffrey's Black ink and a vintage Hunt 22.

I made the trip over to Columbus, Ohio earlier this week to take a couple of days instruction from Bill Lilly.

 I was fortunate to sit in on his final class with a group of Japanese women.

They were such a lovely and fun bunch -very talented too!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Bill was giving instruction on bird flourishing - feathers too.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I'll try to get this bird turned around so you don't have to crane your neck. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 There. ( I think the bird is happier now...)

Also pictured with Bill and his Japanese students, is Sandy Mundy. She was instrumental in getting Bill's "The Art of Beautiful Script" book published.  She is a sweetheart!

I learned so much during my time with Bill. (Thank you Bill!)

I think the key word in this certificate is "satisfactory."  :)

The key now is to practice, practice, practice. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

It is such a sunny, beautiful, fall day here in Indiana. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Trinket Bird

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I am saddened of the recent and sudden passing of Mike Meador of Coffee Break Designs.  The news made me long to dig into my stash of Coffee Break quirkiness.  Mike always carried the most unique items. My daughter and I loved going to the annual Coffee Break Designs warehouse sale. He and his family were always so warm and welcoming. I made the piece above using an ATC sized piece of acrylic I bought from Mike.  I've always liked this saying.

Here is another Coffee Break treasure.

I painted the spacers and covered the bird and its base with some of my flourishing which I had scanned and printed.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I added a little, red heart salvaged from an old earring. The earring was in a giant bag of old jewelry my daughter bought at a vintage clothing shop in Broad Ripple.  I think Mike would have liked that.  

I know for certain he is enjoying his eternal reward.

Today would have been my mom's 79th birthday. She too is enjoying the party of all parties.

Don't just enjoy your weekend dear friends; enjoy your life.

(((Big Hugs)))

Jane