COLLABORATION WITH: DARvá

What an honor to share my latest tattoo collaboration. Darvá got in touch a while back and wrote: 

"2010 -11’ has been a blessed but at times a challenging year. The beauty is in the struggle.  Five months ago I kissed and hugged my gorgeous wife Amanda and precious son Josiah and set out from Arizona to Dallas to better support my family and further my career in the hospitality industry with my current company (Fairmont Hotels & Resorts).  Thankfully my father would not let me make the drive alone. We shared great conversation and laughs along the way. His presence was greatly appreciated however, I couldn't help to feel an empty space that started as a tiny pinhole and grew to the size of the Grand Canyon.  I miss the two people that mean the world to me everyday I wake up. Due to job availability and other finical reason they remain in Arizona. 

All we have and know is in Arizona (family, fiends, our first house, Josiah's school).  This distance is only temporally (12 more months at most) and for the greater good.  This phrase "aut viam inveniam aut faciam" means  "I will either find a way or make one." It is something that keeps me pushing forward and to overcome life changing challenges."

The phrase he chose is so poingnant and inspiring. Especially in these times of economic uncertainty when the only way to overcome adversity might be in taking an opportunity far away from loved ones. Thank you to Darva, Viet at Blink Custom Art & Tattoos, and photographer Claire Elyse. 

 

COLLABORATION WITH: BEN + GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY

I know it has been a few months since the last one, but here is my latest Gratitude Giveaway client, Ben. A while back, Ben wrote: 
"I'm working on a journal that will show my appreciation for how truly remarkable my wife is (you can see her blog here). I plan to provide her with a small note every now and then, articulating a characteristic I adore about her. She can then put these notes she collects in this particular journal titled... and this is where you come in Mara :)...1,000 reasons I absolutely, positively love you.
 
Just a little background. Before my wife and I were officially dating (just hanging out and flirting), I told her there were 1,000 things I loved about her, which prompted a book/album a little later into our dating years that I never finished completing--I only got to 10 things! Lame-O! So, to this day she sarcastically jokes, "you only love 10 things about me?!!"
 
We've just completed our 6th [now 7th!] wedding anniversary, and been so busy with life (nearly 4 kids--my wife has 8 weeks left in her pregnancy--in the last 6 years) that every time I try to give the 1,000 reasons journal a little attention, it never actually gets any attention. The cover and interior I had originally put together have grown to look cheesy to me and I've wanted to change it to something more timeless (as described at the beginning)."

Ben's sweetie Rubyellen wrote a little post about receiving the gift, and what she gave him in return, over here. And here is their anniversary portrait. Her blog Cakies is such a fun read.

Here's to many more years and entries in your book!

{Photo courtesy of Rubyellen from Cakies}

CHRISTMAS IN JUNE: COLLABORATION WITH HOTEL SHILLA

I've never received an inquiry from South Korea but such was the case when I got an email from Seoul last year. The luxury Hotel Shilla (owned by the Samsung Group-- TVs and hotels, who knew?) contacted me to work on holiday branding and packaging for their pastry boutique, and an invitation to a gala dinner. They commissioned me to write out the holiday favorite "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." One of my favorite parts of the experience was signing the contract. It involved overlapping the pages and signing across them (the first time I've done this). They, of course, used their company's much classier red stamp. What fun to think of their customers toting these bags around such a faraway place. Thanks to Jennifer + the Hotel Shilla!

{Product images courtesy of Hotel Shilla}

COLLABORATION WITH: JESSICA, MO + ROBERT

I'm so excited to share this tattoo with you. I think it is the most text commissioned by any client. Jessica -- a nurse at a labor and delivery ward -- tells the story best.

Ten summers ago, my now husband Derek and I took our first trip together to see the Dave Matthews Band play at the Gorge. "Heaven's ampitheatre," I like to call it, with immense views of plateaus and sky and Columbia River. It became a tradition for us, three days of music bliss every Labor Day weekend. We now have our son Lennox in tow, who's 2, and I like to say he's been making the trip even before he was born (in my belly the first time around).  He was born into this world with Dave Matthews Band ushering him in like a theme song or dramatic score to the story of our life.  And I'm pretty sure he was conceived to it ;) It's in his blood.

"One Sweet World" is a song that I came across only in the last few years, discovered at one of these shows.  The violin intro to this song is so powerful. It catches my attention and draws me in even on the darkest of days. This tattoo evolved over the course of many years and shows, and over the years I've evolved into this tattoo.

As I became a mom and motherhood became me, a line from this song began to resonate with me on many levels. "So let us sleep outside tonight, lay down in our mother's arms, for here we can rest safely." It connects so many images and ideas of who I am in just a few words. I imagine laying in my mother's arms, as a child, outside in our backyard in the Oregon countryside.  Looking up at the stars on a summer night, and being completely at peace. It's dreamlike.  I imagine me holding my newborn son, barely the length of my forearm, and cradling him so closely all those first months, each time he nursed or needed to be close to me.  I'm now working as a Nurse in Labor and Delivery, and bear witness to women becoming mothers before my eyes, and have the rare opportunity to be a part of that incredible experience every day. There is no stronger bond than a mother to her child, and no safer place to be than in that Mama Bear's arms.  I imagine also one of the more literal meanings of the song, which I think is really about this planet we live upon, holding us close, keeping us grounded, with our feet solidly planted in the soil. She keeps us safe and holds us close, and feeds our soul with sunshine and dirt and water. Each day a mother holds her child, her little piece of the earth. From dust to dust. The experience of motherhood is now imprinted on my arms, where I will continue to hold my babies and the babies of other mothers.

