Some Inspiration

Hey, everybody. This was fun to do, and it was easy. I am sure all of you have some stamps lying around and some pitt brush pens and some watercolors. That's all you need. Well, you also need to make a tree template first. I used a sheet of clear plastic. Once I drew out the template on a piece of scrap/computer paper, I laid the clear plastic over it and cut out the template using an exacto knife. Make sure you have a pad under all this! Next came the stamping. I put the template on top of a piece of watercolor paper and stamped on the top of that so that only the marks would be inside the tree (except for the one that actually goes outside the tree). Once the marks were dry, I came in with my watercolors for the tree and trunk. Pitt brushes were used for coloring in the stamped areas. Be sure to scan in your design once you are done. Or take a good picture. It is now ready to be your colored-in template to add whatever lettering you want on it, over and over. You won't have to do the whole tree over again. Just print it out on heavy stock or whatever you want to letter on. I took this scan into my software and added text that way. It will be our Christmas card.

Hey, everyone. Do y'all want to get together and just hang out around one of our tables and think about Thanksgiving/Christmas works of art to be made into cards or something?

Here are my notes from today's TCG meeting.

Copic Markers

Have any of you ever tried using Copic Markers? I am just now trying them out. I had no idea that one end of them was a brush! So that is why I just never thought to use them. But I am doing a project right now that I thought those markers might be better than something else. Any helpful hints or tips?

Hey, everyone! We need to get together and do something FUN!!! Anyone have any ideas?

Work in progress

I work a lot right now. I cannot tell what it is, but I can give you a few sneek peeks. It is also my first time working with real gold leaf.

Okay, everybody, start posting your Zentangle Tiles! Nell, Mary Edna, Deb, Dara, and Hattie - I'm counting on you! If you do not know how to post to this blog, I can either teach you how, or you can email me a pic of your tiles and I will post them for you! We all took a one-night class from Certified Zentangling Instructor, Sharon L. Payne. She was a wonderful spirit and a fun instructor.

For all of you who either enjoy photography, flowers, or just nature in general, consider taking a stroll through the JC RAULSTON ARBORETUM with your camera or your sketchbook. That's what I did today... with 3 cameras - film camera, digital camera, and iphone. Now I have a lot of photos to inspire my watercolors, sketches, color combinations...you name it!

Wishing You a Faerie Happy Valentine's Day!

Jessica and Me

Jessica and I had a good time at the Highgrove in Fuquay-Varina this past weekend at their Open House for brides. We thought it might be a good place to exhibit our businesses, and we were not disappointed.

I encourage any of you who are endeavoring to start a business or grow the one that you already have, to seek out ways to reach your clientele.

adding links to this blog

Do any of you have a link of your calligraphic-ness? A blog? A website? If you want it added to the links on the right-hand side of this page, let me know.

A Flourished Tale

http://aflourishedtale.blogspot.com/

y'all, check out my new blog.

Layout Principles

Had an enjoyable time sitting by the fire last night with those who came to the Help Session, bringing their ideas and sketches for their AGM Fanciful Letter piece.

Before the 5 women arrived, I sat down with my stack of books and read their chapters on Layout. I tried to summarize all of the various instructions into a one-page easy-to-peruse sheet.

Also, you will see the paper that was used to work out some layouts for some of the pieces. One gal had a circular piece, so you will see an illustration for that in the bottom left-hand corner. Another one had a piece suited for the portrait layout.

So, if you were unable to come, I thought you might enjoy seeing what we did, and hopefully, if you need help, you will consider the next Help Session!

Deb's Heart

Just wanted to brag a little on Deb. Today was her final session in my Italic Brush Lettering Class. We had fifteen minutes left, and I gave us both a challenge to do a piece from start to finish. A finished piece that she could take home with her.

She finished hers. I did not! Her talent just flowed out of her and she hardly had to think about it.

I'm very proud of you, Deb!

Peace

This is brush lettering using Marvy Le Plume brush markers on watercolor paper.

Mallorie

Had lots of fun doing this one. Water color on water color paper with micron pens.

I love the way Peter Thornton wrote Nell's name. He did mine in a different way, too. Can you see all the letters in there? It really was a wonderful workshop - I learned a ton!

This is a photo of a piece I did for my brother using photos from a trip to Pipestem State Park in West Virginia and some Cherryl Moote inspired writing.

Nell's treat

In the Gilding Workshop that Peter Thornton just instructed, he lettered each student's name with his ruling pen. Here's is Nell's, which I thought was especially exciting. There was a blob of ink that fell on the page as he was lettering, so he just made it a part of the piece! Blew on it with a straw and ta-da!

As you can see, the Versals are gilded.