little things link love: calligraphy

By Tina Jett on January 27, 2012

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When I was little, I received a calligraphy set as a gift.

It wasn’t all fancy with a feathered quill and ink bottle or anything, just a simple one with four colors of calligraphy markers and an instruction book that would spark a life-long fascination with illustrative fonts and typography. I wrote calligraphy constantly. It probably even helped give me halfway-decent regular handwriting to boot. It’s a skill that requires a lot of patience and discipline, which were some of my biggest obstacles.

In Greek language, calligraphy literally translates to the combined words “beauty” and “writing”, embellished lettering ranging from simple to ornate. Calligraphy has been used in many countries  for centuries, from everyday correspondence, to important documents, to religious works, such as the Book of Kells in Ireland.

These days, we mostly see calligraphy on wedding invitations or the occasional Christmas card. The emergence of typewriters and computers have made regular handwriting a rarity over time, let alone its time-consuming artsy-fartsy cousin. I think we could stand to bring it back into the fray a little more, though. I’m game for some grocery lists with the words “eggs” and “tampons” written out with special flare. Roll them up like a scroll to really add some distinction to your errands.

Those calligraphy markers I used to have are still available in craft and stationery stores if you want to try your hand at a different type of creativity or just want to work on some exercises for improving your own handwriting. Larger sets should come with books to teach you, though you can always find a mini-tutorial online. More traditional nib pens and ink are available, too, if you’re ready to move into prime time. I recently purchased a new set, and the following day, even found a set of two dozen nibs at a thrift store for 8 bucks. Score.

If you’re curious about giving this artistic penmanship a whirl, these sites may inspire and assist you further:

  • Paper & Ink Arts – An extensive online supply site featuring calligraphy materials as well as great gift items.
  • Calligraphy Centre – This group hosts a week-long retreat for calligraphers, in addition to offering online resources and teaching classes to central North Carolina locals.
  • IAMPETH – The International Association of Master Penmen-Engrassers-Teachers of Handwriting. That name alone should let you know how serious this group is. Lots of good history as well as resources on this site. If you’re really ambitious, you can strive to become a Master Penman, where “inductees are required to produce their own certificate as proof of their ability.”

Have you tried your hand at calligraphy before?

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About the Author

Tina Jett is an artist, writer, photographer, and world-explorer. Her husband describes her with the phrase, “It’s like she lives in a coloring book.” See how that vision influences the work on her website and on Dandyville, a curation of all things creative and swell.

Creating Congruence

By maeg-yosef on January 26, 2012

Last week Tara Gentile shared a thoughtful post here on Scoutie Girl all about creating a lifestyle that is authentic to you.

It spoke to me, because I’m there. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about authenticity, harmony, congruence. About whether my values, desires, and what I want from life actually match up with my..yeah, life!

The one I’m living. Right now. Not the one I’m almost living, planning on living, or thinking about creating.

So, like Tara, I’m looking at the larger picture, the lifestyle picture. The location. The home. The jobs. The relationships. While there are so many foundational things perfectly in place, there are many things that just don’t fit.

That’s what happens when you start to take a close, close look at congruence.

What is incongruent inevitably rises to the surface. And floats there.

It’s been uncomfortable to sit with that knowledge.

If you’re like me, trying to wrap your head around how to bring congruence to the most massive aspects of your life might be overwhelming.

My head was spinning with all of it. And then I had an insight.

I can find congruence right now. It’s in each moment.

I’m not talking about making small, incremental changes toward your large goals. I’m not talking about saving up to buy the home that feels right in the right town, or methodically working toward your dream job. That’s another post for another time.

I’m talking about finding congruence, harmony, authenticity right this second, not only in what you’re doing, but in the how.

I may already be doing something that’s part of my life design, but am I going about it in a way that supports my values and desires?

It’s in the tiniest of daily choices (which apple should I buy? what book will I read?) and also in the attitudes, qualities, and awareness we bring to each interaction.

How I listen to my husband. How I speak to my children. How I brush my teeth.

How I practice yoga. How I prepare food. How I meet new people.

How I make art, or write. How I treat myself. How I clean my house.

I do these things every day. I get to choose how. I get to take a deep breath, and ask myself:

Am I doing this thing in a way that is congruent with how I want to create my life? If not, can I find a way to create alignment?

Am I bringing openness, patience, love, and expansiveness to these interactions? Or tension, hurriedness, aloofness, self-punishment?

The moment is right now, the moment is what is happening, the moment is something I can’t put off until the future. This moment is the time for me to be authentic. To find harmony. To create congruence.

Here’s to you finding congruence, right now, in this moment.

xoxo, Maeg

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About the Author

Maeg Yosef is an artist, illustrator, and writer living in the Happy Valley of Western MA with her husband, stepdaughter, and son. You can find her writing about art-making, kid-raising, and creative living on her blog,
Edison Rex, and see her artwork here. When she’s not working to inspire you through her writing or bring you joy by putting art on your walls, you’ll probably find her up way too early, drinking way too much green tea, and attempting a wild new yoga position. Or maybe just on Twitter or Facebook.

where craftiness comes from: your creative calling

By dannielle-cresp on January 25, 2012

blue light disco blue agate and sterling silver earrings by mich vanetta - click image for more info

Throughout this column I have explored the idea of craftiness and where it comes from. It has allowed me to realize that craftiness and creativity are within all of us, no matter what upbringing we had.

These often show up as part of our personality and the way that we live our everyday lives, in the way that we create for our families, or the way that we prepare food, or even in our careers. Craftiness is something that can be nurtured from childhood, or something that we choose to pursue without that familial support.

