Last week some of the team took to their pens to try their hand at calligraphy, guided by Edlyl who took the workshop. We love keeping creativity and tradition alive at Talking Tables, and hope to put our new skills to use within our designs or customer comms. 

We asked Edlyl to explain why she loves calligraphy, and offer her top tips for beginners:

“Pushing boundaries with penmanship and combining lettering with creative styling has become the heart of what I do. Having taught modern calligraphy for over three years, I love inspiring people to fall in love with writing again and showing them how to write beautifully while incorporating their own style with their new handwriting.”

Top five Modern Calligraphy Tips:

1. Try an online or live workshop. Being able to learn from a teacher will help you get to grips with the basic techniques, from how to hold the pen to the different pen strokes. There are so many resources (online and books) you can find but nothing beats learning from an expert. Once you know the basics, you can then make it your own.
2. Make sure you have the right materials. When practicing modern calligraphy, it’s important to use the right tools as this can affect your lettering for example using heavyweight paper rather than any paper will make a difference.
3. Practice & Make. Practice is key.  Spending at least an hour a week will help improve your lettering. The best form of practice is making hand-lettered gifts for friends and family. From cards to prints, it’s a great way to make something out of your new handwriting but also a chance to show off your new skill.
4. Patience…Patience…Patience.  Take your time, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get it straight away. Be patient and remember nothing is ever perfect.
5. Make it your own. Don’t be afraid to incorporate your own style. What’s great with modern calligraphy is that it’s personal so you can create your own letters and add your special embellishments.

Check out Edlyl's website here https://edlyl.co.uk/

We’re all looking forward to using our new skills when writing menus and placecards for our own tablescapes.