October 2014

 

October 2014 Scribnote

COMMENTS FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON

Sometimes it is not easy to find time to work in the art room, but in the summer my daughters and my grandchildren come to visit and enjoy the pool in the backyard. My grandson is now 5 years old and can swing a mean bat, so we spend lots of time outside in the yard with me throwing and him hitting.  We even have bases so he can learn the sport correctly.  One day he hit the ball into the bushes and I went to retrieve it.  I knelt on the ground to look under the bush, and I was attacked by bees protecting their hive.  Ouch.  One sting was on the side of my face and the other on the inside of my leg near the knee.  I didn’t know how badly they would itch, especially during the night, and finally wound up at the doctor’s office where she pronounced it infected.  Great.  Now I needed an antibiotic, but was on the road to recovery.  Guess I should have been in my art room in the house instead of outside!  Now everyone is gone and I can do my chores in the morning and spend the afternoon in the art room.  Well, part of the time, I have a dress to finish sewing for one granddaughter and the 8-year old brought me a pattern so I can make her a dress a la Elsa in the movie Frozen.  I’ll have to squeeze in some artwork in between!

July’s meeting was highlighted by Barbara Fedder and her demonstration on pastels. Barbara Fedder showed us a demonstration on pastels. Barbara explained the different types of pastels soft to hard and what papers to use. Barbara’s demo was very informative and her work is realistic and exemplary. A group of sample papers including Pergamenta, Bugra and Arches Text Wove was passed out to members so that they can have paper to try different and nibs on or just keep to become familiar with different textures for future use. Thanks to Pat for spending an afternoon with me cutting up paper and putting them together for everyone.  

MCG's calligraphy for Trish Taylor

In August we had our annual picnic at my house and the weather was spectacular for us to be sitting outside enjoying the breeze.  We discussed instructors for next year, meetings for the rest of this year and a few other things thrown in.  We will all be making a 3 x 3 piece of art work, calligraphy, watercolor, etc., for a fellow calligrapher in Texas who is recuperating from a double lung transplant.  Trish Taylor creates beautiful work and we look forward to her being back with the Capital City Scribes group near Austin, Texas.  Trish has to live in Houston for a year to be near her doctors while she is healing so we thought we would send our good wishes to her.  By the time you read this, it has probably gone in the mail. 
 

We also discussed what our Christmas Exchange would be in December and have decided on an Animal Theme using whatever paper or canvas you desire and not being larger than 8 x 10.  It also has to have some sort of calligraphy on it, even one letter if that’s what you want to do. 

Next we drew out two names and gave away two $25. gift certificates for Paper and Ink.  Marty Mitchell and Jo McPherson were the recipients.  We all wanted our name drawn for that prize.  It’s always fun to buy more art supplies!


Anna Schlemma



Ginny VanderHey

 

And finally we had an accordion book exchange.  Paige McKean (daughter of Angie West) passed out the wrapped books and they were all stunning.  When one was opened, the creator talked about the theme that they used.  A lot of eye candy and everyone who made a book got to take another home.  These are a challenge for some, but the results are rewarding.  Thanks everyone for your artwork.  Also thanks to Jo Mcpherson who didn’t get her book done, but entertained us with the back story of how she envisioned the book coming together. 


Maureen Trubac

Pat and Angie West

 

On August 9, Anna Schlemma and I drove to Kalamazoo for a day of Gesso and Beyond with Tina Cronkite and the Pen Dragons at the Parchment Library. Tina went through making marks, sink art and gessoing pieces throughout the day which we thoroughly enjoyed.  At the end of the day, we all made a book with our pieces that we made.  As always, the Pen Dragons are a welcoming group and we enjoy being with them.

Maureens demo

Make and take

 


Our September meeting brought out 16 members to our monthly meeting and a demonstration of a Jacob’s ladder and a mini Jacob’s ladder by Maureen Trubac.  Thanks Maureen.  Now we all know another book design we can make.  There were several show and tell items including new books, an accordion book for a retirement celebration.


