Erica,
Thanks so much for inviting me to join! This is a such a wonderful resource!
I started out with dip pens nearly 10 years ago now - got lots of practice in with Spencerian - which I enjoy using at work - but I fall in and out with many creative ventures and it became too much hassle (and risk to work documents) to bring my dip pen and ink to work, so I kind of dropped it and went with flex nib fountain pens.
But back then, I went with spencerian thinking it was the source of all those beautiful hairlines and swirls. Now I've found copperplate, and realize that was where the beauty inspired me...so I have a lot of work to do.
I don't know how far I will manage to get. I ordered a used (half-price) rhodia dot notebook to see what kind of difference the paper would make. I was a bit chagrined to realize that my eyes are so bad, I can't see the dots...even with glasses. ( I can with a magnifier so it wasn't a mixup:) ). That probably means that my writing will likely never be as beautiful as what I've seen so far...but it can be much better.
