A lot goes into making a Learn Calligraphy for a Latté set; first, what I call the “Getting Back in Touch with Popular Culture While Doing Some Serious Calligraphing” phase occurs. In this phase, I create all the letterforms and calligraphy needed for the set. Generally, this takes enough time that I am able to watch an entire Netflix or HBO series. {For this set, it was Girls.}
Next comes the “InDesign” phase, which is mostly executed at a local coffee shop over the span of a few weeks; I try to eavesdrop on strangers’ conversations for entertainment as I construct the worksheet letter by letter. All Learn Calligraphy for a Latté worksheets are created using Adobe InDesign; it’s basically a lot of cutting and pasting letterforms and words, as well as writing instructions. After the InDesign phase comes the “Testing” phase, which is just a fancy way of saying that I print out the worksheet, read through it carefully, and make sure everything looks good. The “Testing” phase is my favorite phase … but it’s probably my spouse’s least favorite phase because I walk around the house for a couple of days whistling The Final Countdown. {And now it’s in your head, too, right?}
Last year, when I created the first Learn for a Latté worksheet set {Flourish Formal Style}, I didn’t realize what a great resource it would be for modern calligraphy learners everywhere. I thought maybe a handful of people would purchase and enjoy it, and knowing that those people liked it would be gratification enough for me. I honestly never could have imagined how popular the worksheets would get; Instagram has shown me Learn for a Latté sets in every corner of the world, from Japan to Australia to Pakistan and beyond. I think that’s the really cool thing about digital products: they are accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
As the number of people learning with the worksheet sets have grown, so, too, has the amount and quality of feedback I have received. That’s why every set is an improvement over the last, and the latest worksheet {Amy Style} is no exception. This worksheet set includes built-in “ghost tracer” letters, straight slant lines, and a separate Extra Word Practice sheet including common words like “Happy”, “Birthday,” “Love,” “Thank”, and “You”. I am very excited to hear what you think about this worksheet set because I believe it’s the best one yet for beginners. To be clear: all LFAL sets are formulated for beginners, but this set has the most information and does not require trying/using an oblique pen. I know it will be particularly good for people — both left- and right-handed — who have never tried calligraphy before because there’s no slant to the letters. Despite the lack of slant, Amy Style calligraphy is clean and modern with the right amount of formality. It’s the calligraphy style that you can use on anything from wedding envelopes to casual greeting cards.
The biggest difference between this worksheet set and the others is … please mentally insert a drumroll here … videos. For a few months now, calligraphy learners have been suggesting videos to accompany worksheet sets. The argument for this is that it’s really nice to actually see things being written out, and being able to observe how I grip the pen, dip the ink, clean the nib, etc. I admittedly did not take the video suggestions with gusto: the camera I had was not well-suited for videos; I had no idea how I was going to get that nice, overhead shot of me writing; and I was very intimidated by Premiere Pro {the Adobe video editing software}.
These obstacles are precisely why the optional video course for Amy Style calligraphy is approximately twice the cost of a latté {$10.00}. In order to make the videos, I purchased {and learned how to use} a DSLR camera that shoots amazing videos. To solve the overhead shot issue, I got a Manfrotto tripod with a horizontal arm-thing — who knew, by the way, that four fused-together iron posts could cost so much?? Finally, I watched Premiere Pro tutorials online until my eyes crossed, and I purchased private video hosting through Vimeo. In short: it was quite the endeavor!
If you opt to purchase the video course with the Amy Style premium worksheet set, here’s what to expect:
- A comprehensive explanation of supplies needed to create Amy Style {and other styles} of calligraphy.
- A demonstration of how to create faux calligraphy.
- Dip pen basics {assembly, cleaning, how far to dip the nib in ink, how to hold the pen}.
- Two videos of around 13 minutes each showcasing how to create both uppercase and lowercase letterforms.
- “Extras”: a short demonstration of using an oblique pen, plus how to write on an envelope using Amy Style calligraphy.
- Two printables: a supply checklist and an envelope guideline helper.
One thing to note is that you can purchase and use the Amy Style Premium Calligraphy Worksheet Set without the video course; however, you will be lost if you attempt to do the video course without the premium worksheet set. Here are download links for each learning tool, plus, of course, a free two-page exemplar worksheet:
- Click here to purchase the Amy Style Premium Calligraphy Worksheet Set.
- Click here to purchase the Amy Style Video Course {remember, you need the premium worksheet set to properly follow along!}.
- Click here to download the two-page Standard Amy Style Calligraphy Worksheet {it’s free!}.
As I explained earlier in this blog post, the reason that the TPK printable Learn Calligraphy for a Latté worksheets have gotten better is user feedback. This is the very first video course I’ve made, and I would love to create more — I’m thinking of tackling the Kaitlin next. However, I want to hear what you think and how I can improve helping you to learn via videos. So, if you decide to take the video course and you have suggestions for improvement, I’m all ears; please email me at [email protected] I always {always, always} listen to feedback … it’s what helps this website to achieve its goal of being a place to learn as well as be inspired!
Whether you have practiced with a Learn Calligraphy for a Latté worksheet set before, or if you’re brand-new to TPK and are toying with learning, I know you’ll enjoy the Amy. Good things take time, and this worksheet has been months in the works for a reason: it’s a fantastic, comprehensive resource that’s designed to help you grow in your calligraphy skill and have fun in the meantime. Really, don’t hesitate to put on some good music and enjoy a nice few minutes or hours of working through the worksheet set. Throw in some yummy snacks and your favorite beverage to the mix, and you’ve got a veritable vacation!
If you have any questions about this calligraphy style or the worksheet/videos, don’t hesitate to ask. I also recently updated the FAQs, so the answer you seek may be there, especially if it’s general. Thank you very, very much for reading, and don’t forget to check out the TPK Weekend Giveaway on Facebook to win a Lamy fountain pen!
Warmest wishes to you always,
