My name is Danielle and I'm a calligrapher. My business is called Design in Words and I'm based in Melbourne, Australia.

I've loved calligraphy since I was introduced to it at the age of 9. I fell in love with the idea of making art out of words and never looked back.

Fast forward some (many) years and one transcontinental move later, when I picked up my pen again, studying with one of Australia's great calligraphy teachers. My passion was re-ignited, and Design in Words was born. Since that day, I've worked with hundreds of private and corporate clients to make their special occasions just that little bit more special with invitations, envelopes, signage and more.

Who else am I? I'm a Canadian Australian, who loves lakes and pine trees as much as I love the ocean and gum trees. I'm a mum and an occasional athlete. I'm a dreamer, and someone who makes a shopping list. I support my friends and I sing loudly (and badly) when I'm alone in the car. I support other people and hope you'll support me.

Lucky Me

I'm also the winner of an incredible (apparently my favourite word) opportunity to study with one of the world's best calligraphers, Pat Blair, at the Ink Academy in San Francisco. I feel like this is an opportunity I can't pass up, despite the great distance between Melbourne and California. 

Pat Blair is one of the world's few Master Penman, and is the Chief Calligrapher at the White House (yes, THAT White House). I've been studying her work since I started practicing pointed pen or copperplate calligraphy. Basically, she's a legend and a bit of a hero to me.

The chance to study with her does a few things: offers me an opportunity to learn at the hands of a master in a focused environment; and, gives me the chance to establish partnerships that will help me bring some of the incredible (yep... I've said it again!) talent in the US calligraphy and lettering world to Australia via webinars, live seminars and video tutorials. 

It's pretty exciting... and pretty expensive.

Wow!! I can't believe that I am almost at my goal. I can't thank you enough for your support and encouragement. In the hopes that I'll get there... and maybe even beyond (crossing fingers!) I've added a Stretch Goal for any funds raised above and beyond my target.

STREEEEETTTTCCCHHHH

Earlier this year, a scribble of fellow scribes (that's the new collective noun for a group of calligraphers...as of this moment!) and I got together and started thinking about how we could promote calligraphy in Australia and reach out to all of those people who are writing away in their little homes and offices. It's a solitary profession, let me tell you! 

We've come up with the concept of a calligraphy conference of sorts -- let's call it Calli-Con for now -- that will bring together some incredible teachers, calligraphers and supplies over a two day event... and even offer a live link to a master penman to teach online. Allowing huge opportunities for networking, learning and sharing ideas, we want to make this a reality.

So, any funds raised above and beyond my goal will go to helping establish this event and get our inaugural Calli-Con off the ground. 

Funding Goals

Undertaking a trip like this on the shoestring budget of the entrepreneur is tricky. The cost of flying to San Francisco is the biggest hurdle, with accommodation for three days, coming in just after that (AirBnb... not The Ritz!). 

I'm asking for your help to cover those costs - around $2,800 Australian, which breaks down as follows:

$1,850 for flights from Melbourne to San Francisco that don't take 35%20 hours (only 22h!)

$500 for accommodation through AirBnb close to the event

$450 for course supplies and meals

What I want to achieve...

First, is to learn at the hand of one of the world's greats. There is no better study than that undertaken with a master, and this is my opportunity to do just that. 

Second, to take the opportunity to advance my skills such that I can teach copperplate calligraphy here in Australia. I've been studying Copperplate for over six years, and hope that this will help push me to a point where I'll be able to teach others this beautiful script.

Third, I want to forge connections with calligraphers in the US, such as Pat Blair, so that we can establish relationships with them and create online live courses and webinars for Australia's flourishing (pun intended) community of calligraphers who would otherwise struggle to find access to such first rate talent and learning. 

The major challenge of this journey is to get the ball rolling in a very short timeframe. I have one week to go... and I hope you will help me make this dream a reality! 

I've had to learn about crowdfunding; spend hours making myself camera ready (not easy for a gal who works in trackies); learn the ins and outs of iMovie; and get up the chutzpah to launch such a campaign...in between dressing up like a princess, going to swimming lessons, singing songs while dancing around my daughter's room, and running a couple of businesses.

It's also not easy to ask for money. I've created rewards that I hope will make this an exchange, rather than a handout, so that you can enjoy some calligraphy too. I promise to provide you with beautiful words in exchange for your support. 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.