THANKS TO ED KNIPPER OF WACO, TX FOR THE ABOVE COVER DESIGN

Our September meeting was our first official meeting of the year, and it was great to see everyone again. The evening began with our Early Bird Special, provided by Bill Waddington. He did a fantastic job of demonstrating the use of colored pencils. His techniques and tips were so helpful, and his demonstration pieces were lovely. Thank you, Bill.

The new directory was distributed, and it looks beautiful. Charles and Rebecca Ingram, Mary Bowman, and Thea Moore worked very hard over the summer to get it ready for the first meeting, and they did a great job. And thank you again to Maggie for the last minute binding and trimming job.

The new calendars, "Highlights and Happenings of the Century," are also complete and ready for sale. I"m sure all will agree with me when I say these calendars are wonderful. Thank you to Hazel Tillson and her committee for a class act.

The Awards and Memorial Committee made a presentation to Anita Hyman in memory of her husband Art, and contributed a beautiful new book to the library in his name. He is missed.

We did vote in September and agree unanimously to accept Frank and April Rippel's offer for a free Web page for our Guild. Judi Hays has volunteered to chair a committee that will coordinate with them and the newsletter editor to plan what will be on our home page and how it will be used. Thank you so much to the Rippel's and to Francene Smith for helping us with the project. Our Guild is now poised to enter the 21st century in style.

The September Program was our traditional unveiling of the Secret Pals, and what fun that was. Our Guild is full of so much talent, and seeing so much of it spread before us all at once was exhilarating. There were books, cards, supplies, shirts, stamping, calligraphy, painting, quilling, origami, and handmade paper -- such a variety of objects done in such a variety of techniques and styles. Just browsing the tables was an education in itself. And the little pyramids with scrolls inside to reveal the name of the secret pal -- so clever and so much fun. I know everyone who took part in this summer program had a terrific time. I realize that some of us newer members feel a little intimidated when we discover that our secret pal is a very experienced and talented member. And I realize that some of our more experienced members no longer feel the excitement they once felt. But I know that all who did take part had a great time, and I hope that even more will want to share in this experience next summer. There's nothing like coming home from a long day at work in the 110 degree weather and finding a special treat waiting there for you in the mail. Thank you to the Secret Pal Committee -- Karen Veni, Shirley Ginn, Cheri Wolf, and Charles and Rebecca Ingram -- for making this such an enjoyable program for all of us.

A special thank you to those who brought food for our hospitality table, we had quite a spread!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again at the October meeting.

Leslie

Have you ever been asked to letter a sign? Come see how a professional sign painter uses a brush and tempera to form those large readable letters. You might even walk away with your name on one.

Learn how from Rudy Gonzales as he leads our October Early Bird, he started working in a sign shop when he was 12 years old. He's studied with Warren Hunter, La Villita Art School, UTSA, and took computer graphics at Berkeley. Since 1966 he has worked in print shops locally as well as in New York; Newport Beach; Kansas City; Ann Arbor, MI; and Austin. He's also worked and taught at Ghost Ranch and Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, N.M. Early Bird begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. -- see you there!

Birthdays  

9/21 Rose Marie Siebenhausen
10/2 Jim Hurst
10/6 Eileen Thurman
10/7 Karen Parks
10/15 Judi Hays & Rod Smith
10/18 Dana Shannon
10/22 Priscilla Earl
10/23 Dixie Rodkey
10/26 Kathleen Strout
10/28 Sylvia Cutler

The October program, Slit & Slide Books, will be taught by Pavasa.

We will make a seven signature book without the use glue, staples, or sewing. A versatile book; it is perfect to use for a journal, small photo albums, and sketchbooks because it will lay flat when opened, plus does not require spacers at the spine to balance the added thickness created when gluing in photos and/or other inclusions. AND ... Just in time to fill some of the needs on your holiday gift list. Book boards and text paper will be provided, but please bring the following:

1) X-acto with new blade, or a break-off tip blade knife
2) Six inch metal ruler and a standard ruler (if you have them)
3) Sharpened pencil
4) Cutting board
5) Bone folder, if you have it.
6) PLUS paper for the cover:

2 sheets of plain or decorative paper 8 1/2" x 11", preferably to coordinate with blue, and 2 sheets of the same paper, or a complement, 5 1/2" x 14" (or 5 1/2" x 11", if this is more convenient). Note: Time is limited, so the cover paper must be brought PRECUT.

