One of the topics our members wanted for programs is lettering on items. Last program we lettered on Christmas ornaments. For November’s program you will each be given a piece of canvas, provided by Eleanor Russell, to letter on. You can try all of these different tools and have your own sample to keep to remind you of what you liked best. If you have some other fabrics you want to try, please bring them.

I will have paint, acrylic inks, all types of markers, etc. If you have something you want to try on it as well bring it along. The photo on the right has panels that were painted with acrylic ink on bleached muslin and lettered on.

I will have a handout on helpful tips.

Come and join the fun!

— Sheryl Bracey

Photos kindly provided by Sheryl Bracey.

Punch Up Your Envelopes!

This is one of the top voted topics for programs. Since we will be signing up for our summer envelope exchange, we thought this would help you get out of your blah doldrums toward decorating envelopes. The topics will include:

1. JoAnn Bates will show some cute and easy ways to doodle your way towards the “wow” envelope.
2. Maxine Gaither will demonstrate how to make a card and envelope from one piece of paper, and many more creative ideas.
3. Rose Wathen will present pointed brush ideas that will make your lettering pop, and things to draw with the brush.
4. Sheryl Bracey will show clever tools to add to your arsenal of wow-popping add ons…from pearls to glitter!

I will have years of envelopes that I have received for you to drool over. Aren’t I a lucky girl? We will have a great time!

— Sheryl Bracey

Envelopes by JoAnn Bates, Vicki Brandt, Linda Floyd, Mary Henderson, Kristina Howard, Carol Percy, Ron Ross and Rose Wathen. Photo kindly provided by Sheryl Bracey.

Hand Cut Rubber Stamps!

After seeing that the St. John’s Bible had numerous hand cut rubber stamps in it I remembered a time when Alice Fuqua taught a class in that for our guild. It’s probably been 25 or 30 years ago. I have asked her to come and do a repeat performance of that class. She has refined that skill to a fine science. This skill has come in handy many times for me while decorating envelopes. I know you will enjoy this fun program.

The tools we will be using include:

1. x-acto knife
2. white rubber erasers
3. soft lead pencil
4. tracing paper
5. stamp pad or marker

I will be bringing all of the items except for the x-acto knives and I ask that you bring one of those.

Sheryl

Photos kindly provided by Alice Fuqua

Hi everyone,

After talking with Plaza, I’ve decided to cancel the meeting tomorrow. There is a layer of ice that has fallen, and they are calling for a bit of snow before this storm is done tonight. The temps will stay below freezing, so the ice won’t be melting by morning, especially on side streets. I don’t want anyone to get hurt trying to get out in the morning.

Sheryl has confirmed that we can move the January program to March — Alice will be able to come then.

I’m so sorry — but I feel that it is better to be safe…

Maybe we can all use the time gained to start our lettering projects for the year!! The instructions were in the January newsletter. If you did not receive one please let me know and we’ll get one mailed to you. We’ll also get the newsletter loaded into the website as soon as possible.

Stay warm — the cold air is definitely back!!

Lynn Noga, President

Greeting cards can be very expensive so why not make your own?

We will have three of our members, JoAnn Bates, Vicki Brandt and Valerie Cypress teaching us how to make different types of cards.

JoAnn will demo how to use the Sizzix embossing machine and how to do hand embossing. 

Vicki will be making the cards we learned in Carrie Imai’s class…except…she has taken it to the next level. Even if you don’t paint you can still do these by using words instead of objects.

Valerie will demo how to do the round vine and you can put whatever greeting you need in the center.

I have been a recipient of all of these and they are fabulous!!!

There is something for all levels so come and join in. All supplies will be provided. You will have an opportunity to make some of these cards and you can use calligraphy with all that will be shown. 

See you in November.

Rainbow Writing

I wanted to give you more details about our September Program. There are many ways to do the Rainbow Writing so I wanted you to see them all with hands on experience. These ladies have agreed to help demo these. We will have five tables set up and you can take turns going to each table and learning all of the different techniques.

1. Sheryl Bracey: Parallel Pens with cartridges and Folded Pens with acrylic ink
2. Carol Hall: Pentel Brush Pens
3. Ruth Haskins: Pointed nib and gouache
4. Lilo Regen: Broad edge pen, preferably a Speedball 0 or 1 nib and gouache
5. Carol Savage: Water writing with pearlescent liquid acrylic inks and/or Dr. Martin’s concentrated watercolors
6. Rose Wathen: Broad edge pen and acrylic inks

Please bring any of these pens, if you have them, though we will have some for you if you do not.

John Neal, from John Neal Bookseller, has offered to send our guild 30 copies of these two Bound and Lettered magazines. Both contain articles about Rainbow Writing. Depending upon the number attending in September you will take home one or both of these magazines. He is also offering a special deal for those who have never taken or has let their subscription lapse. You can get the four Volumes of #15 for $15. It is usually $26 for the four volumes. You can subscribe at the meeting; I will have subscription forms. (I had asked permission to copy one of the articles and he offered actual magazines and a great subscription rate instead!!) Since many of you wanted this program I hope you will enjoy it!!

