Openinkstand Art & Calligraphy

  • Openinkstand on 100 Layer Cake

    A styled shoot that I participated in was featured on 100 Layer Cake blog last month.. click here to see! I’m super excited to be part of such a beautiful shoot.…

  • More sticker envelopes

    More sticker envelopes! I just love making these. The envelopes look super cheerful, I get to use stickers (it’s a childhood thing, don’t ask) and I get to decorate…

  • A Pirate Map!

    A few months ago, a client asked me a fun request… he needed calligraphy for his kids’ party and wanted me to write instructions on a pirate map. He had the paper…

  • Spencerian Workshop

    I am very happy to announce my first class, Intro to Spencerian Script, organized by the wonderful Fabulous Las Vegas Scribes. Two full days of practice and study in the end of…

  • Simple flourished envelopes

    I love using these #10 envelopes because they are sized perfectly for writing like this, and plenty of flourishing. It makes me want to stretch out the address to cover the whole…

  • Anti-Valentines 2015

    When I was making the super pink and cute Valentines cards for my exchange, I received news that my boyfriend may be sent out of state for work for a considerable length of time.…

  • Thank you card design

    My guild, the Fabulous Las Vegas Scribes has been meeting at a community room in a Ford dealership, the space very nicely given to us once a month at no cost. On behalf of the…

  • Calligraphy Is Awesome

    One morning I woke up with this poster finished in my head. I got up at 8am, had breakfast, and did nothing from 9 to about 5pm just sketching whatever stuff in my studio using…

  • My 2014 Christmas Cards

    Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I like Halloween because we get to dress up, but honestly I don’t care much for the gory horror zombie stuff. I like…

  • Paperinkarts November Haul

    I haven’t been buying any supplies for quite a while, but needed some more Leonardt Principals.. so off to PIA I go! A couple days later my box arrived.. what could be in…

  • Like a spring bear

    “I really like you, Midori. A lot.” “How much is a lot?” “Like a spring bear,” I said. “A spring bear?” Midori looked up again. “What’s that all about? A…

  • No Regrets

    A ton of regret never makes an ounce of difference. GRENVILLE KLEISER You can watch me work on it from beginning to end here! The original art is available in the shop.

  • A goldfish envelope

    A letter to JP, remember she sent me a magic fish envelope? This is my reply, an orange goldfish! Hope she likes it!

  • Painted Pen “Dragon” No. 1

    Painted Pen “Dragon” No. 1 So my friend Mike emailed me one day and suggested a dragon for a painted pen. I laughed and said yeah you crazy! But.. slowly.. over the…

  • You Yourself Must Strive

    You yourself must strive. The Buddhas only point the way. I keep this Buddhist quote close to my heart, and in my studio as well on a chalkboard near the door. It reminds me that…

  • Call of Cthulhu

    “Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn. In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.” ― H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu

  • Seal packaging

    This is how I package my place cards. Just a simple box, a band to keep it together and the shop seal.

  • Painted Pen “Bird Flourish” No. 6

    This is the 6th bird flourish Painted Pen, a collaboration with Brian Smith (UniqueObliques). It’s supposed to be a swan behind a moon, but I think the idea could have been…

  • Be Positive

    “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” Aurelius Sometimes a little positivity can change your whole outlook on life. Every time I…

  • Sugar Skull envelopes!

    Halloween! My favorite holiday after Christmas. These envelopes were simple, just a white pen with embellishments (don’t worry postmen, the actual address is easy to read) and…

  • Marilyn Monroe Watercolor

    A watercolor of Marilyn Monroe. The original painting is available for sale, please email for details.

  • John Lennon

    Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened…

  • Autumn Envelope Exchange

    I found these lovely gold leaf stickers and knew they would be perfect for an Autumn themed card. Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Camus

  • Painted Pen “Bird Flourish” #5

    Painted Pen “Bird Flourish” #5 This is the 5th Bird Flourish pen with Brian Smith, and Painted Pen No. 8 (I think.. lost count). This is the first bird flourish pen to have…

  • Glittered Envelopes

    Some letters for my penpals. My favorite part of writing envelopes is when I get to choose the glitter color. I have a glitter set of about 24 different colors, it’s just about…

  • Bugsy Babes

    Any Manchester United fans? I know this is one of their saddest songs, but I found it very touching.