If you have any questions, call Pavasa.

MINI-WORKSHOP

Engrossing with Ed Knipper of Waco, TX
Thursday, October 15th
Warm Springs Baptist Rehabilitation Hospital
5101 Medical Drive
7:00 p.m. -- 9:00 p.m.
$5 for members, $6 for non-members

Ed will discuss and illustrate a few engrossing styles -- then, everyone will complete a small engrossed piece. If time permits he will give a brief explanation on suede paper techniques.

Supply list includes:

1. One or two sheets of layout bond or similar paper.
2. Broad edge pens, one should be a Speedball C-2 or equivalent.
3. Pencil, eraser and ruler.
4. Black writing fluid (ink or gouache, whichever you prefer) and white gouache.
5. Small pointed brush -- size 1 or smaller.
6. Small fiber-tipped markers. Microns are best, size 02 or smaller.
7.Scissors.

If you don't have any/all of the above, we will have enough to share. Ed will supply any additional materials. The mini will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Future Mini-Workshops

November 21 -- Carol Wood will come back and show us surface techniques using her Softscape tools 
February 18 -- Bonnie Houser and walnut ink 
March 18 -- Joan Schmitz will teach Italicized Gothic 
*April 15 -- Kate Bergquist and roses with Versals 
May 20 -- Maggie Gillikin will do Itsy Bitsy books 

*Sorry, already filled 

You may pay $35 for all or pay individually for the ones you want at $5 each for members, $6 for non-members.  We will contiue to meet at Warm Springs.  They will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. 

Membership Notes
 

Lynn Rutland made 100 Guild membership brochures -- call me if you need one to give to a prospective member, they are quite attractive. Thanks, Lynn! If we decide we like this new layout, we will get more printed.

Tie a string around your finger and remember to pick up your directory at the October or November meetings -- or call me to make arrangements to mail it to you or to have someone else pick it up for you. If you pick it up, it saves the Guild some postage money. Our new directory has a complete listing of all the events for the coming year -- you'll want to mark your calendar so you can attend meetings, minis and major workshops! Additional copies are available for $1.50 each.

Please notice the directory updates below -- we have planned it so you can clip it out and paste it in your directory.

Mary B. Bowman and Jo Drake 

AUSTIN EXHIBIT  

Kate Van Dyke of Capital City Scribes in Austin says their next exhibit will hang at the Capitol in conjunction with the Texas Book Fair from November 13 to 15. The theme is Wildflowers. They hope to get the same exhibit up at the Wildflower Center in the spring, but this has not been confirmed.

NIOSA POSTER DESIGN CONTEST

To all the talented artists and calligraphers in the Guild -- have you heard that the San Antonio Conservation Society has opened the poster design contest to artists within an 80-mile radius of San Antonio? You have to be 18 years or older and live in the 80-mile area.

The Conservation Society celebrates their 75th anniversary in 1999 so they are inviting everyone to participate in the contest. "The posters should reflect the distinctive and enchanting spirit of NIOSA and its mission -- to educate the public about he city's cultural traditions." For more information, call Sigoloff Frame & Art at 824-7974 or NIOSA at 226-5188.

STUDIO TIPS

Do not toss empty or almost empty ink bottles. Fill with enough water to dilute remaining ink and use for practice. Enables you to see skeletons of letters. Great for seeing those branches in Italic, etc. (Note from Pavasa: Add a coupler of drops of gum arabic.) ---- Island Scribes, New York

To temper nibs: Boil water. Put nibs in a strainer. When water comes to a boil, dip strainer into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove, cool and dry thoroughly. The nibs will be more flexible and the shellac will be gone. ---- Guild of Jacksonville (Florida)

Melt sealing wax by holding it over a slow-burning votive candle, using a teaspoon to catch the wax. Pour melted wax from the spoon directly onto the envelope flap, then stamp. ---- Guild of Jacksonville (Florida)

Use Post-It stick on (a soft plastic substance used for adhering posters to walls) to remove pencil lines and marks from finished work. It is softer and works better than kneaded erasers. ---- Nashville Calligraphers Guild

Rusty nibs can be saved by soaking them in a small container filled with lemon juice, vinegar, or oxalic acid. The acid will reduce the rust to the original metal and the residue can be cleaned off. ---- Eleanor Russell, SACG

EXTRA STUDIO TIPS: When changing color within a work, always change it within an individual letter for unity as this makes the change gradual. Also do not use weak or light color placement at the beginning of a work. Use strong color placement for emphasis. Timothy Botts

Try colored pencils over gouache to soften the effect. If Luma Pearlescent Ink thickens, thin it with distilled water. Calligraffiti, Memphis Calligraphy Guild

Let paint dry on nib when beginning to work. Let it get crusty, then color will stay wet longer in successive uses of the nib. Genessee Valley Guild

TIPS FROM CASA PAVASA

Always make sure to coat brush bristles and pen nibs with soap before using masking fluid. The masking fluid will wash right out. Otherwise, your pen and brush will be ruined.

