Heather Belle - She's Crafty
Courteney Stuart from the Hook magazine of downtown Charlottesville interviewed me about my work. For her article "Ye Olde School: Crafty like it's 1799" she spoke to several Charlottesville artisans with trades that still embody some of the ancient arts that many people forget about in this modern age of smartphones and email. My penmanship is featured in the excerpt here...
COVER- Ye Olde School: Crafty like it's 1799
By COURTENEY STUART | STUART@READTHEHOOK.COM
CALLIGRAPHY
Heather Belle Rolfe
When the overseers of Monticello need historic penmanship for envelopes, diplomas or other documents, they turns to Heather Rolfe. So does UVA, which hired Rolfe to address 2,000 envelopes this past summer to prepare for the September kick-off of its capital campaign. And so have countless brides looking for a classy way to announce their nuptials. In fact, ask around, and when it comes to finding a top calligrapher in town, you'll likely find Rolfe– who does her work under the name Heather Belle Ink.
The Hook - Heather busy in her studio
Watching her dip her pen "nib" into an ink well– filled with ink Rolfe has ground herself– and then quickly whip out several scrolling letters, it's hard to believe that, growing up, penmanship was not Rolfe's strongest suit.
"I had okay handwriting," she says, "but I always admired beautiful letters and writing." In fact, it wasn't until college, some 30 years ago, that Rolfe got bitten by the calligraphy bug.
"I was a botany major taking a design class when I saw an old English chart," Rolfe recalls. "It triggered something in me."
"I had okay handwriting," she says, "but I always admired beautiful letters and writing." In fact, it wasn't until college, some 30 years ago, that Rolfe got bitten by the calligraphy bug.
"I was a botany major taking a design class when I saw an old English chart," Rolfe recalls. "It triggered something in me."
A New Yorker, Rolfe spent the summer after her freshman year commuting from her Long Island home into Manhattan to take calligraphy classes. Several years later, after moving to Florida and joining a calligraphers' guild, Rolfe says she got serious about the craft.
The Hook - Heather's nib
She moved to Charlottesville 16 years ago, and in that time, she says she's built a steady business, working out of a studio in her Belmont home. Being approached by Monticello, she says, was "a great honor," as was inscribing a statesmanship award for Margaret Thatcher, who visited Monticello in 1996.
Though most of her work is for lower profile recipients, Rolfe– whose two sons are now in college– says she's enjoying her work more than ever before.
"I can't be happier than when I'm at my desk," she says. "I almost feel guilty."
Though most of her work is for lower profile recipients, Rolfe– whose two sons are now in college– says she's enjoying her work more than ever before.
"I can't be happier than when I'm at my desk," she says. "I almost feel guilty."
