1006
Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Fun day of tubing
« on: June 15, 2014, 03:41:26 PM »
Brad, I'm praying for your mom & family! God bless each of you!
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1007
Introductions / Re: Hello from Texas!
« on: June 14, 2014, 06:57:48 PM »
Howdy, Katie!! I'm in Texas, too! Welcome to the Forum!! Where are you located? I'm in the Panhandle!
1008
Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: copperplate with a Brause 76 nib
« on: June 14, 2014, 06:46:28 PM »
Thank you so much! I'm going to see if I can find a little basket like that!
1009
General How To's & Projects / Re: How to Mix Gouache
« on: June 14, 2014, 12:27:39 PM »
@Andy T: We Yanks also engage in mutilating English, sometimes just to annoy our friends across the Pond! 
Just kidding @ourclosestally!
Just kidding @ourclosestally!
1010
Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: copperplate with a Brause 76 nib
« on: June 14, 2014, 12:24:18 PM »
@Ken: Beautiful work! Could you possibly post a photo of your wife's jewelry cleaner container?? I wonder if I can find something similar here in the States? I have a little basket jewelry cleaner, but it is open on the top & I fear that the nibs would come flying out & go down the drain! Does your wife's have a lid that closes on the top?
1011
Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Time is Eternity
« on: June 14, 2014, 12:19:31 PM »
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary! I hope that you had a happy celebration!
1012
Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Should beginner's start with Copperplate?
« on: June 14, 2014, 12:18:21 PM »
I learned Copperplate first! I got plenty of books (Eleanor Winters' first book was my "Bible"!), read them all through, then dug in! The hardest part for me was finding the right supplies! I avoided a nib like the plague, being intimidated by the ink & having to dip. But, none of the pens I bought gave me the the "thick and thin" lines that I was trying to make. Through trial and error, I eventually ordered nibs and an oblique holder and was able to get the "look" that I wanted! This went on in 2012, which I think may predate The Forum here. Erica has a recommended supply list & there are many tutorials available online! The ones here, at IAMPETH and on Youtube are all great! When I'd get stuck making a letter right, I'd Google "Copperplate Capital A" or whatever and would watch 2 or 3 videos. I'd pick my "favorite" and then begin practicing it. You can ABSOLUTELY start with Copperplate and with enough practice, you can develop a very acceptable Copperplate hand!
1013
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Exciting Announcement - Dasherie Magazine
« on: June 14, 2014, 08:14:09 AM »
Erica, I am unreasonably excited about the magazine!!! :-) Can't wait to subscribe & then get my hands on a copy! I hope that everyone will subscribe & that you will turn a profit and be able to continue on for years! Have you reached out to advertisers? Surely there will be interest from nib makers, ink manufacturers, etc! I know that it's going to be brilliant!!
1014
Kind Critique / Re: Opinions on Monogram Stationery
« on: June 13, 2014, 12:19:57 PM »
Lori, that is STUNNING!! I am absolutely in love with it!! I know your mom will be thrilled! You should frame the original for her! I know that she won't want to ever use the last piece of that beautiful stationery!!
1015
Kind Critique / Re: Reality check
« on: June 13, 2014, 12:16:22 PM »
Great improvement!!
You mentioned slowing down & while I was learning, I was going too fast, trying to write like I do when I write in script or sign my name. I finally saw a video where the instructor said something like, "When you are doing calligraphy, you are not writing, you are DRAWING!". I don't know why, but that simple statement threw some kind of switch in my brain!! I then began to draw each letter and forget about speed, etc. It made all the difference to me!
You mentioned slowing down & while I was learning, I was going too fast, trying to write like I do when I write in script or sign my name. I finally saw a video where the instructor said something like, "When you are doing calligraphy, you are not writing, you are DRAWING!". I don't know why, but that simple statement threw some kind of switch in my brain!! I then began to draw each letter and forget about speed, etc. It made all the difference to me!
1016
Introductions / Re: Hello from Houston, Texas!
« on: June 13, 2014, 12:09:14 PM »
Howdy, Kristie! I'm also in TX! I'm in the Panhandle, but am in Houston often, visiting friends & family! I'm going to go to Etsy to look at your pretty things!
