New Apartment In Boston!

The Ash Tree's base of operations has moved ((only a few blocks!)) to a GORGEOUS apartment in the Fenway, Boston. The space and natural light in my room has already made a huge difference in my productivity and inspiration.

I've been busy working on wedding calligraphy place card jobs, and just finished a double portrait drawing commissioned by a family friend. It came out GREAT!

It's amazing how having a breathable, clean space to work in keeps you so much more organized and productive. My last apartment was fun, but I'm done with the crappy collegy apartments: well, I was done paying Boston rent for really crappy apartments. This place is a bit more expensive than my last place, but with the huge newly rennovated bathroom and huge 3 windows in my room, it's paid for itself. God I've been writing for realtors too much...lol. Below is my "studio" area - I should have taken a picture DURING THE DAY with the light and not in the throes of art-making.But oh well.

I also got a delightful mix-up from the company I ordered my mattress and bed frame from - instead of the "not too bad" Hazelnut wire frame, they delivered a gorgeous chocolate brown and gold Tuscan Bedframe instead, which was $400 more than what I bought. And since they would have lost money if they came to get it and give me my correct frame, this helped me justify keeping it and being totally stoked about it. I also bought a sea-green/blue comforter with velvet, chocolate brown scrolling all over it. It's amazing. And my cat loves it. Does that make me a crazy cat lady? Do I care?

Now it's on to decorating and moving on to the living room. My roommate is borrowing the great futon that I bought until her bed arrives in a few days, so I figure I'll work from there. Plus we have a miniscule TV coming (oh, yay) But still, it's a TV.

More updates to come! In the meantime, anyone have any cool, modern decorating ideas?

Calligraphy for Quotes on Table Cards

After I finished her wedding invitations, this bride came to me with her place cards and table card calligraphy requests for her wedding. Her place cards were simple white cards on beautiful paper from the Paper Source - however, the paper used was really absorbent, so I had to use an acrylic ink with a dip quill pen so that the writing was crisp and wouldn't bleed into the card.

Then, the calligraphy for table cards were SO FUN to write out. She wanted romantic quotes from her favorite romantic movies underneath a prominent table number. THIS card took ink very well, so I was able to use my calligraphy pen with black ink cartridge for the fine font required for the quotes. I also used the acrylic again for the number, as I had to buy the biggest quill nib I could find to do the numbering, the "Thank you!" on the favor table, and "The Sweetheart Table". (The size was C-1, by the way. HUGE. I usually work with C-5's, C-4's max.

I was so pleased with how they came out - the black ink really popped on the pale pink of the cards, and it was beautiful. Enjoy!

Looking for affordable wedding calligraphy for your wedding's place cards or table cards? Contact me today!