Brooklyn

This is a secret I’ve kept in for quite awhile now, and am super excited to tell you all I’ll be in Brooklyn on September 21 – bringing you calligraphy knowledge, and hopefully a little fun, too! My long-time internet friend (whom I am so excited to finally meet in person), Erin, of Knot & Bow recently opened a studio and I’ll be co-hosting a workshop with her! If you’re in the area, I would love to see you, have a coffee with you, and perhaps teach you, too!

To register, click here!

New Class Dates

New beginner calligraphy dates on the calendar! Would love to have you. Including a class in Dallas at Elefant Press on August 17 (that’s a Saturday)!

Calligraphy Supplies I Love (and you will, too)!

Image by Amanda Marie Portraits

With a huge variety of calligraphy supplies out there – nibs, inks, pens, papers, etc. – I think it can often get overwhelming when making your purchases. While many supplies are based on personal preference, other supplies I believe are a bit more quality than others. I wanted to share with you some of my favorites and give you some tips on where to purchase them!

First off, one of my favorite websites is Paper & Ink Arts. They have such a variety of quality supplies – and always ship very quickly. There, you can buy some of my favorite inks:

• Sumi Ink – my favorite black ink
• Dr. Martin’s Pen White & Copperplate Gold – two great inks for those special white and gold requests. You’ll want to water down the pen white before use, but I love it because it doesn’t bleed. The Copperplate Gold can be found at Hobby Lobby or other craft stores.
• FW – a great acrylic ink for colored jobs. Drying time is a bit longer than most other inks.
• Winsor & Newton – This gouache has been the most quality and easiest to work with. Purchasing Series 1 is just fine, especially for beginners. You’ll mix this with water until you get the color and consistency you desire. Just love this medium. (Excellent for white and gold, as well).

The pen I use for every job is an oblique pen – in fact, I use just a really cheap-y pen. I find I like them and I have so many laying around I never misplace it! People often ask why I use an oblique pen – it’s because it’s what I know! I learned on an oblique pen (used for a traditional script) and have gotten so used to holding it I continue to use it.

My hands-down, absolute favorite nib is the Zebra G nib. You can buy them individually at Paper & Ink Arts or in packs of 10 at Jetpens.com. (They offer free shipping on orders of $25, as well).

For practicing, warming up, or lettering jobs, marker paper is just great. Try one like this.

Lastly, I couldn’t do most of my jobs without my light box. This 9 x 12 box is the current box I use and I love love love it.

Oh, and get this! If you enter code BLUEEYEBROWNEYE at Paper & Ink Arts, you can get 5% off your total purchase!

Hi Austin!

UPDATE: This class has sold out, but I have one more class on the books in Austin – September 25 at 6 pm. Only one spot left!

So excited to announce my first calligraphy class in Austin! I officially secured the venue today and am pumped to offer this to those who have asked! The class will be August 14th at 6 pm at Vuka Studios. Please feel free to read more about my classes here and get all of the information you’ll need!

Moonrise Kingdom

So much fun and goodness to pull from when you’re called in to help out on a Wes Anderson inspired Moonrise Kingdom photo shoot (that was featured on Ruffled today). Spearheaded and shot by Natalie from N.Barrett Photography and Emily from Cakewalk Bake Shop (who made one of my favorite cakes to date), this was one imaginative shoot to be a part of. Other great vendors involved were Bows and Arrows, Rent My Dust Vintage Rentals, and I Do! Cinematics.

Bring on the Heat

Ok, I know it might not technically be summer yet, but it sure does feel like it in Texas. I spent this past weekend in Austin with two close girlfriends, and had the best time relaxing by the pool at our hotel (Hotel San Jose) and catching up. What are your big plans for the summer?

Uppercase Calligraphy Classes

Uppercase calligraphy classes are here! For those of you that have taken my lowercase course, the next step to advancing your learning is mastering uppercase letters. Additionally, we’ll go over using colored inks and exercises in writing words/connecting letters.

Classes are Wednesday, July 10 at 6 pm and Saturday, July 20 at 9 am.

You will get a brand new batch of supplies, including a new tracing pad, uppercase alphabet, grid, bottle of colored ink, pot of black ink, washi tape, 3 new nibs, and an oblique pen.

Each class is $165 (to cover additional supplies), with a $50 deposit required to reserve your spot. Email me if interested! lauren (at) blueeyebrowneye.com

Please note: there is only 1 spot left in the July 10 class, 5 spots open in the July 20 class! This class is also only for those who have taken my lowercase class, or have taken a beginner class previously. We’ll dive right in, so you’ll want basic knowledge!

The Post Dedicated to Eating in Hawaii

It might be safe to say that I looked forward to eating in Hawaii more than I dreamed about the beach, crystal clear water and cocktails. I am an avid seafood lover, and the thought of eating fresh out of the ocean catches for a week straight pretty much thrilled me. I asked around for suggestions, scoured the internet for guides, and read lots of reviews, in hopes of finding the best of the best in Maui and Kauai. Below were some of our favorites.

Maui

If you’re looking to grab a cup of local Jo, go to Island Press Coffee in Lahaina. Decked out in vintage Hawaiian tchotchke, this little coffee shop might look plain-Jane from the outside, but is fantastic within. Doubling as a liquor store, stop in for local fresh brewed coffee and a slice of coconut cake for breakfast. And grab a bottle of wine for later, too.