And finally, Anna Schlemma, Rose Kopec, Pat West and I will be going to an Art Retreat at Lake Louise in Michigan the third week in October which we are all so looking forward to.  This is Pat’s and my first time at the retreat and we are excited about spending a whole week doing art projects led by Rosie Kelly and Pam Pallsrud.  We hope to come to the November meeting with our beautiful show and tell.  We will probably have to bring our parkas and snowshoes since we will be quite a distance north for a week. Brrrr.

 

Luce Zolna – Marbling

Please keep March 21, 2015 on your calendar for marbling with Luce Zolna from Chicago.  We have seen Luce’s work at the Newberry Library many times and look forward to her working with us on Saturday, March 21, 2015.  More information to follow. 

Policy for MCG

Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy.  There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of the workshop.  If there would be an emergency, for instance, a birth of a child or grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund.  Also, if the workshop is filled and there is someone to take your place, that would also quality for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up for the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment.  We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times.  We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors. 

Are you on Facebook? If so, look up your favorite calligraphers because they are on Facebook also.  I like to look at Barbara Close, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.  There is a lot of beautiful calligraphy on these pages that will get your inspired.  Also look at Joanne Fink and Barbara Lever’s Facebook Page.  And then, there is always Pinterest.  Oh my, so many places to be inspired!

 

PO Box in South Bend – Due to a lack of much mail at our Post Office box in South Bend, we have suspended any mail sent to that address.  If you have anything to send to the MCG, please send to Maureen Trubac 50685 Mercury Drive, Granger, IN 46530 or Ginny VanderHey 51854 Stoney Creek Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514. When monies are due for a workshop or dues, they will now go to one of these addresses.   

/WEBSITES TO ENJOY

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNuvi-fdutE (Yoke Pen Company – how to make a flange for an oblique pen holder)

http://www.scribblers.co.uk/acatalog/Calligraphy_Supplies.html

http://www.scribblers.co.uk/blog/category/calligraphy-school/how-to/

http://www.yokepencompany.com/collections/accessories/products/yoke-pen-company-nib-pen-wipe-sample-pack

http://www.gutenbergdigital.de/gudi/eframes/

 

 

 

I enjoy sharing new websites that I have come across in our blog.  If you come across something that you think would interest the whole group, please email them to Ginny or Renee, and we will get them on the blog for the next quarter. 

American Frame – Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and they will give us a small stipend.

 

 

 

MCG Meetings for 2014

 

October –     Calligraflea – Bring tools, paper, etc., no longer used. Exact              instructions will be sent with the monthly reminder by Jo McPherson.

November – Holiday/Christmas Card Playtime

December – Christmas get together at Christ the King Church

                     Meeting at 10 am – noon.  Carry in lunch at noon.

                     Also, the exchange for this December will be a whimsical animal

                     (fish and mammals are included) on paper or canvas, any size that     

                     you wish but not larger than 8 x 10.

 

Cut the schedule of dates in the newsletter out, and put it on your fridge for future reference.

 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual dues of $15 are due at the July meeting. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our make it/take it meetings, annual raffle in August, and, at the end of the year, we give to local charities. Please remember to bring your dues to the July meeting or send it to Maureen Trubac, our treasurer.

OFFICERS
Ginny VanderHey, President 574/262-1345 gvanderhey@hotmail.com
Sharon Esmont, Vice President 574/272-5481 Sesmont@aol.com
Maureen Trubac, Treasurer 574/272–0733 maureentrubac@hotmail.com
Pat West, Secretary 574-612-9328 pwpatwest@gmail.com

Jo McPherson, Study Group Chairperson, jobakestwo@centurylink.net
Renee Tuveson – Blog Coordinator

If ever you would like to add to the newsletter/blog, please contact one of the officers, and we will get that information to Renee Tuveson. Something you have done or have seen would be welcomed into our information.

