Very cool...

These have been going around the blog world lately and I've been meaning to write about them. They are very yummy and SO pretty!

Calligraphy on the cheap...

I totally understand that calligraphy isn't in everybody's (or even most) budgets, but for a small amount of money and a lot of work (it is NOT easy to use a printer to address envelopes) you can have great looking envelopes and all the little details you might want just by downloading a beautiful font. All of the fonts before were found on veer.com and range between $40-$99. These are some of my favorites, but for these 5, there must be 500 more I love and that's only on one site! 

{Debonair}

{BurguesScript}

{Riva}

{Feel Script}

Jenna Hein

I posted some of her work here, where she did the lovely envelopes and some parts of the actual invitation. Jenna is another one of those super talented women from Brooklyn (it must be in the water) and I've got to say she's probably my current favorite calligrapher after seeing the work she did for Kristina. She's actually going to do the lettering for my soon-to-be other blog and etsy store banners, plus the text and envelopes for my Christmas cards. I'm really excited. 

{birth announcement}

{envelope}

{envelope}

{invitation}

{banner on Jenna's blog}

Betsy Dunlap

I've shared her work before, but I'm going to do it again, because she rocks! Instead of her typical samples that she has on her website, I'm going to share pictures from her blog. These pictures are examples of different ways to incorporate hand-lettering into your events and your everyday life/business. 

{this is my sample pack that I found on her website. It caught me off guard to see my name!}

{this was a STD that the couple turned into the front page of their wedding website}

{darling little bottles of limoncello for wedding favors with Betsy's artwork on the label}

{her fabulous letterpress business card. I have one and it's beautiful}

{front page of her soon-to-be launched website}

Hand-Lettering...

In honor of the calligraphy class that I'm taking during my Year of Enrichment (more of that later) and because I'm tired and can't think of anything else to post today, I'm going to share samples from my favorite calligraphers through out the day. They're all insanely talented and no two styles are the same. It's such a personal way to wrap up invitations that I'm sure you've spent tons of time on already. I'm also going to include some different ways that people have used hand-lettering that you might not have thought of. If you have a favorite calligraphy that I've missed, please send me their info. I'm obsessed!

Enjoy...

THIS is why I'm buying a press...

Are these invitations not the most perfect things EVER? They were designed by the obscenely talented Kristina from A Lovely Morning {great blog btw} and embossed and letterpressed at Aardvark Letterpress. She also designed and printed the paper that she used to line the envelopes and gocco'd the darling little monogrammed circle that ties it all together. Oh and did I mention that the hand-lettering was done by Jenna Hein? Oh yeah! Aren't they amazing? 

I can't wait to get my press and make something this beautiful for someone. It's going to be so great. Anyway, have a great weekend and enjoy this paper goodness...

Betsy Dunlap

OMG, I got my samples from Betsy today and I'm seriously thinking about trying to convince her to write all of my to-do lists from now on. She is so amazing and super talented! I've always been enamoured with calligraphy, but always considered most too traditional for my taste, which leans to a more modern look. But, thanks to Vane of Brooklyn Bride fame I've found Betsy (go here to see what Betsy did for her!) and I love her work! 

It's been very important for me to find somebody who has a unique style all their own. Betsy fits that description to a T and a well drawn T at that. Hand lettering figures very prominently in my paper plans for our vow renewal (which are in the planning stages right now), so finding somebody that I really love is important to me. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Betsy and all my dealing with her have been great so far. One idea I have for our VR is having her pen a letter from my husband and I to our guests about how important friends and family are to us and how happy we are for them to join us in Seaside. I'd then like to have it letterpressed and to be part of my STD extravaganza, which will be discussed at a later date! 

Here are a few samples of Betsy's work from her website. The first two are the styles that I loved and got samples of and the third is another style I love, but is a little too open and flowy. I'd love a combo of all three! 

(all photos from Betsy's website)

Make sure you check out Betsy's blog too. She's got some great ideas on there for different ways to highlight her beautiful work. 

I'm going to share some other favorite calligraphers when I get back from NYC. If you have a favorite, please let me know!

~~I'll try and scan my samples when I get back and add them to the post, they are too beautiful not to share!