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2024 Exchanges / Re: Perpetual Exchange 2024 - Info & Sign Up
« on: May 09, 2024, 07:11:57 AM »
Soooo happy you organized something for us Erica! Signed up 
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2024 Exchanges / Re: An Important Message About Exchanges
« on: January 13, 2024, 07:16:45 AM »
Sounds good to me @Erica McPhee. I will always treasure this forum no matter how many new ones pop up. Maybe you can keep the annual holiday exchangea and then have pops up as inspiration and time allow?
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2024 Exchanges / Re: An Important Message About Exchanges
« on: January 12, 2024, 07:03:35 PM »
Oh my heart breaks reading this while my head nods in understanding. I struggle similarly with garnering enthusiasm for exchanges within my local guild. I shake my head as I just do not understand. Are people that busy? Cost, confidence…what other reasons might people not want to participate? I have met many wonderful people through these exchanges!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Moth Wings & Floral Things 2024 Calendar GIVEAWAY!
« on: November 24, 2023, 06:27:43 PM »
This is such lovely work Erica. I voted of course, but didn't want to jam up your comment feed on IG. I did want to say that I really appreciate the amount of thought you put into each plate, from the layout and wording to the choice of colour and design elements. Just fabulous!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Scriptus 2023
« on: November 05, 2023, 06:21:34 PM »
It WAS crazy! I am sorry we didn't connect Darrin. Our table (Toronto's calligraphy guild) was also non-stop busy. Had an absolute blast talking with people. My 'shift' ended at noon and had a chance to do the lap. Geez, once was enough. I tired waiting just to see the front of a table or two, let alone talk to someone or see them all. No time to browse, I would feel guilty holding up the line of others also wanting to see what the table had to offer.
Happy to read through here that all those people translated to a great day for you @darrin1200
Happy to read through here that all those people translated to a great day for you @darrin1200
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2023 Exchanges / Re: Holiday 2023 Exchange Sign Ups are Now OPEN!
« on: November 03, 2023, 04:26:59 PM »
Yeah!! My favourite exchange!
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Many, Many Thanks!
« on: November 03, 2023, 04:24:49 PM »
Ah, thank you for the shout out Erica and always love to see my name done by your hand.
A tremendous THANK YOU for all of the effort you have put into the forum over years.
And huge thank you to everyone on here for making this place such a vibrant community of lovers of letters!
A tremendous THANK YOU for all of the effort you have put into the forum over years.
And huge thank you to everyone on here for making this place such a vibrant community of lovers of letters!
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Spencerian Script / Re: Spence-share-ian
« on: August 31, 2023, 06:54:22 PM »
You were hesitant to share your work when it looks this lovely?! I am happy you did! Very nice work!
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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Historic Penmanship - Volunteer Opportunity
« on: August 13, 2023, 02:51:56 PM »
Thank you sooo much for sharing this. This project has been around for 10 years. Cannot believe we are only catching wind of this now. Better late than never
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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: IAMPETH 2024 logo contest design winner … it’s me! 😂
« on: July 24, 2023, 07:01:04 PM »
This is wonderful! So nice to see you shining bright Erica!
11
2023 Exchanges / Re: Love Letters 2023 Valentine Exchange
« on: March 10, 2023, 05:14:26 PM »
Receiving your exchange in the mail @Erica McPhee was such a treat! One I will cherish. You went above and beyond with this one.
I really enjoyed this exchange as well. I saw this bear online but without a pattern so I 'reverse-engineered' it, which was fun. Uploaded the design to my Cricut and then assembled.
No where near as time-consuming as your project Erica, but it took enough time as well. Thoroughly enjoyed myself though! My motivation was my nieces. I made a much simpler version for them.
I really enjoyed this exchange as well. I saw this bear online but without a pattern so I 'reverse-engineered' it, which was fun. Uploaded the design to my Cricut and then assembled.
No where near as time-consuming as your project Erica, but it took enough time as well. Thoroughly enjoyed myself though! My motivation was my nieces. I made a much simpler version for them.
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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Calligraphy and the practice of handwriting
« on: February 24, 2023, 06:54:27 PM »
What an awesome field to get into Sybille!
I agree with you. Methods of learning calligraphy can be used to help improve handwriting. So many excellent points already covered. Another I would add would be to teach them to self-critique themselves in a kind and patient manner; to learn to identify their poor habits (e.g., u and n looking the same, not closing the o, etc.) and work to correct them.
Another thing to keep in mind is why the person is coming to you for rehabilitation in the first place. The points you outlined definitely apply when the issue is mental in nature or from lack of knowledge. But if they are there because of physical inability, then all the studying of proportions and repeated practice will not help if the physical issue is not also addressed. And if there is a physical component, the type of physical issue will influence even that approach.