 

 

 

July 2014 Scribnote

COMMENTS FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON

You don’t have to be the best team in the world, you just have to be the best in the stadium.  Lou Holtz

April came in like March, very windy, but not quite as cold and today it is raining buckets, but we are so glad it stopped snowing!

It is one day after our MoonTree Exhibition and while I am glad that it is all over and I can stop bugging people about getting their pieces to Sharon or I, making cookies, demonstrating, etc. it was an exciting day as many of us got to display our art and talk to visitors that came to MoonTree to see our show. 

First of all, thank you to Sister Nancy for having our group at MoonTree and to Anne Binder who brought this idea to us and for orchestrating the hanging of our pieces at MoonTree,  Matthew Binder who tirelessly helped hang and wire the pieces and Pat West who helped to hang pieces along with Sister Nancy, Anne and me.  It was so much fun to see all the pieces hanging, in the case or on podiums for a closer view. Another thank you goes to Angie West for making the labels as well as writing the name of the artist in her beautiful hand.  Next I want to thank all the demonstrators, Anna and Angie for demonstrating their beautiful calligraphy on bookmarks that were passed out to visitors, Sharon Esmont for making the Star books, Maureen Trubac for making Accordion Fold books with her cute little cut out flowers on them; Renee Tuveson for making her index card books; Marty Mitchell who did zentangles; Anne Binder for demonstrating her unusual tools.  I was sitting toward the rear part of the

Ginny doing her demo

studio doing illumination demos and someone said to me that we were such a fun group.  We already knew that, didn’t we! Also thank you to Connie Wendt, Sharon Esmont and Jo McPherson for making cookies for our Opening Reception and also to Connie, Laurie Henley, Lauren Matacio and Angela Michelutti for coming to MoonTree to support us and help get things ready.  I appreciate all the work that all of you did for our exhibit at MoonTree and promise that I won’t email you regarding the exhibit……well, just a minute, maybe I can’t promise that because Sister Nancy would like us to exhibit in 2016, two years from now.  So now I can start to hound you again about getting pieces created for our next exhibit! Here we go again!

On April 12, Maureen, Laurie, Lauren, Renee, Marty, Pat, Connie and I took the 9 am train to Chicago to attend the Chicago Calligraphy Exhibit at the Newberry Library. We had a marvelous time drooling over all the beautiful calligraphy pieces as well as seeing Reggie Ezell, Valerie Weilmunster, Mary Jo Carney and our own upcoming instructor Julie Wildman, who was the recipient of the Newberry Purchase Prize. 

Julie Wildman Newberry
Purchase Prize winner

Afterwards we hoofed it all over Chicago walking to Paper Source and Blick Art Supplies.  Our little tootsies were very tired by the time we got back to Millennium Station to take the train back to South Bend and we were glad to be able to sit down and rest them. Unfortunately, for many others, the train was packed with people returning to points east and finally South Bend and they had to stand for quite awhile until some of the passengers debarked.  It was a very fun day and a warm one with the temperature reaching 80 degrees. 

On the train we also discussed what we wanted to “exchange” at the annual picnic in August.  Maureen Trubac came up with an idea to make an accordion book, 4 x 4 or up to 4 x 8, with the theme being musicals or songs between 1950 and 1970.  Create and have fun with it!

 

The end of April brought us mild temps and Julie Wildman for her Lively Letters workshop in South Bend. I especially love the white letters on black arches cover with some pastels, watercolor or colored pencils on them. We had a great time, as usual, and came away with more  ideas to create at home.

Julie Wildman

 

 

May 17 brought a group of us together to make paste paper all day at Christ the King Church in South Bend.  We are so blessed to have a place to play with our paints and paper all day together and a chance to talk about art.  We all came home with some newly designed paste papers to use in different projects. 

