Messages

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2024 Exchanges / Re: Perpetual Exchange #4 | Holiday 2024

« on: Today at 07:29:25 AM »

@TammyMacLellan I'm glad I checked this morning -- you were my next envelope to do! Have a joyful holiday season, Tammy. See you in the next exchange.

@Starlee Hi! Should we wait to send our envelopes until the strike ends? We can send a photo in the meantime. What do you think is best?

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Diamine Inkvent 2024

« on: Today at 07:20:35 AM »

Michael, that's cool! Is it a little bottle inside? Would love to see it, whatever it is.

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2024 Exchanges / Re: Perpetual Exchange #2 | Calligraphy Book Club 2024

« on: June 13, 2024, 04:05:12 PM »

Hi folks, gonna sit this one out. Have fun! -Janice

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: To Remove the Nib, or Not to Remove the Nib. That is the Question.

« on: June 02, 2024, 10:25:19 AM »

Haha, Erica! The piles, SO MANY piles!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: To Remove the Nib, or Not to Remove the Nib. That is the Question.

« on: May 31, 2024, 08:18:47 AM »

Haha, this is a funny and interesting thread. I never paid attention to this detail.

Like Teresa, a bit of laziness is the main factor here and so the nib remains. Sometimes I take nibs out (both pointed and broad) to clean and put them back. It's nice to be able to grab a ready-to-go holder and just write.

Out of curiosity, do you people put away their calligraphy materials (inks/tubes, drying racks, rulers, lightboard, etc.) every day, after project completion, or never?

I try to put things away every day to stay tidy (and keep away from my cats), but this is very hard to do.

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Online Learning / Re: Where to Learn Calligraphy Online

« on: May 31, 2024, 08:07:10 AM »

https://www.acornartsclassroom.org/ Hosted by Harvest Crittenden

https://www.patblaircalligraphy.com/ Pat offers online classes for Copperplate, Italic, and Flourishing/Painting

https://www.elmovanslingerland.com/ Elmo offers online courses on broad pen calligraphy. Sign up for his newsletter for online course updates.

https://www.ardingtonschool.com/#/ A UK-based school offering online/onsite workshops on calligraphy and studio arts.

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Introductions / Re: Thank you and greetings.

« on: May 31, 2024, 07:54:10 AM »

Hi Lacy, welcome to the FF!

That's great that you'll be able to focus on your calligraphy. In addition to Erica's suggestions, definitely check out https://www.patblaircalligraphy.com/. Pat is the former White House chief calligrapher and has offered a variety of calligraphy and painting classes since the pandemic. She has a very down-to-earth approach to her calligraphy, and I think you'll find it inspiring and easy to understand.

Have patience with yourself, be proud of your progress--big and small--and enjoy the journey!

Janice
Washington, DC

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2024 Exchanges / Re: Perpetual Exchange 2024 - Info & Sign Up

« on: May 09, 2024, 07:43:01 AM »

Hooray! I'm so happy to see that the exchanges are back. Hopefully this format alleviates some of the administrative burden. Thank you so much for this, Erica! <3

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2024 Exchanges / Re: LOVE letter exchange

« on: March 25, 2024, 11:52:31 AM »

Apologies for taking so long to write. Erica, I was blown away by this. Truly beautiful and so lovingly put together. When I opened the puzzle piece, I had the biggest smile.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'll treasure it. And it didn't need the chocolate!

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2024 Exchanges / Re: Love Letters 2024 Exchange Sign Ups are Now Open

« on: January 08, 2024, 03:29:34 PM »

Erica, do you mind letting me know if my sign up went through? I didn't get a confirmation email as usual. I'll sign up again, if not. THANK YOU!! <3

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Return address - top left or back?

« on: January 03, 2024, 10:51:45 AM »

Tiffany, glad you brought this up.

I usually put my return address on the back flap. I would say 25% of the time, those envelopes come back to me because the machine reads my return address as the recipient address, regardless of the stamp being where it's supposed to be. In fact, one Christmas card just came back to me, even though it was lettered the same as the rest that were mailed successfully.

Good idea to work our return address into the design of the front of the envelope. Looking forward to trying this out for the Valentines exchange!

Happy New Year, everyone!

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2023 Exchanges / Re: Exchange Share

« on: June 22, 2023, 06:32:27 AM »

Thanks, Erica! It is really such a great quote. I think of it whenever I see the Newman's Own salad dressings in the grocery aisle.

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2023 Exchanges / Re: Exchange Share

« on: June 19, 2023, 01:17:10 PM »

Here's my word salad exchange. I was lost on ideas until I came across this Paul Newman quote: "From salad dressings all blessings flow." If I had more time, I would have cut out the veggie shapes. And I wish I had thought to make a bowl.

Thanks for the challenge, Erica. These are exchanges are always good for a creative push!
Janice

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2023 Exchanges / Re: Exchange Share

« on: June 07, 2023, 06:11:21 AM »

Erica, the Chat GPT word salad message was hilarious, and truly unexpected. I loved it!

And such a beautiful beach theme for the peaceful calligrapher exchange. I was sad to have missed out on that one.

I'll post my word salad exchange later. Like Grace, I had a hard time coming up with something, but it was definitely a fun one.

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2022 Exchanges / Re: Secret Santa?

« on: March 04, 2023, 09:49:16 AM »

Erica, I really enjoyed this exchange. I received the most generous mail too from my Secret Santa. I would definitely do this again. It was nice to interact more deeply with a fellow Flourisher.