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Messages - LettersAndTea

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1
Tools & Supplies / Re: What to do about thick ink
« on: February 03, 2016, 01:57:14 AM »
Thank you all for the tips and explanations!  I'm going to get more McCaffery's to refill my little jar.

2
Tools & Supplies / What to do about thick ink
« on: February 01, 2016, 08:08:14 PM »
Hi Everyone...I've got a newbie question.

I use McCafferey's Penman's Ink Black, and I'm noticing that the ink is thicker.  It's not as smooth as it was when I first purchased it.  Can I add water to thin it out?  I'm only half way through the jar and don't want to waste it. 

Thanks in advance  :)

3
Find a Pen Pal / Re: Post-card Penpal?
« on: December 19, 2015, 11:18:25 PM »
I'm interested in a postcard exchange!  I am on postcrossing but am not as active anymore.  I have tons of postcards  :)  Sending you a pm.

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Find a Pen Pal / Re: Seeking Snail Mail Friends
« on: October 27, 2015, 08:27:45 PM »
Thank you for the replies rabbitship and dimins.  Will be sending you both a message  :)

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Find a Pen Pal / Re: Seeking Snail Mail Friends
« on: October 23, 2015, 02:01:39 AM »
Thank you for the replies chiarag and inked botanicals!  Sending you both messages. 

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Find a Pen Pal / Seeking Snail Mail Friends
« on: October 22, 2015, 03:18:53 AM »
Hi Everyone!

I am looking for a few people to exchange happy mail with.  I am a beginner and practicing modern calligraphy.  I am interested in the traditional forms and recently purchased Michael Sull's book.  My intention is to eventually go into Spencerian.  Who knows though, I am seeing so many different styles and am having a hard time focusing on one! 

Sometimes it is hard to start a letter to someone you don't know so I was thinking for our first letter we can exchange a poem that we like.  If you picked some short poem and/or still felt like writing, draw me a picture of what you had for breakfast (or lunch if you didn't have breakfast) and label each ingredient in your fanciest writing  :)  I have a whole bunch of other ideas for our letters if you are at a loss as to what to write and am totally open to your ideas too! 

If you are interested in being snail mail friends, please message me  ;)





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Introductions / Re: Aspiring Calligrapher from Reno, NV
« on: October 05, 2015, 10:49:50 PM »
Welcome Dea!  I love Lindsey's blog!  It was through her blog that I started getting into calligraphy.  I think the Kaitlin style is beautiful, but I am horrible at it.  I gotta Practice Practice Practice  :D

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Your class sounds wonderful!  Not to sound stupid, but is engrosser's script the same thing as copperplate?

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This sounds like lots of fun  :)  Will pm fridzleah my address and thank you to elizabeth_m for starting this!

10
Tools & Supplies / Re: Rusty nib
« on: August 15, 2015, 09:20:27 PM »
Not at all, happy to help if I can.  :)

What you describe sounds like the cross shaped insert I mentioned, except that you put it a lot better.  It is universal inasmuch as it'll hold a wide variety of nibs, but what I was referring to was this sort of thing.  Probably I should have said "accommodation ferrule" to avoid confusion.  They're pretty good.

So far as I know nobody makes the wraparound type any more, but they're easily found second hand here.  My main reason for liking them is probably long familiarity, and they won't suit anyone who likes a thick pen.  It's not difficult to make them from a bit of brass tube: in the attached picture the middle pen is homemade.

The comic pen holder should certainly work for G type nibs ... not sure about other types.

Thank you AndyT for answering my question and for the pic.  That was quite helpful as I had not seen a nib holder like that before and was having a hard time picturing it in my head  :)

11
Tools & Supplies / Re: Rusty nib
« on: August 12, 2015, 09:41:38 PM »
It's entirely up to you ... in my case once a nib is in a holder it stays put until I'm ready to throw it away and extracting it usually involves pliers.  Just guessing, but is the straight holder in question the type with a cross-shaped metal insert?  I really dislike those because they grip the nib so tightly, and far prefer the old fashioned sort which wraps around or even the so-called universal ferrules.  Hauling a dead point out is one thing, but you really don't want to be wrestling with a delicate new one when you first install it.

You can probably refurbish the insert by running in a little oil or WD40 (better), and poking around with the defunct nib.

Thank you for the tip about using WD40! I can see the inside of my pen is rusty and the nib no longer goes in smoothly.  Hopefully this helps :-)

I did have another question if you don't mind.  I didn't know there were other ways for a nib to be held in place for a straight holder.  My holder has what looks like four prongs that come together like a tulip enclosed in a ring.  Is this the universal ferrule you mentioned?  You also mentioned one that wraps around...I looked around online, is this what you are talking about?

http://www.jetpens.com/Tachikawa-Comic-Pen-Nib-Holder-Model-40/pd/4573

Can the comic pen nib holder be used for calligraphy?  It looks like a straight holder to me. 

Thanks for your help and sorry for all the questions  ;D


12
Tools & Supplies / Re: Rusty nib
« on: August 12, 2015, 09:31:53 PM »
I remove my nibs and clean them and the flange after every use, making sure to dry both completely. I'm just wary of rust I and the climate here is so humid.

Yes, I think I'm going to do that.  Looking more closely at my pen, I can see it's all rusty inside :-( 

13
Tools & Supplies / Rusty nib
« on: August 06, 2015, 11:46:56 PM »
I had a nib stuck in my straight holder that I eventually got out with the aid of pliers.  I noticed the part of the nib that was inside the holder was all rusty.  With the nib being rusty, I'm wondering what the inside of my pen holder looks like.  I try to be careful when cleaning my nib in water while practicing, but obviously some water got in.  My question is, when I'm done practicing, should I take the nib out and maybe blow dry the inside of my pen holder? When you're done practicing, do you leave your nibs in the pens?

14
Tools & Supplies / Re: Strathmore Writing Paper
« on: August 04, 2015, 07:42:05 PM »
If you have a USA address, we can send you a sample sheet.  Please indicate on your next order.  Or send an email to Michael at johnnealbooks dot com if you are not ordering soon.  Please include your address in the email.

Cheers, Michael

I would love to get a sample.  Off to send an email!  Well, maybe shop a bit on your site first :) 


15
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: IAMPETH 2015
« on: July 21, 2015, 12:00:02 AM »
Looking at all the photos has me soooo excited for next year! 

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