11/08/2018

Inspiring Calligraphers: Sable and Gray Paper Co.

Hello everyone! I have something light and bright to share with you, and of course, it comes in the way of paper inspiration. We’re focusing on the work of Kristin Hussey, a calligrapher who runs Sable & Gray Paper Co. I think you’re going to love this uplifting inspiration as we take a peek at her lettering work. Let’s dive in! – Jen

Photo Credit: Tifani Lyn Photography

From Kristin: I got my degree in Architecture, and after I graduated from school, I worked for a firm that I had dreamed of working at. It was fascinating and such a great opportunity, but I didn’t realize the reality of being a modern-day architect until I was working there: it had become a very computer-driven career with all of the models and drawings being done in computer programs. I really missed working with my hands so I decided to try out a different career path that would be more hands-on. So I got a job at a florist, which was just the change I needed. While I was working there, the florist merged with a stationery company, and asked if I would take over the custom stationery designs since I had a background in design, and I completely fell in love.

Photo Credit: Luxlight Photography

About a year later I went off on my own and started Sable & Gray, which has been such a beautiful adventure. I try to make each invitation a real work of art, incorporating as many hand-crafted details as possible. It only felt natural to learn calligraphy as well so I wouldn’t need to rely only on predesigned fonts. I took a calligraphy course from Molly Jacques (who is a true modern calligraphy legend!) about 4 years ago and never looked back!

Photo Credit: Luxlight Photography

I’ve developed my calligraphy style over the past four years with a goal to create a look that is elevated, yet approachable (and also legible!). I’ve looked up to other calligraphers like Molly Jacques (who taught me pointed-pen calligraphy) and Jenny Sanders (who is just amazing), but have tried to develop a style that is uniquely my own.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Laduca Photography

Here’s a peek at Kristin in her element:

Photo Credit: Corey Weber Photography

I love to incorporate calligraphy into my custom wedding invitation designs and will tweak my style a bit to fit the mood and aesthetic of each invitation suite. I especially love doing watercolor brush calligraphy because it’s so beautiful seeing the gradient and watching the colors bleed together throughout each word. They really look like a little piece of art in and of themselves.

Photo Credit: The Weber Photographers

It’s tough to pick a favorite project! I really love this custom invitation suite that features a combination of watercolor brush calligraphy and letterpress printing on double-thick paper (and it has gorgeous dusty-blue edge painting, too!). The custom die-cut Michigan-shaped response card is an extra special cherry on top of this dreamy suite.

Photo Credit: Luxlight Photography

Thanks so much for sharing your work, Kristin! Looking for even more beautiful calligraphy? Check out our calligraphy archive right here!

Photo credits, except where noted: Kristin Hussey of Sable & Gray Paper Co.

Want to be featured in our calligraphy column? Reach out to us at submissions [at] ohsobeautifulpaper [dot] com with the subject line “Calligraphy Feature” for more details!

09/10/2018

Minimalist Type-Driven Wedding Invitations on Handmade Paper

Happy Monday everyone! We’re going to kick off the week with a serious stunner of an invitation suite: minimalist type-driven wedding invitations on handmade paper by Nicole of Every Little Letter! When I first saw this invitation suite, I was captivated by the combination of a minimalist type-driven design and handmade paper with super soft deckle edges. I love calligraphy, but the minimalist serif type feels so classic and beautiful! Add in a gorgeous vellum overlay with blackberry botanical illustration on the menus and a few silk ribbons, and you’ve got one seriously romantic wedding invitation!

From Nicole: I created this invitation suite for a styled shoot with photographer Erin Tetterton. I was so excited to see lots of beautiful blackberries and a moody disposition in the mood board. My idea was to create a clean, type driven invitation that played off the tones of Fall (one of my favorite seasons and I am so excited it’s on its way!).

I wanted to use a mix of papers to show texture, Pressed Paper was perfect both for the tone and subtle deckle. I used Frou Frou Chic ribbon to offset the strong black type and layout. I wanted to create an invitation that was very clean and simple with only emphasis being the typeface and justification â€“ I love the use of this white space and justified paragraph of details. One of my favorite details is always use of vintage postage, so I was careful to pick tones that complimented the suites soft blush tones and mid-green accents.

To continue the mix of materials, I chose handmade paper for the menus but decided to use soft transparent vellum with a printed botanical illustration as the cover, wrapped with fine paper twine to keep the two pieces together.

For each suite I design, it’s important to me to create a cohesive look that’s unique and timeless but also how to incorporate color and texture, this minimalist type-driven wedding invitation suite hit all the fun sweet spots! When designing for a styled shoot, it’s also important for me to be able to create a suite that a real bride would be able to recreate â€“ so many times a bride reaches out with a suite she’s found and loves, but would be way too expensive to reproduce for a larger guest list. This suite has the makings of a unique layout that could be remade for a real wedding very easily!

