'TIS THE SEASON!

The Edmonton Calligraphic Society http://www.edmontoncalligraphicsociety.ca/ held it's annual Christmas Party on the 1st Thursday of this month and that always gets me kick-started into the season. This year we had a finger-food potluck social at the home of our president. It was so cozy and festive; just wonderful for socializing. By the tree infront of the fireplace sat 30-some white paper bags, each adorned with our names which Wendy Spiers had calligraphed. Into these we dropped our cards, and mine was filled with with such beautiful handmade creations.

Here's a look at a few for now.

* A very MERRY Merry Christmas by Gail Fournier. How cute is that!
*O Beautiful Star in Neuland by Jeanine Alexander. Jeanine used a star from the layering technique we learned in Nadia's "Missing Pieces"class last month.
*A new member of our guild, Carol Thomas-Bain, used her wonderful lettering to advantage on an ornamental tag inserted into a folded envelope.
*Sonja Idema's cards always blow me away with their creative presentation and this years snowflake-themed tag & folded envie with her fun monoline letters are no exception.
*I really like how Monica Robertson puts her heart & soul into her cards. This year her idea came from a meditation course she took; brown for the monk's garments, a zentangle around 2011, and a haiku about the experience of meditation.
Click on the images to enlarge.
And the Edmonton Calligraphic Society has a Facebook page now...check it out! And breathe....

'Tis Still The Season if our tree's still up

Here are a few more lovely hand-made cards I received from fellow calligraphers.

"A multitude of...happiness" with gold dots accenting the bright red compressed italic was a lovely surprise from Thea Paul, a Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild member from Calgary.

http://www.bvcg.ca/

Gail Fournier's beautiful watercolour opens to a quote written in walnut ink in the Uncial style, which looks to be laser printed.

Both of these first 2 cards are from enthusiastic newbies...."young" calligraphers with less than 5 years of lettering behind them.

Exposure to all a guild has to offer...quarterly newsletters, knowledgeable instructors, seeing the lettering & projects of others up close, patience and a willingness to get involved have all made a difference towards the growth of these 2 ladies.

http://edmontoncalligraphicsociety.ca/

Bev Paranych has a magic touch with her Gocco machine;

she always gets good results from this small silkscreen hand printer. Her tree shaped lettering is framed by triangular cutouts with fine sparkly filligreed material behind. Or is that 2 layers of cloth...one has raised gold stars. Bev's been doing calligraphy for eons, and it shows in the smooth flow of her lettering. I have yet to figure out how she manages to put the hours it takes into the detailing of her Christmas cards, work 2 jobs outside the home, run a household and renovate, all at the same time.

(Slightly green with envy there.)

Bev gained most of her experience while a member of the

Northern Lights Calligraphers,

P.O. Box 6220.

Fort McMurray,

Alberta

T9H 4W1

Canada

'tis still the Season

right? I didn't mail-out any greetings this year but sure received some beautiful cards in return.

This one from Diane Waters is for all the ECS members. I've always wanted to do a card with greetings from around the world. Her greetings in foundational lettering are offset by the country of that language in a fine monoline which creates a nice texture. The bow attaches an overlay of vellum on which she added a personal message.

Cindy's Green's watercolours are looking so professional. It's that kind of day here today, and I just have to share.

I love the way Peggy Marce created such a wonderfully crisp card with one color ink and 2 nib sizes. You sure get that winter feeling...