Messages

301

Show & Tell / Re: Calligraphy Cat Club

« on: August 29, 2015, 10:03:27 PM »

This is Nora Batty.  A year ago we found her outside our door, a tiny and injured kitten.  She's fine now, except she is a prickly character, and rarely wants to snuggle. 

302

Find a Pen Pal / Re: The next person to post gets a letter (and the next, and the next, etc)

« on: August 29, 2015, 01:59:30 PM »

Letter writing - yes yes - I'm in.

Elisabeth - Thanks for getting us started on this.

303

Coffee & Nib-bles / Re: How well can you form mental images?

« on: August 28, 2015, 09:50:05 AM »

I'm one with a vivid imagination, which, as Briana mentioned, is both a blessing and a curse. 

My mother, who, before becoming blind in old age, was a painter, is so visual that when she reads a book, she visualizes every detail, just as the author has written it.  She does this quickly, without effort.  I find this tedious and am more likely to visualize my own version of things.  My mother is a picky and exacting person; me - not so much.  Now that she cannot see, I describe things to her when we talk, and I have become much more skilled at creating a picture with words.

I see numbers in order on a line that curves through space.  Whenever I think of a number, I automatically see the number on the line.  In general, there is a curve at multiples of ten.  At 100, the line ends.  The same line is used for higher numbers. 

I also see time visually, in a large disk of days that looks like a giant game board.  And when I meet someone, I always want to know where they live, because it helps me remember their name, etc.  I think my brain organizes things spacially. 

Huh.  Autocorrect wants that word to be 'specially.'

304

Introductions / Re: Greetings from Wisconsin

« on: August 27, 2015, 01:57:46 PM »

Oh I must have missed this when your originally posted. Welcome to the forum! I also get excited when I see other Spence people. How did you like the saga? That is on my dream list if I can make it in the future.

Elaina, I hope you do go to the Saga sometime.  It would be a short drive for you, perhaps 4 hours. 
The Beginners' Saga was my first exposure to Spencerian script.  I returned for the Advanced Saga and the Engrossers.  It was great every time, and different every time, too.  Because it is small, there was one-on-one help, which I needed.  Lots of info was presented - an overwhelming abundance of info.  Other benefits:  making pen friends and studying historic examples.  & a beautiful location.  I could go on and on but I will stop now. 

305

Introductions / Re: Greetings from Wisconsin

« on: August 27, 2015, 01:30:34 PM »

Thanks to everyone for the welcome greetings.  I am liking the forum very much.  & I laughed a lot reading the calligraphy confessions.
A special hello to Kimo!  Keep in touch!  Send snail mail!

306

Tools & Supplies / Re: *new* PIA Golden Black and Silver Black Inks!

« on: August 26, 2015, 10:53:40 PM »

At Iampeth this year, in the store (Paper & Ink Arts), they sold this ink.  Their sample page showed some lovely script - black letters with gold edges. 
They said it works best on a particular paper; I think it was Strathmore cards. 
So far, I just get black - no gold. 

Has anyone used it successfully who could share their experience? 

307

Exchanges - General Info & Questions (Start here.) / How do you store all the lovely snail mail you receive?

« on: August 26, 2015, 08:13:00 PM »

I've got a disorganized collection of lovely envelopes and letters from pen friends.  Some are on the bulletin board, some in a box, some on the desk. 
What do you do with the ones you have?  (Besides answer them.)
Scrapbooks?  Files?  Boxes?  Wallpaper? 

308

Tools & Supplies / Re: How do you store your nibs?

« on: August 26, 2015, 03:06:30 PM »

Schin, here is my cabinet.

309

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: "Backhand "Writing"??

« on: August 24, 2015, 12:41:23 AM »

When I was in school, 'backhand' writing meant the letters sloped to the left instead of the right, but perhaps there is another meaning that would make more sense in the context of what is in that catalog.

310

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Calligraphy: Share the Craft, Preserve the Trade

« on: August 21, 2015, 10:29:25 PM »

What a great topic; thank you, Erica, for your post.  It helped me understand some of what I have experienced in the pointed pen community.

It's not just photography and calligraphy professionals that have seen a change since the digital age.  Recording engineers now have competition from everyone, for example.  This is great - people do not have to make it to the big time to share their music with others.  But there are fewer professionals able to survive.  I think there are similar concerns in that field about quality and quantity, too.

I agree with Dori who posted earlier.  My experience making art is that many people see what I do and immediately say, "Oh you could make so much money doing that!"  I don't have one money making brain cell.  Not one.   I don't create to make money.  Its for joy and solace and expression and fun.  There is pressure to turn all aspects of life into income sources.  That's sad to me.   Being 'amateur' shouldn't be such a negative.  Life is more fun when spent with the truly creative.  Whether we make money or not is another matter entirely.

The dictionary defines amateur[/ as:
    1.   a person who does something (such as a sport or hobby) for pleasure and not as a job
    2.   a person who does something poorly : a person who is not skillful at a job or other activity
Those two meanings get mushed together and the result is negative.  Artist is a better word; an artist can be earning money or not. 

Hmm. . . excuse me.  Seem to have gone off on a ranty tangent.  Ha!

311

Tools & Supplies / Re: How do you store your nibs?

« on: August 21, 2015, 01:21:52 AM »

Schin, I just bought that same set of drawers from the Container Store; I've set it on top of a very small table just to the right of my workspace.   I saw it in Nashville when in TN for Iampeth and had it shipped home.  Ink is in one drawer, pens in another, nibs in another, etc.  Duh - why didn't I think of your way of sorting the nibs?!  I'll try it. I don't have that many, so I'll have plenty of room.  Thanks for posting.
Also: just sent you snail mail.  Hurrah!

Judy G, I have used clear plastic tubing in the way you have used straws.  I like your way better than mine and am going find straws.  & label them too.  I have little metal boxes for them also, but had not thought of magnets.  Thanks for posting the photo - very helpful.

Evan from Wisconsin

312

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Sad state of affairs?

« on: August 14, 2015, 09:00:27 PM »

We just received a note from a young relative who is going to be a senior in high school.  It was written on a pretty note  card.  After the salutation (written by hand) a piece of paper was taped to the card.  On the paper were two typed sentences, quite impersonal, thanking us for our "time, support & gifts."  No doubt he sent the same typed note to everyone.  Bah!  Humbug!   
Maybe when all the aunts and uncles are together we can use humor to let him know that his style needs work.

313

Introductions / Greetings from Wisconsin

« on: August 13, 2015, 05:31:17 PM »

I live in a rural area & I've joined the Flourish Forum hoping to feel less isolated. 
I've attended both the Spencerian Saga and Iampeth for the past few years.
Thanks to Erica for all her work.
~ Evan