Packing a picnic for a trip to Upcountry? You must stop at Leoda’s. We loved it so much we went twice, and would have gone again if we had not run out of time. Top Chef fans: Leoda’s (along with Star Noodle, see pork buns above right) is the product of finalist Sheldon, and we ate some of the best food we’ve had anywhere lately there (see brussel sprout salad below). This spicy tuna sandwich below was the perfect companion to our lunch at Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm. And the butter white bread – do not even get me started.

Cooking dinner at your condo, or seeking fresh, affordable produce? Stop at any farm stand on the windy road to Upcountry. Pick your own strawberries, buy an avocado as big as your head, support local farmers.

Speaking of Sheldon and Top Chef, if you have time, visit Star Noodle for the pork buns alone. Expect to wait – awhile – if you go at lunchtime. You’ll be surrounded by foodie groupies taking snap shots of their dishes, with a smattering of locals sprinkled in (one kind man leaned in at our family-style table and made suggestions of his favorites). Travis raved over the pad thai.

For delicious seafood and a killer view, dine at Merriman’s. Save this for a special night, as it’s pricey, but go right before sunset, order a tropical cocktail, and sit back and watch the sun set on paradise. (Don’t make our mistake and go at 8 pm – oops).

For a touristy/fun/entertaining night, the buzz on the island is that the Old Lahaina Luau is the best. Luckily, we made reservations 3 months prior. And, seriously, you’ll need to do that. This puppy sells out. The food doesn’t dazzle, but the atmosphere and show is super fun.

Kauai

Ah, Kauai. We ate well on this island.

Kauai has countless food stands, food trucks, and small family-owned restaurants along its highways. Stop at one of them. Get a fresh smoothie, crack open a coconut, or  dine on al pastor tacos. What I loved about Kauai is its rural landscape, which made it feel much less touristy and significantly more authentic.

For a quick bite that’s pretty reasonable on the wallet, visit Tropical Taco in Hanalei (my favorite town on the whole trip). For $13 you can get a fresh grilled fish taco as big as your head packed with fixin’s and a side of chips and salsa (see far above).

Dare I say – the best fish dish I had was at Postcards Cafe, an all vegetarian/seafood establishment that I found incredibly charming. I’m still thinking about the Mahi Mahi I had there. Oh, wait, then there was dessert: a coconut-crusted macadamia ice cream scoop with salted caramel sauce. We practically licked the plate.

For more special evenings, visit Bar Acuda and Kauai Grill at the St. Regis. As for atmosphere, Bar Acuda doesn’t have much to offer – no spectacular view with a small outdoor porch. But the restaurant that has been hailed as the best in Hawaii is pretty darn great. For a romantic evening, dine at Kauai Grill because the view is one of the best we experienced on our trip.

Whatever you do, be sure to experience local culture and cuisine, sample fresh mahi mahi, and never, ever pass up a piña colada.

Here We Go // Hawaii Recap :: Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

There is something so motivating about a genuinely refreshing, relaxing and beautiful vacation. Travis and I got back from Hawaii yesterday morning – with both a sense of deep sadness (that it was over) and a renewed sense of determination, inspiration, and motivation (oh, and total excitement to see our dogs). Our time in Hawaii was truly wonderful – dare I say near perfect (except for 3 straight days of rain). Here, I want to share with you some highlights and recommendations for those of you that travel to the land of Aloha.

We arrived very late on the first evening, so we set out early our first full day into the Upcountry area, our first stop being Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm, which was a top highlight for me of the entire trip. Hard to beat since it was our first excursion!

There are three things that I really love: succulents, lavender (bathing in it, cooking with it, plain ol’ smelling it), and Protea. Nearly two decades ago I visited Hawaii and a trek to a Protea Farm stood out vividly in my memory. It was a wish for me to visit another, and AKL Lavender just happened to have the most beautiful gardens full of Protea, succulents, lavender, pineapple, and more. It was a plant lover’s Utopia.

For only $6, we were allowed entry into the gardens, but unfortunately all of the tours were sold out for the day. I would recommend snagging a spot in one of these tours, because tour guides cut the most stunning bouquets straight from the garden for you to take home. (See above, right, a lucky couple got to take this bounty home)! But this left us free to roam the grounds, take our time, and take in the view. (Below, we picnicked at this exact spot on a Leoda’s lunch – more on that later). Now back to the plants.

I had a fantastic conversation with the founder’s son about propagating succulents, and he let me take a few leaves and buds home so I could [hopefully] propagate my own Hawaiian succulents.

Travis above on aptly named Lover’s Lane in the gardens. (Cheesy, I know). If you’re heading to Maui, definitely make a stop at AKL Lavender – it’s so worth it. Pack a picnic, take your time on the beautiful drive, and don’t forget to smell the lavender!

I’m out.

Travis and I are leaving for vacation tomorrow. Hawaii. Words cannot express my excitement. But, as a small business owner, I find it so hard to prepare for a long time away. Do any of y’all feel that way, too?

I’ll be back May 18, hopefully with a tan (as much as I can muster), and ready to get back at it. Don’t forget, calligraphy classes are open in May, June, and July!

Until then, here’s to umbrellas in my cocktails and sand in my toes! Aloha!