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 - Envelopes: Reuse, Exhibit and a Giveaway

Happy Flourish Friday, Friends!  Here are a few more images of how I reuse envelopes.

For envelope work, I require 10% extra, blank envelopes.  The extras are used when there's been a change to the list after I've already addressed the envelope or if there's been an error on my part or the client's.  At the end of the job, I will hold back several blank envelopes from the remaining 10%.  I do this because there are often late additions to the list even after the client has mailed the invitations, or an invited guest will move and their invitation needs redone.  It's much easier for both the client and myself, if I already have extras on hand.

If I'm left with any envelopes after the wedding, then I may try to reuse them - whether they've been addressed incorrectly or they're still blank.  I realize this isn't for everyone! I don't do it with every job, but sometimes it just feels like such a shame not to reuse them.  I can salvage parts of the liners, back flaps, and even the corners. 

The return address is normally preprinted on the envelope, which I must cover or cut out.

I cover the return address with a portion of the back flap, or the liner from a back flap, leaving enough margin to add my own return address.

 I just noticed I didn't finish the "k" before I took this photo.  (I can't remember if I finished it at all!)

The easiest way to cover a return address is to cut the gummed area off of one of the discarded envelopes.

It's usually a large enough strip to cover the return address but not always.

I know this seems tedious, but I seem to like tedious, time consuming projects!  I can spend hours goofing around with envelopes and addressing them.  To view a previous post about reusing envelopes:   CLICK HERE

You can find a variety of stamps from  the U.S. Postal Service, including accurate information about the design and issue of each stamp, on the "Buy Stamps" page at their website: USPS

Isn't this a pretty pen holder?  It was made by Chris Yoke, one of the newer members of the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana.  CGI is blessed to have some terrific new members.  Chris brought some of the pen holders he made to one of our New Members Group meetings.  I think he was surprised when I asked if I could buy this one!  He now has an online store.  If you'd like to learn more about Chris, his interest in penmanship, and his pen holders, please visit his website here:

Yoke Pen Company    If you sign up online to receive his newsletter, then Chris will enter you for a chance to win a FREE pen holder! How about that?  His first giveaway is July 1, 2013 - that's Monday, so you better get on over there. You can find the Yoke Pen Company giveaway page: HERE

One final thing: I received word from French calligrapher, Emmanuel Spaeth, about the call for entries for the 2013 edition of Mail Art Across the World (MAAW).  No matter where you live or your skill level, I hope you'll consider participating in this wonderful exhibit of calligraphic mail art.  The submission deadline is November 30, 2013.  Read all about it here: Mail Art Across the World

You can view my posts about previous editions of MAAW HERE and HERE.

Enjoy your weekend.

Go forth and flourish!

Flourish Friday - Fun Technique

©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.

Flourish Friday - Mail Art Across the World 2011

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I have finished and mailed my envelopes for the 2011 edition of Mail Art Across the World (MAAW).

I encourage everyone to participate!! Although I did an envelope for each of the four addresses, you don't have to do it that way.  You can make and send just one or as many as you choose.  The above envelope was done with a 3.8mm Pilot Parallel Pen filled with Higgins Eternal for the broad pen work and a Zebra G comic nib with Moon Palace Sumi for the pointed pen.  Bill Lilly showed me the beauty of going back in broad letters with a pointed pen.  I used a Brause 515 and Dr. Martin's Bleedproof White to do that on the capitals. I love the look of it and want to do the alphabet from A to Z.  Fiona's A Letter A Week group is inspiring me!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

I used both manufactured and handmade envelopes. Above is a page I did at Victoria Pittman's Tortured Metals workshop. (More about that workshop here.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This page is from a previous Flourish Friday post. (See it here.)

I like using an envelope template.  I bought these inexpensive templates years ago from www.greensneakers.com.  (I think the company has since gone out-of-business, but they may be available elsewhere.) Of course, you can easily make your own template by deconstructing and flattening an existing envelope. I like a template with a window, because it helps me identify areas that would be good for addressing.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

This is an old practice page. I washed over it with water to move the existing lettering to the background. I didn't want the background to overpower the address.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

For this envelope, I did the address on a sheet of translucent paper using Moon Palace Sumi and a Hiro 700 nib. I had to add a second, plain piece of the translucent paper underneath, because the background lettering was competing with the address. This stitching technique was inspired by a card Barbara Calzolari sent to me. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC
I used a ruling pen and FW Acrylic Artist's ink for this envelope. I went back in with gel pens and a hot foil pen on the capitals. I like using postage stamps from my old collection. 

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

For this envelope, I used a combination of Neuland and Gwen Weaver's Romancing the Roman.

I used the same FW acrylic and a Speedball C-0 for the Neuland and a Hunt 22 for the pointed lettering.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

The Mail Art Across the World deadline is April 1st.

Join the fun! For details click the link below:

Mail Art Across the World

If you decide to participate, I'd love to hear from and see your submission!

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful words and prayers, both here and privately, this past week.

Tom,  his family, and I took great comfort knowing you were lifting us up.

(((Big Hugs!)))

Wishing you a flourishy weekend - even if that means ice skating in your front yard!

Flourish Friday - Call for Entries

©Jane Farr Calligraphy &  Design LLC

Calling all letter lovers from around the world! On behalf of French calligrapher, Emmanuel Spaeth, I invite you to participate in the 2011 edition of Mail Art Across the World (MAAW).  All calligraphers--from hobbyist to professional, beginner to experienced, pointed/broad pen to brush--are encouraged to create and submit an envelope for this project. The MAAW project is held every other year.

Please go to the MAAW website and click on the little box for your language to read how to participate. (For English, click on the "UK" box.)

Click here: Mail Art Across the World

I hope you'll join me and submit an envelope (or two, or three!)  It is a wonderful opportunity to try that new technique or alphabet you've been thinking of - OR - if you haven't practiced your calligraphy lately, let this wonderful project motivate you to do so.  The submission deadline is April 1, 2011.

Unlike other envelope projects, there is no judging or prizes.  All entries are accepted, appreciated, and displayed online and in the physical exhibitions.

Please share this information on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or pass it along to members of your calligraphy guild, etc.  The MAAW organizers would love to have as many artists participate as possible.  The top photo and those below are a few of the envelopes I submitted for the 2009 MAAW edition. You can see these, as well as HUNDREDS of amazing envelopes in the gallery at the MAAW website.  I believe all the envelopes from the 2009 MAAW edition are currently on exhibit in Budapest, Hungary.

©Jane Farr Calligraphy &  Design LLC

©Jane Farr Calligraphy &  Design LLC

Join the fun!

You have until April 1st, but try not to procrastinate!

Have a flourishy, good weekend.

Go Colts; Go Boilers!

:)

Jane

Flourish Friday - September 25

I love doing white calligraphy on black paper! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I will try to do a real post next week. :-)