The Life of Letters

In this episode, Laura is joined by Sam Roberts - editor of BLAG magazine, the world's only magazine dedicated to sign painting craft, community and culture - for a fascinating conversation about the art of sign painting, ghost signs and the timeless craft of lettering. Sam shares his journey from writing about signs since 2007 to building a global community of sign painters through events, films, books, and now BLAG itself. They explore how a passion for lettering on walls and windows has fostered connections across the world and what the future holds for this beautifully human art form. A wonderful note to end the series on. ️✨

As a special thank you to The Life of Letters listeners, Sam is offering exclusive discounts on BLAG:

$30 off the annual plan for the first year - just $89 instead of $119: https://bl.ag/lol30

25% off the monthly plan for the first year - just $9/month instead of $12/month: https://bl.ag/lol25

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!

☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here.

Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

(00:02:01) - Sam's Journey: From London to Sign Painting Enthusiast
(00:03:45) - Discovering Ghost Signs and Their Significance
(00:07:03) - Building a Community Through Archives and Publications
(00:10:01) - The Evolution and Resurgence of Sign Craftsmanship
(00:14:58) - Creating Books and Magazines to Preserve the Craft
(00:20:12) - The Design and Production of the Sign Painting Magazine
(00:25:09) - Surprising Elements in the Magazine's Layout and Inserts
(00:29:58) - The Future of Sign Painting and Challenges from AI
(00:40:08) - Personal Reflections and the Sign Painting Community
(00:47:54) - Favourite Letters and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Laura is joined by Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo - the duo behind Goodtype, one of the most vibrant and beloved communities for lettering artists and designers. They share how they met in 2017 and built something truly special together, the creative journeys that brought them both to lettering, and why community has been at the heart of everything they do. They also talk about their new book Follow Your Art - a beautiful guide to help artists discover and embrace their own unique style. A joyful, inspiring conversation that will leave you wanting to pick up a pen immediately.

Good Type - Official Website - https://goodtype.us 

Good Type - Instagram https://instagram.com/goodtype

Ilana Griffo - Instagram - https://instagram.com/ilanagriffo 

Katie Johnson - Instagram - https://instagram.com/katiejohnson

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!

☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here.

Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

(00:01:40) - The Formation of a Creative Partnership
(00:04:33) - Artistic Evolution and Collaboration
(00:07:06) - Navigating Freelance Challenges
(00:09:26) - Building a Supportive Community
(00:12:25) - The Good Type Community and Its Growth
(00:15:18) - Educational Initiatives and Events
(00:20:56) - The Evolution of Good Type
(00:21:41) - Unlocking Creativity Through 'Follow Your Art'
(00:23:22) - Finding Your Unique Style
(00:27:00) - Engaging with the Book's Content
(00:29:43) - Book Launch and Author Experience
(00:32:50) - The Importance of Imperfection in Creativity
(00:36:45) - The Challenges of Letter Design

In this episode, Laura is joined by Tim Brookes, founder of the Endangered Alphabets Project, for a fascinating conversation about the minority scripts around the world that are at risk of disappearing, and why it matters so much that we fight to save them. Tim shares the origins of his passion for carving and writing, how a personal hobby grew into a global activism effort and the profound cultural and spiritual significance of writing itself. They also explore the joy of writing by hand, the impact it has on personal expression and mental health, and the grassroots movements bringing endangered scripts back to life. A conversation that will make you look at every letter you write with fresh eyes.

Endangered Alphabets - Official Website

Atlas of Endangered Alphabets

Tim Brookes on Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!

☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here.

Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

(00:03:01) - The Genesis of a Passion: Carving and Writing
(00:05:57) - The Evolution of the Project: From Hobby to Activism
(00:09:08) - Global Perspectives: Scripts and Their Stories
(00:12:01) - Cultural Significance: The Spirituality of Writing
(00:14:47) - Innovative Approaches: Games and Education
(00:18:09) - Exploring Unique Scripts: Beyond Traditional Writing
(00:20:51) - The Performance of Writing: A Multi-Dimensional Activity
(00:24:12) - Cultural Identity and Endangered Scripts
(00:29:11) - Grassroots Movements for Script Revival
(00:30:04) - Exploring the Impact of Handwriting
(00:39:15) - The Art of Writing by Hand
(00:45:14) - The Joy of Handwriting and Personal Expression

In this episode, Laura is joined by calligraphy and type designer Matthias Hertzberg for a fascinating look at his creative process, influences and projects - including a unique book cover and custom fonts that push the boundaries of letterforms. If you thought you knew what letters could do, this one might just change your mind.

Matthijs’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/herzbergdesignco

Matthijs’s Website - https://herzbergdesign.com 

Sinistral Hand by Phaedra Charles - https://undercase.xyz/media/pages/custom/a-guide-to-sinistral-hand/2af7767931-1658855020/sinistralguide_072622.pdf 

FontLab Software - https://fontlab.com

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!

☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here.

Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

(00:08:42) - Designing Book Covers: A Case Study
(00:12:17) - Exploring Favourite Projects and Retail Fonts
(00:18:31) - The Creative Process: From Sketch to Digital
(00:22:47) - Understanding Monograms and Ligatures
(00:29:11) - The Emotional Connection to Seeing Your Work
(00:30:15) - Favourite Letters and Cultural Significance
(00:32:59) - Exploring Letters Through Books

In this episode, Laura sits down with Alison Hitchcock who shares her remarkable journey from a city career to founding a letter writing charity, and the extraordinary power that heartfelt letters can have in healing and transforming lives. A beautiful conversation about what can happen when we slow down, pick up a pen and truly connect with another person. 

From Me To You - Charity Website - https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/about 

A Diagnosis and an Unbreakable Friendship - Book - https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/the-book/p/from-me-to-you-the-book 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frommetoyouletters/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it - it really helps others discover the podcast - thank you!

☕️ To support the podcast with a small donation, buy us a coffee here.

Connect with Laura on Instagram @thelifeofletterspodcast to continue the conversation, share your own lettering journey or suggest topics you'd love to hear about in future episodes.

✍️ To discover more about Laura's calligraphy workshops and more, visit lauralletterslife.com or say hi on Instagram @lauraletterslife. ✨ Download Laura's free Calming Calligraphy workbook.

Chapters

(00:02:04) - From Personal Connection to Charitable Mission
(00:09:30) - Creating Community Through Letters
(00:15:02) - The Logistics of Letter Writing
(00:18:18) - Heartfelt Stories from the Letters
(00:21:40) - The Therapeutic Power of Letter Writing
(00:29:10) - From Me To You: A Journey of Friendship
(00:34:36) - Connecting Through Community Events