be kind anyway
Be kind anyway.
Doing calligraphy for me, just for me, is a fun and satisfying process. Recently, I finally had some time to breathe, in between major projects and work stuff, that I got to actually pick up my (terribly neglected) engraving drill and had the urge to make an engraved calligraphy piece that’s just for me.
I picked out this bright Tiffany blue porcelain coaster couple weeks ago and made a mental note that I want to engrave a message I want to tell/remind myself as regularly as possible. I also wanted to experiment how the gold wax will look against this Tiffany blue colour.
Just the idea of finally having the time to engrave actually motivated me to finish my tasks and find that window of peace and slowdown. I missed calligraphy and engraving so, so, so much! I missed searching for phrases, designing, erasing, starting over, and finally settling on a look, and then drafting the words, and then figuring out the flourishes (sidebar: when engraving, the simpler flourishes, the better, no need for elaborate ones—at least for me), and then finally engraving the words, and that FEELING OF HAVING ONE SHOT OF DOING IT RIGHT. Engraving does that. The beauty and fear of permanence. (cue Hamilton OST’s “My Shot”)
From where I’m standing, the pandemic has made most people hard and on edge. Our guards are up, literally and mentally. Socially and emotionally distanced. At times, I find myself like this too. And when I get like this, it adds another layer of sadness and I have to remind myself that everything else is already stressful and uncertain and fearful, so it’s better to be kind.
So I decided this is what I want to be reminded of: to be kind anyway. Others are cold and distant? Be kind anyway. I’m being harsh on myself? Be kind anyway. These days, I try to make sure that I’m not disregarding my own feelings. If I want to be sad, I’ll be sad. If I need to be frustrated and angry, then that’s what I'll be. I just need to make sure though that it doesn’t last too long. Allow the negative feelings to be felt, as well as the positive.
I actually use coasters on the daily since I’m a heavy coffee drinker. This pop of blue against my black desk grabs my attention and I just spend a few moments reading and looking at my engraving, all the things I got wrong, and all the things I got right.
And I think that’s what this is all about: both the negative and positive existing in the same beautiful colourful space, and the coaster still functions, and I get to use it everyday.
If you are interested in purchasing an engraved coaster from me or you have an item you’d like engraved, just drop me a message here.
Materials on photos:
porcelain coaster
gold wax
calligraphy pen holder and rest by tom’s studio
midori letter set bought at paperpluscloth shop