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April
2002 - Issue 12
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Happy April Fool's Day! Those of you who receive Somerset Studio may have noticed this grumpy fellow on page 103 of the current issue. He was from a Belle Papier swap I did a year ago, hosted by Kelley Dunwoody in Florida. The grumpy poisson is a Fred Mullett stamp and the quotes were inspired by calligrapher Martin Jackson of Vancouver, Canada. The original artwork was done with Mitchell Roundhand nibs using Higgins Eternal ink, except for "and they swam.." which was done with a pigma pen. The background is FW acrylic inks on Tyvek . All images were scanned into the computer and arranged in a digital collage. |
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Welcome to all the new subscribers! This month I'm celebrating the 12th issue of byhand! So, to celebrate, I thought I would give something away!
How about Suzanne Cannon Please mark it as the "Anniversary Draw". Speaking of Rubber... I've added some new images to the Rubber Bank: Alphabet Tag Swap This month I have included a few more tags from the infamous Alphabet Tag Swap. I think the reason tags have become so popular to decorate is that they are a small, non-threatening (except to calligraphers) canvas. They come in different sizes and colours and shapes and they're easy to find in office supply stores. The reason they are threatening to calligraphers is that they are made with the lousiest paper around! Several people in the group asked if they could make their own tags - gee, I wonder why....? Should you want to make your own tags, should check out the Red Castle site. They have a downloadable program for making tags - pretty darn handy! In February I showed you Christiane's tag. Now, I don't know if she used the Red Castle program, but I know she made her own tags. Here is her tag again and here's what she wrote...
I made my tags using mostly
acrylic ink. As I worked through making the tags I was continually coming
up with new ideas. My design remained the same, however my method and
media changed. At first I wanted to emboss the "B". I found a recipe for
embossing fluid which includes water, glycerin and gum arabic. For this
method I used a pointed brush. Then I thought it would be interesting
to try masking fluid, however I didn't want to ruin my brush so I switched
to an edged pen. Changing my mind once again, I did the remaining tags
using a color blending technique where you drop a different color ink
into the letter while it is still wet. The lower case letters were all
done in the same acrylics as the wash.
Here are the two sides of Lizard's tag and here's what she wrote me about it! Hmmmmmmm. The thought process in making my tag. Being one of the world's best procrastinators my thought process went something like this. Damn what am I going to do on those darn tags and why did I ever say I was going to do this? There really was not a lot of the "thought" process involved because I never would have finished them if I had to think about them. I can be a little anal at times. As you can tell from my "horribly horrific haiku" I am no good at writing and not much better at collage. There you have it Suzanne. Sorry I couldn't have told you something a little more artistically motivated. Lizard I chuckle every time I read this - I'm sure a lot of the participants went through these thoughts - I think it's a wonderful tag and I advise us all to start bopping that Inner Critic on the nose! Don't Forget!
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Welcome to issue
12 of byhand! If
you wish to check back issues of byhand
click here.
If you wish to contact me, my email address is: suzanne@quietfiredesign.com To subscribe: send me an email
saying 'subscribe'!
Notes I have added a printable general supply
list for bookbinding classes to my website. Studio Tips Fuzzy Bunny Card Well, seeing it's Easter, and at the risk of being too cutesy, I thought I'd share a little card that I used to make in a class. I couldn't find a bunny shape that I liked out in the real world, so I drew (!) this outline - yes, hard to believe folks, but I did it! Feel free to print out the little fellow at this link on white card stock. Grab yourself a used dryer sheet (like Bounce) and glue it (or use fusible web) on what will be the front side of the card and trim the dryer sheet. Add a little rouge to his (her) cheek, a little bow at the neck and a tiny eye, et voila! I used to glue all around the edges of the inside and make him into a pocket card, placing one of those tiny children's Golden books in the pocket. So what was the tip this month, you ask? Try using used dryer sheets for texture and interest on your projects! Recycle, recycle! I'd be delighted to receive your favourite tips for inclusion here - we can all learn from them and probably save someone - like me - frustrations! Books to Inspire Do you ever have the desire to write
your own poems but don’t know where to start? I think many of us would
like to be able to write but, like anything else in the world it takes
time and practise. The book Poemcrazy: freeing your
life with words by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge is a great place
to start. The chapters in the book are short and usually deal with one
story or exercise. It is easy to read and has a unique approach to writing
poems. Wooldridge tells us that when someone
writes a poem they are revealing a secret about themselves, about who
they really are. In the many stories, anecdotes and exercises, not only
is it fun, but she shows you how to connect with your inner poet. More Alphabet Tags
A D-lightful Tag by Charmaine Hamilton
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Teaching Schedule To get more details go to my website Calendar of Events page. Use the back button on your browser to return here. April 6 Victoria
Artist’s Journal in a Day
Fairbank Callig Soc - full April 13 Courtenay Instant Letters North Island College April 20 Victoria Instant
Letters Shoreline
Community School May 4 Port Alberni Spring Craft Fair P.A. Athletic Hall May 11,12 Calgary Artist’s
Journal in a Day Bow Valley Calligraphy
Guild May 25 Kelowna
Focus on Foundational Kelowna
Calligraphers Guild June 1 Vancouver Adding
Funk to Your Foundational I have put together some sewing cradles for sale as some of you have been asking for them. They are not things of great beauty, but really, really handy for when you have a lot of holes to pierce. They are large enough for an 8.5" spine length and are $20Cdn (or $15US - to the States) shipping included. Email me if you can't live without one! I will try to bring these to classes so you can see them in person!
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For those of you who have taken the Coptic
Stitched Class, you may still acquire waxed linen thread from me.
It is $0.50/yard Cdn ($0.30/yard U.S. funds plus $2 for postage). Here is a list of the colours I currently have in stock:
It takes two yards of thread to complete the book as we made it. *Quietfire Design, Box 1231, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M1 Canada
As well as the waxed linen, I now have some brass corners
(the 3rd one down is Nickel or silver coloured) which are 50 cents Canadian
(or U$0.35) each. They fit nicely on a bookboard of about 1.0mm thickness
covered with decorative paper. Email
me if you are interested - I don't think shipping will
be too much, but that depends on the quantity! |
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Gentle Thoughts
This quote is taken from the wonderful book Love You Forever by children's author Robert Munsch. This piece was done with a Mitchell's Roundhand nib, Higgins Eternal Ink and a pigma pen, scanned and then digitally coloured. This year I am offering Adding Funk to your Foundational. In this one or two day class we will review the classic Foundational minuscules, and then the fun begins. We’ll take these letters, compress them, expand them, bounce them and accessorize them!
"Beware of practising with a
fine nib, which tends to the substitution of prettiness for character." |
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If there is any information you would like to see in this newsletter,
let me know. Each month I will email you to let you know the new issue
is published. If you know someone who would like to receive notice of
byhand, just have them email me and I
will put them on the list. Bye for now and thanks for visiting! suzanne@quietfiredesign.com |
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The original title lettering of byhand was done with a Mitchell's Roundhand Nib, size 0, and Higgins Eternal Ink. |
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