Hope & Scott's Gold Foil & Blush Wedding Suite

October 23, 2017 Kara Anne Beatrous

Intro to Calligraphy Workshop

September 8, 2017 Kara Anne Beatrous

CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP | NOV. 16

I'm so glad many of you are interested in learning the basics to calligraphy!! Registration will be open soon with limited space available. If you would like to be notified with more details and the opportunity to register first, click here! *After you sign up for notifications, be sure to confirm the link emailed to you.

WHERE: Burgwin Studios | 1935 Mulberry St., Montgomery, AL

WHEN: Thursday, November 16 from 4-7

*Supplies will be provided! (Can take home with you)

We hope you join us for an afternoon of fun!

Calligraphy Workshop with Kara Anne Paper

A big THANK YOU to Ann Burgwin Faulkner for hosting this event in her studio!

Taylor & Jacob's Gold Foil & Pastel Wedding Suite

August 1, 2017 Kara Anne Beatrous

If you are a lover of shiny gold foil, letterpress, florals and pastels, this ones for you! This custom wedding invitation suite by Kara Anne Paper was designed for Taylor and Jacob's romantic wedding at The Farmhouse in Montgomery, Texas.

Deanna and Colton | Burgundy, Navy & Gold Wedding Palette

July 31, 2017 Kara Anne Beatrous

Pumpkins + Calligraphy

October 25, 2016 Kara Anne Beatrous

DIY Pretty Pumpkins!

You don't have to have special ink or paint to decorate your pumpkins. A gold sharpie will work just fine! Having a festive fall party or Thanksgiving dinner at your house? Little tiny pumpkins with handwritten names for the guests attending will have everyone talking! Be the "hostess with the mostest" and create a little take home goody for everyone.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Inside the Studio

September 30, 2016 Kara Anne Beatrous

Finding the right calligraphy tools and ink is the key for those wanting to learn the art of calligraphy. Before getting into the details, remember calligraphy takes practice, practice, practice! It takes time to create your "style" and confidence. The more time you spend writing your letters over and over, the better and quicker you will become. There will be times when the ink splats or bleeds..Do not be discouraged! It happens to everyone.

Let's talk details...

I have tried countless inks, nibs, paper, and holders all to find out that I always want to go back to my favorites. Once you find a favorite, stick with it, but don't hesitate to try new things. You will find that certain inks and nibs work well for certain projects. There are different points on nibs that will create different ink strokes. With trial and error, there are particular inks that I use on certain paper or mix with each other. This post is to introduce what I find works best for me. I've included links for each item so you can try them for yourself. I hope you find this helpful! Feel free to comment or ask any questions.

Moon Palace Sumi Ink, is a jet black ink great for mostly any calligraphy project. It works well on thick cotton paper, textured paper as well as slick calligraphy paper. It also has a slight sheen, whereas the majority of other black inks I have tr… — Moon Palace Sumi Ink, is a jet black ink great for mostly any calligraphy project. It works well on thick cotton paper, textured paper as well as slick calligraphy paper. It also has a slight sheen, whereas the majority of other black inks I have tried seem to have a flat, more matte appearance. Click here to purchase! (i70) Available in four different sizes.

Metallic inks are perfect for weddings! It is by far the most popular requests with my clients. If you are looking to make a design feel more formal and/or special Dr. Martin's is a great choice. It is waterproof when dry, which is always a plus. (M… — Metallic inks are perfect for weddings! It is by far the most popular requests with my clients. If you are looking to make a design feel more formal and/or special Dr. Martin's is a great choice. It is waterproof when dry, which is always a plus. (My favorite is the "18 carat gold" and "Silver") Click here to purchase! (i27)

There are two main types of holders..Straight & Oblique. I prefer an oblique holder, because it distributes the pressure more evenly than a straight holder. It also feels more natural when writing with the slight angle. Click here to purchase! (… — There are two main types of holders..Straight & Oblique. I prefer an oblique holder, because it distributes the pressure more evenly than a straight holder. It also feels more natural when writing with the slight angle. Click here to purchase! (H121)
Finding the perfect nib can be tricky. The best way to find what works best for you is order several different types and start the elimination process. Certain nibs require more pressure when writing as well as certain angles. If you tend to place more pressure on your writing tools, this is a nib to consider. It creates a nice weight stroke and holds a good amount of ink. I use it for everything! Calligraphy, illustrations, doodles,.. you name it! This is my all time favorite. Click here to purchase! (N82)

Whether you are practicing or illustrating for a project, this unlined writing pad is the easiest to work with. It is a slick, smooth paper that works with almost all nibs and scans without streaks or shadows. This is especially important if yo… — Whether you are practicing or illustrating for a project, this unlined writing pad is the easiest to work with. It is a slick, smooth paper that works with almost all nibs and scans without streaks or shadows. This is especially important if you plan on scanning in your artwork in order to use digitally. Click here to purchase! (P36)

I can never have enough clear dishes for ink. I prefer the small jars because if I do not use all of the ink poured I can easily pour it back into the bottle. If you mix a custom color ink and it is important to save the excess ink, be sure to purch… — I can never have enough clear dishes for ink. I prefer the small jars because if I do not use all of the ink poured I can easily pour it back into the bottle. If you mix a custom color ink and it is important to save the excess ink, be sure to purchase a little dish that comes with a lid. Click here to purchase! (S620)

Here are a few more suggestions..

Spectralite Gray Ink set

Remember the metallic ink i talked about? If you love that brand, I recommend the Spectralite Gray Ink. It includes six different shades of gray from light to dark. The consistency of this ink tends to be thicker than the metallic. If it does not glide easily on the nib, add a few drops of distilled water and stir the ink. This also applies to all thick based inks.

Higgins Pen Cleaner

Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White ink

Moon Palace White Ink

Calligraphers!

September 30, 2016 Kara Anne Beatrous

Curious to know what my favorite calligraphy tools are? I'll be sharing all the details tomorrow!

Garden & Gun Dinner and Show

June 16, 2016 Kara Anne Beatrous

This event was a great kick off event for Sea Island's Southern Grown Festival. The four day festival highlights the South's best music, food and drinks! When Monica Lavin, of Lavin Label contacted me about designing the menus, place cards and illustrated cocktail signs for this event, I of course said heck ya! I couldn't miss out on being a part of a cool event like this! The event took place at St. Simon's local restaurant, Bennie's Red Barn that has a laid back, rustic barn-like atmosphere.

The talented team who made this happen: Garden & Gun, Sea Island, The Vine Garden Market, Kelli Boyd Photography, Lavin Label and Terroir Life Family of Wines.