Design is all about creating a feeling … how it makes you feel, and how it makes your audience feel. Learning layout and design can be challenging, but exciting! In this issue, calligraphy artists share how to apply the elements of design to lettering styles and compositions.

Cover Artist Interview

Kathy Milici is an internationally-known calligrapher, designer, instructor and mentor who happily admits to being obsessed with letters since childhood.

The Heirloom Certificates of Dan Mooney

Certificate design doesn’t have to be boring and monotonous, even though it follows a standard layout and hierarchy of information. Dan Mooney, an expert designer of awards and certificates, shares how he works with clients and adds creative elements to his designs, ensuring that his amazing art will be cherished for generations to come.

Wall Scrawls: Angi Phillips' Modern Murals

A‌ngi Phillips is a self-taught calligrapher and graphic designer, famous on social media for her amazing calligraphy wall murals featuring modern calligraphy.

Santa's Artsy Letters

Monica Lima was asked to write a “simple Santa letter” in calligraphy by a military mom to give to her kids. However, the word SIMPLE is not in Monica’s vocabulary!

Envelope Elements

Kathy Milici - R‌eceiving a beautifully-designed hand-lettered envelope is one of the many joys in life. But creating one yourself is even better!

Identify Your Design Sense

Jean Wilson - Whether you are a hobbyist or a professional lettering artist, you can’t escape design. Defining your own design sense will guide you when you want to develop a unique calligraphy style, create an exciting composition, or build a brand for your business that reflects your personality and taste.

Modernizing Historic Hands: Part II

Maria Helena Hoksch - Bring personality to a historic script by changing certain elements of it to free it up, while keeping it recognizable as based on a historic hand.

Tutorial: Adding Machine Tape Garland

Kathy Milici - Make a festive garland with inexpensive adding machine tape! You can use a brush pen, a pointed pen, markers, watercolor pencils, paints, whatever medium you enjoy writing with. You can even get your whole family to write a section and make it a tradition every year!

Tutorial: Mail Art Mailing Trick

Schin Loong shows how to protect your mail art so that it arrives safely at its destination.

Tutorial: Magnolia Leaves Place Cards

Laura Di Piazza - Don’t you love it when a simple, elegant, and inexpensive detail can upgrade a tablescape? Instead of using typical place cards, try magnolia leaves!

Tutorial: Embossed Brush Lettered Gift Bags

Maureen Vickery - A‌dd glitz to your gifts by personalizing gift bags with embossed brush lettering!

Tips: Getting Started in Calligraphy

Barbara Close, an internationally-known calligrapher, designer, and instructor from California, offers advice on how to get started on your calligraphy journey.

Tips: The Learning Process

Kathy Milici - What are a few important things to remember about the learning process besides developing consistent practice habits?

Interesting Facts about the US Postal Service

Kathy Milici - Find out what happens to your pretty envelopes during their travels through the postal system.

Product Review: Stefan Kunz's Layout Magic

If you have a great quote you want to write but are stuck with how to design it, Stefan Kunz’s grid builder can save you time by providing dozens of different layout ideas to play with.

Behind the Scenes: JP Panter's Ornamental Envelope Extravaganza

When I received JP’s flourished schooner envelope in the mail, I gasped out loud. I was also shocked that it made it to me without being intercepted along the way.

Behind the Scenes: Drawing Versals Using the Principles of Design

Debbie Dutton - Designing Versal letters is a fun challenge. By applying the principles of balance, repetition, and variation, you can design a variety of Versal alphabets for your calligraphy projects.

Pen Maker Interview: Held Pens

Welcome to a world of enchanted forest animals and Victorian ornamentation that you can hold in the palm of your hand.

Biz Interview: Bespoke Strokes

Chantelle Hoffmann of Bespoke Strokes is a calligrapher, engraver and instructor who balances a busy family life with the demand for her calligraphy and engraving services.

Gallery

Tri Le is an amazingly versatile penman in both pointed pen and broad pen styles.