I feel like this quote is the equivalent of those 80’s motivational posters with the kitten hanging on a line that reads, ‘just hang in there’, but a dash bit more posh, no?  I have been absent here for a few days, because I had a bit of a rough time this week with my illness. I have had my blood drawn more times in the past few weeks then I have ever had in my lifetime and I am one of those squeamish types when it comes to needles so this has been an exercise in fear fighting 101. To say things have been rough feels like an understatement to me but I know there are many others out there suffering much worse than I am.

I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and she is of the same mindset that I am that you need to look on the bright side in even the darkest of times. She told me about the author Laura Hillenbrand whom I am a big fan of; I have recommended her book ‘Unbroken’several times, I just love it (incredibly inspiring true story). What I did not know was that she wrote both her best-selling books Seabiscuit and Unbroken from her bed, because she suffers from chronic illness. I figured if Laura could do meticulous research on two 400 page books and have them shoot to the best seller list while not being able to leave her bed, I could at the very least write a post and check in, right? Actually, I think the moral of that story was that just because I am currently sick does not mean I have to give up, which I refuse to do but honestly some days are better than others and I am currently living on a moment by moment basis, acutely aware of those moments mind you. Many of you have written to me sharing your own stories of illness and I have appreciated the honesty and the bravery in doing so. Not one of those that live with a chronic illness that wrote to me victimized themselves or were throwing a pity party for themselves, many have redefined how they live and have been able to flourish and their positivity has helped me immensely. I know that what I have I will not have forever, it is what it is right now and and it is very rare and hard to treat but knowing there is a light at the end of this tunnel is what keeps me going. I promise I will not make this space all about what is going on, I just felt it necessary to pop in, for an explanation, a hello, some gratitude for the kindness of others and a bit of ‘normalcy’. I will be taking the rest of the week off while I recoup, I wish I could tell you I was taking the week off to fly off to an exotic locale, but maybe next year, right? A girl can dream and I shall be doing a lot of that from my mattress and maybe some pinning.

Thank you friends for your kindness + support, enjoy your week and for those in the states happy 4th!

For all you hand lettering enthusiasts out there I hope this interview will make you giddy with inspiration.  I adore Annemarie Buckley of Scouts Honor Co. Everything she touches just hits the perfect pitch, she has a great eye for merchandising/visuals and her talent is through the roof.  I am still pinching myself that she took the time out of her busy schedule to answer these questions for us, I feel so very lucky, you? Without further gushing on my part I give you the interview….

//INTERVIEW WITH ANNEMARIE BUCKLEY OF SCOUT’S HONOR CO.//

Where are you located?

Burlington, Vermont

 How did you get started in lettering?

As a kid, I was constantly drawing “bubble letters” and “block letters” without really understanding what lettering was. I just knew that I loved it. In school, I pretty much joined student council just so I could create posters for all the events… homecoming games, dances, fundraisers, you name it. At my restaurant job, I was in charge of writing the specials on the board each day. That board quickly became my pride and joy, hah! Basically, I was always lettering but never realized that it could be more than a hobby or play a larger role in my life.

Fast forward to around 2007, when Mike Perry’s Hand Job: A Catalog of Type was published. I bought it and my brain kind of exploded. I saw that artists and designers were creating the style of fun, loose, graphic lettering that I loved. And they were doing it for a living. This was around the same time that Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. was incorporating more casual lettering into wedding invitations, which was exciting. Lettering masters such as Jon Contino were also emerging onto the scene. It all just clicked… I had been itching to start my own business. Aesthetically, however, I was running in a million different directions. Once I rediscovered hand-lettering, I realized that it could not only be my passion, but it could also help anchor and focus my work. I started developing my style, took on a few projects, and eventually launched Scout’s Honor Co. in 2011.

 What are some of your favorite supplies (inks, brushes, nibs, paper)?

Pens/Markers

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen , I use 01 for fine details + small text.

 Sharpie Pen (Fine) this is my primary tool- the weight is good for drawing letters and I find its tip to be stronger than most pens out there.

 Prismacolor Premier Double Ended Art Marker, this is my new favorite marker. I have been using the chisel side to push myself in a different lettering direction for my summer collection. 

 I love drawing with these when I need to get away from the markers and/or computer and just play around. I have yet to use them for a project, but they’re great for creating quick Instagram messages and fueling new ideas.

 Paper

Clearprint No. 1000HP-4 Fade-Out Design and Sketch Vellum (grid)

 Borden & Riley #234 Paris Bleedproof Paper for Pens

 Canson Pro Layout Marker Paper

 Strathmore 300 Series Tracing Paper

 Can you name some of your inspirations?