Pat West demonstrated Sherri Kiesel letters at the June 7 meeting.  She had several examples and distributed a page of letter forms.  Sherri was in South Bend several years ago for a workshop on these letters that we still love.  Thanks Pat for the great demonstration. 

 

And finally, the annual picnic will take place at the home of Ginny VanderHey on August 3, 2014.  We will have a carry-in and a book exchange as mentioned above.  Please let Ginny know if you will be coming to the picnic and what you will be bringing. Please remember to RSVP so we can make enough room for everyone especially if it is sweltering outside and we need to be inside!!

 

Don’t forget your $15. in dues should be paid at the July meeting to Maureen Trubac, our treasurer.  

 

From Susan Burton regarding the Julie Wildman workshop

On April 26 and 27, the Michiana Calligraphy Guild hosted a workshop with Julie Wildman entitled “Lively Letters.”  Julie, who recently served as president of the

CCC, has an extensive graphic arts background and designed the logo for this year’s Newberry Exhibit. Her first calligraphy class EVER was Reggie Ezell’s year-long class in 1998. Julie’s enthusiasm for inventive and playful lettering set the stage for a very lively weekend.

After a brief warm-up, we began a series of monoline exercises by first “distorting” our letters: breaking a rule from traditional forms and carrying that distortion throughout a word, phrase, or quote. Next, we bounced and rotated these letters, keeping in mind composition and negative space.  For some of the monolines, we used a tool that was new for many of us--Sharpie paint pens in white, metallics, and a variety of colors. Next, we used watercolor to highlight areas and shapes within our pieces. Julie brought her Dr.

Martin’s Radiant Concentrated Watercolor set for us to enjoy. The colors were strong and

Resist-walnut ink and watercolor

vibrant, flowing beautifully when dropped into our walnut inks.

We continued to liven up our letters by making them spiky, alternating lowercase and caps, making them thick and thin, bold and light, extending ascenders and decenders, varying line space, using long joins, alternating tools. Moving on from strictly monoline tools, we used folded, automatic, pointed and ruling pens; pointed brushes; a cola pen and “straw” tool--for a scratchy, splattered effect-- which Julie had provided; and any other favorite nib or tool.

Our next exercise experimented with two resist techniques using liquid gesso and white fluid acrylic paint, writing with each medium using fine tipped bottles on both black and white papers. After sufficient drying time, we experimented with different ways to add color to test the resist: pastels, gouache, acrylics, watercolor, watercolor pencils, walnut ink, sumi ink, and graphite--or a combination of any of these.

As the day progressed, we played with design by “building” a vertical alphabet tower.  Using construction paper, we tore or cut out the letters of the alphabet, looking at letters as shapes and placing each letter into the design with an awareness of the negative space we were creating.

Julie’s last demo encouraged us to create a logo using our names. While creating a unified design, we were each to use each letter of our name to represent a different phase of our lives.

As a result of this fast-paced, material-intensive workshop, we could share our experiments with the group in a Show and Tell with some wonderful inventive results. Throughout the weekend, Julie mentioned many of the instructors whose workshops and classes have impacted her approach to art. Now each of the ladies who attended can add Julie's name to the list of those who have enriched their journeys. Thank you, Julie! 

….and from Jo McPherson:

Michiana Calligraphy Guild met April 25 and 26 for a workshop with Julie Wildman, who presented her newly organized, "Lively Letters."  And it certainly was a most lively weekend.

Julie is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her craft, and gave us many demos and examples of different ways to use our tools.  She also brought samples of various mediums for us to try and new tools for us to try them with.

We received exemplars of her alphabets as well as other fine calligrapher's exemplars and exercises to help us vary our own works.  We will be able to spend many hours practicing these variations.  I do enjoy her style and hope to bring a touch of it to my own projects.

 Doing what you do is Freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

The least of the work of learning is done in the classroom.

 

FUTURE WORKSHOPS

We are currently looking at workshop instructors for next year. 