As for the comments about differences between handwriting and calligraphy, I have terrible handwriting...but I can also have excellent handwriting. I don't think it's just a matter of being unwilling. Handwriting is tricky because we write under all sorts of contexts and moods. How I write a reminder note to myself vs a birthday card to my niece or a thank you letter to someone will all look very different. Also, if I am angry, happy, sad, distracted, rushed, sick,....theses are all extra factors that will show up more easily in handwriting. With calligraphy, we train ourselves to suppress these things as well as our personal quirks in order to 'stay true' to the letterforms. The awesomeness of handwriting is that we have much more freedom in how it looks in the end....but often that freedom is taken too far to the point of illegibility. Also, intent matters. The end goal of calligraphy is typically not a grocery store list but rather a piece of art. Even in practice, being able to (eventually) make some form of art is usually the driving desire. Now, we could open up the old can of worms: is Spencerian really calligraphy? But even when writing Spencerian in modern times, the person is most often using it to make a desirable final product. With handwriting, desirable product isn't always the goal. Sometimes it's more important to get the thoughts down. If possible I try to use typing when those moments pop up now.
A final comment on neuroplasticity vs rehabilitation. My dissertation was on neuroplasticity; I cannot resist. I often hear the two terms used interchangeably, when mean different things. Neuroplasticity can be a part of rehabilitation. But rehabilitation can also involve other compensations or modifications to get around the problem. And @jeanwilson, you so so right, it is very hard to convince people that the brain can change. It does.... on a daily basis, whether you want it to or not. This is why our habits, behaviours, and actions are so important. Our brains change for better or worse depending on our choices.
I agree with you. Methods of learning calligraphy can be used to help improve handwriting. So many excellent points already covered. Another I would add would be to teach them to self-critique themselves in a kind and patient manner; to learn to identify their poor habits (e.g., u and n looking the same, not closing the o, etc.) and work to correct them.
Another thing to keep in mind is why the person is coming to you for rehabilitation in the first place. The points you outlined definitely apply when the issue is mental in nature or from lack of knowledge. But if they are there because of physical inability, then all the studying of proportions and repeated practice will not help if the physical issue is not also addressed. And if there is a physical component, the type of physical issue will influence even that approach.
As for the comments about differences between handwriting and calligraphy, I have terrible handwriting...but I can also have excellent handwriting. I don't think it's just a matter of being unwilling. Handwriting is tricky because we write under all sorts of contexts and moods. How I write a reminder note to myself vs a birthday card to my niece or a thank you letter to someone will all look very different. Also, if I am angry, happy, sad, distracted, rushed, sick,....theses are all extra factors that will show up more easily in handwriting. With calligraphy, we train ourselves to suppress these things as well as our personal quirks in order to 'stay true' to the letterforms. The awesomeness of handwriting is that we have much more freedom in how it looks in the end....but often that freedom is taken too far to the point of illegibility. Also, intent matters. The end goal of calligraphy is typically not a grocery store list but rather a piece of art. Even in practice, being able to (eventually) make some form of art is usually the driving desire. Now, we could open up the old can of worms: is Spencerian really calligraphy? But even when writing Spencerian in modern times, the person is most often using it to make a desirable final product. With handwriting, desirable product isn't always the goal. Sometimes it's more important to get the thoughts down. If possible I try to use typing when those moments pop up now.
A final comment on neuroplasticity vs rehabilitation. My dissertation was on neuroplasticity; I cannot resist. I often hear the two terms used interchangeably, when mean different things. Neuroplasticity can be a part of rehabilitation. But rehabilitation can also involve other compensations or modifications to get around the problem. And @jeanwilson, you so so right, it is very hard to convince people that the brain can change. It does.... on a daily basis, whether you want it to or not. This is why our habits, behaviours, and actions are so important. Our brains change for better or worse depending on our choices.
13
2022 Exchanges / Re: Secret Santa?
« on: February 19, 2023, 08:30:43 AM »
It was a blast Erica! I received 4 as well and sent 5 myself. Would happily participate in something like this again!
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2022 Exchanges / Re: Secret Santa 2022 Sign Ups are now OPEN!
« on: November 12, 2022, 01:54:48 PM »
I agree....unless we try a hand we are not used to....it is likely we will know who our sender is. I don't mind though. This is going to be a fun exchange!
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Completed/Past Exchanges / Re: Halloween/Day of the Dead 2022 Exchange
« on: November 09, 2022, 06:42:50 PM »
Ah thank you Aries! Always a happy day when others enjoy your work. Now that I have seen yours, I am all the more anxious to receive it!