How I got started into calligraphy - Part 1

Calligraphy led you here. Is what led me here, too…

Hi, friend and welcome to my blog - a place where I’ll be sharing resources about calligraphy, weddings and my journey so far.

Let’s dive into my first post about how I discovered calligraphy. Enjoy the reading!

How I got into calligraphy is not something I would tell in an Instagram post; for this reason, this blog post came to life, in fact, my first ever post.

I’ll tell you a secret from the start; I have always loved drawing letters in all my journals, collecting pens and colours. In school, I was the one volunteering for designing and drawing quotes in hand-lettering for various school events. I only used rulers, graphite pencils, coloured pencils, broad-edged markers and lots of erasers. I wish I could have a phone at that time to take pictures of my works to share them with you. 

The decision to leave my home country for better opportunities

Born in the countryside of Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, where emigration numbers increased considerably after the 2000s as the economy was so stagnant with a communist government. We were lucky that our parents stayed at home and raised me and my two younger sisters with the scarce resources they had available. My mother is a primary school teacher, and my father was working in construction. Maybe they struggled with money, but we never felt that. After high school, I knew I wanted to leave Moldova and find opportunities elsewhere.

In 2008, I went to Romania to study for my undergraduate degree, followed by a master degree. After finishing the master degree in 2013, my personal life took me to live in Italy for a year, and at the end of 2014, I decided to move to London.

A new chapter started in London

For the first two years, I worked as a waitress, an exhausting job, sometimes working 55-60 hours per week; however, it helped me improve so many skills. I barely had powers to do anything in my spare time. But, I wanted to find a creative hobby outside my job.

In autumn 2016, I was continually researching for courses in drawing, hand lettering and my attention got caught by a signwriting course and a calligraphy workshop for beginners. 

 I decided to try the signwriting workshop - a 2-day full weekend workshop by Nick Garrett. I loved it and learned so many techniques; however, due to the materials required; I couldn’t see myself able to practice in my rented single room. 

The first connection with the pointed pen

I then decided to try the calligraphy workshop. I will always remember the day of November 16th 2016 at Quill London with the teacher Julia Broughton when I got introduced to the art of writing beautifully using a pointed pen. I even got a compliment from her: 'You are doing very well as a complete newbie'.

I've instantly got absorbed by the mindfulness effect of calligraphy forever. With a kit to take home and a few more supplies bought in the store, I went home so content. I would take it out to practice whenever I had some spare time.

Time passed, and with a desire to make a change in my life, in March 2017 I quit my job as a waitress, studied for a certificate as a Hotel Receptionist that helped me get a job as a Front Office Receptionist in a 4star hotel in Central London. I was happy because I always thought I wanted to pursue a career in hospitality, but very soon I realised that this is not what I want to do all my life. 

2017 - a year to remember 

The first part of the year of 2017 came with some heartbreaking moments in my personal life. However, the second part of the year was a game-changer, which brought my husband in my life. With a similar heartbreaking experience like mine, we found peace in each other's arms, sharing the same dreams of having a family. The bond between us grew enormously. He was living in Belfast and would come to London every weekend.

Our official date was on August 5th in a fine restaurant in London, and at the end of August, I had a two week holiday taken from work. He came with the idea to go on a round trip to Amsterdam, Belfast and Dublin. The days booked to visit Dublin happened to be my birthday which was September 1st. We had a typical day of seeing lots of places, and in the evening I knew he booked a restaurant; and made sure to mention that my birthday present is at the restaurant. We enjoyed an intimate romantic dinner, and just when the dessert was about to come, he is telling me to close my eyes. Never in my life, I would have imagined what could happen next. Can you guess what was that?

Yes, you are right - a ring! With tears in his eyes, he asked me to be his wife. 

His gesture was the craziest, the most emotional and memorable experience in my life. Even though this happened only after three weeks of dating, I knew deep down in my heart that he is the one. Was I scared to say yes? Of course, I was, but I chose to be happy and create a life with him.

After our engagement, we started to make plans for the wedding, which we both wanted to happen the following year in 2018. We managed to secure the date (September 2nd 2018), book the venue, the photograph and music. We still lived in different cities; he wanted me to move straightaway to Belfast and live with him. I wanted as well to move with him but also wanted to keep my job for a while and get more experience. He agreed to this, and we managed to see each other every weekend until January 2018 when I decided to quit my job, leave London and move to Belfast. I wanted to make a move a few days before his birthday, which is January 25th.

Finally, I moved there on January 22nd 2018 and never looked back.

I was jobless, but with so much time in my hands. My fiance encouraged me to get back to my first calligraphy kit, and from there, another exciting chapter began.

Check (Part 2 - From hobby to business) to read the continuous story.

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