CALLIGRAPHY WITH HERO

When an email landed in my inbox inviting me to a calligraphy workshop, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I’ve forever appreciated beautiful hand-writing. It was compulsory to write in black italic pen at school (through this I’ve written wedding place cards for a few friends) and I still have letters stashed away my grandfather wrote in his instantly recognisable calligrapher’s hand, which are now worth their weight in gold to me. Hosted by Stockbridge-based fashion and lifestyle boutique Hero, this screen-free morning (ignore the odd camera/phone) of putting pen to paper was a crash course under the guidance of Betty Etiquette, who have previously hosted classes at Liberty.

Cosied away in a room at rustic restaurant Woodfire, our teacher Becky taught us the art of the Copperplate script: the characteristics of keeping downward strokes thick and sideways lines fine, all controlled via pressure. Personal flourishes and finishes can be added after. In hindsight wearing a cream jumper was a risky move, given my track record with clothes and stains isn't great. But it seemed to survive the wayward ink splatters when my quill hit an unpredictable edge and all in all it was a therapeutic morning of scrawling, chinwagging with fellow bloggers and grazing on a bottomless supply of coffees and pastries followed by a mezze lunch.

If you do find yourself Stockbridge way, the clothes in Hero are a dreamy mix of minimal, understated basics with a twist – oversized white shirts, tunics and lots of denim – each and every piece handpicked by Laura, Founder of Hero, for her collection. I already have my eye on a few summer staples...

Thank you to Laura and Ailie at Hero for a spoiling morning.