Tag Archives: copperplate

Chasing a Pension Pot

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They have my money but will not help me find my old pension pot. I have sent them two letters with forms downloaded from their website with ALL the information they need to trace my pension. I have phoned them – they did try to help over the phone but eventually told me to send my documentation by email – which I did. They then claimed that my documentation wasn’t attached to the email – it so was, and I can prove it…. Ack. They are sending me round in circles, despite encouraging people to trace their old pensions, THEY ARE NOT BEING HELPFUL!!!! I have been trying to get information from them since January. I don’t know why I am surprised by their incompetence, as a page has been set up on Facebook to complain about them. I am so frustrated.

I have now decided to make my pension tracing efforts into a calligraphy project. My first envelope to them was addressed in block capitals in Bic Biro. This is my second envelope…

address envelope in copperplate calligraphy

It is a little more fancy, but nothing over the top. I intend to add more decoration and flourishing as the months go by, and then maybe, just maybe, I might get a reply – even if it’s just a cease and desist notice.

Calligraphy and Spelling

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Calligraphy has been in the news lately thanks to Stephanie von Werthern-Gill writing 11,500 words of exquisite copperplate for the King’s coronation roll. I feel a faint coming on at the very thought of being asked to do such a thing! She must have nerves of steel. She wrote all those words without making one single spelling mistake!! I am in awe.

By comparison, here is a recent practice sheet of mine where I was recalling, from my poor memory, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116….

copperplate calligraphy with spelling errors aplenty

What the hell are impendiments????? And what is a Zeba??? And why, in the middle of trying to recall a Shakespearian sonnet did I suddenly feel the need to write Zebra – for that is what I believe I wanted to write – ?????
Let me not be too harsh on myself as this was most definitely a practice sheet where I was actually testing the nib/ink/paper combination – hence why I switched to black ink towards the bottom of the paper. [Hunt22B, Gouache, then Higgins Eternal, on Crown paper, for those who want to know]

Normal practice on a Rhodia pad looks like this:-

Rhodia pad for copperplate practice

Normal practice, for me, is just about rhythm and flow, and making sure I can still hold a pen. Please note, my numerals are always a bit hit and miss – mostly miss.
Anyhow, I have now set myself a challenge to see how many words of calligraphy I can write without making an appalling spellinges mistake – my current record is 67.

There may well be another calligraphy post on Friday. Who knows. Maybe there will be more about impendiments and Zebas. Excituing!!

Calligraphy Practice…and 50p

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Not only have I been scrubbing, and opening shops, but, since last Wednesday I have also been practicing my calligraphy every morning. I do it whilst listening to the news and write phrases and headlines that pique my interest.

calligraphy-practice-sheets-2019
Can’t do ‘D’!

My practice includes all my mistakes, spelling and otherwise. I have a calligraphy confession – after 9 years of practicing copperplate I still can’t form a proper capital ‘D’. I use a simpler version when I write a D. In today’s practice we can see that my struggle is real, and rather ugly.

I also have a problem with numbers….and lowercase x – which is a bit of an issue when writing UK news headlines. I am working on the x. And the numbers. On the plus side, because I am writing down bits of news, I am learning stuff…. like the fifty pence piece was introduced in 1969 and was generally disliked. I always rather liked it because it was a funny shape and I could buy a lot of sweets with it.

I tend to switch nibs and ink whilst I practice; I am trying to note down which nib and ink I’m using, but I don’t always remember. Today I opened a fresh bottle of Ecoline – hence my writing went a bit blobby cos the ink was runny.

daily-calligraphy-practice

I apologise for the poor quality of the pictures – I have no idea what to blame for that – too much fiddling with the light controls whilst editing perhaps?

My next mission is to start reading books again so that I have something exciting to put on a chair. Right, I must be away because I need to do something urgent with a sonic scrubber….

Dear Doris….