I am obsessed with signage. I am happiest when I’m out exploring, taking photos, and looking for typography inspiration. I greatly admire professional sign painters but what really excites me are signs created by amateurs. I love the imperfections, the quirks, the mistakes that end up being the most interesting part. I seek out signs that convey information clearly and succinctly or serve a purpose… they are usually the most beautiful.

 I also find great inspiration in antiques shops and used book stores. I have been slowly collecting vintage scouting books, nature guides, and adventure themed novels. The type is always wonderful and they’re chock full of informational systems (trail signs, map keys, badges, etc), that I can’t get enough of. I am always on the lookout for vintage paper goods as well… notebooks, packaging, letterhead, stamps, and air mail envelopes.

 Can you go a little into your process of how you work on a project? 

I like to get into the zone with each phase of my work so I will do a ton of lettering and drawing at once, then scanning, then computer time. I like to stay free and loose when lettering, so I end up creating a large library of elements to work with rather than focusing on one layout. I like to have options once I’m on the computer so that I can make changes and substitutions. Once I am deeper into the design, I’ll go back and letter some more if there are holes or if the original styles just aren’t working. One thing to realize and accept with hand-lettering is that nothing is quick. Each letter is kerned individually, each line is straightened manually, each copy change requires new lettering. But that’s the beauty of the process – there are efficiencies to be learned and incorporated over time, but there are no real short cuts.

 Any recommendations of books or classes for lettering enthusiasts to further their studies?

 Hand Job: A Catalog of Type by Mike Perry (for sale here)

 Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design’s Golden Age by Steven Heller & Louise Fili (for sale here)

 I recommend digging up some old lettering books if you can. You’ll most likely find a gem that not many others have access to, which helps to keep your work unique. One of my favorites is:

 The Art of Lettering by Carl Lars Svensen, published in 1927.

 Do you have some favorite projects you would like me to mention?

Ah, so hard to choose! I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work with some wonderful small businesses recently including Vermont Farm Table, Rosewood & Birch, Pints & Pints, and more. I am no longer taking on wedding clients, so I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the couples I did get to work with (most recently Lauren + Nick for their Woodstock, VT wedding). The Urbanic 2013 New Year’s card was a fun one. Right now, I am really excited about my upcoming product collection and the direction in which things are headed…! 

 Any advice on what ‘not’ to do? 

Don’t try to emulate someone else’s style. Learn from them, be inspired by them, but remember that the beauty of handwriting is that everyone’s is different.

 Don’t look back on your old work and cringe (talking to myself here). Progression means you’re doing something right!

 Crappy paper makes for a crappy scan. Invest in the good stuff.

 Name one random talent you have that people may not know?

I can balance a beer bottle on the ball of my foot.

Thank you Annemarie!!! And if you liked this please comment so we can be sure to be able to continue getting great artists to share with us!

Now this is the kind of camp I can totally get behind!  CAMP-Creating Art Meaning Purpose was founded by one uber talented Ginny Branch (my fave) and her uber talented friends (birds of a feather..) I am going to go out on a limb and say this may be the most beautiful camp on earth.  The choice of classes are all sublime, everything from Food Photography + Styling, Upholstery 101, Business Basics 101, to Pick with a pro (I want to join!) and so many more.

The classes are currently held in Georgia which makes me ask why these weren’t in full swing last summer when all I was doing was sweating profusely and swatting away mosquitoes at my Southern country home only dreaming of doing something like this. One day I will take a CAMP workshop or all of them, seriously there’s not one on the list that doesn’t sound completely fascinating and worth the time + investment. If you are on the East coast, Georgia is a short plane or train ride away, I would 100% give you my two thumbs up for you to join in the fun. Being that it’s summer, hotels are probably being given away (it gets hot down there!) but I am sure the brilliant minds behind CAMP have you covered, it looks like there is no detail overlooked on their watch so I bet you will be cool, collected and sipping on something marvelous like fresh squeezed organic lemonade with fresh mint ice cubes and a dash of spritzer for extra refreshment. Think of me while you are learning away and do let me now if you join in the fun, I would love to live vicariously.

photo by ali harper

Since summer has officially started here I am going to dedicate this week to a nostalgic summer staple–camp. A lot of us have not been away to camp for many moons, my last trip to camp was in the 4th grade, but it has not diluted the memories of this special rite of passage. I am in awe of how many new adult camp destinations are cropping up and would one day love to visit at least one of them. The above is from South Lake Tahoe’s Basecamp Hotel, where they have taken the tent and set it up inside for you.  It’s like a fort for adults, really cheeky, plus the bonus of running water + no fear of nasty bug bites.