Your creative calling will find you.

This is not to say that you don’t have to work to make dreams come true, but that there is creativity and craftiness within you, no matter how much you see it as something that other people do. It is in the way that we think and the way that we problem solve our day-to-day lives. It is the common ground that brings us closer with others, something that we share in common.

Maybe we just need to change our definition of creativity to see that it is just part of us, rather than something only a special few have.

Some people aren’t ready to see their creative side until later in life and others know what they love from the time they are children. Sometimes you stumble upon it when you think you’re looking for something else.

From writing this column I have learnt that it is all about being true to who you are and the rest will come. Don’t write off your creative strengths just because it’s not traditional, or it doesn’t make you money. Creativity and craftiness are so much more than that.

Don’t you think so, too?

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About the Author

Dannielle Cresp is a creative direction enabler and web designer, creating a handmade friendly world through mindful living. Learn how you can too at her blog.

How to keep your eye on the forest when the trees are so very lovely

By liz-kalloch on January 24, 2012

Trees at Columbus Circle, New York, January 2012

One of the things I started my new year off thinking about are my larger, longer, and bigger life and business goals. When taking stock of 2011 I realised that I had lost track of some of these bigger goals all for being focused on the smaller day to day ones.

Most of us have our lofty dreams, our go-to goals, and our list of must-dos. Each one of these dreams and goals are made up of a series of much smaller actions – actions that, when put together as part of an overall plan, help to shape these big dreams. Sometimes, though, we can get so involved with the smaller bits, the day to day, that we lose sight of where we are headed, or even momentarily forget where we are going, and our overall plan for how to get there.

You know that old saying: She couldn’t see the forest for the trees? Sometimes the trees all look so lovely and so compelling that we forget to shift our perspective and look at them all together, as a forest.

Let’s look at the pieces and the whole as a movie camera would: Close ups of the leaves, and the branches, shifting to the trunk and to the earth where the trees are rooted, and shifting again to the tops of the trees, and further to the sky. Now, slowly, the camera moves back. Our vision is widened, and we see all the varied and sundry trees growing together in the forest. Each tree a goal or a dream, each tree linked to each other through the earth and through the sky.

So as you begin this new year, as you move through this first month of the year, how are you putting your vision to work?

Are you remembering to switch your focus from close up to panoramic view, and vice versa? Are you focusing on the small bits that make up the whole and stopping now and then to step back and look at the whole picture?

One of the practices that I will be putting to work for myself is the use of perspective. Just as in drawing or painting or photography, the use of perspective gives us depth and spatial relationship, it gives us space, it gives us context and it gives us a view to where we’re going.

So whatever the task at hand – writing copy, working on a new piece, designing a promo piece or finishing a piece of jewelery – I will be building in time to step back and look at where I’m going. This will mean changing some patterns {see Maeg Yosef’s post on changing patterns}, and adding some time to stop and look and listen.

What things are you doing this January to change up your focus a bit, and keep your eye on the forest as well as the trees?

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About the Author

Liz Kalloch is an artist, designer, traveller, and writer who has worn many different creative and entrepreneurial hats – and some of these hats she has even designed and knitted herself. Her artwork – and life – is focused on searching the soul to stay connected to her life path, clarifying and re-clarifying a life purpose and always trying to listen more carefully to that inner voice that speaks the truth. These days you can find her in the San Francisco Bay area where she runs her own freelance design and art creating business and blogs about it here.

art to inspire: thoughts about luck

By Brittni Mehlhoff on January 23, 2012

"Believer in Luck" from Sacred and Profane - click for info

A few days ago, I was with a friend of mine at a conference and we were talking about our lives and our careers. Eventually, towards the end of our conversation, I said something about how I felt lucky to be able to do something I love full-time, especially since I realized that not everyone has that luxury.

But the real word I was searching for was ‘grateful,’ not ‘lucky.’

So I quickly corrected myself, and we moved on to some other topic; but as I was sitting there, I realized something.

Often times people, myself included, get luck confused with something entirely different.

Has that ever happened to you?

Is it just easier for us to identify our successes as luck as opposed to the results of hard work and dedication? And if so, why?

Well, I don’t have an answer for why we do this, but I do know one thing. For the large majority of us, the following is true…

Things happen because you make them happen.

You don’t wait for someone else to stroll across your blog and website. You go to them. You work for it. And you deserve the credit, not luck.

And when someone seeks you out ‘on their own’ it may seem entirely random. And sure, you’ll think that luck is on your side when an editor approaches you about being featured in their magazine. But is it really all that random? How much luck is truly involved here?

After all, you are working hard day after day, getting your name out there, and producing something of value. So naturally, you are going to start drawing a crowd, and not just any crowd – a crowd that will tell their friends about you and share your articles and products. And that is how your success starts to spread – through tweets and blog mentions and emails and Facebook shares.

It may seem random at first, but when you stop to think about the bigger picture, it’s actually a lot more intentional and a lot less ‘lucky.’ Don’t you think?

This article is not the end of the conversation. It’s just the beginning. So it is time to share your thoughts…

What is your opinion on luck?

Leave your response in the comments below.

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About the Author

Brittni Mehlhoff is the editor of the handmade blog, papernstitch, and is also the owner and creator of an exhibition site by the same name. If you are a creative entrepreneur, small business owner, or a blogger, join the growing community of 7,000+ Stitchers and sign up for Brittni’s free weekly biz tips + handmade picks.

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