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Andria Ledon of Lilikoi Press asked me to do the lettering for her wedding invitations and materials, and I think they turned out beautifully. I really love the look of the blind embossing, as well.
A lot of people now skip the entire inner envelope concept when sending out invitations, which I think is fine- it saves trees, saves money, is less formal, etc. However, the nice thing about an inner envelope is that you usually write out the first name or even “pet name” of the person you are addressing. It adds such a personal touch. I think a really great way to combine the two would be to do something similar to the photo above- just add a good dose of familiarity and playfulness to the outer envelope by using just the first names! I think it would be perfect for an informal, whimsical event. Don't you? I hope someone takes me up on this idea soon for their invitations!
A couple of you asked about what I do when I can't see a template through an envelope because it is a dark color or completely opaque, such as the wedding envelopes I just mailed off yesterday that were gray and lined. The process is much more time consuming and painstaking than simply inserting a lined template. It is nice to have a venue to explain a process like this!
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I've had a couple people ask about the materials and process that I go through in the course of doing a wedding, so I just wanted to divulge a few details here! I mix most of my inks from a type of paint called gouache; that way I can create extremely custom shades, and gouache works really well with most types of stock or paper, without bleeding. I typically mix the potions in shot glasses that I pick up in antique stores. I use a split-tipped, pointed metal nib, that I dip into the ink every couple words or so- a really old fashioned way of writing that is so completely charming.
Most of you out there reading this are probably already familiar with Snippet and Ink, a daily source of lovely and amazingly curated wedding inspiration, but I just wanted to sing its praises anyway! Kathryn always has impeccable taste, and I love how her seasonal inspiration boards are always uncannily dead-on, even when they are all so wildly different. For example; the two wintry lovelies below! First off, a stark white board:
These little monogram cards were commissioned by a friend for a Christmas gift, but I can't help but think how sweet they would be as a bridesmaid's gift or a surprise for a newly married couple. Monograms always seem so sweetly old-fashioned to me. Don't you think? Such a tangible symbol of the joining of two names and lives….
I really like the idea of using lettering in unconventional ways, and recently as I was strolling through our neighborhood home store, I grabbed a bunch of paint chips. I proceeded to turn them into technicolor love notes for my husband, but I can't help but think that these would be adorable place cards as well… spelling out each person's name. Or you could even use them as table cards, with different words spelled out differentiating the tables. It would certainly be a different approach!
I'm always so charmed when I walk into a wedding and am blown away by sweet little details that I haven't seen anywhere before. You could even spell out “thanks” and enclose them in your thank you cards for an unexpected touch. So many possibilities! I love it when I discover a way to turn an everyday object into a thing of beauty. It gives me such joy! How about you?
I've had a couple of you ask how I came to do calligraphy full-time, and so I wanted to just chat a little bit about it!
A couple of years ago, I had graduated college and was working full-time at a job which was mind-numbingly boring. I would lay in bed at night, dreading the thought of getting up the next day and going to work, and would say a little prayer, hoping that I could move into the direction of doing something I loved and was passionate about. Something creative. Anything other than sitting all day in an office with no windows! I really thought I would go out of my mind.
I started entertaining the idea of doing calligraphy. Now instead of lying in bed and dreading going to work, I would be so excited that I would shake my husband awake to chatter on and on about a prospective future of creating little works of scripted art all day- from the comfort of my desk at home. I knew what type of scripts I was drawn to, but I wanted to mix things up a bit- try something fresh. It took quite a bit of experimenting with countless materials, and many trips to my local art supply shop, but I finally found the medium that worked for me. Using a split, pointed metal nib dipped into ink every couple words or so, I started to get the results I was desiring. It is a super old-fashioned way of writing- akin to using a quill!- and a lot of people wouldn't have the patience for it, but I immediately loved it. Calligraphy, and the idea of creating beautiful little works of art all day long, fit me like a glove.
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Betsy Dunlap, Tucson
Vendor: Calligrapher
Website: Betsy Dunlap Calligraphy
About Me: Ever since I was a little girl, my passion has been creating beauty; doing exactly that for a career is a perfect fit! When I’m not working, I enjoy hanging out with my husband, traveling, gardening, cooking up a storm, reading voraciously, watching old movies, listening to music/going to concerts, learning the bass guitar, quilting, and basically doing anything that involves creating something with my hands.
