A Simple Alternative Wedding Guest Book

Anyone who has ever used a Guest Book knows how difficult it can be to get people to write in it. Often the Bride and Groom or the person celebrating the occasion, is far to busy to remind people and some people find the large white pages rather daunting.

There is however, a simple alternative...

This Blessing or Wish Tree was made using twisted Willow, but you can also use twisted Hazel. Simply place in a decorative, sturdy pot and hang things from them.

Make or buy cards. These are roughly 7cm x 10cm, have room on the front for the guests name and are plain white on the back for the message.

I'm making these to sell and they will be available in any colour choice. I intend to punch a hole in the top and hang from a ribbon.

They're great for guests to write their wishes or little snippets of advice on the back, and afterwards, they can be stored in a suitable little box, where they can be read often.

Save the Date Cards, Butterfly Stars

Just finished and hot off the press. These Save the Date cards are for a client that is not getting married until late 2013....yes you heard right, 2013!

Many of her family have emigrated and need to be told well in advance, so they can make arrangements and save up for the expensive journey over here.

These gems are designed with stars and butterflies on and foiled in a pretty Ice Pink.

Save the Date Cards are made and sold for around £1 each.

Contact me via the contact page for further details

Wedding Stationery Butterfly Collection

I was asked by a local Wedding Planner to make some samples of wedding tationery with a 'Butterfly' theme....and here they are....

The first is the Curly Blessing Tree, rather cute and funky
As an alternative to the square format I made
2 DL shaped invites....one portrait and one landscape

Then I came up with a trio of butterflies.....one of them really big!

Or a single one if that seemed overpowering....it's all a matter of taste

A more delicate design with smaller butterflies

and personalised on the cover

And another.....like I said.....it's all a matter of taste....

The samples are finished and ready to go, I'll let you know what she chooses. Butterflies are a popular choice for 2012. Perhaps it's their gentle spirit....or their relationship to transformation. They are non threatening and easy on the eye....and who doesn't like butterflies?

Give Me A Sign

Well....it had to happen! The white on back Gallery Sign had to go! It no longer fitted with my new business model and not only didn't describe my new take on my business, but the colours were totally uninspiring.

The purple, hot pink and lime green were already in use, but in different combinations throughout my branding and as I'm moving forward into the Brides, Babies and Beyond kind of things (Personalised Gifts and Stationery for Special Occasions) I thought that the hot pink would be more eye catching for a sign.

I have to tell you, that this is MkII of the sign, the last one was made yesterday and turned out to be a complete disaster, sign wise that is.

I was so disgusted with it I even forgot to photograph it, which is a shame because it would have made a great blog post on 'What NOT to do, when making and designing a sign!'.

I'm far happier with this one....I even perhaps went overboard when adding my leafy twists and curly branches.....but at least they are MY graphics and not ones pulled off the internet.

It's now hung on the wall......blinding anyone who goes near it and actually describes what awaits anyone who dares to venture down the yard at 288a High Street.... (and you can get directions here!)

What with the revamp inside and the new sign outside...Inspired by Script is certainly looking more appealing and all adds to the new look branding.

If It Feels Good, Do It!

I can't believe that less than 3 weeks ago, this wasn't even in my head!

I've been a full time, calligrapher and lettering artist since 1988 and have had a studio and workshop since 1999. Somehow, I've managed to bumble my way through, paying rent, rates and a variety of utility bills... it's only when you look back you realise what an achievement it has been, and if someone had told me 13 years ago that it would work and I would still be here, I probably wouldn't have believed them, or never even started!

I thought, back them, that I would give it a go and enjoy it while it lasted, never in my wildest dreams did I actually think it would!

My business has seen many changes. With the advent of computers and home printers, came a huge dip in the need for hand lettering. Myself and other calligraphers had to find new ways of using out lettering... but there are still many things that computers cannot do and where our skills are still needed,. Memorial books and formal certificates, just two examples. Sadly, it's a dying art and no-one seems to be interested in training any more. The ones who have attended night classes and further education to learn the art of lettering, have very little if any, interest in actually doing anything with it, other than for their own personal use....so what happens in the future is anyone guess.

