Join us for the all-new Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, happening now! →

Learn More
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • YouTube
    • Premium Membership
    • Beginner Calligraphy Course
    • Intermediate Calligraphy Course
    • Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Beginner Watercolor Course
    • The Calligraphy Book
  • Blog
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Worksheets
    • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
    • Video Courses
    • Brush Pen Calligraphy
    • Handwriting
    • Hand-Lettering
    • Mail Printables
    • Printable Artwork
    • Procreate Worksheets
      • Cleaning Cloths
      • Erasers
      • Glass Jars
      • Inks
      • Kits
      • Mechanical Pencils
      • Nibs
      • Oblique Pens
      • Paper
      • Protectants
      • Rubber Stamps
      • Rulers
      • Straight Pens
      • Washi Tape
      • Watercolors
      • Wax Seals
  • Help
  • Cart
Log in

Your cart is currently empty!

The Postman's Knock written in calligraphy
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • My Account
    • Account Details
    • Addresses
    • Payment Methods
    • Order Receipts
    • Subscriptions
    • Printables + Worksheets
    • Video Courses
  • Help
Log in
The Postman’s Knock
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Help
  • Premium Membership
  • The Calligraphy Book
Subscribe for $1/week
Sign In
  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    A Peek Inside the Studio

    January 29, 2014

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Design, Inspiration, Merchandise

    Welcome to the TPK studio! Grab a business card and a cup of chamomile tea {it’s been cold here in Boulder}, and feel free to browse my workspace and recent projects. I’m always glad to see you here!

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail

    Hi there! We moved in 2017, which means I got to design a brand-new workspace/studio! For an updated tour, check out the A Virtual Workspace Tour post.

    Hand with Calligraphy Nibs | The Postman's Knock

    I’d like to digitally invite you to Boulder today to take a tour of the studio, and to enjoy a little show-and-tell of what I’ve been up to the past couple of weeks. Maybe it’s just me, but I love seeing people’s workspaces; and since I have collaborated with several of you — be it on your wedding or your small business — I thought you might want to see where I create your masterpieces.

    Let’s start at my workspace. For those of you who are new to TPK, I work out of my home and love it. Because Hernán {my partner} is in grad school for another year or so and needs to live close to the university, we live in a 1,050 square foot apartment a five-minute drive away from the CU-Boulder campus. It has everything I could ask for: a washer + dryer, a dishwasher, a garden, and a spare bedroom — which has morphed from bedroom to studio over the past two years. I am in love with my gigantic vintage desk; all the drawers really help to keep me organized. Besides that, I like having a lot of inspiration in front of me via art pieces that I wish to emulate, and finished products of my own.

    The Studio | The Postman's Knock

    {Oh — and before we move on, why don’t you grab a business card? They arrived hot off the press from Moo yesterday and I couldn’t be more pleased with the luxe cards!}

    TPK Business Cards | The Postman's Knock

    Got a business card? Great! Now I’d like to talk to you about what I’ve been working on lately. Most of you know that I love calligraphy, but I’m not sure how many of you know that I keep busy with a lot of wedding calligraphy. Because I have been lamentably lazy about displaying my wedding work on my website {my goal for next week is to fix that!}, most of my bridal clients come to me through my second Etsy shop, TPK Weddings.

    Envelope Calligraphy Collage | The Postman's Knock

    In addition to my second Etsy shop, I have much-cherished relationships with event stylists. Two of my favorites are Ever Something Event Styling in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Sweet Meadow Events in the Atlanta, Georgia area {Tallapoosa}. Through collaboration with the talented women behind these entities, many a wedding has ended up being magical from start to finish with rapt attention to detail.

