Atelier Gargoyle

I can’t recommend this fantastic company enough. Extremely quick shipping, and amazing service. They included several tip and how-​to sheets in order to ensure I had all the necessary information to make a beautiful wax seal, and they also included an extra stick of their gorgeous wax. Everything was wrapped perfectly, with a beautiful wax seal, of course, and it also included a hand-​written note with each of wax seals in each of the colors I had chosen. I spoke with Linnea on the phone and she was extremely helpful with all of my questions and very personable. In this day and age of computerized everything, it’s refreshing to get such a personal touch. I chose Atelier Gargoyle because of the rave reviews of the quality of their sealing wax, and sure enough, when the box arrived with the seal on the label, it was completely intact and unscathed by USPS. I can’t wait to use the wax for our wedding invitations, and I’m sure we will be back for more.

I haven’t found any other place like Atelier Gargoyle. The husband and wife owners are doing what they love and I am thankful that they started this studio and a new recipe for sealing wax. I think their seals and wax are far superior to anything else available out there, short of finding an engraver to make a custom one for you.
I live in Los Angeles and made a special trip to visit Atelier Gargoyle when I was in the bay area. There was a private calligraphy lesson in session and Linnea still made time to sample the different wax colors and show us her way of working with their special waxes.
I really appreciate Ward Dunham & Linnea Lundquist and their studio.

I’ve taken several classes there as part of the Black Sabbath with the Gargoyles calligraphy series. We are currently working on Black Letter Textura. Next is Uncial then Bastarde hands. Needless to say, the skill level is at least intermediate. Attendees should know the basic scribe terminology plus how to ink and hold a pen. Ward and Linnea, the couple who are the Gargoyles, help you with technique and refinement.
The 3^rd floor walk up studio is full of natural light and the price is very reasonable. As of March 2008, the price works out to $ 25 for a 3 hour session. The session includes a mixture of group instruction, one on one instruction and independent practice time.
They have some supplies and books you can purchase on hand. If you let them know in advance, they may bring may bring additional, non-​standard, items. For instance, I’d never used an ink stone and ink stick before but Linnea lent me the supplies to try it out.
They have some beginning calligraphy classes as well as classes in other writing and print related disciplines. Later this year, they’re having a class teaching people to letter, then carve their own wooden library bookplate. A hand press will be used, too.

Atelier Gargoyle has a vast array of beautiful one-​of-​a-​kind fountain pens all with hand-​ground italic nibs, Chinese vermillion ink sticks, thick pink and black books full of Blackletter calligraphy, sealing wax, torches, and every imaginable shade of ink, and at the center of it all, two terrific teachers and calligraphers– Linnea Lundquist and Ward Dunham, who are full of charm, personality and passion for the art of handwriting. Visit them during open studios, or make an appointment to stop by. The studio is a real gem! Lots of good calligraphy books, and beginner supplies, too.
*edit*
They are now offering a series of classes for beginning calligraphers!
Classes are well worth your time– my everyday handwriting has improved tremendously already. You start learning calligraphy, but it also makes your regular handwriting much more beautiful and legible!