If you are a beginner, you've likely popped your new nib into your nib holder and attempted to start writing with zero success. What's one more frustration when trying to learn something that's so dang hard already!? That's because nib manufacturers leave an oily residue on the nibs to help preserve them for long term storage. While that helps keep the nib in shape until it's ready to use, it leaves more work for you before you can get started. If you don't remove the oil by priming your nibs, the ink simply won't stick to your nib and will just run right off. I've provided five methods for priming your nibs below, so try them all and choose whichever you prefer!

I’m pretty sad I’m just getting a chance to post about this beautiful shoot I was able to be a part of in the spring! A few lovely local vendors put together a styled wedding shoot showcasing some beautiful florals, rental equipment, table settings, bridal looks and photography. This shoot was recently featured on the Virginia Bride Magazine blog, which is really exciting. Here are some of my favorite photos that came out of the shoot, enjoy!

While to some of us wedding paper is top of mind all the time, to many brides it's almost an after-thought. Like many things in life, it's put off until the very last minute and then you're out of time and can't get what you really wanted and have to settle for whatever is available. I'm here to help you plan out the different types of wedding stationery you might want to consider and map out the timeline for planning, hiring, and send-off purposes. 

I have brides write me two weeks before they want to send out their invitations when they haven't even received their invitations yet and don't have their address list completed, and I, like most calligraphers, have a turnaround time of about 4 weeks or more. All it takes is a little extra thought early on in your wedding planning process and you can work your wedding stationery nicely into your timeline and budget. 

Whether you decide to have your return address printed, write them out yourself, use a stamp, or hire a calligrapher, figuring out your return address is more daunting than you might think! I've put together a few tips on placement, who's address to use, and ways to format the address for your reference!

Well, there goes another month! Time is showing no signs of slowing down (especially when you are counting down to baby number three!) but at least we are getting some tastes of warmer weather here and there. I don't know about you guys but seeing the Bradford Pears that line the streets of our neighborhood blooming gives me confidence that winter will soon be behind us. I hate the bees and other bugs that come with warmer weather, but I hate being cooped up for so long. The frost is waning and flowers are blooming and a new season is upon us. 

I'm doing a much better job this year cherishing each season as it's happening instead of wishing for the next season, trying to savor every moment, but I'm still aching for every day to be warm enough to take everyone outside and live there all day!  I'm also dying to get my hands on all my empty pots on the porch to plant gorgeous flowers and ferns! What's your favorite thing about spring? ​

 You guys! I took a leap and joined on as a vendor for the Stevenson Ridge Bridal Open House last weekend. It was such a great experience and helped me get organized and actually finish my semi-custom suites and put together some helpful guides that you'll see on the site over the next few weeks (think timelines, checklists, etc.). Here's a quick snap of our table from the lovely Wolfcrest Photography.

I love giving gifts almost as much as receiving them, but we all know budgets are always tight and you can't buy everyone everything they ever dreamed of... Homemade treats are a lovely way to show you care and share something you love with friends and neighbors. Trust me, no one will be mad about an edible gift this time of year.

Whether you know someone who is a calligraphy expert or is just getting interested in the art, there are plenty of gifts you could get them to make their day! They'll be so happy you remembered their love for hand lettering and will be appreciative every time they use these gifts.

Laura Hooper is a leader in the calligraphy industry, so she's a great person to learn from. She offers workshops throughout the year as well as sells calligraphy starter kits and all the supplies you could think of to get started or continue your/her craft.

Whether your friend pumps out orders and orders of envelopes for brides or just leisurely addresses Christmas card envelopes or party invites, a drying rack is extremely handy. More than likely she's doing them at a small desk or the dining room table, so leaving a ton of envelopes out taking up the whole counter or in danger of tiny hands grabbing them isn't ideal! You can find these racks from several sellers on Etsy and the like, but I love mine from Ashley Bush (AshBushInk).

I'm always pining for new stationery... A girl can never have too many notebooks, cards and pens... Here's a round up of some gorgeous notebooks that will carry you through summer and on into fall. Hopefully a few of these end up on my desk in the near future!

1. Appointed Notebooks | 2. Sugar Paper
3. Rhodia | 4. Rifle Paper
5. Belgrave Crescent | 6. May Designs

You guys, I love giving gifts, and gift baskets are my go-to for events like baby and bridal showers. I usually have a million things I want to give the lady of the hour and a gift basket helps you give a thoughtfully curated package with a variety of practical and pretty items. 

Keep your budget and items you're leaning towards in mind. If you are adding a cookbook, make sure your basket is big enough to hold it as well as a few other goods. The same goes for the opposite, you don't want to buy a huge basket and not have enough to fill it, and go over budget just so the basket looks good. Great places to buy baskets are Marshalls/Home Goods, World Market, and Target. You can get creative with your vessel, it doesn't have to be an actual basket. Try a lidded box, a milk crate, a flower pot, etc.