    Wedding Map | The Postman's Knock{A hand-drawn map created for a recent wedding.}

    In addition to weddings, I have been collaborating with small business owners in my spare time. I recently worked with antiques purveyor Owl & Peony to create marketing materials. We came up with this lovely watercolor owl donning a peony crown:

    Owl and Peony | The Postman's Knock

    And then I worked with Brown Dog Emporium, a vintage knick knack and painted furniture Etsy shop, to freshen up the look of the store a bit. I suppose you could say I’ve been on a watercolor animal kick lately, so I created this eclectic-looking dog to be the face of the store:

    Watercolor Dog | The Postman's Knock

    Today I’ve got my hands full with wedding calligraphy, but I though I’d write a post to let you know what’s been going on in the TPK Studio here in freezing Boulder, Colorado! Does anyone else have any posts about their workspace? I love seeing office inspiration … probably because I’m a workaholic nerd. Until we meet again {on Saturday}, enjoy the rest of your week and thanks so much for reading!

    XO, Lindsey

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)WhatsApp
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)X
    • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)Bluesky
    • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)Threads
    • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Reddit
    • Click to share on Mail (Opens in new window)Mail
Sketchbooking

About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

Join TPK’s free mailing list

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail
Previous post: Printable Goal List and Tricks for Making Good Goals
Next post: Creating White Calligraphy

All-time favorite posts

  • The Beginner's Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy

    1.5m views
  • 8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet) | The Postman's Knock

    8 Tips to Improve Your Handwriting (Plus a Free Worksheet)

    873k views
  • Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    Painting with Watercolors for Beginners

    830.3k views
  • Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    Free Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet

    483.5k views
  • How to Write Faux Calligraphy (Video Tutorial + Free Worksheet)

    364.2k views
  • 11 Calming Calligraphy Drills Printable | The Postman's Knock

    Celebrating Six Years of the “11 Calming Calligraphy Drills” Worksheet (Free Download)

    292.6k views
  • Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    Lovely Loose Watercolor Flowers Tutorial

    205.8k views
  • The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    The Ultimate DIY Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit

    186.9k views

Latest posts

  • Andy Warhol Quote Written in Calligraphy
    2025 at TPK: A Year in ReviewDecember 31, 2025
  • Gorgeous Printable Illustrated Dove Gift Tags
    Gorgeous Printable Illustrated Dove Gift TagsDecember 18, 2025
  • December 2025 Coffee Date
    December’s Coffee Date: Exploring Possibilities!December 15, 2025
  • Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Artwork + Drill WorksheetDecember 5, 2025

Browse by category

Browse by date

8 responses

  1. Natasha Avatar
    Natasha
    February 9, 2014

    I’d love to share my workspace, but it’s just such a big mess and a pile of things so it wouldn’t be much to look at 😀

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      February 9, 2014

      Trust me, this photo came an at opportune moment — we had cleaned the house because we had a guest coming {isn’t that always how it goes?}. I try to stay organized, but chaos always triumphs eventually! So … don’t feel like your space has to look scrupulous. Right now I’m staring at crumbled up, ink-stained paper towels, glue, tape, scissors, and all sorts of things strewn about my desk.

      I’m loving the mail art and yummies on your blog. I was vegan for three years, and I still love a lot of the recipes I made from The Post Punk Kitchen … my fave is her recipe for pesto! If you haven’t tried it, go out and grab some basil and nutritional yeast and make some — yum. 🙂

      Thanks so much for reading!

      Log in to Reply
  2. Dixie Avatar
    Dixie
    January 30, 2014

    I loved the tour, with your amazing desk and your beautiful artwork. I especially liked the water color of the dog and of course the business cards. Thank you for sharing what sounds like a very busy and productive business. Stay warm and keep in touch. We love seeing your work!

    Log in to Reply
  3. Silver Magpies Avatar
    Silver Magpies
    January 30, 2014

    Hi Lindsey

    I’ve been a subscriber and quiet lurker for quite some time, but I had to let you know just how gorgeous your business cards are! Wow! You are so talented. I’d love to be able to do calligraphy, but fear it is a doomed wish as I’m left handed and the whole smudged ink effect ruins my feeble efforts.

