Flourish Friday - Paper & Ink Arts' Guest Blogger

Hello Friends!

I'm blowing off the cobwebs from my blog to let you know the lovely Jennifer Allen invited me to be a guest blogger over at Paper & Ink Arts.  

Click here to check it out!

Happy Flourish Friday and Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

xo

Jane

Flourish Friday: Gratitude

Dear Friends,

As I sit here working on my bookkeeping and taxes for 2014, it dawned on me that I am long overdue in expressing my gratitude to you for helping me with my fundraising efforts for The Raining Season.  Thanks to your support, my goal of donating $1,000.00 to TRS was realized on "Giving Tuesday" December 2, 2014. The funds were directed to the fight against ebola.  Although the battle isn't over yet, the outlook in Sierra Leone is much brighter now than it was back in October.

Thank you for helping my business be about more than just forming letters with ink!

xoxo

Jane

Golden Shopportunity - Calligraphy for a Cause

Hello, Dear Friends! It has been over 7 months since my last post to A Place to Flourish, and I hope this finds you well.  

I have a Golden Shopportunity for you!

I am on a mission.  As some of you may recall, Tom and I support The Raining Season, an organization working with the poor and orphaned in Sierra Leone.  As you can imagine, they are experiencing very difficult circumstances due to the Ebola virus outbreak.

I am hoping to raise at least $1,000 by selling the pieces and prints of my work which I have accumulated over the past few years.  I have reopened my Etsy shop and will be listing all the items there. I have already listed a few items and will continue to do so, until I've listed everything I have in stock.  Please check my Etsy shop often in the weeks ahead, because it will take me awhile to take photos of everything and get the items listed. For a limited time, I am offering free domestic shipping for ANY item in my Etsy shop.  If you are interested, then please use the following coupon code at check out:

FREESHIP4TRS14

In addition to covering the shipping expense, I will donate the profit from each sale to The Raining Season. You may visit my Etsy shop via the following link:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/APlaceToFlourish

You may keep abreast of The Raining Season via their blog by clicking HERE.

I hope you'll take advantage of this Golden Shopportunity.  Not only will you be able to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, you will be able to help alleviate the suffering caused by the Ebola virus, and you will help reduce my pile of pieces and prints.  It's a win, Win, WIN!!!

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Studio Overhaul

 Helloooo Friends! It's been over four months since my last post.  I've been keeping busy with a number of projects; one of which was giving my studio a much needed overhaul.  In the image above and video below, you can see how cluttered I had allowed my work space to become...

Ugh! I was beginning to suffocate.

 This image was taken during the long, overdue purge.  I tried to remove as many things as I could from the studio.

I am slowly and judiciously bringing items back into the studio. 

This is my main workspace. This image was taken during the purge, before I brought my light box back into the studio.

This is the same view now.

 Another view during the purge...

 ....And after.  My desk had been in another part of the house.  I'm happy it's now in my studio.

 My bookcase looks so anemic now.  I donated two, FULL suitcases of books and periodicals to my guild's White Elephant Sale.  My biggest challenge will be resisting the urge to buy more books.

I actually have room to practice some Carolingian!

My Mac Space. 

I updated my pen racks using burlap. :)

I apologize for not posting sooner.  I appreciate your concern and support, and I'll try to post more often. Although I'm rarely on Facebook, I think my blog posts will still link there automatically.  I have been sharing images on Instagram, and I link them to my Flickr account.  If you're on either of those two sites, then feel free to look me up by my username:  carmelscribe

Don't forget.....IAMPETH is coming to Indy this summer!! Convention registration for members begins this coming Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 11am Eastern Standard Time.  If you are an IAMPETH member, then you should have received an email recently requesting that you update your member information.  All IAMPETH members are asked to update their information via the new system as soon as possible.  (Whether you plan to attend the convention or not)

I hope to see you here in Indy this August!

xo

Jane

Hymns That Last - Page 5

Hello! I hope this finds you well.  After a month of reruns/reposts, this is new material.  Pictured is the fifth page in my Hymns That Last journal:  Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken by John Newton (1779) 

5 down, 22 to go!

To see the first page, CLICK HERE.

To see the second page, CLICK HERE.

To see the third page, CLICK HERE.

To see the fourth page, CLICK HERE.

The full list can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Don't forget you are welcome to follow me on Instagram.  I have been regularly posting images of my calligraphy there.  My username is: carmelscribe

I'm so use to saying, "Enjoy your weekend!" but it's only Wednesday :) .....still.....

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Practice and Nib Testing

Following is a reposting of my May 28, 2010 Flourish Friday.  If you would like to read the original comments associated with this post, then CLICK HERE.

If you would like to see the practice pages I did in 2008 (a long time ago!) testing a variety of pointed pen nibs, then CLICK HERE.