Thank you Mara for translating these ideas to art. It is more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed.

Thank you Monica at Mo Hines Photography for spending an evening with us and for being so creative. And thank you Robert Egbert at Slave to the Needle Tattoo for putting it on my body forever, and for not messing it up.

Thank you, Jessica, for trusting me with (both!) of your inner arms, envisioning such a thoughtful tattoo, and sharing your story with us. Thank you to Robert for inking it so precisely, and to Mo for capturing the final result so well.

{Photos by Mo Hines Photography}

OSBP + DECALS + FLORENCE

Julie at Oh So Beautiful Paper kindly posted a profile of Neither Snow over here today. Thank you! I'm honored to be included (and check out other calligrapher friends in her "Calligraphy Inspiration" series). She notes the latest project I've had up my sleeve: decals (more to come). For too long, decals have been relegated to the world of walls (or the side of minivans) but they can be used on nearly any other surface: notebooks, leather, glass, wood, fabric, mirrors, chalkboard, ceramic. And they don't register as "decal." They register is "how did you get calligraphy on to that surface?" You may ask: "Why not just use paint or ink?" After experimenting for the last year I have fallen in love with this medium and here are a few reasons why: 

1. Decals maintain the calligraphy's crispness and hairline strokes, unlike paint or chalkboard pens.
2. Vinyl comes in an unimaginable spectrum of colors, including glitter, metallic, high gloss and super matte.
3. Clients can easily apply decals on their end. For example: names on 300 "escort" votives in Miami? Done! And without the environmental and financial cost of shipping the glassware back and forth.
4. Decals are scalable and flexible. We can create gigantic banners and signs or very tiny names and wrap the calligraphy around rounded surfaces.

Here are a few more snaps from a recent project I collaborated on with designer and stylist Joy Thigpen for one of her workshops and photographed by Rylee Hitchner. Joy said, "Gold. Silver. Notebooks." and this is the final product, given to each attendee.

Finally: the cat is out of the bag. A. + I are moving to Florence, Italy in September for the year (!!!). This means I'll be scaling back client work that has to be shipped to and fro (printed envelopes; escort cards). I'll be focusing on digitized calligraphy for invitation suites, tattoos, decals, fabric and other fun projects (shipped stateside); work that can be shipped directly from Florence (unprinted envelopes; place cards and escort cards on Italian papers); and European clients. If you were hoping to work together on a project that falls into the first category, please be in touch with my stupendously talented colleagues listed to the right. The move also means we're looking for a renter for our Philadelphia home (if you know of anyone) and are in need of fantastic Florence suggestions.

{Photos by Rylee Hitchner}

COLLABORATION WITH: JESS + SAM

Jess and Sam (the adorable couple behind Boho Baby Bump) posted their tattoo story today. They went above and beyond and even made a video about the process which you can see above. Jess writes:

"My heart is so happy when I look down at my arm. I get little flutters of romantic artsy-ness. We did this because we're crazy and in love. It's one of my favorite things that we've ever done together and will always be a sweet memory of our friendship and the heart romance I share with this guy named Samuel. ;)"

It was such a treat working with these two radiant and lovely people. Thanks so much for the opportunity (and exceptionally kind words), Jess + Sam!

Collabiration with: Gus & Ruby, et al. for Maine Photo Shoot

 

Speechless about sums up my reaction to this unreal spread featured today on Style Me Pretty, shot by Corbin Gurkin Photography and styled by Maine Seasons Events. It's so funny with these things. Every once in a while I get an email from a favorite collaborator like Gus & Ruby asking me for a little of this (some digital calligraphy!) and a little of that (labels for invite boxes!) and I gladly oblige. And then one day I get to see the fruits of these labors and marvel at the abundant spectacularness of it all. Thank you for including me!

Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography / Location: French’s Point in Stockton Springs, Maine / Design + Concept: Maine Seasons Events + Flora Fauna / Floral Design: Flora Fauna / Custom Table Ruffles: Maine Seasons Events / Cake: Nothing Bakes Like a Parrott / Stationery: Gus & Ruby Letterpress / Calligraphy: Neither Snow / Tulle Posies, Dessert Table Buds + Place Cards: Paper Posy Designs / Hair + Makeup: Lisa Nichols Salon / Dresses: Lula Kate / Rentals: One Stop Party Shoppe

WENDELL BERRY: THE WILD ROSE


I recently finished a commission of "The Wild Rose," a poem by Wendell Berry (I highly recommend this episode of On Being with him). What simple, touching verses, and such a lovely present for a husband.

 

"The Wild Rose" by Wendell Berry

Sometimes hidden from me
in daily custom and in trust,
so that I live by you unaware
as by the beating of my heart,

suddenly you flare in my sight,
a wild rose blooming at the edge
of thicket, grace and light
where yesterday was only shade,

and once more I am blessed, choosing
again what I chose before.