    Nan

    Log in to Reply
    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      January 30, 2014

      I love quiet lurking subscribers ;)! Thanks for the sweet words. Honestly the toughest part about designing those business cards — or doing anything, really, that requires calligraphy as part of a mass-printed design, is getting it to look nice and smooth once it’s scanned in. It entails this whole process of scanning, cleaning up the calligraphy digitally in Photoshop, then converting it into a vector in Illustrator and subsequently tweaking the anchor points. The calligraphy takes one minute — then the digital part takes an hour!

      I am certain you could create lovely calligraphy if you had the time; but it looks like you’ve got your hands full with silver {never a bad thing}! So, while I can create calligraphy, I could never speak knowledgeably about silver … let alone sell it. We’ve all got our things we invest energy in and are good at. 🙂

      Thanks so much for reading!

      Log in to Reply
      1. Silver Magpies Avatar
        Silver Magpies
        January 30, 2014

        I’m even more impressed hearing about the entire process! I didn’t realize it was so much more than the handcrafted portion.

        You’re sweet to encourage my efforts…but honestly, it is quite the lost cause. But just once I’d love to create gorgeous calligraphy place cards or buffet labels to go along with the lovely silver. Sigh.

        I shall feast my eyes on your work instead. 🙂

        Nan

        Log in to Reply
        1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
          Lindsey Bugbee
          January 30, 2014

          And I’d love to have a set of real silver silverware, and a couple of silver platters wouldn’t hurt either — we can just live vicariously through each other. 😉

          Log in to Reply
          1. Silver Magpies Avatar
            Silver Magpies
            January 30, 2014

            It’s a deal!

            Nan

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sorry! Only TPK Premium members can comment on articles and tutorials. You can become a member here. Already a member? Sign in.

Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for 🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for gifts … but now I want them everywhere. On presents 🎁, yes; but also tucked into snail mail, sprinkled across a holiday table with happy words written inside (“joy”, “love”, “peace”), or styled on a mantle for a cozy seasonal touch 🎄. They’re simple, charming, and versatile. Find them on the TPK Blog (link in bio)!

#thepostmansknock #printableart #giftwrappingideas #snailmaillove #happymail handillustrated holidaydetails paperlove creativegifting handlettering makersofinstagram stationeryaddict thoughtfuldetails slowdownandsendmail gifttags diygifttag giftwrapping giftpresentation handwrappedgift
I experimented with using the chic poppies techniq I experimented with using the chic poppies technique (see my reel from a couple of days ago) to make pretty stationery. LOVE how it turned out! The poppies are just an elegant way to add personality and elegance to any paper good. If you’re a TPK Premium member, *definitely* check out Lesson 6 of the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (2025 version). In it, you’ll find a detailed video demonstration that shows you how to bring these poppies to life! ✍️

#stationery #diystationery #floralillustration #penandink #handdrawn #drawing #painting #sumiink #snailmail #mail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #happymail #mailbox #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #rosegoldsumi
TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured TPK’s calligraphy starter kit was just featured in @newyorkermag’s “A Holiday Gift Guide: Treasures That Are Old, or Old at Heart”. 🎁 I agree that it makes for a *fabulous* gift ... and it is the gift that keeps on giving, since your recipient will develop the skills to create all sorts of beautiful and satisfying projects. We’re talking gorgeous envelopes, frameable quotes that make a home feel cozy, place cards, sketchbook pages, family trees ... there are a lot of possibilities (and tutorials for those possibilities can be found on the TPK Blog)!

To get a kit, visit the link in my bio and navigate to the “SHOP” tab. If you buy a kit as a gift, let me know right after placing your order (lindsey@thepostmansknock.com). Be sure to tell me your recipient’s name, and I’ll be glad to include instructions for them over how to enroll in the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course, which comes with the $125 kit option. ✍️ Happy holidays! 