I was getting multiple updates on Instagram for Nicole of Making it Lovely when she went to Camp Wandawega with a bevy of other bloggers and documented her time there.  This may be the only time I ever suffered from complete and utter blogger envy.  Camp Wandawega is a photographic dream, everywhere you look there’s another photo-op to be had, it’s like a Wes Anderson movie set.  It also looks like a blast and if you are ever in Wisconsin in the summer I think you should add this to your must-do list.

There’s another word for this type of ‘camping’ and it’s called glamping.  I found a pretty cool resource for multiple glamping sites called Glamping Hub, even if you aren’t planning a trip anytime soon it’s still good arm chair traveling. This tent would be perfect plopped in my backyard (or yours, I bet you could D.I.Y. it). Not feeling the tent? Kristiana has some pretty snappy Airstream trailers for rent that could make your whole glamping adventure mobile.

I hope you enjoy your week here and feel inspired to try some of the things I introduce you to or better yet travel to one of these amazing destinations!  Let me know if you try anything or if you have been glamping lately.

P.S. The cool camp inspired font I used can be downloaded here for free.

I had been seeing these pipe shelves crop up all over the internet and really wanted to try my hand at making one; I had a couple of obstacles 1) I have a hard time following directions 2) I don’t own any real power tools (a drill + mini sander but those don’t really count now, do they?)  My husband is not handy but he sure is handsome so there’s that.  So here is my “Cliff” notes version of how this came about. Last summer I decided to give it a try.  At Home Depot I eyed the plumbing pipes longingly (as one does) when a salesperson asked if he could help me, I told him that I wanted to make a pipe shelf but they didn’t have pipes in the sizes I needed and I didn’t have tools, (insert crazy look here) I showed him some on-line images, and he said no problem they could cut the pipes to any size I needed for a nominal fee. I went home and started figuring out my exact dimensions needed. This is important since a lot of the DIY instructions on-line are for what worked for that individual, if you are going to make this, make it so it works for you.  I had a very long narrow closet where I wanted this to go, so I knew my boards/shelves needed to have a narrow profile (these were cut for free to size at Home Depot, I think Lowes does free cuts as well). I used the standard 2′ x 4’s. I chose to make my bottom shelf higher so I could fit my filing boxes in neatly, which were tall and narrow. I also added metal casters so I could easily roll the shelf out of the slim closet and could see everything.  It was smooth sailing from there–sanding, stain + polyurethane for the aesthetics, for functionality, I used Gorilla glue and screws to get all the pipe flanges in place and that was it.  It was a weekend project because of the staining and wood glue which needed to dry but it comes together so fast and it did not look like a DIY project, in fact I sold it for a pretty penny when I moved and that was out in the middle of nowhere (the photo above was from my Craigslist listing), just imagine if I lived in the city?!  I am now wanting to make a whole studio space in our tiny city loft and this image has my wheels spinning.

If you need more detailed instructions for this project I have collected some here:

Industrial shelf (they set their shelves on top of the pipes instead of screwing them directly into the shelves like I did).

Here’s the same concept for a coffee table that I think looks equally as good and would probably be the easiest of all the pipe projects.

Be still my beating heart, the already lovely Roost  just got even lovelier (hard to believe but it’s true!) My jaw is still on the floor…

I get a lot of emails each day, but one of my very favorites is the word of the day from Merriam Webster, it not only gives you the word + definition but also the pronunciation and in context examples! It makes me feel like I accomplished at least one great thing each day.

I haven’t been up for doing much lately, but I did download the Graveminder by Melissa Marr (it was on sale!). I am not a big fiction reader but when I do read it I always wonder why I don’t read it more often. I am not that deep into the book, but I’m already impressed with Ms. Marr’s imagination, how did she come up with such things?  From the reviews this isn’t even her most creative book, my curiosity has been peaked.

On a whim the other night my husband and I watched Extreme Couponing, my husband is appalled by the stock piling and I agree there’s not a lot I could/would eat (100 packs of hot dogs anyone?) but gosh darn am I impressed by how much these couponers save.  It has me motivated to look into it a little further, I found this site that gives you a crash course. I would love to have a stock pile of basics like laundry detergent, wouldn’t you?

The Visual Supply Company aka VSCO has just updated their VSCAM app and I love it even more (if that’s possible). I always recommend it as the app to get if you are trying to recreate that film look with your cameraphone.  The app is free and has plenty of filter choices, scroll down here to see some awe inspiring sample images.

Couldn’t get enough of my blogging unsolicited blogging advice? Well here’s some more links to inspire more great content from Alt Summit!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!