My latest project involved doing the lettering for a friend's very thoughtful gift that she is giving her husband for their first anniversary. Thanks for the opportunity to practice, Katherine! :)

Happy First Anniversary, Keith & Katherine! You all are a precious couple!

Last week we vacationed in Pensacola Beach, FL. It was lovely. One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to the Gulf Breeze Zoo. We visit there every time we are in Pensacola. We were very disappointed, however, in November when we discovered that it had to close its doors for financial reasons and because of severe damage sustained from 2 hurricanes. But we were thrilled this trip to learn that this zoo was able to open its doors again!

Below are short videos of our buddies- chimps Patrick & Zachary. Chimps have the mentality of a 5 year-old. These 2 chimps have been taught some basics such as ear, nose, head, smile,

peek-a-boo, bye-bye, kiss & are very interractive when you rehearse these basics with them.

The latest orders that I've completed are these 2 stamps.

(I did change Anita's address here in order to protect her privacy.)

The business cards that I made for my mama-in-love are boxed up and ready to be delivered.

By the way, if you're ever looking for a great life coach, I highly recommend her! :)

"Calligraphy is a beautiful, meditative art that requires hour after hour of disciplined practice. Sometimes slow, sometimes free, sometimes deliberate, sometimes rhythmic... it involves exemplars and experimentation, a study of the masters and a study of the self. It requires intense concentration and a free and forgiving spirit. You are humbled every time you look at another's work, and are proud when you see how your work today compares with yesterday's. It is frustrating, and gratifying, and worthy of your greatest effort." -Shannon Martin Wilson

I like to hear thoughts toward calligraphy from experienced calligraphers. As I'm just getting started on my personal journey with calligraphy, I'm finding that calligraphy certainly does "require hour after hour of disciplined practice". But as I'm practicing and studying, I'm enjoying and appreciating the art of calligraphy more every day.

Shannon Martin Wilson is a calligrapher, artist, & jewelry designer. Below are pictures of Shannon's studio that she recently posted on her blog. I'm posting them here because I like how creatively inspiring her workspace is. Shannon also has a great website!

Other experienced calligraphers out there, I'd love to hear your thoughts toward calligraphy. To hear some about your personal journey. :)

This is my first attempt at using white ink. I used Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White. I really enjoyed lettering white on black!

Lil' gift card that I made for a baby gift.

Because I love the beach so, beach calligrapher just may be the job for me! :)

I found these pictures and the following description at http://contemporarycalligraphy.blogspot.com/2010/01/out-of-africa.html:

'Out of South Africa comes the truly unique work of Andrew van der Merwe – beach calligraphy, he calls it. Andrew writes about his work: “If a calligrapher is someone who loves writing, then I have been a calligrapher since my very first writing lessons... love the surf and the beach and have always enjoyed scratching words in the sand with sticks. Sticks make more of a mess than a mark, so this led to the special shaping of the sticks and to the development of various instruments to achieve better results and ultimately to ways of cutting the sand out to leave a neat V. The V was a great discovery, not only for its neatness and shadow, but because it sets up a lovely contrast between the typical, permanent V of stone carving and the wonderful, temporal quality of the beach calligraphy. I also developed ways of avoiding footprints, and this is often what impresses people most, but for me the real challenge remains getting the letter forms good. Any calligrapher will understand that!”Above is just a small sampling of his work. He has more online at www.behance.net/beachscriber, and you can buy prints at http://www.beachscriber.artfire.com/ or http://www.beachscriber.imagekind.com./ '

I'm a big fan of great typography. I really like this 15x20" laser-cut birch plywood alphabet by Bookhou Designs.

Barbara Calzolari created this piece that I really like. Great lettering always grabs my attention! Also grabbing my attention lately are things reminding me that Spring is right around the corner. I like the 'Spring-y' colors Barbara used and the flowers in my previous post.

I like this picture that I found at Snippet & Ink.

What fun I had creating my first stamp! This self-inking stamp is for my wonderful mother-in-love .

I just hand-lettered "Girl's Club" since I'm thinking about us having club tomorrow. I always look forward to seeing those 30 middle school girls. Each one is truly special to me!

Chase, after I posted your Mom's birthday wish, I thought about trying to post this video. I've tried to email it to you. To post it on Facebook. Blogger has been the first to cooperate with me with this video. So, here's to you, Chase. Warm memories of warm weather! :)

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Jennifer! Your life has certainly blessed mine and I am so grateful for your friendship. For your birthday wish, I tried a colored ink for the first time. Although it's hard to tell in the picture, the ink is gold. Have a blessed day. A "golden" day full of rich blessings, Jennifer. Love ya!

Today I worked on doing exactly what I have intended with this blog. I practiced my lettering and here are some of the results. Plus I learned more about Microsoft Publisher. I was thinking of my dear friend Tab today so this is her name in two different styles. Here's to you, precious Tab. :)

I really like these letterpressed calling cards!

The calligraphy was done by Kathryn Podorsky

of https://dellacarta.com/Home_Page.html

and letterpressed by Dingbat Press

of http://blog.dingbatpress.com/business-cards/custom-calligraphy-for-you/.

Beautiful work!!

More styles...

Style 6

Style 7

Style 8

Style 9

Style 10

It'll be fun to hear your personal fave(s) out of styles 1-10. Please leave me your vote. :)

Following are samples of some of my lettering styles...

Style 1

Style 2

Style 3
Style 4
Style 5

Here are 2 individuals who are truly treasured. I hand-lettered "treasured" across the front of this photo of Lauren & Luke, 2 gifts given to David & me.

To kick off the grand opening of my blog, I'm posting a picture of one of my first drawings when recently beginning to pursue my interests in art. It is a drawing of one of Lauren's shoes, a Sperry Top-sider. I thank my wonderful drawing teacher, Elizabeth Johnson, for her investment in me! You may visit Elizabeth here: http://www.windandhoneycreations.com/jelizabethjohnson/Home.html.