In this post, let’s talk with Avinash Kharat of Avinash Calligraphy. Having started his calligraphy journey on the side a few years ago, Avinash is one of India’s top calligraphers – best known for his copperplate calligraphy. Let’s hear it from Avinash.. What made you pick-up calligraphy? When was this? When I was 18, I saw one of the folks in my gym teaching it to another person. That was when I first got to know about this art. Day by day, I kept getting more attracted towards it. At first, I started with practicing Gothic script.  Later, simple Foundational Hand script drew my attention b ..read more

For someone like me who gets bored easily, learning more than one script at a time is only natural. Although most calligraphers recommend learning only one script at a time, my ADD brain disagrees. Combined with the fact that there are so many beautiful scripts out there that I most definitely wanted to learn and practice (and still do!), I quickly realized I had to develop a system where I could work on more than one script at a time. Keeping this in mind, I developed the method listed below that allows me to build muscle memory for a new calligraphy script, while practicing the ones I’ve alr ..read more

Gorgeous glass pens – they are more like pieces of art than just writing instruments In this blog post, you will learn how to use a glass dip pen for writing. Glass pens are not just tools of writing, but pieces of art. I’ve always marveled at the miracle that sand and fire can create- sort of like a twin flame relationship. Not only are they beautiful to look at and admire, but writing with them is relatively simple too.  History of the glass pen If you do a quick Google search, you’ll notice discrepancies in their history. Some sources state that they originated in Murano, Venice in the 170 ..read more

Of all the tools in the land, the one that I treasure the most (aside from my pen, of course) can fit in my pocket. The size of a credit card, this humble, plastic tool with a spinning wheel makes lining up pages a breeze. Introducing… the Ames Lettering Guide. At first glance, the Ames Lettering Guide looks a bit odd with its many holes, slanted lines, diagonal columns and spiraling center. However, it’s a truly powerful little tool to add to your craft box. Purpose The main purpose of the *Ames lettering guide is to swiftly produce evenly spaced lines and guides for writing, architecture or ..read more



Are you a creative with an intense desire to create beauty, but who also wants to spend her time on the couch, drinking tea and watching Netflix? I hear you, friend. Our world, even the online world, doesn’t seem like it’s set up for a creative introvert to succeed— which is why so many of us give up and hide.

 This used to be me. I would see incredibly talented people out there, doing extraordinary things and think, “I don’t want to compete with that. Also, I can’t compete with that.” I’ll stay quiet and play small. “The right people will find me” was my marketing strategy.

 Not only was ..read more

Heat embossing is one of those projects that’s not just fun but functional as well. Along with adding instant glam to any product, heat embossing is suitable for most ages and is a fairly quick project. I love using this technique to personalize journals for my friends. With the astounding variety of embossing powders on the market, you never really run out of new colors to try! That said, gold embossing powder is my all-time favorite that never goes out of style. Learn how to create this ‘raised’ effect using heat embossing techniques In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to use an embossing ..read more

An oblique pen holder is an essential tool when you plan to take your calligraphy journey to the next level. Using an oblique pen holder is much more comfortable than using a straight pen holder, so much so that many calligraphers (including me) prefer to continue using an oblique once they’ve graduated from the straight. However, purchasing an oblique pen holder isn’t quite as straightforward as purchasing a straight pen holder. This may come as a surprise to calligraphy beginners. There are two main things to keep in mind as you look for your first (or tenth!) oblique. And it is these two th ..read more

When you’re a calligraphy beginner stepping into the vast world of Pointed Pen Calligraphy, it can feel overwhelmingly confusing. There’s so much to learn, and even more supplies to choose from. I get it friend, I’ve been there. If the dazzling variety of pen holders (straight? oblique? wooden? metallic?) and inks (acrylic? sumi? walnut? India?) on the market wasn’t enough, the number of pointed pen nibs on the market can be especially mind-boggling. I mean, which of these nibs should you get as you’re assembling your calligraphy toolkit?! The struggle is real and I totally feel your exaspera ..read more