Conventionally, when a calligrapher uses an edged-pen for writing, the nib size and number of nib widths determine the body height of the letters. The height is generally known as the x-height, because it is the height of the letter x. To measure the x-height the nib edge is kept vertical whilst accurately making horizontal steps starting at the write-line. Each script has a certain weight, i.e. 5 nib-widths for Italic minuscules. So the x-height for Italic Minuscules would be the distance from the write-line to the top of the 5th step.Designed for use with the William Mitchell Square-Cut Round Hand Pens the X-height Calculator makes the above measuring procedure unnecessary.The X-height Calculator replaces the need of making horizontal steps on the paper. Once you have chosen the nib size, simply pull the slider out until required number of nib widths (NW) appears in the NW window. Identify the chosen nib size and read off the x-height value.Example:To find the x-height for 5 nib widths of a size 3 nib, pull the slider out until the number 5 appears in the NW window. Look down the list of nib sizes until you see the number 3. The corresponding value in the x-height window is 6.0Therefore 5nw of a No.3 nib is 6.0mmIf you prefer working in Inches then apply the same method, but use the other side of the X-Height Calculator. (5nw of a No.3 = ¼”)Buy it!

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The www.theartofcalligraphy.com website is dediated to modern Japanese Calligraphy inspired on Buddhism and Zen.Through her website, calligrapher Nadja Van Ghelue hopes to bring you closer to the beauty and spiritual power of Japanese Calligraphy. Through her words and artwork she hopes to get you get enthusiastic about this special art form.This site is a great resource for anyone interested in Japanese Calligraphy. It includes sections on choosing brushes, ink and ink stones.

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I read a book about time management last year. It was really good. One tip was to take a bit of time out each day to stop and think! The author says that people spend all their time rushing around between activities (true for me). Often these activities never get completed (true for me).Many people use to-do lists. These in themselves can be stressful when you have listed all the items only to discover there are 20 to-dos – what is the chance of doing them all? So I was not sure how taking time out to think about things would help.The idea seemed odd but I gave it a go. What I found was that I thought through what hand to be done. Then when it came to working on the activity I was more focused and could complete the task more efficiently Taking the time to think has increased my productivity and increased my efficiency. Thinking has also lead me to have new ideas. Thinking can help make sure you are focused on the things that are really important to you.I would recommend it!

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I am pleased to announce that the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (SSI) have invited us to have a stand at their Lay Member’s Day in April.The SSI was founded in 1921 in the UK by early students of Edward Johnston with the aim of advancing the crafts of writing and illumination. Lay membership was introduced in 1952, and is open to anyone who, through their interest and support, wishes to help the SSI advance and promote the craft of calligraphy. Each year the SSI has a Lay Member’s Day.The majority of our calligraphy materials and equipment stock will be available to purchase on the day.This will be our first ever show, so it is an exciting time for us. I am surprised at how much planning is necessary. At first you think it is just a case of boxing up all the stock and then presenting it nicely on the day. However, I soon realised it is far more involved. There is a lot of preparation to do, but we have got off to a good start. We have to-do lists, to-buy lists and to-organise lists!So far, we have found a local craftsman who is making out of wood a large penholder and nib with the Scribblers logo on the holder. We are going to use this to identify our stand rather than having a printed banner.The craftsman is also making us wooden pots for displaying penholders, brushes and pencils.The hardest bit is deciding how much stock to take? There will be 300 calligraphers there, what if they all want the same product?Lay Member’s Day 2008 detailsLay Member’s Day 2007 review

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Schmincke Finest Artists’ Calligraphy Gouache Colours are brilliant and mainly opaque, and their fine consistency perfectly suits the different forms of application in calligraphy.The following guide was taken from a Schmincke Finest Artists’ Calligraphy Gouache product sheet I recently discovered in an old box.You can create as many different colours as you need by using just six paints in the Schmincke Calligraphy Gouache Set.These six colours are each in a cold and warm variant:- yellow- red- blueFrom these you can mix the secondaries.Look at the paint blocks below. Each individual colour has a tiny amount of a second colour mixed with it. The first colour, lemon-yellow, is yellow-blue. Cadmium yellow light is yellow-red. To make good, strong secondaries mix together the two primary colours which are associated.Schmincke Finest Artists’ Calligraphy Gouache

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