Have a great weekend!

xo Jane

This is a practice page done on 100% cotton, resume paper using a Gillott 170 nib and Moon Palace Sumi.  E.A. Lupfer is one of my favorite Master Penmen, and these exercises can be found in his "Ornate Pictorial Calligraphy" published by Dover.  I am naturally heavy handed, and it takes great concentration for me to lighten up.  

For those in the States, I hope you have a lovely holiday weekend! Tomorrow is Matt's graduation open house.  I am swimming in a sea of "to do" lists, but I am looking forward to celebrating this milestone with family and friends.

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Fun Technique

Happy Friday, Friends! Following is a reposting of my August 26, 2011 Flourish Friday.  If you want to see the comments from the original post, CLICK HERE.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Rachel and Matthew started classes at Purdue University this past Monday. I think I've shared before that I try to write to them each week while they are at school.  I enjoy trying new techniques on their envelopes.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

At IAMPETH, Brenda Broadbent and Linda Hirsh shared a very cool technique using a black Glaze pen.  It so happens this past Saturday the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a picnic. Each member that attended received a goody bag which included a black Glaze pen. (Insert Happy Dance.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 The Glaze pens have this little protective bulb on the end which must be removed before using the pen.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Brenda and Linda demonstrated using the black Glaze pen on black paper.  They showed the technique using elaborate Zentangle designs, but I just did some basic block letters filled with simple designs.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Once the Glaze pen lettering has dried, you go back in with colored pencils.  I used Prismacolor pencils. The marks from the Glaze pen are raised, giving an embossed look.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I still thought the lettering needed something. I went back in with a white Uniball Signo pen and added drop shadows to help the letters pop a bit more.  (I made copies of one of my old Zentangles to put on the kids' cards.) Glaze pen on dark paper = Fun stuff. :)

You've probably heard that Brenda Broadbent is selling Paper & Ink Arts to Al Allen of Durable Supply Co.  /  Marker Supply Co.  I know Brenda has been looking for the right buyer for her company for a looooong time. I wish both Brenda and the Allen family the very best for a smooth and orderly transition.

For those of you in the path of Irene, I pray you are erring on the side of caution.

Wishing everyone a happy and SAFE weekend.

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Fraktur Caps

Following is a reposting of my November 13, 2009 Flourish Friday.  I love ornamental Fraktur capitals, and my recent workshop with Reggie Ezell has given me even more ideas...

To view the comments from the original post CLICK HERE.

For this week's Flourish Friday, I tried my hand at Ornamental Fraktur. Believe it or not, this is the letter A.

I used some blue ink that was packaged with the pen my husband bought me in Venice. (You can see that glass pen in an earlier post here.)

I used my 6mm Pilot Parallel Pen. I filled a spent cartridge with a Monojet syringe. I like the Parallel Pen for practice. It is easier for me to get consistent thins from this tool than it is from a broad edge dip pen.

My reference was chapter 6 from Bill Hildebrandt's wonderful book "Calligraphic Flourishing." Some Flourish Friday I'll have to show you the Whopperplate I bought from Bill! :-)

I hope you're all Flourishing out there! Have a great weekend!!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - The Saint John's Bible and Diane Von Arx

Following is a repost of my June 11, 2010 Flourish Friday.  Please be sure to click on the link to Diane's page at The Saint John's Bible website, and watch the video interview with Diane.  I believe the interview has been added since my first post.  I learned from Reggie Ezell that original pages of The Saint John's Bible will be on display at the Canton Museum of Art in Ohio beginning December 5, 2013.  Find out more at the Museum's website by CLICKING HERE.

Here's the repost.  To read the comments from the original post CLICK HERE.

I recently had the privilege of attending my local calligraphy guild's workshop with Diane Von Arx.

The workshop "Oh My Gouache" was excellent!  Diane taught us there are only two things that can go wrong when working with gouache: getting the gouache too thick or getting it too thin.  

She had us trace Roman letters and practice painting them with our fine point brushes. We were to leave a small gutter between the letter and our background to help the letter pop.  My gutter got a little clogged here and there, so I went over it with a pointed nib and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White.

Diane continually challenges her students to look, really look, to be observant, critical and exacting.  She encouraged us to pay attention to the details and to always expect the best from ourselves.

Here Diane demonstrates painting a Roman letter using a student's paints.  (Diane's favorite gouache is Windsor & Newton Designer's Gouache.)

Here is the lovely Diane! Don't let that beautiful smile fool you...she is a taskmaster!! (But in a good way, not in an intimidating way.) :) She demands that you always do your best work. Don't just draw a baseline, get out the T-square and do it right.  Why create a piece, when you can create a MASTERpiece?!

Here Diane explains one of the Special Treatments she did for The Saint John's Bible.

If you would like to learn more about The Saint John's Bible project click here.

To say the project is "incredible" is a gross understatement.  In addition to the books that are already available, Diane said there will be a special edition of The Saint John's Bible. I can't wait to see it!

Diane was gracious enough to do lettering for each student to take home.

