A day without Corey is like a day without sunshine.
I always begin my day with Sunshine.
I’ve been reading Corey’s “reflections” for many years,
and am always deeply appreciative of her open-heartedness,
talents, insights, and wisdom, and the beautiful way she IS in this world.
I’m delighted and humbled to have been invited to share a bit of myself here.
I will now attempt to distill and encapsulate a life for almost two weeks short of 72 years.
I was born in Bavaria, Germany, raised in Chicago, and have lived all of my adult life
in South Bend/Granger, Indiana. My sweet husband and I have been married for 51 years,
have two adorable sons — Michael and Eric, darling grandsons Evan and Andy,
and loving daughters-in-law Amy and Valerie.
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I’ve been privileged to wear several more hats over the years —
Montessori Directress,
Sex Offense Services and hospital volunteer,
and, for the past 40 years — calligrapher.
Most of my “bread and butter” work was for the University of Notre Dame,
wedding invitations, and certificates, and resolutions for various organizations.
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click to enlarge
As I’ve read Corey’s guests’ posts, I recognize a common thread among kindred spirits —-
love of family, home, travel, and collecting antiques.
I am now a Recovering Collector of Things Old,
Loved and Beautiful,
and limit my collecting to Social Security,
fine arts supplies,
and
words.
Particularly those of poets,
writer-wordsmiths,
and mystics.
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I’m in love with and intrigued by
those who have
that mysterious gift of cobbling
and jumbling
and arranging ordinary words,
resulting in stunning beauty,
meaning, and artistry—
words that reach deep
and touch the heart and soul.
I’m including Corey here.
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As a calligrapher, my joy is in making others’ beautiful and meaningful words
come alive on the page.
In that way, I process my own life through the thoughts and words
of those who speak my heart in ways that I’m unable to articulate.
My Mom always said that I begged to write
when I was a 3-year-old while watching my cousins do their homework.
I guess the urge has been in my bones for a long time.
In grade school, nuns and teachers encouraged me by allowing me
to do posters for class projects, and that further fueled my love of lettering.
I was also always fascinated by the handwriting of others —
how different it was from one person to the other,
even though the nuns taught the same method to everyone.
Fast forward many decades, I bought a calligraphy book,
and practiced earnestly while teaching Montessori I thought I knew what I was doing.
Oh, how funny!
By chance, I saw an ad in our newspaper that Indiana University/South Bend
was offering an evening calligraphy class——
and that changed the rest of my life, really.
I became an avid student,
taking a year-long master class, 3-4 workshops
and art retreats overs the years from well-known
and respected calligraphy instructors
and in between, left Montessori to begin
my “bread and butter” work.
Also, take every possible class/workshop available.
Then—— after the formal structures of different lettering styles are in one's bones —-
go wild and experiment, and most of all
Play, play, play with your whole heart.
Like a child —-
allow yourself to be fully absorbed by what’s in front of you.
That’s what I do now ——-
play, play, play
with words, lettering, and color.
This time of “Covid Cloistering” when intimate and meaningful
connections with family and friends have been restricted,
and our annual drive to the West Coast
to savor the splendor and grandeur of this vast country,
visiting National Parks and all the gorgeousness in between—postponed
hopefully only postponed, my art sustains me and enlivens my Spirit.
The dailiness of my life includes walks on the beautiful campus of the University of Notre Dame,
soaking in the peace of Lake Michigan,
Zoom calligraphy and art workshops, and calligraphy guild meetings.
Remaining connected with Beloveds near and far is always a top priority.
All things considered, and contrary to the state of our world right now,
there is still so much for which I am endlessly grateful.
I wish Peace and Every Blessing to Corey, family, and to all her readers.
Anna
For more information about classes, Zoom or otherwise and or
calligraphy commissions
please contact Anna by email:
joyfool@earthlink.net
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