Sheryl

Lettering kindly provided by Sheryl Bracey

Come Make an Envelope Book & Learn About Hashtagging!

Due to unfortunate circumstances, our March book-making had to be postponed until May. Big thanks to Rose Wathen for stepping in with a program for everyone to enjoy on lettering!

This is the easiest book you will ever make! It requires no sewing, cutting, or glueing! At our May meeting, everyone will get to make a small book out of envelopes. It can be used as a sampler, a mini journal or a gift for a friend. Four envelopes will be provided, but these books are so easy to make, you might want to bring some of your own envelopes to make another one! All of the envelopes must be the same size but can be different colors. You might also want to bring embellishments such as tiny envelopes, Washi tape, rubber stamps, and scrapbook type patterned papers. These will enhance your book but can be added at any time with a glue stick or glue dots. If you wish to decorate your book, it would help if you bring scissors and glue.

As an added bonus, Miranda Fuller will demonstrate how to post photos of your books or other work to social media using the hashtag #nashvillecalligraphersguild. To learn more about hashtags, please see her entry in the May newsletter or visit our blog.

Fun with Pointed Nibs

Rose Wathen will be sharing a “FUN WITH POINTED NIBS” Program. She will be bringing paper and ink — if you have a favorite pointed pen, please bring it!

Rose says, "We will be demonstrating  flourishing and drawing for the program using pointed nibs and moon palace ink.  Come ready to lighten your  pen touch and relax into curves.”

See you there!

Lisa
President, NCG

What should I charge for my work? Should I charge by the hour or by the number of lines of writing or number of words? What if I add color or artistic elements? Should I charge for rush jobs and delivery? What is the going rate for envelopes? How do I price a large job?

These and many other questions are important for getting our calligraphy business going and thriving. Our January Program will be an informative, interactive presentation and discussion of pricing guidelines. Beth Paul will present a detailed formula on pricing guidelines for any art form by Curt Benzle, professional porcelain artist. A generalized national survey on calligraphy will also be shared. Anyone who has information to share or resources on the subject is welcome to contribute to the discussion! We all need to work together on this topic to be fair to both ourselves and our paying customers!
Come & share your questions and experiences! 

A Celebration of NCG’s 35th Anniversary and Beyond

Our program for November will offer a great recap for new members and a walk through the past for veterans. To celebrate our 35th anniversary, Carol Ann Baily gathered photos and put together a slide show that spans the history of the guild and Ann Cobb made a comprehensive booklet of our officers, workshops, meeting places, logos, etc. It was decided by the group that these would be nice to share at our meeting for those who could not attend the celebration in September. In addition, our guild had the distinct honor of assisting with the hosting of international calligrapher Donald Jackson’s visit to Carson Newman College in October, where pages of the commissioned St. John’s Bible were on display. Members who were in attendance will share their weekend experience with Donald Jackson, who headed the project and worked with a select team of lettering artists to render the Bible in a beautifully modern calligraphic hand, complete with beautiful illustrations.

10:00 AM — General Meeting begins
11:00 AM — Champagne Brunch to Celebrate Our 35th Anniversary!
(Immediately following the meeting.)

The event will be catered — no need to bring anything.

We will not be meeting at Plaza. Please see your Summer newsletter for the location.

Lettering kindly provided by Carol Savage

Happy May NCG Members!

Our program this month is a ‘YARD’ Sale! If you plan to be a vendor, please bring art or calligraphy items you would like to sell (extra supplies you haven’t used, something you forgot you had and bought again!) Everyone will be responsible for their own bank, so please have change available and be prepared to take checks. If you have nothing to sell, you can be a buyer so please remember cash and a checkbook! This should be fun!!!

The Italic hand enjoys great popularity among calligraphers. Ludovico degli Arrighi published the first printed writing manual in 1522 in which he features the italic style he called cancellaresca corsiva or chancery cursive. He gave very clear guidelines for the construction of minuscules but failed to do so for majuscules. The result is an overwhelming variety of forms. We will look for the unifying design principles of the italic majuscules. Please bring a sharpie and a 3mm broad edge marker.

Happy New Year!

Come join us for our January Program and practice some fun techniques for blackboard art! If you have a spare chalk pen, please bring it.

Our next Guild meeting will be on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Plaza Artist Materials in Nashville.

Please join us immediately following the meeting as Zentangle instructor Lynn Noga presents Peek-A-Boo Zentangle cards. These cards can be used for any occasion but Lynn will be focusing on styles for the upcoming holidays. Please feel free to bring any micron pens you have. It should be great fun!

See you in November!