She was too savvy to take me up on my request for "Merry Christmas....Love, The Farrs"

Drat!

However, she did email me her 2009 Christmas card.

How beautiful is this?!!!!

Thank you Diane for a terrific workshop, and thanks to Jacquie Banks for the great job she does as the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana's workshop chair!

To visit Diane's website, click here.

To visit Diane's page on The Saint John Bible website, click here.

Happy Flourish Friday everyone!

xo

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Changes

 The Times They Are a-Changin'...  I have been posting each Friday for over 4 years now, and it's time for a change.  This will be my last "new" Flourish Friday.  I will be selecting some of my favorite posts from the past 4 years, and if I can figure out how to do it, update and republish them for the next several Fridays. (I wouldn't make you go cold turkey.)

After that, I will continue to post but randomly so.  I intend to systematically go through the materials for all the different workshops I have taken over the years.  I want to spend time reading my notes, going over the instructors handouts, and then (surprise!) taking the time TO ACTUALLY CREATE SOMETHING based on what I've studied and learned!  I seem to come home from a workshop or class all fired-up, but then the next thing I know time has passed without me doing anything.  I know I won't be able to do it weekly, but I will post to my blog after each workshop I revisit - including the Reggie Ezell workshop I will be taking this weekend. :)

(The above says, "Choose Love")

Even though things will be changing a bit, I hope you'll continue to follow me here at A Place To Flourish.  In the meantime,  I will post images on my Instagram account. 

My username is: carmelscribe

You're welcome to follow me there if you'd like.

(The above says, "Choose Love, Take Joy, Be Content, Give Thanks, Forgive Quickly)

Above is a peek at four of the five pieces I have in the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana's exhibit at Sullivan Munce Cultural Center in Zionsville.  The opening reception is tonight from 5-8pm, and the exhibit will on display through November 9, 2013.  If you'll be in the Indianapolis area, then please check it out.  Julia Fish Thompson, a CGI member, is having an exhibit of her work just a few blocks away at Robert Goodman Jewelers.  Julia's opening reception is tonight also (5-8pm), and her exhibit runs through November.  Two calligraphic treats for the price of one trip to lovely Zionsville!

I have enjoyed preparing all 268 of my weekly posts.  Blogging has been such a terrific experience.  For me, it's not as noisy or time devouring as Facebook, and I've met so many wonderful people.  Thank you for joining me as I happily wander along on my calligraphic journey replete with bad poor grammar and misspellings.  I appreciate your company along the way!

Happy weekend, Friends.

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Paper Folding Project

I don't use Pinterest much (actually, I'm trying to spend LESS time on the internet), but I was intrigued by THIS POST my niece pinned.  I thought it would be fun to try and make a paper candle holder using paper with my calligraphy on it.

I downloaded the template from the Mini-eco site and print it on plain copy paper.  I printed some old lettering I had done with one of my Coke pens onto ecru resume paper.

I followed these instructions from the Mini-eco site. I left the paper template on top of my lettering while I did the scoring. I wish I had taped the template to my lettered paper with blue tape, so it would not shift during the scoring.

I did the vertical (mountain) folds.

 Then the diagonal (valley folds) folds.

As with many paper folding projects, attention to detail is important.  My folds were off kilter here and there, which proved frustrating later.

I wanted to give-up on the project more than once...

...but I didn't, and I finally got the two halves folded.

 I taped the two halves together with double stick tape.

I popped in a flameless votive candle...

and waahlaah! :)

I think I have about 5 hours and 2 acetaminophen in this little guy!

Enjoy your weekend, Friends!

Go forth and flourish!!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Logo Design for Moonshine Hill Inn

I was delighted to receive these promotional images from my client, Ann Johnson. Ann owns Moonshine Hill in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee and has hired me for a few special projects, including this logo design.

 She gave me permission to share these images of her beautiful getaway.

 Ann wanted the logo to have a "seeing double" feel to it as a nod to the property's moonshine making past.  The Leiper's Fork area, just outside of Nashville, is gorgeous - lots of rolling hills - and I wanted to incorporate that feel in the design as well.  I normally do logos in black ink, so it's always great to see how an art director brings them to life.  

The fire looks so cozy.  Looking for a special getaway?  A venue for a wedding or special event?  Call Ann at Moonshine Hill!

To visit the Moonshine Hill website, CLICK HERE.

(Be sure to watch the video.)

I am sad to learn of Gwen Weaver's passing.  I admired her novel approach to the pointed pen.  She created and developed her own alphabets - some with crazy, bent nibs - and she shared them generously with all through her teaching.  Years ago when I was a student in one of Ellen Simon's classes, other students were showing what they had done in a Calligraphy Guild of Indiana workshop with Gwen Weaver the previous weekend...and that was it for me....I didn't want to miss another opportunity like that...so I joined the guild.  Thank you for that Gwen.

I think I will go find some of my favorite Gwen exemplars and practice.
Go forth and flourish, Friends.