Live Calligraphy: Love Letter Writing at Bonifacio High Street

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, I was at the live calligraphy booth along Bonifacio High Street. Aptly called ‘You’re Just My Type‘, the task at hand was writing people’s love letters in calligraphy. People in the area penned their short messages for their loved ones, and the calligraphers will write the messages on pretty stationery.

Live calligraphy Bonifacio High Street

Armed with my brush pens, I got to work. Aside from live calligraphy, there were also typewriting stations where anyone can type their love letters analog style.

Live calligraphy Bonifacio High Street

Do people still write love letters to this day? I don’t think so, but those who asked me to translate theirs to calligraphy sure had a knack for it. I wrote letters for two girl besties, I wrote a short message written by a secret admirer. There were several ones who wrote for their significant others, each one channeling their inner Pablo Neruda.

Live calligraphy Bonifacio High Street

There was a girl who asked me to write her message for her mom, and a mom who had a love letter for her baby. It was a wonderful experience, being surrounded by all these good vibes. We were only there a couple of hours and didn’t have the time to write letters for everybody. I’m hoping there will be a similar live calligraphy event in the future—I’d love to write for you! It was a fun afternoon indeed doing live calligraphy at Bonifacio High Street.

Live calligraphy Bonifacio High Street

Modern Calligraphy Workshop: Street Kohi Maginhawa, QC

The recent modern calligraphy workshop at Street Kohi Community Cafe in the heart of Maginhawa, Quezon City, turned out to be a fun and memorable experience for all of us.

Though it started out as a rainy morning in Quezon City (and probably the rest of Manila!), I was very much determined to make the best of it. After all, I believe a bit of rain would be the perfect backdrop for a cozy, creative gathering.

The attendees dove into the world of modern calligraphy with enthusiasm. In this workshop, I introduced the newly-printed latest edition of the ‘Make Your Own Happy Hour’ calligraphy workbook that is exclusively distributed in the Happy Hands Project calligraphy workshops.

Aside from the usual calligraphy drills and practice strokes, I shared tips and tricks to make writing in calligraphy better and more enjoyable. As I would always say, ‘Practice Makes Pretty’—as we were not aiming for perfection but legible letter forms and good composition. We laughed at ink smudges, and cheered on each other’s progress.

We also enjoyed Street Kohi’s specialty coffee and pastries.

Our modern calligraphy workshop in Maginhawa, Quezon City was a morning well-spent. Stay tuned for more exciting workshops and events from Happy Hands Project. If you’d like first dibs on upcoming classes, leave your details here and you’ll receive an email or SMS before everyone else.

Curious about other past workshops? Read about the calligraphy workshop at Art Caravan, BGC here.

Wedding Calligraphy Invitations for a Hawaii Destination Wedding

I had the pleasure of designing the calligraphy wedding invitations for a lovely destination wedding in Hawaii.

Wedding Calligraphy Invitations for a Hawaii Destination Wedding

‘Nothing fancy, just love’

Wedding invitations are an important part of the wedding planning process. They set the tone for the big day and give guests a sneak peek of what to expect. Erwin and Clarice, who recently tied the knot at Gannon’s Grassy Knoll, chose wedding invitations with playful, modern calligraphy and floral elements.

Calligraphy styles for Clarice & Erwin's Hawaii destination wedding

After providing a number of different modern calligraphy options, the couple chose the calligraphy wedding invitation that they liked best. The bride chose a bold yet classic color scheme that perfectly matched her bouquet and the beauty of their Hawaii wedding location. By choosing calligraphy and floral elements, we created a cohesive look and feel for their wedding that set the tone for a truly special day.

Calligraphy wedding invitations for a Hawaii destination wedding

Fun fact—the bride and I have been friends since we were babies. Our moms have been close friends years before we were even born, and I’m assuming that BFFs tend to plan pregnancies together, too. As a result, we (the babies) were born just a few months apart.

Thank you, Clarice and Erwin for making my calligraphy a part of your big day.

If you’d like to see more destination wedding calligraphy, take a look at Tom & Simone’s travel-themed wedding in Phuket,Thailand. Can’t get enough of beach weddings? Here’s Melvin & Aiza’s wedding invitations for their special day in Boracay Island, Philippines.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop in Manila 2022

We had such a fun session during our Modern Calligraphy Workshop in Manila! We were lucky to have Antipodean Coffee in Salcedo Village, Makati all to ourselves for the three-hour session.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Thanks to Antipodean Salcedo for hosting our calligraphy session!

