Northminster Art Fair – February 4

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Each year, I pack up the best of the best of my studio and transport it to The Northminster Presbyterian Church’s Fine Art Fair. Besides a stop at my booth, you can browse 3 large rooms of some of Cincinnati’s finest artists and crafters.  It is a show with heart as the members of the church pitch in and serve the artists, who in turn support City Gospel Mission with 10% of their sales.

My mission “to feed the soul by making meaningful words beautiful.”  I would love to see you at the show and help you find the perfect piece to feed your soul!

If you just can’t make it, visit my online shop or call for a studio appointment.

It’s Wedding Season!

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BOTH of my grown children are getting married this year!  One in March and one in May – whew! I have been busily designing invitations and addressing envelopes (more on this to come).

My daughter, Heidi, is engaged to a wonderful man, Phil.  They asked me to do something special for their engagement photos.  Like many couples, Heidi and Phil took a few photos for use on their Save the Date card during their engagement shoot.  I designed a white on black, flourished Save the Date poster for them.  It was elegant, but bold.

(Photo credit: Shashank Shrestha)

I like the way that they were both in the picture as well as the design….which could also be used on it’s own. This is available for ‘rent’, if you would like to use the image on your card.(Photo credit: Shashank Shrestha)

The Save-the-Date sign will be up on my website soon!  Until then, call my studio if you’d like to use the sign in your photos!  I am so excited to see what other fun touches of calligraphy Heidi and I come up with.  Keep reading to check in on our progress and ideas!

The Season of Love

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Happy Valentine’s Day to you! This is a wonderful time of year for a calligrapher. Gentlemen and ladies alike come with their proposals and poems of love, so I know first hand of some of the current Cincinnati romances! Letters, flourishes, colors and gold or silver… you can help me design something unique for your special someone!

Above is my Grow Old Along With Me print, by Robert Browning.  My Falling In Love GREETING CARD was reprinted in November (it’s a best selling print, too) and I restocked some favorite Valentine Cards for Son, Wife, Mom and special Love’s.  Papers that my PRINTS are reproduced on have been upgraded to Fine Art paper from the Archival smooth paper!  Inks colors are vivid and the detail precise. Your loved ones can keep these fine art calligraphy prints as long as they like.

As always, call me to set up a shopping day and let me help you pick out something unique for the people you love!

Studio Open House – December 3 & 8, 2011

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STUDIO OPEN HOUSE – YOU ARE INVITED 
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m
Thursday, December 8th, 2011  10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Gifts from the Heart! Meaningful words…..CALLIGRAPHY!

 SHOP THROUGH MY STUDIO AND 4 OTHER ROOMS….

Browse by the fireside sipping a cup of hot wassail.

Bring a friend and receive a free print as my gift to you.

I’m looking forward to visiting with you!

____________

My address is on my Contact page.

You are welcome to pre-order by calling or emailing.

View designs on my website!

Ziller of Kansas City – (Sundays with Steve)

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Say hello to my dear friend, Stephen A. Ziller, Sr. better known as Ziller of Kansas City. Steve now resides in Cincinnati, OH and I have the privilege of visiting with him on Sundays. He is well known in the calligraphy world for his formulation of Ziller Ink and for his five self instruction books “At Home with Artistic Penwork.” Business Writing, Artistic Writing, Card Writing, Engrossing Alphabets and Bird and Design Flourishing. These books are still being published! He is truly ‘the old Master Penman.”

Ziller of Kansas City

About 10 years ago, just after Steve and wife Della, moved to Cincinnati, Tom McKeirnan spotted my “Falling In Love” design on the back of a magazine. Tom has been a client of mine, Steve went to Tom’s church. Tom, knowing us both, introduced us over lunch and a visit to my studio. (Thanks Tom!)  Steve and I have been friends ever since.

Steve and I visit on Sunday’s in his retirement home….we speak about calligraphy, politics, the stock market (which he still follows), spiritual matters, aches and pains and his ever probing question…”how is your love life?”

I hope that I can grow old as gracefully as Steve has. His 98th birthday was celebrated in August. He has an ever present optimistic attitude and cheery disposition.  Thank you Steve, for your contribution to the world in so many ways…..through your beautiful lettering, striving for excellence in all that you have done, your gracious family and your kindheartedness to all around you. You are loved!

My New Website

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This weekend is like Christmas for me. After spinning my wheels for 2.5 years over a new website, my web designers, Eric and Linda Wolf at www.ActiveCanvas.com have helped me to “birth” the new www.HollyMonroe.com calligraphy website. I am thrilled and grateful….a huge THANK YOU ERIC AND LINDA!!!! Stay tuned as I feature the latest from my studio in the upcoming months.

My old site was graciously designed by Marie Frances while taking a class at the Cincinnati Art Academy. It served me well and helped me gain a national presence, with a few international opportunities, as well. (Marie is presently studying painting in Italy…you should see her beautiful portrait work of the Cincinnati Ballet!)

No More Cursive in the Classroom?

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In early July,  I was featured on Cincinnati’s Local 12 TV news, in an interview with reporter Joe Webb, regarding Indiana schools dropping their requirement to teach cursive writing in the classroom.  Instead, schools will shift their focus to teaching typing/keyboarding.  Naturally, being a calligrapher I feel strongly about the art and everyday usefulness of the written word so I was glad to have an opportunity to share my thoughts.

Let me know what you think!  Is it useful to continue teaching our children cursive writing? (Local 12 took the segment down from Local 12–I will try to get a copy of the video and repost it).

Etsy

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I just wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be showcased on Etsy’s “pets” page tomorrow.  Stop by the page and see my “Man’s Best Friend” listing…..here is a sneak preview.  (You can find this print in my Catalog)

I’m new to the world of Etsy, but daughter Heidi, who set up my shop there is loving it!

(Now it is October and I’m editing this post…..at this point my Catalog is the better place to shop. I’m still posting cards and calligraphy to my site, but over time there will be much to select from).  Thank you for visiting!

Gold Leaf Event

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This past Saturday I had the privilege of hosting the Cincinnati Book Arts Society (CBAS) and the Greater Cincinnati Calligrapher’s Guild in my studio for a show and tell!  I demonstrated a gold leaf technique and showcased two of the handmade books I’ve been creating.   The Book of Hours –as mentioned in an earlier post and a Baby Book (that I’ll feature in a later post).

 

Pictured below is my dining room table – where I displayed some of the vellum off cuts  I’ve been using to work out color and painting techniques for the book.

 

Book of Hours -Hour Glass Border in progress. See Portfolio > Books for finished work

Below I am laying gold leaf. (My glasses broke the day before–looks almost like a monocle.) I lay my homemade gesso on fine art paper or calfskin, let it dry and then blow on it to humidify. Then the gold is quickly laid on the gesso, touched up and burnished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are a few of the guild members that came to see my studio!   I would love to have you too…..come and visit sometime!