Hey everyone! Somehow it’s August and summer is zooming by at full speed (with hints of fall even in the air.) Before our focus goes full-on about the new school year and fall plans, let’s dive into a fresh dose of calligraphy to keep our summer senses floating on high. Once I stumbled on the work of calligrapher Kelsey Carpenter, I was blown away by her work’s natural lightness and organic style. Let’s take a peek into the world of Kelsey Malie Calligraphy. – Jen

Photo Credit: Ivory + Bliss Photography

Kelsey stumbled into calligraphy when she was getting married. “I didn’t like any paper goods out there and couldn’t afford something custom so I picked up a dip pen and learned.” Then she literally hand wrote each wedding invitation (as a beginner!). After that experience, she was hooked on calligraphy.

Photo Credit: Donny Zavala Photography

Kelsey hails from the beautiful state of Hawaii, and that’s where she and her husband got married, too. They now are city dwellers in Chicago.

Kelsey shares: “The most wonderful part of invitation design is working in the personality of each client into their wedding paper goods. I just had a client who had a sketch of each member of her wedding party done for her program and another that, in lieu of favors, hand-wrote a message on custom stationary to each guest to be placed at their seat during dinner.”

I’m such a sentimental sap when it comes to special details like that, and little ways to connect with people in your wedding. Since that connection with friends and family is certainly part of the joy of a wedding!

Kelsey likes to changes things up in her work and play with different lettering styles. “I love learning new scripts and am constantly challenging myself to work on older script styles like Spencerian and Copperplate.” But if you try to nail her down to describing her calligraphy style in a couple words, she’ll share it’s “romantic and messy”. Kind of feels like the perfect mix, right? Far from fussy, her romantic messy style of lettering work feels effortless and organic.

Photo Credits: Jenni Kupelian Photography

 

“I love when I can just play with wild, illegible script and ink splatters,” shares Kelsey. But she definitely keeps everything more readable when it comes to invitation suites for real brides.

Leaving you with this sweet wedding program where Kelsey’s calligraphy is the star. Thanks so much to Kelsey for sharing her beautiful work! See you back here soon.

All images via Kelsey Malie Calligraphy, except where noted.