If you fill your pen with a brush, hold the brush in the other hand. Use the handle to hold your paper down as you letter.

Styrofoam meat trays turned upside down make wonderful ink bottle holders when appropriate holes are cut in them. Cut notches into the tray for brush and pen holders.

Small round cosmetic containers (such as from eye cream, lip gloss, etc.) are ideal for keeping a special blend of gouache, e.g. gold and white for decorating. Also, keep a special mixing brush for each

Make a quick, easy and inexpensive eyedropper by cutting down a plastic straw. Dip into ink, squeeze the end of the straw to retain ink and release it into your container.

Rubber cement thinner is a very useful item to keep in the studio. Cleans fingerprints from photos, removes price sticker glue from tools, and removes excess wax from paste-ups.

When you find the refills of your Dryline dispensers keep breaking -- even if new -- check the applicator for a build up of adhesive. Clean off with rubber cement.

PAPER TIPS

A high quality paper to use to make photocopies, yet lightweight enough to feed through the copy machine is Diploma Parchment and Arches 90# HP. ---- Carol Measures, Waco Calligraphy Guild

For a non-toxic sizing for Oriental paper, mix 1/2 tsp. methylcellulose (wallpaper paste) with 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside for one hour to thicken. Brush on with a large brush and let dry. ---- Greater Cincinnati Calligraphers

Papers that are most suited to the brush include: rice paper (rough side), high quality copier board, chrome coat, 25% cotton, Arches Textwove, Rives BFK lightweight, oatmeal paper, Nideggen, Gilbert Laid, Neenah bond, and charcoal paper. ---- Eliza Shulte

If lettering on handmade paper, first size it with Knox gelatin. Follow the recipe on the package and thin it ---- Nancy Culmone

To make gray gouache: Winsor-Newton Ultramarine and Winsor-Newton Burnt Umber. For cool gray, add more blue. For a warm gray, add more burnt umber. Mix with white to obtain desired values. ---- Anne Lane quoted in Sooner Scribes (Oklahoma)

(More tips next month.)

1999 CALENDARS

It's time to buy your 1999 calendars --"Highlights and Happenings of the Twentieth Century"

Works by the following calligraphers are featured: Bonnie Houser, Darla Peek, Sylvia Stanley, Pauline Sager, Joan Schmitz, Rose Marie Siebenhausen, Beverly Carter, Betty Lou Jordan, Vera Irby, Helen Rasplicka, Barbara Gere, Leslie Winakur, Bill Waddington, Eleanor Russell, and Thea Moore.

The calendar is printed in black on white with red accents and sells for $5.00 each. Please contact Thea Moore (e-mail: moore414@express-news.net ) to purchase copies by mail.

For those members who live out of town, yet would like to purchase calendars, the mail order prices are as follows:

1 is $6.50
2 are $12.000
3 are $18.00
4 are $23.50
5 are $28.50
and save even more when you buy 6 for $33.50.

Please support your Guild in this project.

Hazel Tillson, '99 Calendar Chairman

CALLIGRAPHY CLASSES

Lynn Rutland will be teaching Basic Italic Calligraphy -- an intensive, four-week class on letterforms and letterspacing, including a brief history of the Italic hand. Supplies are furnished. Cost is $60. Monday evenings from October 5 through October 26, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. To register, call Stamp Antonio at 342-6217 or visit their store at 1931 N.W. Military Hwy.

Sylvia Stanley will teach Italic Handwriting+ through the NEISD Community Education series. This variety of Italic can be cursive or unjoined, rapid enough for everyday or slower and more calligraphic. Classes are at Churchill High School, Room A106 for 8 weeks beginning Tuesday, September 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Cost is $60, plus $10 supply fee for practice paper and calligraphy pen. Call 657-8866 for information and to register. (Or for more info, call Sylvia.)