notes from kestrel
envelope addressing ruler
My light pad is without a doubt my best friend. However, with dark or thick/lined envelopes, I can't see my guidelines through. Here are the tools I use to make my life easier when my light pad is not an option.
fountain pens aren't scary
Before owning a fountain pen, I was intrigued by their beauty but admittedly intimidated by how to load/change the ink. When I finally made that first leap, I thought, "Ummm... why did I think that would be so scary?" Fountain pens are super user-friendly! They write smoothly and there are so many lovely colors of fountain pen inks out there (do not use your calligraphy inks in your fountain pens as it is too thick). As an added bonus, by using a refillable pen, you are doing one tiny thing towards reducing waste.
nib to holder alignment
When I started calligraphy, I would just stick the nib in and go. I had no idea how far to insert it... Actually, I probably didn't even stop to think about whether it even mattered. It wasn't until we started making holders, that I learned about pen geometry and nib alignment. You will still be able to write with a poorly aligned nib and flange, but it won't be quite as easy. And, folks, this is hard enough as it is without our tools working against us. Here's a little demo showing you how to align your nib properly.
oblique flange adjustment to accommodate many nibs
Adjusting the brass flange on your inkmethis oblique calligraphy pen holder in order to use a wide variety of nibs if quite simple. No round pliers or other special tools needed. In fact, just fingers are the best. Check out the video showing how little it takes to get create a snug fit for any pointed pen nib.
rotating your round stamp
Oh, no! Your address stamp came and it's upside down! Not to worry! There just aren't corners on a round stamp to hold it in place while it jiggles all the way from my shop to your hands. Here's a little video showing how to get it back to correct position if needed. You may get some ink on your fingers, but then we'll be twinsies!