If you have ever watched videos of calligraphy or hand lettering, then you know how mesmerizing it can be. I think my boyfriend, Zach, took notice of this, because for Christmas, he got me a calligraphy kit! The kit is the Belle Calligraphy Kit by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls and it has everything to get started on learning the ways of modern calligraphy.

The kit comes with an instructional booklet, a wooden pen/nib holder with a nib, black ink, an alphabet guide, lined practice sheets, vellum sheets, and decorative labels.

Once I finally had enough free time to really sit down and get started (this is important - not to be in a hurry!) I read through the booklet. Maybelle provides all the important steps: how to hold the pen, how to dip the pen in the ink, and to keep in mind that calligraphy takes practice! After I read through everything, I was dying to just try out the pen.

Maybelle shows little practice maneuvers to get used to using the pen. They get you accustomed to how the ink flows from the pen depending on how much pressure you use. I did several practice designs. It is harder than it seems!

After doing these, I decided to call it a night. I didn't want to get too overwhelmed my first time with calligraphy. Also, my hand was starting to hurt (which means I'm either holding the pen wrong or holding it too tight).

The second time around, I started practicing the letters! She suggests doing them in pencil first to understand how to form the letters. It is very different from normal print or cursive writing. After getting somewhat used to the way to write the alphabet, I was ready to write them with the pen.

IT WAS SO HARD. When you are used to writing a certain way for 20+ years, writing in a new style is very awkward and feels weird. My letters are not consistent and it's obvious that I write at a huge slant! But being my first time, I'm okay with it.

I will definitely be practicing more. I want to be as good as the people in those videos I watch. I also want to try using the brush pens eventually as well!

She also mentions that each calligrapher has their own style of lettering. I think my style is a little will be different from the one that Maybelle teaches in her book. The letters in her book are beautiful, but they feel a little too formal for me. After more practice, I'm sure I will develop my own style.