Topics

1

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Job for someone in Kansas City

« on: March 21, 2021, 09:53:56 AM »

I have a client in Kansas City who will need some envelopes addressed. I'm not sure I will be available, so if you are in KC and have either a website or IG account that shows examples of your work, please contact me through direct messaging. I have not seen the invitation, but it will be a small gathering for a bar mitzvah and a previous invitation I worked on was contemporary and I used brush lettering. So, it would be nice to find someone who offered both contemporary as well as traditional styles.
Thanks.

Erica -- has the topic of having a listing on the forum of professionals ever come up - so that we could do a search for someone in a particular location?

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / K-2's mite story

« on: October 11, 2019, 06:53:11 AM »

Let's hear the mite story. Please and thank you.

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Tools & Supplies / Foil stamping machine recommendation

« on: October 04, 2018, 11:49:39 AM »

The owner of the stationery store that sends me a lot of business just asked if I could recommend a foil stamping machine.
I know nothing about them -
does anyone here have any recommendations for a good one.
Or warning about any that do not work.

Thanks in advance.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Signed Zapf book - for sale

« on: May 14, 2018, 07:49:37 AM »

There was a post on CyberScribes this morning from someone with a very cool book. I do not want to post the person's personal information - but if anyone is interested in this book - send me a PM and I will forward it to the person who listed the book. Or you could go to Yahoo's CyberScribes - and maybe non-members can see the posts. I do not recall if posts are open or if you have to be a member. CyberScribes was the Flourish Forum in the olden days (founded in 1999)

Here is the post:
I have a beautiful clean, like new copy of Herman Zapf's "Pen and Graver" in English. It has its original plastic protective sleeve over the covers to keep it clean. It was published in 1952 on Italian Fabriano paper, with a preface by Paul Standard, and it is SIGNED on the page before the title page by Herman Zapf. I would like to sell it for $750 or best offer, plus shipping costs.

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The Library / Long List of Pointed Pen Information - compiled by Dr. Joe Vitolo

« on: May 07, 2018, 09:09:53 AM »

This just popped up on Facebook from Dr. Joe Vitolo:

"I have spent many years searching and documenting the art, techniques and historical information of our beloved pointed pen art form. A few years ago, I decided to document, or at least to put into perspective my own contributions to the pointed pen art form. The result of this admittedly self-focused ego-driven effort was this document that contains the download links for most of the documents and more that I created. They are all available for free. The URL links start on page 7. This document can be downloaded for free at:

http://www.zanerian.com/VitoloRecordOfPenmanshipContributions.pdf

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Completed/Past Exchanges / Archiving Your Exchanges

« on: January 30, 2018, 10:21:43 AM »

Something to consider before putting all your envelopes into one chronological scrapbook...
when I started exchanging mail - over 20 years ago - I put everything in scrapbooks - and oh.my.gosh.... it was taking up so much space that I had to pull everything apart and reorganize. I have tossed some of them - but my method for organizing them has changed a lot. There are different categories, like holidays and other themes - but there is also a stack of the Best in Show - from all different categories - but they are my favorites. I also have some sets that showcase particular styles. And then there is the rogues gallery - wacky, but lovable for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, with a particular person, I keep all of their mail together - because of who they are.

I keep the collection in 4 plastic drawers with labeled dividers. When the drawers are stuffed, I spend some time *sifting* - I remove some from the collection and pass them along to people who are just getting started in envelope exchanges and who appreciate having some nice examples.
Since it is mail, it is nice to be able to handle them.
I do have a couple notebooks - with the mail in plastic sleeves - that I take to classes where they need to be protected from so many hands.
I need to decide who gets the collection when I go to that great scriptorium in the sky....

I have a friend who needed to save space, so she sliced all four edges of the the envelope and just kept the fronts. It's a very clever way to condense the collection.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Leather bound Mike Sull book - Spencerian Script and Ornamental Penmanship

« on: December 07, 2017, 09:13:25 AM »

Last spring I was able to help an owner of one of these books find a new home. Many of us are weeding out our collections and this book is hardly a *weed.* It will no doubt be an investment. Someone recently contacted me about another one that is looking for a new home.

Anyone who is interested may send me a private message.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / 2017 USPS Stamps

« on: September 24, 2016, 09:06:57 AM »

They have released the designs for 2017

https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2016/pr16_072.htm

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The Library / Claes Lindblad's articles on ink

« on: July 19, 2016, 02:30:51 PM »

If you go to Cecilia Sharpley's website
and then click on
Scriptorium Lundensis
you will find a wealth of information about ink in articles written by Claes Lindblad.
There are links to other related information.