  • Painted Pens 8 and 9

    Another look at Painted Pens No. 8 and 9. Please contact Brian for more info about the painted pens in general.

  • Flourished Envelope

    A ribbony letter.. the trick is to not overdo it.

  • Gold placecard design

    “Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” Hans Christian Andersen

  • The Artist

    “All forms of madness, bizarre habits, awkwardness in society, general clumsiness, are justified in the person who creates good art.” ― Roman Payne, Rooftop Soliloquy

  • Painted Pens No. 8 and 9

    Painted Pens No. 8 and 9 These were the last pens to be made for Iampeth 2014.. the Monarch and the Tree Nymph Butterfly. People thought they were stickers or decals.. we had to…

  • Timeless Elegance

    Calligraphy will always be elegant and beautiful, especially in this age of computer fonts and overly Photoshopped lettering, the human touch of ink on paper penmanship is very…

  • Rubber stamp calligraphy

    Tired of writing a return address over and over? Get a rubber stamp!

  • Letterpressed Save the Date

    Sometimes when clients send me their final result I am overwhelmed! This save the date was made for Anthony and Alexandra and the final card turned out so well.

  • Painted Pen #6

    Painted Pen #6 This was another stream of consciousness pen. Brian used this beautiful cocobolo (I think) wood for the handle and I thought I should emphasize the beautiful lines.…

  • Painted Pen “Bird Flourish” No. 7

    Painted Pen “Bird Flourish” No. 7 One of the biggest challenges about painting pens is to make sure that it looks good on every angle of the pen. Sometimes some areas will…

  • Thou wouldst be loved? A Poe poem.

    Thou wouldst be loved? -- then let thy heart From its present pathway part not! Being everything which now thou art, Be nothing which thou art not. So with the world thy gentle…

  • The Raven

    Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore — While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a…

  • Murder to excellence

    And I’m from the murder capital where they murder for capital Heard about at least three killings this afternoon Looking at the news like “damn! I was just with him after…

  • A hummingbird flew into my envelope to play with the bird stamps!

    A hummingbird flew into my envelope to play with the bird stamps!

  • Annoy A Postman #5 – McKinney, Texas

    Howdy y’all! Annoy A Postman goes to Thomas Burns in Texas this time. As you may know, I really love stickers and flowers, and came across these beautiful 3D wisteria stickers…

  • I love professional photography

    An envelope I did for Crystal. Her photography is spectacular!

  • Anime in spencerian

    I grew up with Japanese manga, and wrote this Cardcaptor Sakura anime theme for a pal. Quite a different experience from writing all those haikus, Neruda and Elizabeth Barrett…

  • Filofax

    So.. if you guys haven’t noticed, I am a little of a stationery freak.. I love cute stickers, washi tape, little notes, gel pens, glitter pens, ink.. let’s just say when I go…

  • A girl and her poetry

    My first love has always been illustration. My day job is as a graphic artist and when I get home at night, I am usually too tired to paint. So two years ago, I started to do…

  • Audrey Hepburn calligraphed portrait

    This is my watercolor painting “Audrey.” The original piece is done using walnut ink, iron gall ink (which surprisingly turned blue after a wet wash) and a hint of warm…

  • Valentine tags

    Ready for Valentines? This set of four gift tags is perfect for your loved ones.

    Never Give In
    Flourishing exchange
    Quilla Janes
    Calligraphy Is Awesome

    Reserved cards

      There are so many little details when it comes to planning a wedding or event… but one thing people always forget are reserved cards for…

    Never Give In

    A client asked me to write out this beautiful speech by Winston Churchill as a gift. Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never–in…

    Ars Poetica

    A quick thing I threw together to try and illustrate Ken’s favorite poem. I thought it had strong imagery and so used colors to bring it…