The modern calligraphy workshop is an introduction to the art of beautiful handwriting. Fondly called ‘The Happy Hour‘ Workshop, this class started in Singapore in 2014 and has been a regular class offering by the Happy Hands Project. I can’t believe it’s been that long!

Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Calligraphy and cake is such a great combination, don’t you think?

Our class started with the description of the tools used in pointed pen modern calligraphy and how to prepare them for practice. In this class, we used the traditional pointed pen nib dipped in ink. Afterwards, the participants eagerly tried the writing exercises. Everyone was very keen to give it a try, and I must say that I was so proud of how their calligraphy have turned out. I also walked around and checked on their practice sheets, and everyone really did well.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Happy faces at the workshop

Of course, the modern calligraphy workshop is never complete without good food and drinks. As I always say, never practice calligraphy on an empty stomach (it’s true!). We had an assortment of finger food, cake, cocktails and beer. All thanks to the lovely ladies of Citadines Salcedo Makati who organized this event.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Arigato gozaimasu to our Japanese participants for coming!
Modern Calligraphy Workshop Manila via Happy Hands Project
Going around each table for a calligraphy demo and sharing some neat tricks

To sum up, we all had a fantastic time learning a new craft.

Want to book a workshop for your group as well? The Happy Hour modern calligraphy workshops are available as in-person classes in Manila. Just send a message with the number of participants and class date and I’ll get back to you on the availability. Additionally, classes for corporate groups and brand collaborations are welcome as well. It’ll be fun, I promise!

Thanks to everyone who came to the workshop. Looking forward to the next one!

Calligraphy Printed Coffee Mug

Calligraphy Coffee Mugs via HappyHandsProject

Today I’m sharing with you these personalized coffee mugs with calligraphy. Who among you can’t function without their morning coffee? It’s the first thing I need in the morning or I’ll end up with a headache that will get worse as the day wears on. So when I was thinking of custom gifts, I instantly thought of giving calligraphy printed coffee mugs so that the recipients can drink their morning coffee in style.

Calligraphy Coffee Mugs via HappyHandsProject

One can never have too many coffee mugs, right?

I used Procreate on my iPad to write the names. If you’re curious to know what brushes I used, I have a nifty collection called the Happy Hands Project Brush Lettering Set which I will be launching soon on Creative Market (wink, wink!). I used the medium sized brush because it’s easier to weed once printed if it’s on the thicker side. I cleaned it up in Adobe Illustrator and saved it as an SVG file.

Calligraphy Coffee Mugs via HappyHandsProject

If you don’t have your own cutting machine (like a Cameo or Cricut), you can find someone in your area who can provide both the mug and printing service. I chose these matte Nordic style mugs in yellow and pink.

Calligraphy Coffee Mugs via HappyHandsProject

It was a very quick gift to make, and it turned out quite lovely. If I had more space in my kitchen, I’d make one calligraphy printed coffee mug for each member of the family.

Anyway, I will be announcing the launch of the Happy Hands Project Procreate brush set soon on Facebook and Instagram, so if you want first dibs, make sure you follow along! Need some alphabet inspiration for your next brush lettering project? Here’s a free alphabet guide for you. And here’s another fun brush lettering project I’ve done using Procreate.

The Beauty of Spencerian Script

I cannot tell you enough how the beauty of Spencerian script, especially those written by the masters, always takes my breath away. During Master Penman Michael Sull’s workshop in Singapore a few years back, he had some historical work posted on the wall. The strokes of Spencerian Script are timeless and elegant.

Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project
Calligraphy by CP Zaner from the personal collection of Michael Sull, taken during the workshop

Spencerian originated in the United States and was used from approximately 1850 to 1925. The penmanship style was developed by Platt Rogers Spencer, hence the name. Contrary to Copperplate (which originated in Europe), it is meant to be written quickly yet legibly for business and personal correspondence.

Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project
Calligraphy piece on display during Michael Sull’s workshop. Look at how legible the writing is!

I wasn’t a fan of Spencerian from the start. I started dabbling in modern calligraphy and have always been inspired by the works of Maybelle Imasa. I realized I wanted to expand my horizons soon after and started learning Copperplate Script from Eleanor Winters through her book and in-person workshop.

I found Spencerian Script to be unnecessarily fancy back then. The strokes were too wispy to the point where I could hardly read the words at all. I don’t know for sure what changed my mind, but by 2018 I have already attended classes by Michael Ward and Master Penman Michael Sull.

I’ve had some old reference books downloaded and printed from IAMPETH and I’ve tried practising as often as I could. There is still way too much room for improvement, but calligraphy is a learning journey and it’s a journey I enjoy taking every time. Eventually, I saw the elegance in the wispy strokes of Spencerian Script, and I fell in love with the swirls of its capitals.

