Debbie Travis
Cursive training might be disappearing from schools, but nostalgia is fuelling its resurgence in the craft market
When did you last send a handwritten note of thanks, or a bulky envelope filled with pages of family news that you penned over days?
These personalized epistles are so precious. Our handwriting is one of our most distinct characteristics — no two people write the same.
It showcases our personalities and our backgrounds. Hand-lettering communicates more than the news — it shows how the writer is feeling, whether rushed, happy, angry or sad. It’s a beautiful thing, even when it’s messy. However, times have changed. The electronic age has altered the way we communicate with each other.
We are now experiencing a generation that rarely, if ever, writes down anything at all.
Schools no longer teach cursive-style handwriting. It is dying away.
But wait, not so fast. Nostalgia for the unique lettering and the immediate connection we feel to the source of the handwriting is a powerful emotion.
We are seeing a backlash of sorts, a growing trend that in many instances pushes back the typed and digital, and reintroduces messages written by hand.
Witness the script in advertising, the chalkboards at your favourite restaurants and coffee bars, the messages on T-shirts, mugs, accessories and signs.
Hand lettering feels more friendly, more accessible. And the crafters’ market is bursting with ideas built around letters formed by hand.
In their new craft book, DIY Hand Lettering, Melissa Averinos and Asharae Kroll give you the tools required to personalize everything from fabrics and crockery to jewelry and signage.
To get you started, or to refresh your memory, the section on hand lettering demonstrates many letter shapes, including bold and blocky, brush script and variations on cursive, with space allotted for practicing.
You may not think you have stylish handwriting, but the authors don’t believe it, and urge you to find your favourite designs and copy until you’ve got them mastered.
The project section is exciting as it covers a cross-section of crafts that are enhanced by hand lettering.
Shown here is a project that features watercolour resist artwork. The lettering requires a bit more practice, as it is done with a brush rather than a pen.
To recreate the look, choose a quote and use a pencil to write the words onto a sheet of watercolour paper so any corrections can be easily made.
When you are satisfied, apply liquid masking fluid such as Pebeo Drawing Gum over the letters with an artist’s paintbrush using the brush script.
Dip the brush into the fluid, then dab some on a scrap of paper to make sure you don’t make puddles. (This is where the practising comes in.)
Let dry completely. Now add your watercolour paint layer, brushing on colours and covering the masked letters completely.
Let the paint dry. With clean fingers, wipe away the masking fluid liquid letters, revealing the plain white paper (and the quote) underneath. Any visible pencil lines can be erased. Other projects include wood burning, writing on canvas and pottery, and etching glass.
Each project has step by step instructions and a description of any special tools, pens or brushes that you require.
Party invitations, graduation, birthday and hostess gifts, flower pots and kids’ furniture are waiting for your personal signature.