1017
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Things that should be invented for calligraphers
« on: June 12, 2014, 07:15:50 PM »
I've tried the Phantom liner and it also made my eyes hurt! And, it's difficult to keep the envelopes "square" to the device, or at least it was for me. That defeated the purpose for me! The envelopes would keep shifting & I would realize that my writing was going at an angle, when I thought the envelope was square to the device. I tried several "cheats", but doing stuff like taping a piece of paper to the device, so it wouldn't move, then cutting up file folders from my office to make a "frame" that the envelope would sit squarely into, and that helped to cut down on the movement. Didn't help with my hurting eyes, however! :-)
My daughter's wedding envelopes were lined & I got the Phantom Liner to try to throw some lines on the envelopes. Because of the above-mentioned issues, I ended up doing all of the envelopes free-handed. For some dumb reason, I am generally able to write in a straight line without assistance. Don't know what that's about, as I don't otherwise have any "mad skills".
My daughter's wedding envelopes were lined & I got the Phantom Liner to try to throw some lines on the envelopes. Because of the above-mentioned issues, I ended up doing all of the envelopes free-handed. For some dumb reason, I am generally able to write in a straight line without assistance. Don't know what that's about, as I don't otherwise have any "mad skills".
1018
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Longevity of various nibs
« on: June 12, 2014, 06:54:15 PM »
I adore the Brause 66EF. I have been "branching out" based upon the recommendations here, but when I'm "really" going to work, I go to the Brause! It was the first nib I ever tried (I tried pens before, as I was afraid to dip into the ink). I have found that there is HUGE variation in the life of a nib! I had one little workhorse Brause nib that lasted 2 months under pretty heavy use. (Boy, was I sad to see it go!) I've had 2 Brause nibs in a row that had the right-side tine snap off. (Have I changed my angle? My grip? My pressure? Just a bad lot??) I have had nibs that didn't last a week under "normal" use (1 hour a day Monday - Friday, about 4 hours on Saturday & Sunday is about normal for me.). I think that what Schin said about variables such as cleaning & heaviness of hand, etc., all affect the length that a nib will last. But, I also think that length of time actually doing calligraphy is also a huge factor. A nib that is only used 30 minutes per day, ought to last a heck of a lot longer than a nib that I am using to address 100 invitations & I'm doing it for hours a day!
I ordered a dozen Hiro 41 nibs from , based upon recommendations here. The first one I tried would NOT accept ink, no matter the method I used to try to get the machine oil off. (I tried flame, rubbing alcohol, toothpaste, spit, etc., etc.) It went into the trash! I tried the second one (ordered from Paper & Ink Arts at the same time) and it inks like a dream! I just believe that there are variations in the manufacturing process that affect the nibs, but which are not apparent to the naked eye. I think that also affects longevity of nibs!
I ordered a dozen Hiro 41 nibs from , based upon recommendations here. The first one I tried would NOT accept ink, no matter the method I used to try to get the machine oil off. (I tried flame, rubbing alcohol, toothpaste, spit, etc., etc.) It went into the trash! I tried the second one (ordered from Paper & Ink Arts at the same time) and it inks like a dream! I just believe that there are variations in the manufacturing process that affect the nibs, but which are not apparent to the naked eye. I think that also affects longevity of nibs!
1019
Show & Tell / Re: A Study in Contrasts: Gothic & Copperplate
« on: June 12, 2014, 04:36:09 PM »
Ken, I wish I lived closer to you, so that I could learn at your feet! I love every single thing you post!! I want to be you when I grow up!!
I love every single thing you post!! I want to be you when I grow up!!
1020
Tools & Supplies / Re: A Review of the Leonardt Principal EF, in Comparison with the Gillott 303
« on: June 12, 2014, 03:52:07 PM »
@Quiche: I did try to "rescue" a Brause EF 66 nib once, after watching a tutorial on Youtube. (Don't know if the video is still available!) Some very nice European guy had posted the video and claimed that it was very easy to do with extra fine sandpaper. I gave it a whirl, and since the nib wasn't working anyway, I thought, "Why not?"! My result: nib was ruined before AND after my little sanding job! My sanding had no apparent result whatsoever. I got mad and got out my little Dremel drill (hint: don't make Texas women mad!) and put on a sanding tool and attacked that little nib. After sanding & then buffing the edge of the nib, I got SOME improvement. (My mood improved greatly, though!) I used the nib a couple of more days & finally just trashed it & got a new nib! I'd be interested in hearing if anyone had a different result!