In this blog post today, I’m sharing with you a piece I wrote using Spencerian using my favourite tools:
• Leonardt Principal EF nib
• Coliro Rose Gold ink
• 300gsm black card stock

Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project

I love the the thin upstrokes I can create using the Leonardt Principal EF nib. When using normal black card stock, I normally use my favourite sparkly pearlcolors from Coliro.

Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project
Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project
A closer look at the script
Spencerian Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project

My next post will be reminiscing about the time when it wasn’t de rigueur to wear masks and in-person workshops were something we normally go to (and in my case, teach!). I will be sharing about one of the Spencerian Script workshops I had the pleasure of attending. So many things to write about. Hope to see you back here soon!

4 Calligraphy Tools That Make Writing Easier

Today, I’m sharing with you 4 calligraphy tools that will make writing and practicing easier—simple tools that you might not have, but actually need. I’m sure you already have the basic tools to get better at calligraphy, and here are some more that could make you an even more efficient calligrapher.

1 :: GUM ARABIC POWDER

Bleeding ink? Feathering? Too runny? Ink not adhering to paper? Gum arabic powder is the answer to these calligrapher woes. This fine white powder was useful to my different bottles of runny inks (yep, that’s you, Daler Rowney). It also adds viscosity to the inks I mixed using gouache. It made the gouache mixture slightly thicker yet smoother, making it a joy to write with. The result is a semi-glossy finish and a bit of a raised texture when dried.

For envelope calligraphy, it is definitely a nightmare when you have no control over the paper. If the ink keeps on bleeding on the envelopes supplied to you, you can add a few drops of gum arabic to your pre-mixed ink.

I usually have a small jar of liquid gum arabic handy for emergencies. So how do you mix it, exactly? Have a small airtight jar, dropper, stirrer and warm distilled water ready. I use about 1 part powder to 10 parts water, then I add more water using the dropper if it’s too thick. Warm water makes it easier to mix. Afterwards I just use a few drops of this mixture to a small jar of ink before using.

A rule of thumb is to not mix gum arabic mixture to a large bottle of ink as it might get mouldy and will therefore make the entire bottle useless. Not keen on mixing? There is also liquid gum arabic available in stores.

2 :: INK HOLDER

An ink holder, or inkwell, is a super tool that makes writing convenient for calligraphers. It prevents spills, basically, as accidents caused by knocking a jar full of ink can be a common scenario.

Ink holders come in may forms, but I love my wooden dinky dip and the larger one pictured above. Some ink holders also have a slanted base so it’s easier to dip into. Not keen on buying one? Try sticking a small jar of ink onto a clump of play-doh for some stability. Tilt the jar onto the clay for easier dipping.

3 :: WHITE PENCIL

The white pencil is probably one of the tools that I didn’t buy right away, but I’m telling you now that this is a very important tool in calligraphy. Dark paper lined with a lead pencil is just so difficult to see! An affordable option would be a chalk pencil (it’s eraseable!). Going for pro? The slightly more expensive mechanical fabric pencil by Fons & Porter is my favourite and will last you ages.

4 :: PEN REST

I honestly have several of these! Clay ones and wooden ones are part of my collection, and these pen rests keep my desk organised. I have a few calligraphy holders out at a time, usually around three, and they are all sitting on the pen rest on my desk.

When writing calligraphy, it’s best to use a pen rest for your holders to prevent drips on your desk (or worse, your paper!) and keep your workspace a tad neater. Not keen on wooden pen rests? Chopstick rests come in porcelain and ceramic and can be used for calligraphy pens as well.

There you have it! Four calligraphy tools that would make calligraphy writing easier. Happy inking!

Calligraphy Ink Review: Vinta Inks

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Recently, I’ve been practicing Spencerian calligraphy using Vinta inks. Vinta inks are high-quality fountain pen inks and work very well with super fine nibs. For those of you wondering, fountain pen inks can be used with dip pen nibs, but not the other way around! Pre-mixed calligraphy inks, more often than not, cannot be used with fountain pens.

But I digress.

So how do I find Vinta inks? I have three colors from their ‘sheening’ collection, and two have very obvious shimmery undertones. They are not water-proof but are highly pigmented. Don’t let the light consistency fool you—it was hard to wash the ink off my fingers!

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Each ink colour is associated with Philippine history, and it’s a joy to read. Here are the inks that I have, which I’d love to share with you:

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Teal (Andrada) is a very deep green ink. At first glance, it’s almost black, and I couldn’t get the sheen to appear.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
When looked at the correct angle, the red highlights are visible, but it feathers a bit even on premium paper.

