Messages

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Let's talk spit ...!

« on: July 21, 2016, 03:46:57 AM »

let's go, TeamSpit! I don't just spit on a new nib, I spit on an old one, too! Especially when I'm just about to write. I find that ink adheres so much better with spit on.

Our spit is magical, I can't even 

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Kind Critique / Re: Seeking critiques on my first (shy) copperplate

« on: July 20, 2016, 02:37:13 PM »

Hi, @sarthina ! I'd like to add a bit of my two cents here (although Jean's instructions have been very good! I learned a thing or two myself!). If you are having trouble with your grip, say heavy-handedness, I think a great way to loosen up and relax is to do running ovals. It's also going to help build muscle memory. Personally, I combine forearm movement with finger movement while writing Copperplate to help lessen fatigue on my fingers. When I was beginning, though, it was all just finger movement and I would always find my grip tightening as I continued to write. I'm not actually heavy-handed, but the strain I put on my fingers began to manifest as incredible pain. Only then did I try doing running ovals. I no longer do drills on the fundamental strokes, but before writing, I always make it a point to do a round or two of running ovals to help me loosen up I hope this helps! I'm not yet at a level to be considered as someone creditable to teach calligraphy, but I just wanted to share my own experience as to how I have conquered a heavy grip, which I think is a common problem for beginners, seeing as we are so used to holding ballpoint pens.

Cheers, and don't give up!

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Syed's pens

« on: July 16, 2016, 11:32:30 PM »

Aww, Syed! You have such an inspiring story! I've been following your etsy shop for a while now, and like you, I was just a student who couldn't really afford anything fancy, just the bare minimum! I just recently graduated and currently unemployed, and on the job hunt, but as soon as I get a job and get a bit of savings, I will definitely purchase your holders! I've been a spectator for some time now, but I have seen your pens grow, just as you have!

Congratulations on your recent purchases of a lathe and wood! Keep those pens coming! I can't wait to see how they turn out! One day, I will definitely own one!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Flourish Forum Fun Friday!

« on: July 16, 2016, 11:03:56 AM »

Thanks @Os ! Erica is giving great advice in her video. Always start with ascenders and descenders. Then tackle end of line and flourished capitals.
I'll probably do some kind of tutorial someday, but the best advice I could give is study and be patient with yourself 

@Erica McPhee makes flourishing look so easy and quick! I'm still developing my muscle memory and my range of (forearm) movement is still kind of narrow, so I often do flourishes /really/ slowly. Erica does it in a breeze! ;;V;;

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Flourish Forum Fun Friday!

« on: July 16, 2016, 10:27:46 AM »

@sybillevz I think we all want a flourishing video from you too! =)) Your IG is gorgeous AND hilarious! love your post about Pokemon Go and the colors you used were to die for!!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Flourish Forum Fun Wrap Up - Bullet Journaling

« on: July 16, 2016, 10:25:20 AM »

saw something about Bullet Journaling on BuzzFeed, too! I am absolutely horrible at keeping journals or diaries, but this bullet journal requires minimum effort!! ^v^

But knowing myself...hmm, well, I guess it's time to adult now and give it a shot! ;;A;;

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Flourish Forum Fun Begins Today!

« on: July 15, 2016, 02:27:34 AM »

Thanks for posting!  So inspiring!
Are you saying that when you wrote on marbled paper with sumo ink, it bled?  & so you wrote first and marbled second?  Does the marbling resist the ink then? 

Yup! I wrote on the paper before marbling it. In marbling, we use thickened water so that paint can float easily. The thickener I used was corn starch, which left a very slippery residue on the paper when it dried, so in a way, the surface of the marbled paper was "modified" and when I tried writing on it using sumi ink, it started bleeding! I also tried using Zig's Mangaka brush pen and although it had minimal bleeding, it was very difficult to write because the surface was very slippery!

I do like the residue, because it leaves a semi-glossy finish when dried

@Erica McPhee oh no, a new video! I was just about to get started with the Roman capitals!! I have to catch up!

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Flourish Forum Fun Begins Today!

« on: July 14, 2016, 07:27:18 AM »

ohmigosh, it feels like ages since i've written in print/Roman alphabet! Will definitely give the double strokes a try!

In the meantime, just wanted to share something I've been busy with because I need a distraction from all these IAMPETH feels: paper marbling! I first wrote in sumi ink, and then marbled the paper (the texture of the turns weird after marbling, and sumi starts to bleed!). But now I'm totally up for using @Erica McPhee  's exemplars and incorporate them into marbled postcards!!!

