Messages

16

Spencerian Script / Re: No drills club

« on: June 22, 2016, 04:47:09 PM »

Well, if you all don't do drills and your work looks like THAT, then I'm all in, NO DRILLS!! lol

I, too, have done very few drills. And once I got to writing words, I didn't feel I benefitted from those minutes of drills. I much prefer writing and practicing with actual words and certain ligatures I'm struggling with. Especially with a new ink or a new nib.

Oh, that logo is perfect!! :-D

17

Flourish Forum News / Re: Please read regarding emails!

« on: June 08, 2016, 06:27:25 PM »

Things can only go up and get better, from here! Hang in there!

But in regards to DirectTV - they are HORRIBLE! I've paid my monthly bill every single month and I have no service right now. Why?! My AT&T internet is still on. My phone line is disconnected, though. I called, and called, and called. They are missing a payment. I asked how that's possible if it's all one bill and some of my services are ok, but some are not. DirectTV said they have nothing to do with AT&T and I need to pay them directly. I asked them to find the last payment I made to them. They told me to call AT&T. I did. They said they don't show any type of overpayment, blah blah. That same day, I get a letter stating all of my services would be on one billing statement. So, tell me again why you can't find my payment and disconnected my services?! Oh, and now you want to charge me disconnection fees, reconnection fees, not fulfilling my contract fees, fees upon fees. I think not! They are the worse! Ugh. Ok, rant over.

18

Tools & Supplies / Re: Precautionary measures for mold growth

« on: June 07, 2016, 12:31:35 PM »

Very useful information. Thanks Elisabeth!
I've been doing this a while now - transferring new ink into smaller bottles. And even then, I transfer ink into smaller dinky dips to work out of! I have a whole storage cart of labeled ink bottles, lol. It looks like I have so many various inks, but it's due to all of the smaller bottles.

So last night I was getting ready to work on a project, and I couldn't open my ink jar!! My husband couldn't open it, either! And it's gold ink!! Here's a link to a photo I had previously posted of the jars - glass ink jars - I thought they were cute, not so much anymore! lol  Are these "safe" to transfer ink into - and how can I now open it?! LOL 

Also, your instagram link doesn't work! 

19

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Winners of the 2016 Graceful Envelope Contest

« on: June 06, 2016, 03:20:25 PM »

Beautiful work, Chantelle!!

(I didn't realize you could see the person's name if you hovered over the envelope image, so I was scrolling and thinking "let me see if I could pick out Chantelle's envelope from all of these" and sure enough, I did! Once I clicked on it is when I realized the names could be seen!) LOL

20

Spencerian Script / Re: A little Duntonian Anyone?

« on: June 06, 2016, 03:09:19 PM »

Thank you for sharing! This is beautiful!

21

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Hearst Castle - Script everywhere!

« on: May 25, 2016, 02:20:11 PM »

I toured the Hearst Castle this past weekend, and took way too many photos! So many beautiful things to see! Something that caught my eye were some lamp shades throughout this man's office and bedroom, all with various scripts on them! Also inscribed on a stone mantle was a phrase in Latin. Here's more info on Hearst Castle, in case you're interested. My photos are "too large" to post, hence the links.

22

Coffee & Nib-bles / Article: Pieces Of Handwriting That Are So Satisfying

« on: May 20, 2016, 01:43:27 PM »

Have you seen this article: Pieces Of Handwriting That Are So Satisfying

3. I have seen more "beautiful" 'minimum' written by some of you here!
7. "impressive cursive writing" the writer of this article should see some of the FF members' work! 
9. I concur!
12. Whoever wrote this needs to give a tutorial on spacing and alignment!

23

Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: And that, dear postal services, is why people don't send letters anymore...

« on: May 20, 2016, 12:54:35 PM »

  Oh, I feel your pain! So frustrating. 

24

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Timing, Exchanges, and New Members

« on: May 19, 2016, 06:25:03 PM »

So much to do and so little time! But worry not, we will all be here, patiently waiting. No worries. No rush.
 
