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

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 - No. 4 of Hymns That Last

This is the fourth page in my Hymns That Last journal:

Crown Him with Many Crowns by Matthew Bridges, 1851 (Alt. Godfrey Thring, 1874).  I love this hymn.  The full list of 27 "Hymns That Last" can be found HERE.

The Calligraphy Guild of Indiana will be hosting a weekend workshop with Reggie Ezell October 5-6, 2013.  If you are interested in attending, then please read more about the workshop by CLICKING HERE.

If you did not see the story on NBC Nightly News regarding penmanship this past Sunday, then here is a link to the full story.  The third video down is an interview with Michael Sull.

For the Full Story, CLICK HERE.

Finally, although this information is not calligraphy related, some of you many find the following information as useful as we have.  Should you ever want or need to know how the US government rates a particular nursing home, then go to www.medicare.gov (NOT medicare.com) and use their Nursing Home Compare tool.  A nursing home may appear to be first rate, but it's difficult to make an accurate assessment.  Medicare's Nursing Home Compare tool allows you to see how the nursing homes in a particular city or zip code compare to each other on various and important criteria: CLICK HERE

If the link doesn't work, then go to: www.medicare.gov and click on Find Nursing Homes.   

Enjoy your weekend.

Go forth and flourish!

(Happy Birthday, Sue!!)

Flourish Friday - Talk Less, Listen More

A piece inspired by Proverbs 10:19. 

Looking forward to the next three days and attending Peter Thorton's Casual, Playful and Inventive Capital Letters and Decorated Letters of Adolph Berndt workshops.

Happy weekend, Friends!

Go forth and flourish.

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Luke 11:28

Happy March 1st! Spring is around the corner, and here is a bit of color to brighten your Friday. The calligraphy was done with a Nikko G and Moon Palace Sumi.  I then layered it onto a watercolor background  I did during a Jacqueline Sullivan workshop - all this and some tweaking of the colors done in Photoshop.

Go forth and Flourish!

xo

Jane

Flourish Friday - IAMPETH Silent Auction

This is one of two pieces I am donating for the IAMPETH silent auction which will be held tonight at the convention.  (I am composing this Flourish Friday the night before I leave for Milwaukee, and it should post automatically while I'm away.) I hope to share all the wonders of the convention in the weeks and months ahead!

Have a terrific weekend.

Go forth and flourish!

xo

Flourish Friday - Bird and Banner

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

11.11.11

Thank you, Veterans.

Peace,

Jane

Flourish Friday - Contemporary Illuminated Letters

Here are a couple of baby cards I made recently using decorated capitals.  At a Calligraphy Guild of Indiana meeting in early 2009, Erika Woods showed our guild what she had learned in her class with Nancy Culmone at the Letters Mingle Souls conference.  The examples Erika showed were beautiful - very subdued and earthy.  I am creating an A-Z alphabet which I'm calling my "Colorific" alphabet. (As in color terrific hopefully and not color horrific.) :)

Speaking of bright colors, have you seen the Jelly Belly masterpieces? I meant to include a little blurb and link back at Easter, but I forgot.  Until June 1st, the Indianapolis Children's Museum is exhibiting the works of Kristen Cumings.  Kristen created eight mosaics of famous masterpieces, including "Mona Lisa" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring" using...Jelly Belly jelly beans!! 

After June 1st, the exhibit will be displayed at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center in Fairfield, California.  You can check out the entire gallery of Jelly Bean Art at the company's website by clicking here. (There's even a William and Kate...oops...Catherine piece!)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Go forth and flourish!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday and Lisa Hopkins

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 Happy Flourish Friday! Here is a little flourish for you. I used Dr. Martin's Pen White and a Zebra G nib.

Recently I had the great pleasure of meeting Lisa Hopkins of Lisa Hopkins Design.  I was first acquainted with Lisa back in 2005 when we both participated in the Cyberscribes' monthly ATC (Artist Trading Card) exchanges.  I learned Lisa had just moved to Indiana, and she had joined the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana.  Over the years I kept bumping into Lisa and admiring her work through Cyberscribes and CGI exchanges.  Lisa launched her own business several years ago making unique and custom designed jewelry - much of which incorporates her beautiful lettering. 

Lisa Hopkins

 When I learned Lisa would have a booth at the Indiana Artisan Marketplace in Indianapolis, I was eager to meet her and see her work first hand. This is Lisa! She is as sweet as she looks. I was so happy to finally meet Lisa after all these years! 

Necklace and Earrings by Lisa Hopkins Design

I am now a happy Lisa Hopkins Design customer! This is the necklace and earrings I purchased from Lisa. I love this quote - an adaptation from Thoreau's "Walden." It would also make an excellent gift for a young woman's graduation; don't you think? It's such a unique design, and I love wearing it.  It makes my head hurt just thinking about how Lisa gets her lettering to look so fine on such small pieces.  

To see more of Lisa's fabulous work, visit her website by clicking here.

This year Lisa is designing a new ring each week which you can check out on her blog by clicking here.

You can purchase Lisa's designs at her Etsy shop by clicking here.

Have a great weekend!
So glad this post did not get lost amidst all the Blogger problems!