 

New Policy for MCG

Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy.  There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of the workshop.  If there would be an emergency, for instance, a birth of a child or grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund.  Also, if the workshop is filled and there is someone to take your place, that would also quality for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up for the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment.  We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times.  We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors. 

Are you on Facebook? If so, look up your favorite calligraphers because they are on Facebook also.  I like to look at Barbara Close, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.  There is a lot of beautiful calligraphy on these pages that will get your inspired.  Also look at Joanne Fink and Barbara Lever’s Facebook Page.  And then, there is always Pinterest.  Oh my, so many places to be inspired!

 

PO Box in South Bend – Due to a lack of much mail at our Post Office box in South Bend, we have suspended any mail sent to that address.  If you have anything to send to the MCG, please send to Maureen Trubac 50685 Mercury Drive, Granger, IN 46530 or Ginny VanderHey 51854 Stoney Creek Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514. When monies are due for a workshop or dues, they will now go to one of these addresses. 

 

 

/WEBSITES TO ENJOY

 

http://www.bvcg.ca)

http://www.newberry.org/renaissance-calligraphy-books

http://wildmandesigns.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-11-30T10:59:00-06:00&max-results=10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grGpEHqNgPM

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoy sharing new websites that I have come across in our blog.  If you come across something that you think would interest the whole group, please email them to Ginny or Renee, and we will get them on the blog for the next quarter. 

American Frame – Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and they will give us a small stipend.

 

 

MCG Meetings for 2014

 

July 12 – Different papers to write on & Barbara Fedder will demo pastels

August 2 – 10:00 AM Meeting and Picnic at Ginny VanderHey’s – Accordion book exchange

September 6 – Maureen will demonstrate something she is working on

October – Calligraflea – Bring tools, paper, etc., no longer used

November – Holiday/Christmas Card Playtime

December – Christmas get together at Christ the King Church

 

Cut the schedule of dates in the newsletter out, and put it on your fridge for future reference.

 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual dues of $15 are due at the July meeting. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our make it/take it meetings, annual raffle in August, and, at the end of the year, we give to local charities. Please remember to bring your dues to the July meeting or send it to Maureen Trubac, our treasurer.

OFFICERS
Ginny VanderHey, President 574/262-1345 gvanderhey@hotmail.com
Sharon Esmont, Vice President 574/272-5481 Sesmont@aol.com
Maureen Trubac, Treasurer 574/272–0733 maureentrubac@hotmail.com
Pat West, Secretary 574-612-9328 pwpatwest@gmail.com

Jo McPherson, Study Group Chairperson, jobakestwo@centurylink.net
Renee Tuveson – Blog Coordinator rtuveson@hotmail.com

If ever you would like to add to the newsletter/blog, please contact one of the officers, and we will get that information to Renee Tuveson. Something you have done or have seen would be welcomed into our information.

IT’S NICE TO BE NICE

My mother always told me that “it’s nice to be nice” and that has resonated in my mind for many, many years. She always used to give a cold drink to the trash people on a hot day or take cookies to the ladies at the unemployment office which she saw quite frequently because of the seasonal work she did in the sweat shops.

Recently, I received a request to write a poem on a mat board.  Anne passed this client on to me and I thought I wouldn’t mind writing on mat board since I had just done four pieces for someone who wanted me to write two different languages theirs. I find that by doing something for someone else you get to practice your lettering and improve it in many ways.  I told the client who wanted the poem on the mat board that I would be at our calligraphy meeting on Saturday and if she wanted to she could meet me there.  She readily agreed since she lived in South Bend.  The next day I spent a lot of time lining the piece of board with soapstone, which is what I use on dark paper since it rubs off so easily.  It’s not as easy to make those lines come out as perfect as when you are using a Linex Liner, but it enables you to see lines and then erase them so no one knows that they were ever there.  Next, when I finally got up my courage to write on the board, I took out my Dr. Martin’s Bleedproof White and wrote out the text.  I wrote two lines and realized that when the Dr. Martin’s dried, the paint was cracking! Oh My Gosh! Now what will I do.  I only received one piece of mat board and I could not in good conscience give it to someone who is paying me for my work. 