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #moderncalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #calligraphytools #calligraphyset #calligraphykit #giftguide #holidaygiftguide #newyorkermag #smallbusinesslove #shopsmall #makersgonnamake #creativegifts #handmadegifts #artgifts #artsupplies #stationerylove #snailmailrevival #envelopecalligraphy #learncalligraphy #artistsontiktok #creativeprocess #holidayseason #giftideas2024
✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ – This inky poppy ✨Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art✨ - This inky poppy motif is one of my all-time favorites for filling blank space with drama and elegance. To make it, you use dark ink smudges, loose leaves, and airy petals to build a border that looks intricate but comes together quickly. My go-tos for this style are sumi ink and a touch of gold watercolor for warmth. 

Want to try it yourself? Visit the TPK website (link in bio) and search for “Chic Inky Poppies Mail Art Tutorial.” Happy creating! 🌸🖋️

#thepostmansknock #tpk #mailart #mailartideas #envelopeart #snailmailrevival #snailmailing #snailmailart #envelopecalligraphy #calligraphycommunity #calligraphypractice #pointedpencalligraphy #moderncalligraphy #sumiink #goldwatercolor #penandink #creativeprocess #creativemail #illustrationart #papercraft #stationerylove #artistsoninstagram #artreels #calligraphyreels #mailartreels
✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catal ✍️ There’s a fresh addition to the TPK Catalog: The Graceful Ballerina Calligraphy Drill Worksheet 

This ballerina is unique among TPK calligraphy drills in that it’s really not that complicated. After a few simple loops, a flourished tutu, and long strokes to make the legs, you have, well, a ballerina! 🩰 The most difficult part is getting the outline right; but even that isn’t too bad because you’ve got a traceable outline included in your worksheet set.

The beauty of the flourished ballerina? She makes *anything* look elegant: cards, envelopes, gift tags, whatever. My recommendation is to feature her on your next envelope. She’ll add a “wow” factor and allow you to left-justify the address, which is always a relief (no need to bother with centering)!

To find her, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to the Blog!

#thepostmansknock #tpk #calligraphy #calligraphydrills #calligraphyworksheet #moderncalligraphy #pointedpen #pointedpencalligraphy #calligraphypractice #flourishing #flourishedart #mailart #snailmail #envelopeart #envelopecalligraphy #handlettering #creativeprocess #artistsoninstagram #balletart #ballerinadrawing #ballerinaart #inkdrawing #calligraphycommunity #stationerylove #letterwritersalliance #penandink #calligraphyinspiration #learncalligraphy #artistlife #creativeplay
The Postman’s Knock

About

  • About Lindsey
  • Get to Know TPK
  • Behind the Scenes
  • How I Learned Calligraphy

Legalese

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refunds & Return Policy
  • GDPR Data Erasure Request

Printable Worksheets

  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Styles
  • Pointed Pen Calligraphy Drills
  • Brush Pen Calligraphy
  • Handwriting
  • Hand-Lettering

Courses

  • Beginner’s Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Intermediate Pointed Pen Calligraphy
  • Beginner’s Watercolors

Help

  • Contact Lindsey
  • Calligraphy FAQs
  • Calligraphy Troubleshooting

Subscribe to the Blog

Join over 125,000 creative minds who receive inspiring, value-packed emails from TPK each week. As a free subscriber, you’ll get helpful tutorials, free worksheets, and creative ideas delivered straight to your inbox—plus the occasional sneak peek or special offer.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow TPK on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • RSS Feed
  • Mail

© Copyright 2026 The Postman’s Knock – All rights reserved

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}
Writing Copperplate Calligraphy

Unlock Exclusive Perks with Premium Plus

Fuel your inspiration and creativity with TPK Premium Plus! Members enjoy three free worksheets or learning resources every month, unlimited video course access, member-exclusive tutorials, and a 10% discount on all Supplies Shop orders.

join today ($15)
All About the Brause Rose Nib

inspiration in your inbox

Let The Postman’s Knock Spark Your Creativity

TPK’s innovative newsletters are an artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.