Congratulations to your son! And congratulations on the new house! Very exciting times!!

25

Tools & Supplies / Re: Gillott 303 news!

« on: May 17, 2016, 02:44:31 PM »

Looking forward to purchasing and actually being able to use these! Woohooooo!!

26

Show & Tell / Re: My First Commission......

« on: May 16, 2016, 02:19:35 PM »

Bravo! Beautifully done!!

27

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Fixing mistakes

« on: May 13, 2016, 02:14:58 PM »

Oh how I wish I would have seen this just 2 days ago! 

I finished a commissioned piece, I was so happy with it!
I had been using a piece of similar paper between the piece and my hand, to prevent oils from getting on the actual piece.
When I got to the bottom, I lifted my hand, only to realize the piece of protective paper was still on my hand (thanks a lot skin oil/sweat, whatever!) and within a millisecond, it flew off my hand and graced my finished piece - smearing ink upwards on the last word. 
I didn't know how to fix it and it had to be left to dry overnight so I could mail it out the next morning - so I stayed up late and recreated it. Bummer.

28

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Ames Lettering Guide - any tips?

« on: May 11, 2016, 04:19:38 PM »

Ames Lettering Guide -

I have tried it a few times and have not loved it. Maybe I need more practice with it? Not sure. I have difficulty is keeping it straight, even though I have used a ruler as a straight edge on the bottom. I've watched YouTube video tutorials and just can't seem to use it properly.

Does anyone else have any tips for it?

29

Tools & Supplies / Re: My pens.

« on: May 09, 2016, 03:24:37 PM »

I had a small accident with the table saw two weeks ago, and it will be another week before I start physio. Just a reminder to all the makers and anyone with a workshop, safety first. Complacincy has no place in the shop. Just because you have done something the wrong way for years without incident, doesn't make it right.

My father had an accident a few years ago and ended up cutting through his index finger, with some type of saw. He was told he would no longer have feeling in that finger, and that his nail would probably not grow back in. Well, his nail grew back in and he has full feeling, movement and use of his finger! It took a while, so just be patient and careful.

30

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Quiet

« on: May 09, 2016, 02:55:54 PM »

It's Spring here in California... and it's been a weird couple of weeks. Sudden thunderstorms with heavy rains. We were expecting "El Niņo" this year and some parts of California got it more than others. I'm in central California, where we have been experiencing a drought, so any rain is welcome. But the saying is usually "April showers bring May flowers" and this year, it seems like it has brought more thunderstorms, power outages, mudslides, etc.

Thankfully, this weekend was a nice warm one. We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday (Sunday) and had a backyard bbq at my parent's house. We are 5 children and now 8 grandchildren, and we were all there running around like crazy kids, playing three-legged races, cartwheels and summer-salts, teaching the little kids how to do all of that. At one point, my German Shepherd (Apollo) ran up to my sister-in-law as she was face-down, getting ready for the wheelbarrow race, and began to lick her face, lol. My brother quickly reacted and pulled her backwards. It was too funny! Thankfully, my dad got it all on video! lol.

I'm married (no children), work full-time at a University (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm), and I'm involved in Church ministry (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday are our church service days), so I usually do calligraphy during my "free time" (Monday/Wednesday/Friday evenings, Saturdays) and whenever else my schedule allows. I have been trying to write/practice on a daily basis, and if you follow me on IG you'll notice that I usually post late at night, cause that's usually when I have the time to sit at my desk. But, you do what you can and you make it work. I have a new project deadline this week, for a project I haven't even started yet! Oh, that's going to be fun! lol.  

Oh, and I just picked up learning the bass guitar... my husband is a wonderful musician (and acrylic paint artist) and is teaching me the bass. I had my first lesson on Saturday. My fingers are still a little numb, lol. At one point I said I didn't think I could learn it, understand it... and he said "that's what you thought with calligraphy. Remember your first letters and words? And look at how far you've come! People are paying you to write things for them! The bass is easier than calligraphy. Trust me, you'll get it in no time!" I wish I had the confidence in myself, that he has in me!