Thanks Nicole!

Design and Printing: Every Little Letter

Handmade Paper: Pressed Paper

Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

Looking for more wedding invitation inspiration? Visit our wedding invitations archive for more custom wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Every Little Letter

08/16/2018

Inspiring Calligraphers: Li Ward Calligraphy

Hey everyone! It’s been a hot summer in many places so I thought it only fitting to pull some inspiring calligraphy work with a true summertime vibe. Here’s a look at the work of Li Ward Calligraphy. I love the mix of her lettering work and watercolor and illustration, and how each wedding suite looks so fitting for the destination. With that, let’s grab a lemonade and check out Li’s beautiful calligraphy! – Jen

Photo Credit: Cambria Grace Photography

On how she got her start, Li shares:

I started calligraphy about 6 years ago, using traditional pens with nibs that you dip into ink. I started doing spot lettering for other stationery designers whose clients requested some hand lettering for their invitations. Two years ago when I began dabbling in watercolors, I decided to go â€œfull serviceâ€ with invitation design: I would take care of not just lettering, but full design which would include watercolor illustrations, hand lettering, envelope liner design, paper choice, and printing.

What inspires Li? She gets inspiration from Jane Austen, scratchy old-fashioned script, Edward Gorey’s irreverent sense of humor, Matisse’s bold color palettes, stained glass designs â€” just to name a few. “I’m still really new to this and constantly trying new things out,” says Li.

“One of my favorite suites is the Catskills wedding suite (Zoe and Sam), which included Save the Dates, folded maps, and illustrated menus,” says Li. “The couple had already commissioned Happy Menocal to design their crest. Happy just happens to be one of my favorite artists, so I was really thrilled when they asked me to design the rest of the suite that would complement Happyâ€™s design. I took inspiration from Edward Goreyâ€™s illustration style and Happyâ€™s of course, threw in block font mixed with cursive, went with a more is better frame of mind. And itâ€™s kind of been the basis of my style going forward. Iâ€™m definitely all about bold colors and shapes!”

As much as I love Li’s illustration work, I’m also a big fan of this kraft brown wedding suite she designed. The white lettering on kraft brown paper has a modern organic vibe that feels casual, yet cool.

Another favorite style? Li loves to do “seamless” designs. “If you were to put two cards side by side, the design from one card would match up with the design on another,” says Li.

Big thanks to Li Ward for sharing a a peek into her world of lettering!

All photos by Li Ward, except where noted

Want to be featured in our calligraphy column? Reach out to us at submissions [at] ohsobeautifulpaper [dot] com with the subject line â€œCalligraphy Featureâ€ for more details!

07/05/2018

Nine Ways to Incorporate Calligraphy Into Your Wedding

If I have a weakness for anything, it’s calligraphy. As far as I’m concerned, calligraphy is magic and elevates everything it touches to a work of art. Today I’m sharing nine ways to incorporate calligraphy into your wedding, for those of you in wedding planning mode who are as calligraphy-obsessed as I am!

Calligraphy by Script Merchant / Photo Credit: Kayla Barker

1. The Invitations and envelopes

First things first â€“ the wedding invitations! When most of us think about wedding calligraphy, we think of envelopes with beautifully calligraphed addresses. And I’m definitely all in favor of going all out for the envelopes, but you can also use calligraphy for your entire wedding invitation! Depending on your budget and guest list size, you could ask a calligrapher to hand write each invitation entirely in calligraphy or brush lettering â€“ like these hand lettered Sumi ink invitations â€“ or commission something called spot calligraphy, where a calligrapher writes out a few words (usually your names and maybe the venue or location) and digitally scans the lettering to incorporate into the final invitation design. There are calligraphy styles to suit every type of wedding: classic and elegant, modern, bohemian, whimsical, and plenty of examples of spot calligraphy in our wedding invitation archive!

Minimalist wedding invitation design by Jenny Sanders

Semi-custom invitation design by Anne Robin Calligraphy

Photo and Calligraphy by Lauren Saylor of A Fabulous Fete

2. Wedding Welcome Signs

Large signs are the perfect way to welcome guests to your wedding! Wedding welcome signs can be made out of anything from large pieces of plexiglass to reclaimed wood to an oversized tropical leaf. Looking for even more wedding sign inspiration? You’re in luck! I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this topic right here!

