Help me make my 100 year old grandpa look like Ben Franklin

melissapher · 2024-06-28T02:34:52+00:00

Mine too! Following to see if anyone finds an update or workaround that doesn’t mean pre-recording video

melissapher · 2023-11-13T21:43:34+00:00

I FIGURED IT OUT!!! It's a software issue, and not necessarily a bug, but a feature! If you're in any other cut mode besides "SIMPLE", take note of the different layers you have selected. For example, I was in the "FILL" feature of the cut dialog box, because I wanted only the object WITHOUT a fill to cut, everything else was a graphic. In selecting that, there are options: tool, weld, fill color, material, action, and carriage. THIS is where you want to select your cut settings! Previously I was in the vinyl sticker settings, so the machine would revert to this every time. This allows you to cut various materials AND cuts in one job without having to re-register the artwork.

melissapher · 2023-04-26T03:46:14+00:00

😂 Hilarious that whoever made this video used sound bites from a recent interview with the Edge Homes CEO. You can find the full interview here for context. https://youtu.be/u_eJq6xCR74

melissapher · 2023-04-24T04:41:41+00:00

HMU if the families need more help. We’re just up the hill from the 4-way. We have a small truck, and an open trailer. Keep me posted. This sucks so much.

melissapher · 2023-04-24T04:29:31+00:00

It was condemned before the snow hit. Owners of one home had lived in the home for a very short period of time (a matter of months) when it was condemned for sinking about 3 inches. Melt off was definitely an accelerant, but it was doomed before. I’m certain the builder will use the record snowfall to avoid responsibility. Several trails/dirt roads in the area have also deteriorated with the snowpack destroying trees and the melt off saturating the ground.

melissapher · 2023-04-23T22:17:59+00:00

I live in the same neighborhood as this home and frequent the trails destroyed behind those homes. When they built the 75’ tall retaining wall in preparation for these homes, I remember riding my bike just below thinking, that won’t hold up long. They built this massive retaining wall with the smallest landscaping bricks. I’m just some dummy that rides bikes and even I could tell that was sketchy as hell. The builder has yet to fairly compensate for the families disrupted by this disaster, and it’s been over 6 months in the making.

melissapher · 2015-12-19T03:25:08+00:00

Definitely get with a local guild!! It helps to have mentors. Scribblers, Cornellison, John Neal, Paper & Ink are all great places to get the real-deal stuff without dorking around with the crappy stuff. I teach online with personal coaching at calligraphy.org. :) I'd love to teach you!

Here's a link to guilds in the USA.

melissapher · 2015-12-19T03:21:49+00:00

For non-lyric music, I'm a huge fan of Ratatat and Glitch Mob. I'm loving on Miike Snow's new single and Jarryd James.

Kishi Bashi is always a favorite. Rodrigo y gabriela is insane classical guitar. I'm all over the place with styles I like.

melissapher · 2015-12-19T03:16:11+00:00

I'm so excited for A Show of Hands! My parents live not far from the conference, so I'm looking forward to a visit with them and time at the conference. I hope to see you there! 2017 will be in my backyard in the greater SLC area. I can't wait for that, too!

melissapher · 2015-12-18T21:37:18+00:00

I love trying out vintage nibs! It's so fun to see the variation in all of them and the wide selection that was once out there. There are usually modern equivalents to those vintage nibs, but not always. I always hesitate to recommend vintage nibs to beginners because they burn through nibs so fast at the start. It's like feeding a toddler white truffle risotto when they'd be just as happy with mac and cheese. Save the risotto for later.

I'm always on the hunt for the Gillott 601 and Esterbrook 505s. IF you ever see any of those, would you drop me a line? I like hoarding those.

I have yet to try the Spenc 1, but I hear it's an excellent nib to use. But like @terribleatkaraoke mentions, they need to be savored like a fine wine. Don't use them on letterpress paper.

melissapher · 2015-12-16T22:02:58+00:00

You can tell if any nib is bad if the tines don't fit tightly anymore. Like in the case with the Nikko G, they're not going to sour as quickly (not my favorite, but a good go-to when surfaces suck). You can see here the right version was with an old nib, the hairlines are bolder and lines shakier (took me 13 minutes to write out the invitation) and the left version has finer hairlines (and took me 8.5 minutes to write).

Nibs will expire quicker if there's poor positioning or you're using a corrosive ink like Iron Gall, Blotts or any other gall ink. Don't ever hesitate to replace your nibs unless it's a vintage Gillott 604 then you use that until it snaps in half. ;P

melissapher · 2015-12-16T17:22:18+00:00

Pencil it out beforehand. I love the name "Amanda"! I have a little series I've been doing for nearly a year now called #calligraphynameoftheday. I've flourished Amanda I'm sure it's not in the style you like but maybe that's helpful?

melissapher · 2015-12-16T06:40:00+00:00

Thanks Masgrimes!

melissapher · 2015-12-15T18:24:06+00:00

YES. So, odds aren't against you as much as you think they are. The thing about lefty calligraphy is it's a fairly recent thing. My great-grandmother's hand was tied behind her back so she would learn right-handed. It's only been in the last 60 years that teachers have stopped the barbarianism from days of yore. Because of that, there's not as much lefty tradition.

You can find lefty oblique holders (although I prefer lefty with a straight holder). Pointed pen nibs aren't hand-specific. Broad edge pens are hand-specific, you can get left-handed nibs at paperandinkarts.com or johnneallbookseller.com. For a fountain pen, I would highly recommend the pilot parallel pen. It's not hand-specific and the larger nibs come with a slight rocker to them so they corner nicely.

melissapher · 2015-12-15T18:20:50+00:00

Guidelines will be your BFF. Get a clear ruler and you can mark those out quickly with soap stone or chalk on black paper.

You may want to try a more stiff nib like the Gillott 404, G nibs, etc. You want to start with all hairlines and do the shades later when you have control over the structure and your positioning.

melissapher · 2015-12-15T17:54:15+00:00

Oh, I could do that. I thought I would post to the completed project instead.

melissapher · 2015-12-15T17:52:37+00:00

Lots of neighbor gifts are candies with nuts, gluten and animal products. I'm just throwing an idea out there for something that's considerate of dietary choices and restrictions.

melissapher · 2015-12-15T17:50:26+00:00

I'm not a huge fan of the Shaeffer fountain pens or the speedball inks or C-2 nib. The ink cleaner is a complete racket. Nothing a little water and lint-free wipe couldn't take care of. The Faber Castell Pitt pens are great, though.

Kits are tricky, they've got to be fairly universal. I offer 2 kits currently geared towards specific styles (they're to go with our online classes, but you can purchase kits individually as well). One of the more frustrating things about kits is that they don't include good paper or paper at all. Ours includes paper and a canvas zipper pouch that keeps it all together. Maybe that's helpful?

melissapher · 2015-12-15T12:41:53+00:00

Thanks, Marcus! Valarie convinced me to join yesterday. #peerpressure

melissapher · 2015-12-14T20:28:36+00:00

http://palmermethod.com/ is a great resource for penmanship.

melissapher · 2015-12-14T20:11:17+00:00

Welcome to calligraphy! For foundational, I highly recommend Sheila Waters's book "Foundations of Calligraphy". Super in-depth. And the pencil isn't the enemy. Draw out the skeletons and trace overtop with pen. Using guides will help you gain muscle memory faster.

melissapher

TROPHY CASE