What's in the Toolbox?
What's in the Toolbox?
I love getting peeks into other people's studios and design spaces! It's so inspiring for me to see how they have their desk set up to their personal workflow, what tools they use, the art on their walls, the style and feel of the room. I'm also totally jealous of those creatives with the sleek, white, clean workspace, and supplies that match their brand. When I look at my workspace I often wonder if messy & mis-matched could be my brand? My studio looks like Lisa Frank and a vintage European estate sale had a baby and it puked everywhere.
Sometime in the future I'll get one of my fabulous photographer friends to take shots of my whole studio and blog about it. But right now I'm gonna highlight some of my go-t0 lettering tools!
These are the tools that I throw in my vintage floral backpack whenever we go out of town. It's probably a bit excessive, but I've learned from experience that an email can come at any time and it's better to be prepared then have to find a local Hobby Lobby and buy things you already own! This post contains affiliate links.
Go-To Lettering Tools
Dinky Dips
They're perfect for dipping your nib into, and I had Zach make me a wooden dips holder. The dips holder is essential because those little cases will fall right over if not secured. And that is a calligrapher's worst nightmare! (I'm thinking about framing this dips picture - for some reason it just resonates with me.)
Watercolours
I have like a million different watercolor sets, and this one is my favorite! Probably because they spell it with a U. The palette is a mess of mixed colors, just the way I like it, but you can keep yours clean if you want to.
Pens
If you know me, you know that brushlettering is my jam. I can't live without my Tombows (seriously, they are essential to my brand), my white Gelly Roll, soft eraser, water brush, mechanical pencil, extra fine black marker & a pipette.
Tombow Dual Brush Pen | Gelly Roll | Soft Eraser | Water Brush | Pencil | Extra Fine Black Pen | Pipette
Notebook
I love this little MUJI Notebook. It has a dot grid which works really well for calligraphy. I just can't use lined paper, I don't know what it is that ruins the experience for me, but it does. I like this notebook cause the dots are super subtle but it still helps me write in a straight line!
Nibs & Nib Holder
Ahh yes, my little nibbies. My 8 year old niece looks at me, aghast, whenever I talk about my nibs. It's hilarious. I keep them in tins because I'm obsessed with tins. My favorite nibs are the Hunt 101, Brause Rose and Zebra G. And of course my favorite holder is the one Zach made me.
Inks
Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay Inks are the best! Their red-violet ink is what my dreams are made of. But especially their white. It's just the right consistency. I also dig Dr. Ph Martin's black. And Daler & Rowney Pro white is what I use for brushlettering, too dense for a nib in my opinion. And PEARL-EX - 'nuff said.
Phantom Liner
I love the phantom liner! It takes some getting used to, and like an idiot I got the smaller one, not realizing I'd use it so much. So now I've gotta go back and buy the larger one. A regular old laser leveler could do the trick too.