There is much to see at Cecelia's website, too.

http://www.cecilia-letteringart.com

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / stash of cartridge pens & rapidographs

« on: July 12, 2016, 11:31:26 AM »

does anyone on the forum rehab old cartridge pens?
i have a dozen that need a new home.
before i list them on ebay, is there anyone on the forun who is interested?
there are a few that are old and probably nice - osmiroids, a waterman
at least half are newer and less expensive
some are in original boxes
please PM me if you are interested

i also have 4 brand new rapidographs
younger people may not even know what they are
which is a shame - because they are so nice for monoline styles

11

Calligraphy Guilds / Find a guild

« on: April 29, 2016, 06:38:32 AM »

This is one place that seems to be keeping a list of the current guilds that are still alive and well.
If anyone knows of others, please post them.

Erica: it might be helpful to put links to lists of guilds at the top of the section on guild information - so that newcomers can check to see if there is a near by guild.

http://summitscribes.blogspot.com/2013/10/uscanadian-guilds-societies.html

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / calligrams

« on: March 18, 2016, 09:05:30 AM »

i just ran across this etsy site with all kinds of clever canine calligrams

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellePapiers?page=3

this is page 3 of 15 pages

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / the loss of a few pens

« on: March 09, 2016, 01:14:00 PM »

Anasazi requested that Empty of Clouds move this discussion to a new topic.

I apologize for using your *pen-names* but I do not know your given names.

Anasazi, your comments sound like you think EoC is making excuses over the loss of a few pens. I think he was pretty open about many of the circumstances going on in his life. We all struggle with how to find the right (and affordable) creative outlet to balance the other parts of our lives. I appreciate that EoC has shared some very personal feelings. The friendships we make on these forums can end up being very personal. Some FF members would prefer we stick to business. Sometimes I don't have time to read through all the personal posts. Other times the FF becomes an oasis where I can jabber away because I want to take a break from the mind-numbing things that I deal with on a daily basis (really elderly family members - nuf said). Yesterday I took envelopes to decorate during a 2 hour wait in a waiting room. Calligraphy can be a life-saver or brain-saver. So, sometimes, when we lapse into topics that are not just business - it's helpful in other ways.

EoC, thank you for sharing your story on the FF. If I broke all of my handmade oblique pens at once (and I only have 3) it would take me a while to recover and it would be hard for me to decide if I wanted to spend the money to replace them - even though I could do it in 3 clicks and the shipping would be minimal.

Your comments about the difficulties of your residence seem valid. I had the best trip of my entire life - visiting a few spots on the south end of the south island in NZ. Unless you have been there, I don't think anyone can appreciate exactly how remote it is. Also - it is a very expensive place to live. And I want to apologize for being a tourist - yikes - they really are swarming all over the place.

So...we have a new thread to continue the discussion. I looked at your work, EoC, on IG - and IMHO, you have really pretty penmanship and you are too critical of your work. No, it is not the crazy-mad-skill level - but it reflects a level of care that is beyond beginner level. Since writing is an everyday activity, I bet you will be drawn in once again.  Even if you never dip into ink again, you can have an immense amount of enjoyment with other kinds of tools.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / translation help

« on: February 29, 2016, 02:17:46 PM »

can anyone tell me what this says?

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Tools & Supplies / Slider Writer Laser Liner for guidelines

« on: November 23, 2015, 06:06:57 PM »

Recently, there was a thread about using lasers for guidelines instead of penciling them.
Most people were recommending the ones you get from the hardware store.
I forgot all about this one which is for calligraphers.
John Neal carries it.
Maybe someone on the forum has one and can discuss it.

ww.johnnealbooks.com/ 
search for the name of the item or the product code.

S937. SliderWriter Laser Liner

This amazing tool eliminates the need to draw guidelines by projecting a line using a laser. No more erasing the pencil lines from envelopes!

Especially useful for dark or lined envelopes that are to opaque too use a light box and master guidelines. Note that only one line is projected and will only provide a baseline for your writing.

The unique design of this tool keeps your paper in place with the paperholder. There is a built-in ruler, as well as a 3/4" Calligraphy Guide, so the lines can easily be spaced evenly. Included are two large rubber bands that allow simple placement of vertical margins.

Left-handers can use this as well. Simply unscrew the clip and then screw it back into the holes on the opposite side of the board.


This product uses a Class 3R laser and is not suitable for use by children. It is not a toy. As with laser pointing devices, the laser beam should never be pointed at anyone. The laser beam pointed directly at the eye has potential to cause damage. Be careful of a reflected beam as well. Do not use around children whose eyes would be level with the Slider Writer in use.