 

So I wrote to the client who was very understanding about it especially when I said that I would go and buy another piece of mat board and redo it.  Where did she get it I asked and she said Hobby Lobby.  Now I am thinking….great, I will take my 40% off coupon and not have to spend too much on a second mat.  Only Hobby Lobby didn’t have any more of the color she had picked out and I had to order it.  It would take another week and a half to get it and would cost $28 for the whole piece.  They would only sell the whole piece if you had to order it and they didn’t have any scraps.  So, now what was I to do?  I talked to Pat West about where she takes her things to be matted and framed, and she said she recommended Thompson’s in downtown Elkhart.  Come Monday afternoon, I head on down to Thompson’s to see if he has a piece of mat board anything like the color I have.  I went into the store and no one was there, so I walked around looking at the art work and noticed where all the scrap pieces were.  Still no one came to the front.  As I was closer to the rear of the store, I saw someone sitting at the desk and said hello, walked closer and said hello.  That was when I noticed that the man was fast asleep and didn’t hear a thing, so I waited until his cat nap was over and in the meantime I looked through the scraps and found two pieces that were very close to what I needed.  When he finally came out, he asked if he could help me, but I said that I had already helped myself and wanted the two mats.  How much will each piece cost? He said, “Give me four dollars.”  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  I took the cash out of my purse, gave him the money and went home to work on the mat board.  To make a very long story short, I lined the mat board, wrote the Irish Blessing on it, cut it and cut out the piece for the photo that she was putting into the mat.  I cut three sides and realized that my little mat cutter would not reach the 14 inches to cut the top of the opening.  So, back again to the framer and he cut the one side of it for me.  When I asked how much, he said no charge.  I told him that I would pass along to my friends that he had scrap board for sale and did a good job at framing also. 

I went to Bellbrook, Ohio last week to see my daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters and when I returned, after spending an extra night in Ohio because of the snow here and also there, I emailed my client and said I was home if she wanted to pick up the mat board.  I also told her that I would be coming to the Women’s basketball tournament in South Bend on Saturday and would she want to meet me then.  She was happy to meet me at Notre Dame since I was going there anyway and she lived in the area. In the morning, before going to the two games, I got an email from her.  She said because I went the extra mile in getting this project done, she upgraded our tickets so that we could go into the Naimoli Club in the Joyce Center and could relax and eat in the club.  What a wonderful treat this was for my husband and I today.  During half time of the first game, we went to the club, which we had never been to before, and had a wonderful lunch of soup, salad, ham, fruit, breads and, my favorite, ice cream! Today we say “Pay it Forward”, but you are right mom, as always. “It is always nice to be nice.” Ginny VanderHey 

 

 

April 2014 Scribnote

COMMENTS FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON

You don’t have to be the best team in the world, you just have to be the best in the stadium.  Lou Holtz

We had some pretty nasty weather here in the Midwest early in January, but by the time our first guild meeting arrived, it was 39 degrees and the snow was melting.  We always worry about the January meeting since the weather is very iffy.  We had a great group and a great meeting starting off the year bringing our favorite tool or tools we don’t know what to do with, that we bought previously.  We have a diverse group and therefore, we had diverse tools that we like to play with. 

Can you believe that we had over 80 inches of snow this year, and I am writing this in January!  Lots of businesses were closed as well as schools, libraries, etc.  So, what did you do with your day…days….when you were snowed in?  I took an online Illuminations class with Harvest Crittenden, and also spent time lettering in the afternoons.  Harvest is a great teacher and I am learning a great deal about the art of illumination.  Another piece to add to my artistry collection. I also was able to get together with Pat West, Maureen Trubac, Anna Schlemma, Connie Wendt and JoAnn Hansell a few times to do some lettering.  Pat lives 7 minutes away from me, so even though the roads weren’t the best, I made it through and we lettered for about 3 hours, and, of course, chatted.  I also was able to get together with Anna, Maureen and Pat one day when the snow was not flying and we all made, or tried to make, a Coptic stitch book.  We need more practice, but we are getting the hang of it.  Hope you made good use of your inside winter time. 

