"I make the moves up as I go."

If the elegance of calligraphy isn't your style, you can try your "hand" (ha. ha.) at the broader category of "hand lettering and typography." 

The rules of hand lettering are simple:
Anything. Goes.

Cursive. Print. A mix of both. Big letters. Small letters. Doodles. 
Literally anything goes, so let your creative side shine. And as Taylor Swift has so famously said/sung, just make the moves up as you go.

When I first began lettering, I would look at others' work and try to mimic it in my sketchbook. As I've continued practicing and honing my skills, I have been able to come up with my own designs and have begun creating my own style.

However, I still LOVE to look at other writer's work for inspiration as I continue broadening my skills. Some of my favorite places to seek out such inspiration are Instagram and Pinterest.

Check out some of these awesome gals and their work:

valeriewienersart.com

treadstudios.etsy.com

pepperandtwine.blogspot.com

howjoyfulshop.com

thegraceletters.com

and of course, scarletandgoldshop.com and design-roots.net

(you can find them all on Instagram, too!)


You can also check out my personal Pinterest page (alliteration. cool, huh?) at:

https://www.pinterest.com/ctsaultz/lettering/

Write on.

To begin unveiling the art of calligraphy and creative writing, take advantage of the FREE (everybody loves free stuff, right?) online calligraphy classes offered by Scarlet and Gold. Check it out- I promise you won't regret it.

Scarlet and Gold have even teamed up with Paper & Ink Arts to help you find the materials you'll need for class AND to help you receive a 5% discount (code: scarletgold) on your purchase. And that's pretty awesome.

Additionally, you can purchase specific paper to write on from Hobby Lobby or Michael's. You may be thinking, "Paper? I even need fancy paper?!" But, calligraphy paper is a heavier weight than typical copy/printer paper. The heavier weight allows for smoother pen strokes and keeps the paper from getting "soggy" under the ink. It is definitely a worthwhile investment.

Class times offered in April are...

• Monday, April 6 at 8PM CST
• Wednesday, April 8 at 12PM CST
• Sunday, April 12 at 4PM CST
• Tuesday, April 14 at 2PM CST
• Thursday, April 16 at 8PM CST
• Monday, April 20 at 10AM CST
• Friday, April 24 at 12PM CST
• Sunday, April 26 at 4PM CST
• Tuesday, April 28 at 8PM CST

You can also find more information (and enroll!!) at: http://www.scarletandgoldshop.com/webinars/ 

Re-writing life.

Sometimes, a kind word is all we need to get through a day. Sure, ice cream helps but at the end of the day, what most of us need is a little encouragement. Or a joke. Or a catchy song lyric. The wrong words also have a lot of power. I know only "sticks and stones may break our bones," but words can hurt, too. 

So basically, words are important.

But words are also more than just those "things" that make up sentences. Words can be beautiful. Words are more than a Microsoft Word Document. So why write them in Times New Roman?

Creative writing, better known as hand lettering, has been around for centuries. In particular, the most common form is called calligraphy. 

lettered by: Heather Bloem, Design Roots

Calligraphy is most commonly used to address formal letters, such as wedding invitations, party invitations, etc. However, people like Heather Bloem are out to re-create the world's view on calligraphy.

Calligraphy is simply elaborate cursive.

So why not use it in our everyday life? Why not make the things we write every day more beautiful? Why not make life more beautiful? (Aww. I know.)

Head on over to my next blog post to learn more (If you're interested. I hope you're interested.) and to start delving into the art of calligraphy yourself.