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The Library / Re: “Learn American Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering, History, and Design
« on: April 17, 2024, 09:46:17 PM »
I'll look into it.
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2
Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Engrossed Diploma from 1912
« on: April 17, 2024, 09:44:54 PM »
Wow. Fantastic.
3
Show & Tell / Re: Calligraphy
« on: April 15, 2024, 10:40:50 AM »4
Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Total Eclipse
« on: April 11, 2024, 10:39:33 AM »
We were about 82% total here in Atlanta, but it still fun to wee. In the first photo, my wife used a colander as a pin-hole telescope to view the eclipse. The rest are images of the eclipse generated by the sum filtering through various trees and bushes around the house. Big fun.
5
Broad Edge Pen Calligraphy / Re: Gothic Variation
« on: April 10, 2024, 09:45:50 AM »VariantThat is indeed quite striking.
I like those idiosyncrasies--they make it outstanding from its peers.
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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Written with a superb nib
« on: April 10, 2024, 09:39:42 AM »@Erica McPhee
P.S. Would you believe a different box?
I would. You are a very smart buyer.
Quote
Also, I still look at that gorgeous inkwell EVERY SINGLE DAY. Sometimes I just pick it up and stare at it.
I'm happy it gives you pleasure still after all this time.
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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Written with a superb nib
« on: April 09, 2024, 05:19:52 PM »Goes out to you this week, but may be slow to reach you, as mail from Atlanta is very slow. No need for postage--I have lots of international stamps that need using.Anyone ( @Cyril Jayant , @Mark T , @JanisTX ) who would like to try one, just pm me your current address and I'll send you one, no cost. As @Ken Fraser said 7 years ago, given my age, I probably have enough to see me through.
WOW!
What an offer. I will pm you my address, but I live in the UK, however, I am more than happy to send you the coverage for postage.
Mark
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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Written with a superb nib
« on: April 09, 2024, 02:38:11 PM »@Masgrimes I have been so fortunate in that I invested in a box of vintage ones about 15 years ago.Ah, yes, invested is the right word. A good buy, but closer to 6 yrs., 9 months ago--time does indeed fly but not (thankfully) that quickly. Trot those boys out @Erica McPhee , and give 'em a workout. They're dying to be used. Your work is so good now, you can really get the most out of them.
Anyone ( @Cyril Jayant , @Mark T , @JanisTX ) who would like to try one, just pm me your current address and I'll send you one, no cost. As @Ken Fraser said 7 years ago, given my age, I probably have enough to see me through.
As to whether the new ones are less good than the old ones, I can't say, @Masgrimes , as I have only the old ones, but if you would like a few old ones to compare, let me know (I have your address, of course).
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Happy Valentine's Day
« on: March 28, 2024, 04:44:58 PM »
Hi everyone.
Yesterday, my wife received a Valentine's Day card. From me. Mailed Feb 5, 2024. Mailed to our house via a post office 1/2 mile away. Then sent to a major sorting facility about 10 miles away. The 20 mile round trip letter took 7 weeks and two days to get here. Go USPS.
So, there is a little hope that any of you to whom I've sent a letter in the last several months might actually some day receive it.
Yesterday, my wife received a Valentine's Day card. From me. Mailed Feb 5, 2024. Mailed to our house via a post office 1/2 mile away. Then sent to a major sorting facility about 10 miles away. The 20 mile round trip letter took 7 weeks and two days to get here. Go USPS.
So, there is a little hope that any of you to whom I've sent a letter in the last several months might actually some day receive it.
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Show & Tell / Re: Restaurant introduction
« on: March 27, 2024, 04:29:15 PM »12
Tools & Supplies / New source of organically grown, vegan, gluten-free, recyclable penstaffs
« on: March 24, 2024, 05:33:38 PM »
Just returned from Arizona with these.
Written with walnut ink
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Nibs:
First photo: Chilean Mesquite Pod #1
Second photo: Chilean Mesquite Pod Stub
Written with walnut ink
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Nibs:
First photo: Chilean Mesquite Pod #1
Second photo: Chilean Mesquite Pod Stub
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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Gillott 303
« on: March 24, 2024, 05:22:22 PM »14
Show & Tell / Re: Bastarda Espanola
« on: February 18, 2024, 09:59:33 AM »
Don't see that form of "g" much. Very nice.
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2024 Exchanges / Re: Love Letters 2024 Exchange Sign Ups are Now Closed
« on: February 01, 2024, 10:01:44 AM »@Mark T
Hiya,
Well, my exchanges have been sent, and at first, I thoroughly enjoyed the practise, but by the time it came to writing for sending - everything went,..... ermmm, lets say it all went '.... up'.
Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.
Not to worry. The self imposed pressure is off.
Having a deadline to send these exchanges off is actually a great idea. It encourages one to put to bed a project and send it away in spite of the self assessment that it is not your best work or even "good" work. I've sent many exchanges off that I was not at all satisfied with. If I waited until I thought these were satisfactorily good work, I probably would have sent few if any. One tip I use to lessen any pressure to get these out is to impose upon myself an earlier deadline to send them out, say a day or three or even a week early. That way, you can relax more as you do it, knowing you have time to redo it if you want. Look forward to the next one with the belief it will be better assuming you practice and the desire to improve remains.
Give up the idea of "mastering" any script. I have yet to meet any calligrapher who would say they have "mastered" anything--there will always room for improvement no matter your skill level. Enjoy the improvement over time--it will come.
Troublesome nib? Put it aside. It may be the ink/paper/nib combination is not right. Don't fight on with it but rather take a minute to see if it works with different ink or paper and/or choose another nib of the same kind or a different nib altogether. When no combination works, then maybe you're just having a bad day. Put the pen aside for a few hours or a day, and then resume. If you still want to make progress in the interim, study some--an instruction book, an exemplar, or just cruise through other forms of inspiration here (say, look at the "now and then" thread) or elsewhere in books or on line.
In the end, obey the 7th guideline from our fearless leader--"Have Fun".