Our February meeting had to be postponed due to yet another snowstorm and we were able to get together on February 15 for four hours of lettering.  I brought in three exemplars that the late, great Gwen Weaver had taught us many years ago and we lettered about an hour for each of them.  Hopefully everyone is having fun trying out a new hand or two using that wonderful, forgiving tool, the pencil. 

Gwen Weaver

Gwen Weaver

 During the lunch hour, we held our meeting and did show and tell.  The quarterly Letter Arts Review magazine supplied by John Neal was raffled off and Lauren Matacio was the recipient.  We really appreciate John Neal offering a free subscription of this beautiful magazine and enjoy raffling it to someone in the guild who does not currently subscribe.  

Our March meeting was also pushed back one week and we met on March 8.  Of course, it was snowing that day so getting to Christ the King Church took a little extra time, but well worth the trip.  Anna Schlemma demonstrated Gothicized italic at our meeting. Anna has a beautiful hand and we are so glad that we were finally able to convince her to show us her lettering.  Thanks Anna!

Anna's beautiful writing

 

 

We will not be having an April meeting at the church due to our group having an exhibit at MoonTree in Donaldson, Indiana.  We will also be doing demonstrations from 1 – 4 pm, so come on down to see our work and the beautiful facilities at Ancilla College.  Hopefully, we won’t have to drive in the snow to get there!

 

Yoke Pen Company Give-a-Way

Congratulations to Connie Wendt who was the recipient of the Yoke Pen Company Christmas give-a-way.  Connie brought her prizes to the January meeting and we were able to see what she received including a stack of colored card stock, nibs, nib holders and an ink container.  Have fun with all the new tools Connie!

MoonTree Exhibit

The MoonTree exhibit in Donaldson, Indiana will be hung in just a few and then we can all get together for demos and ogling at the beautiful work from our members.

Set up – pieces should be to Sharon or Ginny by March 29.

April 5, 2014-        1 – 4 pm Reception, make it, take it and demonstrations

May 12, 2014 -     Takedown

 

Chicago Calligraphy Collective – The train to Chicago on April 12 will be leaving the South Bend Station at 9 am to head to downtown and the Newberry Library to see the annual calligraphy exhibit.  If you haven’t been to the library in Chicago yet to see this exhibit, you are missing out on a wonderful day meeting and greeting calligraphers that live in the Chicago area and enjoying the demonstrations and talk every year.  Some of the places we like to go to on our walk back to the train station are Dick Blick, Paper Source and Utrecht.  All the supplies that you see in catalogs are there to see and touch!

 

If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together. 

Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.

 

FUTURE WORKSHOPS

Julie Wildman

Julie Wildman from Chicago will be our instructor for our 2014 spring workshop called Lively Letters.  Please put April 26 & 27, 2014 on your calendar. The workshop cost will be $110. or $125. if you are not yet a member of MCG,  plus supplies $15. Supply list has been distributed. At this point we have two spots available.  If you wish to be a participant, please email Ginny VanderHey, gvanderhey@hotmail.com.   Julie exhibits at the Newberry Library every year so hopefully we will get to see more of her lovely work before she comes to South Bend.  The workshop will be held at Whispering Pines in South Bend from 9 – 5 on both day

 

All Day Paste Paper Workshop

The MCG had originally chosen the Moon Tree reception date to make paste paper, but we have had to change the date to May 17 to spend another marvelous day together to make paste papers.  The workshop will be from 9 – 5 pm with a short business meeting during our lunch break.  Supply list will be forthcoming before the all day get together.  There is no fee for this workshop.  More information in the near future. We are unable to have our first Saturday meeting at the church due to their annual spring clean up day.

