Sunday, July 15, 2012

A gorgeous gift

As many folk may know I was supposed to attend a big calligraphy workshop/conference event in Portland, Oregon in late June. Because of Barry's health situation we decided to cancel and I was unable to attend.

My good friend Gemma, was one of the tutors there, and it would have been a lovely way to catch-up, even tho we both agreed that travelling to the US seemed like extreme lengths to go to see each other! Gemma now lives in Hobart, Tasmania which is really down south for us and we rarely get to visit.

Anyhow, in the post on Friday a package arrived from Gemma and here is the little magical box within it... some tiny, gorgeous metal type!

I was so excited as I opened it  and I just loved loved loved it.  I also loved that to the side was a separate package with the ampersand in - I know how much Gemma loves ampersands. Gemma had bought it in Portland and sent it to me as a memento of the conference I couldn't attend.

I love all the little bits in it...hearts, clubs, diamonds but no spades? Some dollars and cents and more ampersands including a very funky one at the top. A lovely bracket on the right, some twirly decorations, a fraction and lots of stars.


This is a precious ampersand.


You can see how tiny some of the type is by the scale of the pen.


What a happy day!


28 comments:

  1. oooo how precious! ps did you see denis' keynote presentation online? >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NobWm745Z7Q&feature=plcp (for all the calligraphic folk!)

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    1. Very precious indeed Ronnie - they are so divine. Yes I had followed up on Denis' presentation and tried to glimpse as much as I could of other events and workshops from afar!

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  2. Wow, wow, wow, and another wow. Keep your hands off, Barry XXX

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    1. I agree with the wow factor here N! How gorgeous are they?

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  3. What an absolutely truly really really wonderful present from Gemma. Glad to have the comparative photo showing us how tiny everything is. Beautiful.

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    1. Hi Susan, I think I fell in love with them even more because they were so tiny - just so sweet.

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  4. Letterpress envy happening over here.

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    1. Hi J - welcome back! Now if only one of us had access to a letterpress press, we could get our type together and have a play day. Isn't it too beautiful?

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  5. You lucky lady Fiona! It's amazing how your photographs make them look larger than life, and I could imagine you as a little tinkerbell hiding amounst the magnificently giant letters and dangling off the edges with your hands, kicking your legs in the air. But then I see it might be the other way around, and they'll all fit in your hand. :) Perspectives. You've got some playing to do in your studio now! :)

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    1. Hi Louise - I loved that little wander and imagining myself as little tinkerbell dangling and climbing amongst the massive type - but then as you say it is almost like precious lilliput type! It's intriguing isn't it the perspective thing...

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  6. You lucky girl! That looks absolutely preciously beautifully.

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    1. I do feel very lucky Mieke - it is exactly that - preciously beautiful!

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  7. WOW! What a lovely package- I'm glad for you! And yes the perspective is interesting, the pieces seemed so large at first, until I saw them with the pen.

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    1. WOW exactly and thank you for being happy for me Jane!

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  8. That is so beautiful Fiona and a true friend would know the joy you'd have from it.

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    1. Indeed Lesley - it's always lovely to receive a gift that is so 'me'! Go well.

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    1. Absolutely fun Valerianna - I love them and they make me smile.

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  10. what a wonderful friend and a fabulous box of tiny treasures...
    as much of an ampersand lover as i am - that bracket is so beautiful!

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    1. I agree MJ - that bracket (or parenthesis I never know) is soooo elegant and it is indeed a box of tiny treasures.

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  11. Just exquisite, Fiona. What a wonderful gift!

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  12. Exquisite tiny wee things....ooooer.....lucky you...and WHAT a thoughtful friend.

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    1. I know Jo - lucky lucky me! Tiny and exquisite and special...

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  13. Happy day, indeed!!! You can tell we're all artists . . "exquisite, love, treasures, precious" . . I agree with them all!

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    1. Thanks Jann - I'm so glad so many people have enjoyed them as much as me! All those adjectives are just right...

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.