Paper marbling is super fun, but the set-up is super exhausting (which makes you forget IAMPETH! I swear, it works wonders!!) I got instructions from: http://www.danielsmith.com/content--id-110 although I used cornstarch because carrageenan is hard to find where I'm from

I'll be marbling again tomorrow, and will definitely write using Erica's double stroke Romans, so stay tuned!! haha

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Stationery addicts unite!

« on: July 14, 2016, 07:02:29 AM »

Me too! I LOVE cute character stationery and I have tons of it. Exactly the kind of sets you're showing. Japanese and Korean "letter sets" are the best! The paper isn't always good for calligraphy, but so cuuuuuuuute!

Character stationery is the best!!! If you have some, be sure to take photos and share them here with us so we can all fawn over cute characters ;;V;; Hopefully, my trip to Japan this December will push so I can buy more stationery (My goal is fill an entire small suitcase with nothing but paper!!! bwahahaha)

For those who like the Italian stationary and the vintage-y looking ones, have you tried looking at The Graphics Fairy website? 

Oooooh just checked it out, and the graphics look amazing! One thing I love about vintage images is the desaturated colors! I've always been a vibrant, rainbow kind of girl, but there's something about muted hues and shades that draws me to them, too!

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Show & Tell / Re: Engrosser Script: Sharing My Work

« on: July 12, 2016, 10:50:03 PM »

lovely work! and the colors go so well together! (let's talk about that gorgeous blue paper...haha)

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Stationery addicts unite!

« on: June 30, 2016, 12:20:16 PM »

Here you are....

THOSE. ARE. GORGEOUS. I love the vintage feel!

I took a workshop from Heather Held and we learned some techniques for those Italian designs.  Here's what I did.

Beautiful work! Man, I wish I could take a workshop from Heather Held ;V; Sadly, I don't have the budget for the workshop or for getting on a plane to the US But, wow, I wish I could make my own stationery!

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Stationery addicts unite!

« on: June 23, 2016, 03:31:01 PM »

I was lucky enough to be able to go to Italy in 2005.  I still have the stationery I bought in Florence.  It is so pretty......I finally used one of the cards a couple of months ago.   I am not sure what I am waiting on.   It is so beautiful, maybe I think my writing will take away rather than enhance it......  I have no idea.   I really should use it and share its beauty.   Great thread!


Sheila

Would love to see your stationary, Sheila! Post photos if you can ^v^ And yes, I sometimes think that my writing isn't worthy to be put on my pretty stationary HAHAHA

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Where in the World?

« on: June 20, 2016, 01:29:57 PM »

I'm from Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines!

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Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: Stationery addicts unite!

« on: June 20, 2016, 01:27:07 PM »

one good reason to use up currently treasured stationery is that the styles become a bit dated.

oh my gosh, yes, Jean, I know what you mean! I remember taking a look at my first few stationary--the ones I bought at our school store--just before they got damaged and thought to myself: "Oh my god, this is ugly." Like, no mincing words at all! =)) My current obsession right now are quirky characters. The Japanese are into characters. They have stores dedicated to characters like Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Pokemon, etc.! It's not something that I see in my country, and I've always been a cartoon sort of girl (in contrast to tv series like GoT HAHAHA), so I was very very fascinated with Japan's affinity for characters!

Oh my word! I thought I was the only one! I have a full bin of stationary ... I have trouble sending them too. The cat one you shared! Love! 

I have started to get better about actually using them now though. I think for some time it was a guilt that I didn't make it so I shouldn't send it to someone else. But I'm getting over that. 

Omg, do share some photos, Erica! I'm more of a dog person, but the cat one was just too cute! Haha.

Much to my dismay, I've decided to take the plunge and use some--especially the ones with a lot in them. Although lately, I've been obsessed with paper marbling, and make postcards with it. God I love paper haha!

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Show & Tell / Re: The most important lesson I've learned

« on: June 14, 2016, 01:08:10 AM »

I highly recommend printing the guidelines on the practice paper though. It makes a big difference in hitting the waist and base lines consistently IMO.

- Salman

Oh, I see! That sounds great! I'll keep that in mind the next time I go to a bookstore. My current favorite (white) paper right now is Doc Gail's Calligrapads! But I've already run out of the white pads, so I used my Rhodia. Anyway, yes, I agree, it's difficult to follow the guidesheets if they are just underneath the paper. I keep missing the waist and base lines!  Will definitely print guidelines on blank Rhodia as soon as a I get a pad!

Thanks Salman and Andy!