Kate Illustrate – The Calligraphy Room

What's in the box: The main page doesn't list what a typical box contains, but the shop's range points to calligraphy supplies such as nibs, ink and paper, with past boxes listed on the site.

The Calligraphy Room is a subscription run by Kate Illustrate, a small business Kate started in 2017 from her home studio in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Most of her work is for weddings, such as hand-painted mirrors, bottles and stationery. She has also taught calligraphy for years through in-person workshops, online learning and her own range of products. She says she has taught thousands of people modern calligraphy, and her approach is relaxed and friendly to beginners. The subscription sits alongside a shop that sells calligraphy kits, ink, penholders, nibs, paper and brush lettering downloads. The shop also has a section of past subscription boxes, which shows the kind of themes you can expect. The site has separate pricing, shipping and FAQ pages for the subscription, but the main page gives no details, so read those pages before you sign up. The subscription has its own Instagram account, which is a good place to see recent boxes. The main appeal is buying from a working lettering artist rather than a large retailer. The downside is that this is a one-person business that also takes on a lot of bespoke wedding work, so don't expect the scale or customer service setup of a bigger company.