According to the Vinta website, Andrada has specks of red highlights. It’s smooth to write with, especially when writing calligraphy on super smooth paper.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
A closer look at the beautiful shimmer of Blue Blood

Blue Blood (Dugong Bughaw) basically means ‘blood of royalty’. I love this ink. It’s a dark shimmery blue with dark pink undertones. It brings out the beauty of calligraphy.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Sikatuna (Sandugo) refers to the ancient tradition in the Philippines called ‘blood compact‘.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
Zooming in on the two tones of Sikatuna ink by Vinta.

Two individuals would slit their wrists and and pour their blood in a cup where it is mixed together with wine. And you guessed it—they both drink it to seal the deal. This ink is a deep red with green undertones.

These inks can be a bit selective when it comes to paper. In my experience, it would feather on my Rhodia dotted pad and regular copy paper. It still managed to have a bit of feathering on the premium Italian paper that I used. The good news is, it worked well on Tomoe River paper.

To make sure you get the sheen on your writing, shake the ink bottles well before dipping your nib. Experiment on different nibs as well to get the effect you’re looking for. In summary, I’d say give Vinta inks a try if you’re looking for pre-mixed inks in unique colours. The sheen and shimmer will surprise you, and you’ll come back for more.

Vinta inks are handmade in the Philippines and they ship internationally (yay!). This is not a sponsored post, and all comments made in this post are my own. Craving for more calligraphy product reviews? Check out the posts here.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop — Revamped!

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

The Happy Hour modern calligraphy workshops here in Singapore just had a makeover with a revamped calligraphy kit. Rebranding has been in my mind the past few months and it’s still ongoing as I try to update the tools here and there.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

Last September, I launched a new modern calligraphy kit for the workshop which includes an all-new theme and additional tools and inks while retaining the ‘Make Your Own Happy Hour‘ workbook which is exclusive to the class.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

A fun (yet useful) addition are the clay pen rests that I made specially for the class! During classes, the pen holders either roll off or drip ink on the table (or both) and these teeny pen rests keep those holders in place.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

On top of that, I have significantly reduced the class size, making it even more beneficial to participants. Food and drinks will always be a mainstay in all Happy Hands Project workshops as I always say that writing with an empty stomach is definitely a no-no.

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

Have you always wanted to learn the art of modern calligraphy? You can subscribe to the workshop newsletter to get first dibs, follow Happy Hands Project on Instagram, or check out the workshops page to sign up for the next one.

Hope you can join us!

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

Modern Calligraphy Workshop via Happy Hands Project

3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BRUSH LETTERING UNIQUE

Make Your Brush Lettering Unique via Happy Hands Project

Hello brush lettering beginners! How do you make your brush lettering pieces unique? You have mastered the technique of using the brush pen and you’re even able to write beautiful lettering with it. The next step now is to make your brush lettering unique and different from your usual pieces.

I started out just writing in straight lines. I would centralize the words then that’s it. That’s what beginners normally do. But how do you make your brush lettering unique? Here are 3 ways that I use to give my pieces a bit more oomph:

FORM A CURVE

Make Your Brush Lettering Unique via Happy Hands Project

Sketch some curves lightly on your paper so you can plan where to place your words. Keep the hierarchy in mind—the most important word should be biggest to create more impact. Write your words in a slight curve to make it more interesting. Make the curve a bit wide for easier readability. Steeper curves might be more difficult to write on and read.

WRITE DIAGONALLY

Make Your Brush Lettering Unique via Happy Hands Project

Draw your guidelines either freehand or with a ruler. You can position all your words in the middle or stagger them slightly. The most important thing is to pack your words close enough so you don’t create big gaps that would be noticeable. Fill those negative spaces!

BOUNCE YOUR LETTERS

Make Your Brush Lettering Unique via Happy Hands Project

If you haven’t tried this before, it may seem tricky because you would need to create a balance even when the letters do not touch the baseline. Draw your straight lines first. These will serve as a guide so you will still have letters that touch the baseline. The first letter of the word should touch the line first, then try raising and lowering the next few letters. Stop every so often to check the balance. If your letters seem to be going up, lower the next letter.

Bouncing letters requires some getting used to, but it’s a fun way to make your usual brush lettering style into something different.

There are endless styles that can make your brush lettering even more unique, so I’ll make sure to compile a new set next time. Now it’s time to practice! Looking for brush pen recommendations? You can hop here to see my favourite pens.

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