The Postman's Knock

The Postman's Knock The Postman's Knock is a place to learn and find inspiration for creating calligraphy, watercolor, and beautiful lettering!

TPK was founded by artist Lindsey Bugbee in 2012, and it's been helping artists to grow their skills ever since. TPK is a resource for illustration, design, and calligraphy inspiration. It's a place to learn and stimulate your creativity! In addition to featuring a vibrant blog that is updated every Tuesday and Friday, TPK offers renowned video courses, creative printable worksheets, and art and calligraphy supplies.

09/09/2026

If you've been saying it "goo-aush", don't feel bad ... I wasn't sure how it was pronounced for years! 🤷‍♀️ No matter how you say it, gouache can be really amazing stuff. Mix it with some water and a touch of gum arabic, and you'll have an "ink" that is bespoke and opaque. AND! It's like watercolor ... if it dries, you can reconstitute it with water. 💦

09/08/2026

I'm happy "Ted Lasso" is back! ⚽️ Who's with me?

I really didn't see myself liking a show about soccer, but my husband convinced me to watch the first episode a few years ago -- and I loved it! I think what I like best is seeing my own culture reflected in a show (mostly via Ted's personality) -- meaning, the Midwest, and specifically, Kansas. 🌻 I'm from a rural town on the opposite side of the state (5.5 hours from Kansas City!), but as someone who did live in the KC area while attending college, the pilot of season 3 was especially fun for me. The jokes about KC being in both Kansas and Missouri were a delightful wink-wink-nudge-nudge for those in the know, and I did appreciate the good-natured teasing at the fashion and how messy the cuisine can be. I've lived in Colorado since 2011, but, as they say, "there's no place like home", and this show reminds me of my Kansas roots. I can't think of a better adjective to describe "Ted Lasso" than heart-warming. 🥰 Definitely a show to put on if you want a mood boost!

09/07/2026

Story of my life ... I think "Huh, I'll bet if I did XYZ, it really wouldn't take very long!" ... and it's always around 3x longer than I've estimated it will be! Efficiency and art often don't go hand-in-hand, but that's part of the reason I love getting to create. 🤷‍♀️ How about you?

09/06/2026

It's hard *not* to calm down when you're watching soothing calligraphy videos! 🤷‍♀️ Just a fun lyric snippet on grid paper, written with thick maroon ink from a Written Word Calligraphy and Dr. Ph. Martin's collab. Very thick, opaque ink with a unique effect. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend, and remember it's okay to take it easy (and calm down, if you will)!

09/03/2026

In this reel, I'm sharing some thoughts on quick single name calligraphy envelopes ... but the main takeaway is this: it doesn't have to be perfect. ANYONE can generate perfect script with a computer. The little quirks that a computer can't produce are part of what makes handwritten calligraphy special. And, of course, it means a lot that you took a moment to actually write something yourself. In a world where everyone is pressed for time, that says a lot!

09/02/2026

Sharing my "gifts of appreciation" formula today! 🎀
I start with calligraphy by writing the recipient's name on the envelope. ✍🏼 It's a small thing, but people feel special when they see their name written with care!

For the card, I went into my stash. 🗂️ This one's from July's Creative Coffee Date with ... I made a batch that day, and I've been saving this one for the right person. 💌

Inside, I write a note, usually with a gel pen. (Of course, I use cursive ... love cursive! 🖋️)

Then, I wrap up a little something 🎁 — usually it's something that's not super fancy, like a box of chocolates 🍫 or a cookbook. 📖

Next, the card goes in the envelope, which I seal with washi tape or a wax seal. 🕯️ Then, I wrap everything up with ribbon. Love the ribbon because it keeps the wrapped gift and the envelope together, plus it just looks good! 🎀✨

This one's off to my son's teacher 🍎, but the formula works for anyone on your thank-you list, regardless of the season!

What's the one finishing touch you never skip when you're wrapping something? Tell me below ... I'm always collecting ideas.

Happy creating! 💛

09/01/2026

✨ Happy September! ✨

In my younger years, I used to *live* for summer ... and, while I suppose most of September technically *is* summer, this morning there was a nip in the air. That gave me a little jolt of giddiness for autumn. At this point, I'm ready for the hot days to transition into crisp and cool weather. There's really nothing like being indoors when it's cold outside, and if you can bring a hot drink and a creative project into the mix, and, well, you've just described my perfect scenario. ☕ Bring on the sweater weather ... because those long sleeves make it easier for your arm to glide across the desk while you're flourishing anyway. 😁

08/17/2026

Last week, I posted a reel inviting you to guess whether this fabulous opaque orange is a watercolor or an ink. Most of you guessed ink, which, actually, is what I would have guessed, too. Buuuut ... it's actually a watercolor. It's Greenleaf & Blueberry Hokkaido orange 🍊, which, fun fact, Jess Greenleaf originally sent over to me because I needed the perfect Halloween orange for a spread in The Calligraphy Book. So, there you have it: mystery solved, and oftentimes, watercolors can be just as impressive as inks!

🎨 For instructions detailing how, exactly, to use any watercolor as ink, see: https://thepostmansknock.com/a-video-crash-course-on-watercolor-calligraphy/

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