My own personal experience is, that I am getting less and less work of that kind and the few jobs I get are hardly worth picking the pen up for. People just don't seem to understand that it takes time to hand letter anything. They equate half a dozen words taking the same time as writing them out in biro....which just isn't true.

Most of my friends have started to specialise. Passing over the smaller jobs for the more gritty, specialist work, that actually brings in money...like Logo design and book jacket covers.

Gone is the artwork, gone are the canvases

I have had to make a huge leap of faith and follow the direction the universe seems to be kicking me into....and that is the one of Weddings, Babies and personalised gifts. For the last 6 months or so, it's been Weddings, Weddings, Weddings all the way and the studio has had a huge makeover to accommodate this.

Gone are the canvases, gone is the art work and gone are the little framed pieces that took up so much wall space and served very little purpose except to showcase my work. And WOW! What a difference!

The Gallery from the left, with is rather startling Forest Fruits paint work. It became apparent once we removed the art, that the walls were just a little bit too insipid for mainly white or off-white goods...a little dramatic I thought when I bought the paint....but once the shelving was back in, I was over the moon with the look and feel of the place.




This is the Gallery from the right. Gone are the obstructive middle stands which held cards and prints as well as original pieces and with more wall space a chance to show off things more effectively......
much better.






There's a shelf for viewing my portfolio of designs, concertina books and a few Wedding cards.













Next to that stands a shelf for Wedding Favours, table number cards and other associated ephemera










Then there's a shelf full of leaflets from other local Wedding suppliers, Wedding Albums and guest books that I make to order.














The Baby section looks far more comfortable in it's own little place and available items can be more easily seen.











There's also a shelf, for items called 'It's all about LOVE!' Love hearts, books and other hearty, lovey-dovey kind of things.... this section will grow as the weeks pass by...I've lots of ideas here! Oh, and this picture was inserted in the blog post prior to me writing it....and it's a pain to try and change is....so this one is BEFORE the wall paining .
The lack of contrast behind the word LOVE was noted AFTER I took this picture and one of the main reasons it became apparent the walls had to go!

And of course....this blog post would not be complete without mentioning my wonderful 'other half' (aka - Steve Smith) Kiln fired, dichroic, glass jewellery..... which make ideal presents for lovely ladies....they also make great, affordable bridesmaid gifts too!

Oh.....and he's just made something for the men too

And of course there's still a full wall of concertina cards, little
books, fairy doors and all sorts of other goodies!

And the wonderful display stand made by my man,

set the Wedding Stationery off a treat!

So, lots of changes, but in other ways, still lots the same. It was wonderful walking in to the shop today.....it feels cozier and warmer and somehow I feel more focused.

Other plans are to open on a Saturday and close on a Monday as so many brides and grooms work these days, I need to be available for them and free at a time when it suits them. Steve can also use the studio time as his work flies off the shelf and having to work 4 days a week to keep the wolves from our door, means he has to fit everything he needs to do in one precious day.

I and a couple of friends are also working on a large business project. Something that has been needed for a long time....and again it involves Wedding and Brides.... but for now I'm keeping quiet, until we are ready to launch.....so watch this space :o)

So.....it will work out better all round.

Making our customers happy, makes us happy.

Win, win, I would say :o)

InspiredByScript.com's been having a makeover!

InspiredByScript.com's photostream on Flickr.

I've been having a sort out....due to the fact that the Wedding, baby and personalisation side has really taken off. So....it was time to make a change. Clear out the old, tired and worn out stock, and paint the walls something more fitting and suitable for young brides to be. I hope the shop is more warm and welcoming now and we are really over the moon about the new colour! It's LUSH! And what a difference a lick of paint makes! :o)