Flourish Friday - A Fun Book and Macy's Follow-up

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This is a little booklet I made for a friend using sweet Jan Kruger's instructions.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

It's a really cool structure, and thanks to Jan's great instructions, not difficult to make at all.

I did make my cover top a little bigger than the directions.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I did some pointed pen lettering on some of the panels.

You can find Jan's directions for this "Flat Panel Book" in a pdf by clicking here.

Visit Jan's blog by clicking here.

Thanks Jan! I loved making this book. :)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

As I mentioned last week, I did some on-site calligraphy for Macy's (a department store) on Valentine's Day.  For any customer that purchased a Heart of Haiti pendant, I would personalize the inside of the card with calligraphy.  It was for a great cause, and I had a wonderful time. Thanks to Peggy and Nancy of Macy's for making it such a great experience!  See the Heart of Haiti pendants by clicking here.

Wishing you a terrific weekend! It is a beautiful day here in Indy!!

Word Verification with A Flourish

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I crack up at some of the word verifications that Blogger generates. You know the word you're asked to type in the box when you want to leave a comment on some blogs? Well, I've been collecting these silly, little words in a journal in hopes of getting a complete A-Z list.  I was always taught it's better to practice writing words rather than just individual letters when studying calligraphy.  Instructors will have you choose a category (cities, flowers, trees, names, etc.) and then write a list of words A-Z.  So this is my A- Z list of goofy word verifications.  I'm just playing here - I had no particular script in mind.  I'm missing K, X and Z, so if you happen upon any word verifications beginning with those letters you'll know where to send them. :) I used a Gillott 1068A nib and Moon Palace Sumi on a watercolor background.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 This was a recent commission. I used a Spencerian No. 1 nib and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White on periwinkle card stock.

Thank you so much for all the 25th anniversary congratulations and good wishes!

(((Big Hugs))) You all are the best!!

I hope you have a delicious, sweet filled weekend.

Where did October go?!

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Judy Melvin Workshop

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Recently, the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana was fortunate to host Judy Melvin for a "Neuland with Attitude" weekend workshop. Neuland is an alphabet designed by Rudolf Koch (I'll wait while you bow.) It has a 0 degree pen angle which makes it SEEM as though it would be easy to learn. Above is one of my practice pages from the workshop. It says "Love is a choice" not "Love is a choke" or "Love is Hoke." :-)

Judy (in the striped shirt) is leading a discussion on the workshop participants' practice pages.  

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

The letter "J" done with an Automatic pen loaded with Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor.  (Thank you Diana!) The details were added with a fine point brush and the same watercolor.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

"R" done with an Automatic pen and watercolor. The thin strokes were done with the corner edge of the pen.  The flourishes were done with Pro White and a fine point brush.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This "J" was created by drawing the letterform on Contact paper and then cutting it out with an Exacto knife.  I used the negative space and stuck it to a piece of Arches Text Wove.  We then added watercolor, ball point pen and Magic Fairy Dust (Schminke Rich Pale Gold powder). Judy learned to use Contact paper rather than frisket while working for American Greetings.  I think it's a great idea! You can use either the positive space or the negative space and use them again and again.  (You may want to press the sticky side of the Contact paper against your clothes to pick up some lint before placing it on the paper.  That will help prevent the paper from tearing when you remove the mask.)

Judy demonstrating for the class.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This is my practice page using fresh bleach on Arches black cover.  Judy has been hoarding the old Arches black cover. Evidently, Canson now owns Arches and changed the process for making black cover.  Judy said you can no longer get the black cover to turn white with bleach, only a salmon color.

Here I am with the incredibly talented Judy.  Her lettering is exquisite, and I loved the workshop!!  I have Judy's book "Art Expose: A Collection of Techniques for Creative Expression." I feel ready to tackle some of the techniques in her book now.  (Well, just as soon as wedding season is over!)

Happy Flourish Friday!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Flourish Friday Giveaway!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

It was my intention to celebrate my 100th blog post with a giveaway, but my 100th post occurred while we were away in July.  Instead, I hope you'll join me in celebrating my 111th blog post!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I made this little book using some of the paper I made at my guild's 2008 "Tortured Metals" workshop with Victoria Pittman.  (A different piece of paper from that same workshop serves as part of my blog's header.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 The book consists of 4 two-sided pages.  I purchased the acrylic book from Mike Meador at Coffee Break Designs. (You can read more about that HERE.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I filled the book with a few of my favorite quotes.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 My apologies for punching a hole directly through the "o" of "only" on the right hand page! ooops!!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

My sincere thanks to everyone that has encouraged me and supported A Place to Flourish.  My initial goal for beginning this blog was to motivate myself to create finished pieces for my guild's exhibits.  (You can read my very first post HERE.)  Blogging has not only helped me accomplish that goal, but it has also introduced me to so many wonderful people.  With your encouragement, I have felt empowered to play, explore and learn...to share my experiences in the studio...warts and all.  Thank you for making A Place to Flourish my vehicle for creation.  I am thoroughly enjoying the journey!

By leaving a comment on this post, you will be registered to win this little book.  My international readers are welcome to participate.  The deadline for leaving comments for the giveaway is 12:00pm Eastern Time on Thursday, October 7th.  (**Update: Registration is now closed**) I will select the winner via www.random.org and post the winner in next Friday's post.

Happy Flourish Friday!

XOXO

Jane