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Remember Doris from the previous post… you know, the woman who was chucking things in a skip? Well, there’s a letter on its way to her… and relates to this post: How to Make Money from Art

May 2007

Dear Doris,

I am so sorry to hear that you have been suffering lately. Divorce can be a painful, bitter experience that can leave a person feeling bruised, empty, worthless, rejected, and insecure. May I suggest that you enrol on one of my visionary workshops?
All of my workshops encourage personal enrichment and spiritual enhancement, and are specifically designed to bring harmony where there is discord, faith where there is doubt, and hope when you’re feeling nothing but despair.
For your specific needs I am pleased to recommend: How to Express the Sound of a Vacuum Cleaner through the Medium of Paint – no previous artistic ability necessary! This workshop is person-centred and proactively designed to stimulate the development of personal empowerment. On completion of this workshop 92% of participants report an increase in general wellbeing, confidence, and light-headedness, and all participants are entitled to a 5% discount* on any further workshops offered by the Viridian Venus.
The next presentation of this workshop will be on Saturday 16th June at the Viridian Venus Gallery from 12 noon to 5pm, a deposit of £150 will be required in advance to secure your placement, and a further £150 on the day. Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own vacuum!!

Look forward to seeing you soon!

Your friend,

Moonchild

*Early Bird Rate – Full payment 30 days in advance to claim discount.

I have been trying to write this letter out in copperplate on Crown Mill textured paper. It is lovely paper, but it does hinder my flow. It’s a slog to be honest, so I might scrap this…

copperplate-letter-writing-uk

….and write it out in modern calligraphy. One of the reasons I started this project was to help me determine which of my hobbies I prefer, would it be creative writing, or calligraphy? I only have so much time and I’d like to dedicate myself to just one major hobby. My feeling is that creative writing wins….SO… I will continue with these letters…. but they might all be in modern calligraphy – far quicker, and less soul-destroying. I have decided that I loathe my copperplate!

I am feeling sad. Sad about lots of things. It’s okay. My parents were whipped into hospital at the weekend. For the past few years they’ve had ongoing medical issues causing them to be regularly admitted to hospital. I feel like a useless daughter. Perhaps I need a life affirming workshop?

Dear Esther….

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calligraphy-letter-to-Esther-loopy-letter-project-2A Loopy Letter has been sent out and received!!! I can confirm that the postal system in the UK does work!! This letter relates to: The Only Eccentric Artist in the Village… To be fair this doesn’t really help, does it…?

Esther,

Just a quick note to ask you to tell John that I have cleared out his things. The clothes and belongings he left here have been sent to the church for the Summer Bring and Buy Sale. The vicar was grateful, though I think he has nabbed the cashmere jumpers for himself. For the items that nobody wanted, I have ordered a skip, it is on the driveway and contains most of the shed. Perhaps John would like to rescue some bits and pieces? You know, like the vintage gardening implements he is so fond of accumulating for no reason whatsoever. And that cricket bat signed by Shane Warne and Liz Hurley. There are even some things that you might like, for example: the hideous, tacky gold frock that John bought for me for my last birthday, it would suit you, although perhaps it would be too small? Also, I no longer wish to be called Mrs Fitzpatrick, so you are more than welcome to claim this mantle at some future date.
I’ve asked for the skip people to come and collect before the weekend as the neighbours are taking advantage by either using it as a public waste receptacle, or snaffling all the ‘good stuff’, so don’t leave it too long!

Doris

envelope-addressed-in-copperplate-style-calligraphy-script-to-mrs-esther-robinson-crown-mill-envelope-and vintage-stamps-uk

This was not the first Loopy Letter set free to cause confusion and befuddlement. I am still awaiting news of the first – it had a long way to go so perhaps it is lost?
Anyhow…. I have wedding cake to eat…

Calligraphy Quotation – Mark Twain

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*Originally posted on my Loopy Letters blog*

Although I’m no longer using this blog for the Loopy Letters project there will still be gratuitous shots of calligraphy. Sometimes I forget to upload pictures to Instagram or Flickr so slapping up pictures of my most recent work on this blog will help me keep a personal record.

mark-twain-quote-written-for-a-friend-uk

I wrote this quote out for a blogging chum in exchange for a crochet bunny. I was very happy with the bunny, but not so happy with my attempt at writing the quote. Sometimes I genuinely don’t like my own calligraphy, and this was one of those moments – it looks very stiff to me and ‘try hard’. Whenever I do try hard I seem to lose fluidity. One of my calligraphy goals is to achieve the look of freedom and flow. So, I wrote the quote out again, and made a bit of an effort with the background.

mark-twain-quotation-stupid-people-on-aged-paper

I liked this effort more. It feels more fluid… yet I put more effort into this one than the one above! I like mixing up scripts as well, it gives the work more texture. Anyhow, neither were as good as the crochet bunny I received in exchange! Yes, I know, where is the picture of the crochet bunny?