New trends and seasonal planning.

Nice to see Graph it alcohol markers are coming out with pastel shades, lovely sugar almond colours for crafters, I would like to give them a try. They will certainly go with everyone's enjoyment of Shabby chic look cards and crafts. Woodware are also planning workshops popping up in retailers with Christmas related stamps and designs and demonstrations. These would be fun to attend. In keeping with the vintage shabby chic theme, Fantastic Ribbons have brought out a lovely rang of burlap ribbons natural and colored with lace too, scrumptious card trims!

Wedding held on 1st August

Now the Wedding is held there are more details I can share with you, extra finishing touches to the day. Bird cages table centres were decorated with Luggage tag style table numbers and embossed tags with memorable quotes hand written.

Dresses were hung with a personal touch, individual named coat hangers for the bridesmaids.
Hand painted with name and role, bridesmaid, flower girl etc.

The table setting place names were also on luggage tags, doubled with a lace punched top layer, finished with liquid pearls, hand written in copperplate style.

More bird cage detail. they were filled with flowers, roses and peonies, had led safety tea lights and strung with pearls to keep the vintage theme.

The memorable quote tags were hand written in a copperplate style, simple romantic sentiments.

The table numbers were just a simple number written with a broad nib.

The table plan was backed with hessian and strung with lace to keep the vintage theme.

The font used to print this was replicating an old typewriter, headers were backed with a pearlised lace print paper and buff craft card.

Lace string had pearl trim added to the fixings and the table tags were pinned to this with mini clothes pegs. These were double layered with a lace edge to match the place setting tags.

Decor detail in the corners to complete were paper roses, on a burlap bow with a pearl twist.

The very happy bride and customer had a wonderful day at The Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere. The new Mrs Wedgwood!

Just a few photos to show some of the production line behind a big batch of invites like the ones recently completed.

 Invite inserts all printed and drying, this can sometimes take a while on pearlised or coated papers.

 Embellisments assembled and ready to attach to the front of the invites.

 There's a LOT of folding to do, especially when the invites are boxed.

 Here's the production line on the go, assembling invites and adding trims.

 Closer shot of the detail.

FINALLY! 85 invites complete and boxed, with Calligraphy names labels on each ready to go!

Inside each box was the main laser cut invite, with pearlised printed and decorated invitation on craft card. The invite's were tied with twine with a pearl and paper flower wedding date tag embellishment  added. Slipped in the twine was the reply card, post card style printed on the reverse with  a menu selection tick box.

Also a book of tear out tickets for transport confirmation, a copy of the menu's for the day and a 

pre-printed return envelope for replies. 

 All laid in a tissue paper wrap with a silver wedding seal closure within the craft card box. 

Some very special invites to share!!! Now that the Bride has had the chance to deliver all these beautiful boxed Vintage style Invites (with included reply info) to all her guests, I can share some of the detail. Laser cut doily fold invite with flat vintage style buff and pearl card invite inside. Tied with twine and pearls, completed with a hand made flower and wedding date tag. Reply post card and menu selection card, hand decorated and distressed, with a book of transport request tickets, perforated to tear out and reply. All together wrapped in tissue in matching vintage buff box. The boxes were all finished with a Calligraphy name label for each guest.

Stationery show 2015

Exciting times, enjoyed a trip to London for the Stationary show 2015, great venue in the British Design Center, Islington. Been there many time to various events. The show was great, enjoyed viewing many new product launches. Great to meet the lovely people from Manuscript Pen co. the ultimate Calligraphy company people! Also enjoyed a chat with the William Mitchell nib manufacturers.

So chuffed to see the expanded selection from Manuscript and from their new catalogue just how much is now available in Left Oblique!! Even fibre tip Very encouraging!

