Today, I want to introduce you to TPK's first official employee. You might be surprised at how we crossed paths! We'll also talk brush pens and why they are so amazing if you have limited time and a big potential for mess.
Happy Monday!
Meet Ana. She's actually been working for us for the past six months ... as one of Remy's babysitters! When she submitted her cover letter and résumé for the babysitting position, I couldn't help but notice her impeccable writing skills and an impressive arts background. She has proven to be a wonderful babysitter to Remy, but as we got to know her, we realized that she has valuable skills that can help TPK to flourish and grow! So, last month, I asked her to be a part-time TPK employee, and she said yes.
In the past couple of months, it has become clear that Hernán and I need an additional person to help us. We plan on starting our calligraphy supply shop next month, and we definitely need a hand with that! Furthermore, general website assistance is a must. So, you might notice some TPK Instagram stories from Ana or even a blog post or two written by her. You'll love what she has to contribute! Oh -- and, in case you're wondering -- she's still watching Remy six hours a week. I gave her the option to stop babysitting, but she said she'd miss The Little Guy too much. So, we see Ana quite a bit around here, and she wears two very different hats!
Why I'm Loving Brush Pens
Five words: Remy. is. on. the. move. His ability to crawl and stand up has been wonderful for both him and us in many ways! As great as it is, it has also earned him the nickname "Remy the Destroyer". No jar of ink is safe from his curious hands, and no paper shall be left uncrinkled in his path!
Remy the Destroyer strikes again! Luckily, this little project -- created for Instagram -- only took a few seconds to make.
While I did have time last week to indulge in some dip pen calligraphy + art, I've been using brush pens a lot lately! I love that they allow me to make quick projects, whether that's mail art or just writing out a quote. Then, if The Destroyer gets a hold of what I made, it's okay if it gets messed up! Brush pens themselves also have a very low mess potential (compared to calligraphy ink). Remy can't even get the lids off yet. Once he can, I suppose we're in trouble!
A brush pen greeting card like this one only takes a couple of minutes to make!
This week, I want to focus on brush pens on the TPK blog. I think they're perfect for both pet + human parents who also have Destroyers, those who are short on time, and people who love to travel! Tomorrow, I'll have a brush pen comparison post for you, then Ana will share her experiences using the Janet Style Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet Set on Thursday.
Ana hasn't worked a lot with brush pens before! She's going to try out the Janet Style Brush Pen Worksheet Set and let us know how it goes in a play-by-play blog post.
In the meantime, here's a list of my favorite brush pen articles on TPK:
As much as I enjoy working with brush pens, dip pen calligraphy is my first love! When the house is quiet, I always grab my dip pen. I love the scratch of the nib on paper, the ability to write with any color of ink, and the project potential! Dip pen calligraphy makes *anything* look stunning, from envelopes to quote artwork.
I will admit: dip pens are a bit less approachable than brush pens. They arguably require more practice, and you'll need more supplies! However, the payoff when you start to create things you love is just incredible. Right now, there's a giveaway going on at TPK for a scholarship for the Beginner's Modern Calligraphy Online Course. The giveaway also includes all the supplies you need in order to take the course! You can find giveaway details + entry instructions here.
In other news, our calligraphy supplies shop is coming along! I'm receiving straight dip pens from the UK this week (thanks to Simon at Scribblers!), and Dr. Ph. Martin's finally sent over a shipment of Bleed Proof White. I'll keep you updated on the launch date!
Thanks very much for reading TPK, and have a fantastic week!
