This is part of an article I wrote for Oxford Scribes Newsletter earlier this year. www.oxfordscribes.co.ukWhenever I have to write anything in calligraphy I first type it out in the most similar looking font I can find and play around with the layout, the final overall shape, interlinear distance etc. I always begin on the computer, then write a little until I think my nib size is correct, then go back to the computer to see if it is going to fit on the format size. If the piece is long, after … [Read more...]
A Grand Day Out
Oxford Scribes had their first Open Day - a new idea of "how to meet, socialise and get inspired".The cartographer Alun Jones spoke in the morning, then there was cake, wine, bring 'n buy and after lunch Barbara Jupe showed us how to make dear little boxes. There was also a display of her miniature boxes with miniature books, with every last detail and tiny writing utterly perfect.Her boxes are about 3-4cm in size, fully lined with matching lids and are made of mount board glued with Uhu, then … [Read more...]
The Queen’s Speech
Yesterday was the Queen's Speech in the House of Lords.I loved watching the pageantry on television and I thought the Queen looked beautiful in her regalia.I had a phone call at about 5pm to ask if I would chat on Radio Oxford for a 5 minute slot about the goatskin vellum that she read her speech from. I suggested they ask Tim Noad but he wasn't available so I took it on. (Gulp!) So I await your comments about the accuracy of what I said.I said that vellum really means the skin of a calf whereas … [Read more...]