Wonderful visit to Kew Gardens while down there, this has given me lots of inspiration for some new ideas, variation on a theme to do a whole set Botanical illustrated , Calligraphy Quotes. Will definitely be working with the National Handwriting Association too, lets see if we can make a difference to the level of writing skills given to youngsters these days. At the moment it's shocking how bad it is!

Wedding Venue research for future colaboration

Finally finished the house renovation, studio sorted and getting back into the world of art, craft and calligraphy. Very busy on my own Daughters wedding for 1st August this year, obviously it's a big secret for all the goodies associated with that, but I will enjoy sharing soon as I can.

My 'Underconstruction' page for the forth coming web site should pop up soon, planning on attending a few Wedding Fayre's through the region this coming year to get out and meet some brides. It's a few years since I did the Wedding Fayre's, but I think as I have been off the scene whilst in house move and renovation mode, it will be good to get out there again.

Planning on linking up with a few more lakes hotels this year too, watch out for venue sketches of some of the best lakes Wedding venues. I have been having a tour of a few lately, enjoying being in 'secret shopper' mode, whilst enjoyng the hospitality and discovering those I would like to work with and those I will not!!! Always a few surprises in there when they don't know they are being assessed. Most of all was probably The Samling, sorry folks not impressed. Leading star by far The Gilpin Lodge Hotel, just wonderful, as ever!

Plans for the next few weeks....

In a couple of weeks my studio will have to complete packing up for the move and I will be out of Arty action for a little while. But all will return with new vigor, as my new space will be better. Hubby will have his own studio too. In the mean time we have to start work on the coming exhibition work as soon as we unpack, some of which I will use for photography to complete my new exciting web site being built.
Lots and lots going on, some where in between time to breath and take a holiday too!

Display of Samples

What a gorgeous Bank Holiday it's been, out and about in the sun today.
Had the pleasure of setting up a display of my Wedding stationary in The Muffin Top Boutique Bakery in Whitehaven today. As a guest display in this lovely bakery of seriously scrumptious special occasion cakes, Handy for any Brides popping in to discuss cakes for the big day, my samples are there to browse and give inspiration and a taste of what's on offer from Lakeland Calligraphy.

Venue Drawings

A drawing of yourWedding Venue can be added to your table plan or Stationary if required. 

I am a skilled illustrator and artist, this could be done for you as a sketch or as a pen and ink style water colour. Alternatively a drawing of the venue can be framed as a Wedding Anniversary gift to your partner. Below is an example of a Venue local to me, The Armathwaite Hall hotel at Bassenthwaite. This example actually shows a hand made greeting card which I supply for their everyday use, depicting a sketch of the Hotel.

Signature Frames

I can frame your table plan, or alternatively hire a frame to you for the day to save cost. I can also create 'Signature frames' for you instead of a guest book. I have written a poem to place within the frame, provided on the day unglazed. You then return this to me along with a standard A4 size Wedding photo which I will swap for the poem and then glaze the finished article for protection. A lovely keepsake of the day.

Guest books, Quill pens and vintage pen stands.

The guest books can be decorated to match your stationary, and the quill pens are available in Turkey Quills, colours or White, and beautiful fluffy Ostrich in white. I have a lovely collection of vintage inkwells for hire too, there's bound to be one to suit your scheme, these are to hold quill pens by your guest book.

And of course not forgetting the second lady of the day, thank you cards for the Mother of the Bride, 

I can even create her on the front in the outfit she will wear on the day, how personal is that!!!?

The Wedding Stationary range

My WEDDING STATIONARY RANGE, find greater detail inc prices etc. on Lakeland Calligraphy Face Book pages, the range is is available as pictured or for inspiration to help me create a bespoke set of stationary for you!

As well as the stationary, to complete the full picture, thank you cards, keep sake boxes, and of course guest books decorated to match your stationary with beautiful Quill pens. 

I also hire easel stands for your place setting table plans, picture frames for your table plan so you don't have the full expense of framing just for one day, and vintage ink wells as pen stands for your quill pen to add the finishing touch.