Long Time No See

I just wanted to reconnect with those of you who follow this sweet little blog that I started years ago for the calligraphers in our Calligraphy For Fun group. We used to post things we were doing here. Now with the boon of Facebook and other blogs that we use, this one kinda took a back seat. But I wanted to share this lovely versal "Q" that Peter Thornton posted to FB. It is a beautiful small piece that hopefully will inspire us all to just pick up a pen and some watercolors and design something.

Chance to win classes for free!

Hey, everyone,

Thought I'd pass this on to those of you who enjoy taking online classes. I am a teacher with Creative Workshops, and 20 of the teachers are each giving away one of their classes. Many things are taught, so you might find something you'd like to be put on the list to win. 

This Blog Party Hop and Class Giveaway started yesterday and ends on the 29th. If you are interested, you can go to my blog at http://kerrlligraphy.blogspot.com/ , read the first post, then follow the easy instructions.

This is fun!

Online Calligraphy Classes

For those of you who are following this blog, I thought I would let you know that I now have calligraphy classes online, if you are interested. What is so great about these classes is that you take them in the comfort of your own home, sitting at your computer (in your pajamas with that hot cup of coffee, or with your toddler safe and asleep in the crib..).

These classes are go-at-your-own-pace and start when you want to start. You can watch them over and over, for as long as you want. You can pause me, rewind, and look again at how I make a letterform. The site says they are open to you for a year, but I think you can watch them longer.

So far, I have Copperplate for Beginners, Copperplate Advanced Capitals, and Uncial a Medieval Script will open to the public on October 30.

If you want more info, you can email me (Kerr Pelto) at Kerrlligraphy@gmail.com.

Brush Italic is FUN!

This brush Italic is so much fun, and easy, and fast! I am photographing a couple today for their Engagement Announcement. The Bride had a bunch of pics on a Pinterest Board of hers of images that she wanted me to recreate. Lots of brides were holding homemade signs that said, "I said yes!" I was able to whip this one out in no time at all for her. 

Isn't it grand that we can do these things? 

I am so glad "I said Yes!" to calligraphy!!!

Deb's Thingy Holder

Hey, everyone. Here is a pic of what some of us gals did at Deb's house last week. Such fun! 

Deb had laid out a book at each of our chairs. They were old Golden Book Encyclopedias, all filled with lovely, colorful drawings. My book must have been all about foreign countries.

I hope you can tell that mine leans a little bit, and the tops of the rolled pages are not even. But that is how I wanted it. Well, maybe not the leaning part!

Instead of putting things inside this little treasure, I decided to put some of my prized artist's brushes inside the tubes that were made by rolling up the pages of the encyclopedia and then glued to the outside of a tin can.

I will undoubtedly put something inside the can as well, just have not figured out yet what that will be.

Thanks, Deb, for making this Playdate a reality, for making it fun, and for letting us express ourselves freely.

Remember girls: There is no comparing ourselves to others.

"Love" with 23K gold leaf

Hey, everyone,
Here is a link to a YouTube video by Dr. Joe Vitolo using 23K gold leaf over the word "Love," The way he uses gold makes it look REALLY EASY!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG0dvt9LeoQ&feature=em-share_video_user

What's Up?

Hey! What have y'all been up to, creatively, lately? I want to know! I want to see!

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!