New Policy for MCG

Our workshops seem to have people sign up and then decide not to attend. We have been very generous in returning monies paid for the workshop if someone decides not to attend at the last minute, but we are going to have a change in this policy.  There will be a nominal fee if you drop out of the workshop.  If there would be an emergency, for instance, a birth of a child or grandchild, illness, etc., then the board will take this under advisement to decide on a course of action regarding a refund.  Also, if the workshop is filled and there is someone to take your place, that would also quality for a refund. So please, if you want to sign up for the workshop, make sure that you put that date on your calendar as a commitment.  We have a small calligraphy group and we struggle to fill workshops at times.  We need all of you to attend as many as possible so that we can continue to have quality instructors. 

Are you on Facebook? If so, look up your favorite calligraphers because they are on Facebook also.  I like to look at Barbara Close, Reggie Ezell, Julian Waters, John Stevens, Rachel Yallop, Pendragons, Capital City Scribes, Yukimi Annand, etc.  There is a lot of beautiful calligraphy on these pages that will get your inspired.  Also look at Joanne Fink and Barbara Lever’s Facebook Page.  And then, there is always Pinterest.  Oh my, so many places to be inspired!

 

PO Box in South Bend – Due to a lack of much mail at our Post Office box in South Bend, we have suspended any mail sent to that address.  If you have anything to send to the MCG, please send to Maureen Trubac 50685 Mercury Drive, Granger, IN 46530 or Ginny VanderHey 51854 Stoney Creek Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514. When monies are due for a workshop or dues, they will now go to one of these addresses. 

 

WEBSITES TO ENJOY)

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Monogram-C-for-Calligraphica/4187411

http://www.calligin.org/

http://www.iampeth.com/

http://www.zanerian.com/

http://www.yokepencompany.com/pages/envelope-contest

 

I enjoy sharing new websites that I have come across in our blog.  If you come across something that you think would interest the whole group, please email them to Ginny or Renee, and we will get them on the blog for the next quarter. 

American Frame – Just a reminder that if you order from American Frame, please mention MCG, and they will give us a small stipend.

 

MCG Meetings for 2014

 

April 5 – Reception and demonstrations at Moon Tree 1 – 4 pm

April 12 – Chicago – Newberry Library for Exhibit

May 17 – Paste Paper Workshop all day/Julie Wildman Show and Tell

June 7 – Pat West will demonstrate Sherri Kiesel letters

July 12 – Different papers to write on & Barbara Fedder will demo pastels

August 2 – Picnic at Ginny VanderHey’s – Exchange to be announced

September 6 – Maureen will demonstrate something she is working on

October – Calligraflea – Bring tools, paper, etc., no longer used

November – Holiday/Christmas Card Playtime

December – Christmas get together

 

Cut the schedule of dates in the newsletter out, and put it on your fridge for future reference.

 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual dues of $15 are due in July. Our annual dues have not changed in many years and are put to good use for supplies for our make it/take it meetings, annual raffle in August, and, at the end of the year, we give to local charities. Please remember to send your dues to the MCG post office box as soon as possible.

OFFICERS
Ginny VanderHey, President 574/262-1345 gvanderhey@hotmail.com
Sharon Esmont, Vice President 574/272-5481 Sesmont@aol.com
Maureen Trubac, Treasurer 574/272–0733 maureentrubac@hotmail.com
Pat West, Secretary 574-612-9328 pwpatwest@gmail.com

Jo McPherson, Study Group Chairperson, jobakestwo@centurylink.net
Renee Tuveson – Blog Coordinator

If ever you would like to add to the newsletter/blog, please contact one of the officers, and we will get that information to Renee Tuveson. Something you have done or have seen would be welcomed into our information.