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Inked Moments-Calligraphic Insights   

We in the 21st century devalue hand-written text and the act of writing. We assume that computer printouts contain exactly the same information as hand calligraphed documents and therefore they are of equal value. We have become blind to the additional information contained in both handwriting and calligraphy. The recorded moment-by-moment of ink written on a surface gives insights to the scribe and scribal process. It is the relationship of the scribe to the act of writing that gives a scribe personal insight, while the ink on paper holds information and insights for the reader. 

The Handwritten Text   July 14 , Saturday, 10am – 4pm  Embarrassed by your handwriting, but like the look of a hand-written text? Want to use handwriting to create a one-of-a-kind book, but would rather use someone else's? Writing rhythmically and re-designing unsightly, illegible letters, noticeably transforms your writing.

Wedding Invitations Part Two: How to Choose a Calligraphic Hand OR what message is that calligraphy sending?

Choosing a hand calligraphy style can be perplexing. You might think, "Words are what matters. What difference does the calligraphy make anyway?" The hand calligraphy you choose is sending a message about your personality and how you represent yourselves as a couple to the world. 

Do you have a flair for the dramatic?

Your save-the-date card and the wedding invitation suite are the first glimpse invited guests have of your upcoming wedding. Like the first chords of a symphony, they set the tone for the wedding festivities. As we all know, first impressions are lasting impressions.

You would think that Typographers, Graphic Designers and Calligraphers speak the same language. One word means the same thing whether it refers to hand calligraphy samples or to typographic fonts. No. How about something more basic like what you write or print a wedding invitation, certificate or Ketubah onto? If only life were so easy...... However it helps to know who you are talking to, otherwise there may be a perfect storm of misunderstanding. 

Calligraphers and Typographers speak a different language. For type, the words fonts and typefaces are used to differentiate lettering styles. For instance, I like the font (also called the typeface) Palatino Italic designed by Hermann Zapf. It can be bold or normal, 12pt, or many other sizes. The kerning (space between the letters) and the leading (space between the lines of writing) can be automatically adjusted on the computer. Calligraphers call the different lettering styles hands.

Paint is Paint Right?! Not Really. Buying tubes of paint can be confusing and daunting. How do you know what quality you are buying? Any why does it matter? Calligraphers use either pigmented inks or tubes of gouache or water color for writing in color. 

Americans' most important historic documents are written in script, some in our founders' personal handwriting and others, like the Declaration of Independence, are written in more formal calligraphic script. This has been one of the great equalizers in our republic. Everyone, who attended school, was taught script for their personal handwriting and therefore learned to read script.