Photo Credit: Barrie Anne Photography via Glamour and Grace

3. Ceremony Backdrop

I love the idea of using a favorite quote or a meaningful phrase written in gorgeous calligraphy to serve as a wedding ceremony backdrop! Text can be painted onto fabric (white cotton curtains or even a bed sheet would do the trick!), written onto a roll of art paper, or even printed using a service like Spoonflower!

Calligraphy by Neither Snow / Photo Credit: Erich McVey

4. Seating Charts & Escort Cards

Seating charts and escort cards serve the extremely helpful purpose of letting your guests know where to sit at the reception â€“ but they can also be beautiful! The difference between a seating chart and escort cards is that a seating chart is usually organized by table number, with the names of each guest at that table below, while escort cards are individual cards alphabetized by guest name that help escort guests to their table. Either way, your guests’ names will look absolutely amazing in calligraphy!

Photo Credit: Blush Wedding Photography via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy by Neither Snow / Photo Credit: A Bryan Photo

Calligraphy and watercolor by Holly Hollon, Styling by Ginny Au, Photography by Erich McVey via Once Wed

5. Place Cards

A seating chart or escort card will get your guest to the appropriate table, but if you’re planning on assigned seating at your wedding, you’ll also need place cards. I love these simple color-dipped place cards with deckled edges â€“ or beautiful calligraphy tags pinned to gold spray painted faux fruit for a fall wedding. Plenty more place card ideas right here!

Color-dipped place cards with deckled edges by Wildfield Paper Co. / Photo Credit: Callie Hobbes Photography via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy by Ashley Buzzy / Photo Credit: Rustic White Photography

6. Drink and Dinner Menus

Planning to offer a signature cocktail? Share the options with your guests with a beautiful calligraphy bar sign! And individual dinner menus can even double as place cards by writing the name of each guest at the top!

Calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy / Photo Credit: Rebekah J. Murray via Wedding Chicks

Calligraphy by Chelsea Petaja / Photo Credit: Tec Petaja via Once Wed

7. Table Runners

This one is a bit outside the box, but wouldn’t a calligraphed table runner be the perfect addition to the head table for a romantic wedding? Similarly to a wedding ceremony backdrop, ask your calligrapher to write your wedding vows or a favorite poem onto a roll of butcher paper or art paper, making sure that the text appears only on each side of the table so that it isn’t covered by your centerpieces!

Calligraphy by Rachel Jacobson / Photo Credit: Milton Photography via 100 Layer Cake

8. Chair Signs

I love the idea of creating special signs for the bride and groom’s chairs at the wedding reception. Calligraphed signs (or fabric banners) could be the answer! They also look amazing with a little posy of flowers to accent the sign.

Calligraphy by Li Ward / Photo Credit: Dylan Howell and Sarah Byrne

9. Favor Bags

Last, but not least, send your guests home with a sweet little favor bag! Ask your calligrapher to make you a rubber stamp with your names or initials in calligraphy, then stamp it on cotton muslin bags and fill with your favorite treat!

Photo Credit: Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty

06/28/2018

Inspiring Calligraphers: Anna Lora Whitley of Silt and Pine Calligraphy

Hey everyone! We’re into the summer swing of things… which means summer soirÃ©es and summer weddings! We’re celebrating these long summer days with some gorgeous calligraphy and hand lettering work from Anna Lora Whitley. Her calligraphy work as Silt and Pine is a sweet find (much like stumbling on a good lemonade in the summer). – Jen

Photo Credits: Anna Rebecca

On her calligraphy style, Anna Lora says: My lettering style is honestly a version of my own handwriting. When I first started calligraphy, I kept getting so frustrated trying to do the traditional calligraphy styles. I quickly realized that it was much more important to me to create my own style.

Photo Credits: Ashley Goodwin Photography

Her calligraphy style feels just right with this Hawaiian themed invitation suite.

Photo Credit: Justin Johnson Photography

What a pretty way to display place cards!

Photo Credit: Laurie Dicus Photography

Mimosas, anyone?

Photo Credits: Tec Petaja

On a favorite project she’s worked on: I got to work on was a New Orleans + Indian fusion wedding. I am partial to New Orleans because my husband and I got married there, but I was so excited to work on this particular wedding because of the blending of cultures, beautiful color palette that the wedding planners, The Nouveau Romantics, created for the wedding and the absolutely stunning venue. It is hands down the most inspiring project I have worked on so far!

Photo Credit: Laurie Dicus Photography

On non-traditional surfaces, she shares: My favorite non-paper surface that I have worked on would be mirrors, but I have a feeling I’m about to have a new favorite. I have a fun wedding coming up where I get to write on acrylic and agate slices. The seating chart will be an 8-foot tall piece of acrylic. It is going to be such a fun project to work on.

A big thanks to Anna of Silt and Pine for sharing a peek at her work!