Snowdrops & Pen Pals
I was lucky enough to spend Valentine's weekend at Gregan's Castle Hotel in the heart of the Burren. If you're not familiar with this charming spot, it's one of Ireland's Blue Book properties and has such a unique and cosy feel, but with funky, modern décor. It's my taste to a 'T'!
While I was there, I enjoyed a walk through their woodland, where snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils were all springing up.
After I got home, I was feeling inspired and I decided to draw the snowdrops with my pointed pen and add some monoline calligraphy. (Many people aren’t aware that pointed pens are excellent for illustration too!)
Pretty Mail Tribe
I was delighted to have the inspiration, because I'd been wondering what design to add to my Pretty Mail Tribe envelopes!
A few months ago, I signed up for a calligraphy envelope project run by Kestrel Montes of InkMeThis.com that involves calligraphers and lettering artists across the globe, called the Pretty Mail Tribe.
The idea is that you put your name, address, and email into a form and you’re linked up with 4 other participants who could be anywhere in the world.
You commit to creating decorative envelopes to post to the 4 others, and you in turn receive 4 pieces of pretty mail!
It’s such a simple idea, but I love that it allows you to be creative and gives you a project with a timeline to work to.
Most of the participants are calligraphers; some are just starting out and others have a bit more experience. But the point of it is not perfection - it’s to send something special that will arrive through someone’s letterbox and make them smile!
I created these using Coliro metallic watercolours and was really pleased with how they turned out.
My pretty mail envelopes went to Hungary, Switzerland, the U.S.A. and Hong Kong! And it was a delight to receive envelopes from such far-off places too.
Le grá (with love),
Louise x
P.S. If you search the hash tag #prettymailtribe on Instagram, you’ll see lots of other photos of incredible envelope calligraphy.