With weeks to go until my Christmas calligraphy workshops start, I’ve been working on examples of the little projects we’ll write in class. I like to share little previews on instagram and I always enjoy having something beautiful we can write together on the day.
This year’s little project will be a ‘Loch blue’ bauble-shaped gift tag. I've had loads of fun designing it for you! Here’s why it’s going to be such a lovely thing to write.
- luxury card
- Elements of drawing with a calligraphy nib
- Brush painting and super simple leaf patterns
- Choice! You can write any name or word on your tag (and I can help too)
Flat, card 'baubles' can be quick and easy to write at the end of a calligraphy workshop. They’re not too daunting I hope, and will look good no matter how much calligraphy you’ve learned in the class!
I'll share some videos of me writing these little tags on instagram @bymoonandtide - I hope you'll be tempted to sign up for one of my calligraphy workshops when you watch them!
With most of the people who come to calligraphy workshops never having tried it before, I aim to make everything we write really accessible to everyone on the day.
This year I’ll be writing templates for everyone to use, so learning calligraphy is easier than ever.
I also update the worksheets I use in my calligraphy classes about twice a year. I teach in spring and autumn, so a twice-yearly refresh makes the workshops fun and interesting for me, for people who come along for the first time, and for anyone who’s been to one of my workshops before.
Bauble gift tags - but not actual calligraphy baubles?
One year I took real baubles to my calligraphy workshops for people to write on, if they wanted to try at the end of the class. It's a popular request - but it's much harder than it looks.
In reality, it’s taken me fifteen years to write beautifully on a round surface. Bauble calligraphy is a skill in itself - and you need to be really good at calligraphy first. I write and sell personalised calligraphy baubles, but I wouldn’t expect you to do the same after two or three hours of learning!
In the workshops where I took spherical baubles to write on, only a handful of people wanted to write on them - most chose to keep practising their letters and words on paper instead!
Upcoming calligraphy workshops in October & November 2025
Sunday 12th October – Quirky Workshops, Greystoke village (between Penrith and Keswick) 10am – 12:30 or 1:30 – 4pm £55 inc fresh coffee/tea/delicious home made biscuits Tickets here
Sunday 9th November – Shed One Distillery, Ulverston 2 – 5pm £58 including a welcome tipple (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) a couple of delicious sweet treats, tea and coffee. Tickets here
Sunday 23rd November – Rheged, M6 (just off Junction 40) 10am – 1pm £55 including refreshments Tickets here
Learn calligraphy with me anywhere in the world!
Can't make it to an in-person class with me? Try one of my modern calligraphy sets - now including a video course so you can learn with me! They're available online at Not On The High St and in my Etsy shop.