HOW-TO MAKE YOUR HANDWRITING A FONT

As promised I am going to discuss turning your handwriting into a font. I am not going to go into the step-by-step as there are too many variables, but I am going to load you with resources and get you pointed in the right direction to get started on your project today.  I did a lot of research on this for a branding client I worked with which I highly recommended that they create a custom font (typeface) for their brand as their logo was just a type treatment and it would be a beautiful, subtle and elegant way to continue to brand their company.  For you my friend, you may want to do something like this to brand your blog/company and make it as unique as you are or even to get into font production. 

  • ONLINE FONT CREATION-There are a few online font tools to create a font from your handwriting. Although it is fun to be able to see your hand created as a font so swiftly, these lack the ability to adjust your font and make it more precise, but if you want something immediately than this may be a good route to go for you in the beginning.  Both Fontifier and Myscriptfont are a complete a template, scan it + upload = font is created!
  • SOFTWARE-The most popular and the one across the board that I found most custom fonts are created with is called Font Lab.  Like most new software you start to use there is a learning curve, but it is a robust software and if you plan on creating many fonts that you may want to re-sell this is definitely something you will want to look into. It’s an investment for sure.
  • HIRE A PRO-If you are serious about becoming a hand lettering designer or don’t have the patience or time to learn a new software program I highly recommend a professional font creator; someone that knows the software inside and out and can anticipate situations with your font design that you may not. There are so many little nuances that come up that it would be nearly impossible for you to produce a perfectly production ready font on your first go.  I corresponded with Silas Dilworth a professional font designer and asked him if he could give us an idea of cost for the average person to hire a font designer of course this is just ballpark range and not a stone cold figure, his answer was “anywhere from $1,500-$5,000”.  I have invested plenty a pretty penny into my business so that seems like a rather fair amount for a design that is yours and you can sell like hotcakes if it’s amazing (which I know yours is). I think most entrepreneurs want passive income where they produce something and don’t really have to worry about production costs or fulfillment. Font design, if you are a talented enough sounds like it could be very lucrative. If you want to look into hiring a pro Silas would be a great resource (he emails you back like lightening) and here are a few other candidates that I don’t know personally but seemed pretty legit–Font Haus, David Occhino, Typotheque.

Good luck!  If you do create a font let me know, I would love to see it!

P.S. If you like the ‘today’ font in the graphic above you can add it to your font collection for free here.

    NEW! STATIONERY STAMP BADGE::WINNER!

    This last round of designs needed a lot of revisions so I could get a good stamped impression.  That’s the nature of creating designs for these ‘miniature printing presses’,  I am never quite sure how they will translate.  On this one I took one of the original designs I posted and added a little heraldry shield to it for more ‘oomph’.  I think it feels both prep + rock.  The winner of this design is the newly minted Benders–Sue & Jamieson.  I think this will be perfect to add to the outside of their envelopes when they need to write their many thank yous. When Mrs. Bender bakes her first big batch of brownies she can send Mr. Bender to the office with her married ‘logo’ on the glassine bags she is sure to wrap each one up in (or vice versa).  It’s a sweet + simple stamp and I know it will look good in any color, but it does look particularly regal in gold.  Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Bender!  If you would like your own SS09 stamp just use the code SS09 to get a 50% discount until 8/7.

    NEW! TINY TWINE

     

    I am so happy to finally get the tiny twine in the shop!  I have been wrapping the inside of my parcels with it from the beginning of the shop launch and getting many requests for it but it only came in ginormous spools.  I know there are many shops that re-spool their twine, but I seriously don’t have that kind of time or talent to wind twine on a spool, you?  After much back and forth with my twine supplier we came up with the classic twine ball, I am so happy, it only took a year to bring it to market.  This twine is lovely and delicate and is perfect for wrapping stationery projects (to keep the sets together), using as embellishments on invites or for gift tags.  It is much thinner than the Parcel twine. How much thinner?  If you are familiar with Baker’s twine it is thinner than that but much thicker than thread, it’s the perfect thinness if that is possible, I think it is.  It’s made of natural, renewable materials so it should take dye beautifully.  If you are feeling really creative it makes a beautiful friendship bracelet, I’m a fan and I am hoping you will be too!

    VINTAGE BOOK DECOR::JAYSWORLD

    I love books, L-O-V-E want to marry them.  I love them so much, you?  I think decorating with books makes a house a wee bit cozier and the owners a tad more interesting. When I worked in interior design it was a common practice amongst designers to buy collections of vintage & antique books for clients. I have witnessed whole libraries procured for clients shelves.  I have so many books that I doubt I would need a service like that, but I love that Jaysworld has created an affordable and wonderfully presented color palette of vintage books for those folks that just want to add a pop of color with a dash of charm to their interiors. Enjoy the resource!

    PINTEREST PINNING TIPS

    The other night I was in bed with the computer, my husband beside me watching the Olympics, at the commercial he looked over my shoulder and asked if I was going to ‘Pin’ that, that being some image that was on the screen.  I looked over at him and asked him how he knew what pinning was.  He said that he heard me explain it before and that it was proof that he listens to me, then he proceeded to ask me to pin a tennis racket that he thought was cool.  I explained to him that my pins were highly curated and there wouldn’t be a good place on my boards for his racket, “ok”, was his answer. It seems that my secret pinning passion is no longer secret, since the cat is out of the bag I figured that I would just be honest and let you know that I spend an inordinate amount of time that I could use sleeping on pinning, it’s both mindless and mindful, a relaxing pastime that I find infinitely more enjoyable than some of the other social media outlets.  I am very visual and therefore this medium works very well to satiate my need for constant visual stimulation. I am also an organization freak which Pinterest is able to sate that need as well.  I am sure a lot of you are pinning already, but for those starting out here are a couple tips–
    • You don’t need 8 million boards, it’s more manageable to have less and add to one category/board that makes sense.
    • If you pin a photo or artwork try to add the name of the artist and link in your description so they get full credit, don’t worry if you re-pin it will let the pinner know you re-pinned and others know where you re-pinned from.
    • If you re-pin one pinners pins a lot, give them some love by leaving a comment, it’s nice to know people appreciate your great taste.
    • If there’s a diy you like and you click and it takes you to the blog instead of directly to the blog post, maybe you can help a pinner out and pin to the exact post that way people lazy like me won’t give up and leave, your fellow pinner can find the diy right away.
    • When you find someone’s pins you can’t get enough of why not follow them? I love feeling like I discovered a great new ‘curator’ like my pal Michelle P. she’s fairly new to pinning on a regular basis but her pins never disappoint.

    I hope this helps and please feel free to ask me questions if you have any confusion about the above.  I included a link below that goes into more detail on getting started–

    Pinterst::Getting Started