Studio Spring Cleaning

Spring is upon us, and my studio is in transition; some things must go! Fellow calligraphers and other artists, if you happen to be looking for any of the following "toys," please contact me by email and I will quote you a price and figure exact postage to your location.

Print Gocco, with several tubes of ink, book, samples
Calligraphy and Art books
Wood Marbling tray with combs 
Rubber stamps

Thanks!

Custom Calligraphy with Collage

This piece was created for a special customer a few months ago. The squares are covered in hand painted papers to add a splash of color.  Lettering can be in black, gold, or a color of your choice.

If you have an idea for a custom order, please contact me by email to discuss the possibilities!

Mid-Winter Musings

The year 2013 is suddenly upon us, and the time has come to re-organize, re-stock, and to begin adding blog posts more regularly, to keep you abreast of what's happening in my studio. This is my favorite time of year. With the holiday rush behind us and the days getting longer, January stretches out ahead, full of promise.

A long time calligrapher, I am now also a fairly new weaver, with a 45 inch floor loom taking up space in my home and my heart.

I am still taking calligraphy commissions on a regular basis, but I also hope to add some handwovens to my collection of items for sale in the very near future. In my spare moments, I'm working on a BA in English and working part time outside the studio. :) So, as you're planning those special gift ideas during the next few months, please plan ahead so that I can give your custom work the time it deserves. :) As always, I try to turn projects around as quickly as possible after receiving payment.

What new and exciting calligraphic projects do you have in mind? Please feel free to send me an email with your ideas and inquiries. Hand lettered mats with extra openings for photos have been very popular lately, since they make quick and easy personalized gifts. And small hand bound books (see post below) are also perfect for Valentine's Day, or just any day!

Until next time!
-Cindy

Hand Lettered Calligraphy Concertina Books When it comes to JOY

When it comes to joy in the process, these little gift books are my very favorite gifts to create for customers. They are more time consuming than some of my other work, because each book is hand lettered in gold gouache on cream colored artist quality "wove" paper, and then bound by hand, with a variety of decorated or hand made papers from my stash. The collage work on the front is similar to the square design on the note cards, with each piece wrapped in metallic thread and attached to a square of coordinating paper. (Click on the images for larger views.)

Each of these 3 1/2 inch square accordion style books (also known as concertina books) is packaged in a matching sheer drawstring bag, and no two are exactly alike. My customers are free to choose one of my suggested quotes, or, better yet, request their own favorites. Personalization is also an option. Usually, quotes between 17-34 words are best, not including the credit. If you are interested in ordering one or more of these little gems, please send an email to request details.


I love to do custom work, because it gives me the opportunity to help make special occasions more unique and memorable.

Calligraphy on Mats for your holiday gifts

Here's an idea for you: Hand cut off-white mats, with the openings you specify, and hand letter your choice of names, dates, occasions, or quotes underneath. These make excellent gifts; just add your photo and frame and you're done! Please send me an email for suggestions, ideas, and price quotes.

To give you an idea of the possibilities, this image shows a large piece with a hand lettered quote. I happily create smaller pieces as well, with just a name (newborn baby) or two (newlyweds) or shorter quotes which are meaningful to you.

photography by Bob Keating

Lettering can be done in gold ink, which is my favorite, traditional black, or just about any other color under the rainbow. Colored mats are sometimes available on request, but I also have a selection of neutral creams and off-whites. Please allow a week or two during the busy holiday season. Thanks!

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."

The above quote has special meaning for me this month; I am happy to report that I have recently accepted my first student, and she is enthusiastically beginning her calligraphic journey. I have waited years to teach, but the time is finally right. I look forward to sharing, inspiring, encouraging, and learning a little bit more along the way. If you are interested in beginning your calligraphic journey as well, and would like to inquire about learning at your own pace via US mail, please contact me so that we can work together to find a learning plan that fits your needs. :) 

Merry Calligraphy Gifts

The ideas that I had for my nieces in the windy city just barely made it into the Priority Mail box this year; hot off the press, as they say! First, a personalized sketchbook for a budding artist, and second, a "good morning, good night travel pillow for a young lady who loves all things German.

FAITH calligraphy print by Tagore

This calligraphy print was created especially as a donation for Alaina, a sweet little girl who recently had to travel to California with her family for open heart surgery. Eyes of a Child Photography is sponsoring a silent auction on November 19 (changed from October 30) to help with the family's travel and medical expenses. I also donated one of my Irish Proverb Gift books.

"Faith is the bird that feels the light
and sings when the dawn is still dark." -Tagore

Recent Commissions - YouTube Slide Show

Please click here to enjoy a slideshow of a few of my recent calligraphic commissions on YouTube, including the pieces shown below. :)

Accordion Fold Gift Books

Pictured here are a few of the accordion fold gift books that are available for purchase through my online Etsy shop.
*CUSTOM* accordion fold gift books are available as well! These are hand lettered in gold ink, with your choice of quote. Quotes at least 17, but not more than 34 words work best. Send me an email with your idea, and we'll make it work! :)

Recent Calligraphy Commission, with colors matched to image of a special room

Pictured here is a recent custom piece, created in February and shipped"across the pond" to a customer in England. This collage was designed to match the colors in the room where it will be hung. The possibility of sharing images online has dramatically changed the methods of interaction between artist and customer. I thoroughly enjoyed working on this, and look forward to similar projects in the future.

OM Calligraphy Gift Books

These calligraphy gift books are embellished with the OM symbol on the cover. Great gifts for yoga friends! I have a few left in peach, light blue, and lavender. Please visit my Etsy online shop for more details.

The quote reads:
"Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome, for without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they were meant to be."

Irish Proverb Calligraphy Gift Books

These calligraphic Irish Proverb gift books are a joy to create. Each book is lovingly bound with a hand painted cover, and my hand lettered calligraphy is printed to match. Six different color schemes are currently available through my Etsy shop, and other custom color requests are always welcome. Perfect for St. Patrick's day, housewarming, wedding gifts, or just as a blessing to someone special in your life.

"May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, and tea beside the fire -
Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all that your heart may desire."

Calligraphy Collage "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant."

This hand lettered calligraphy collage was recently sold through my online shop at Etsy.com. I hand painted the squares, stenciled copper and gold leaves on them, wrapped them, and then hand lettered the quote in gold. The 8x14 work of art features a cream colored, slightly raised mat, and is ready to frame.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." -R.L.Stevenson

Recent Wedding Commission - Calligraphy Concertina Book

A sample of my lettering on the inner pages of a recent commission. Some of the letters were embellished with gold dots, for added emphasis.

Hand Lettered Concertina Calligraphy Books

If you have a favorite quote and color scheme, you can order a custom calligraphy concertina book. These books make such thoughtful gifts for the special people in your life, including yourself! The text should be between 17-34 words for the perfect fit. These books are 3.5 inches square, and are packaged in a sheer matching gift bag. Display open, on a shelf, or closed, on a small easel. Please send an email for more information, or, purchase through my Etsy online shop.

New Calligraphy Collages with Quotations

This is a sampling of some of the smaller (8x10) calligraphic collages that are available through my Etsy online shop.

Custom Cut Mats

Do you need a special mat for framing a photo or artwork?
I am now offering custom cut mats, with or without calligraphy. I have a nice selection of neutral whites, off-whites, and creams, and would be happy to cut a mat for you, possibly personalizing it it with a quote or the text of your choice. Please contact me to discuss the possibilities!

My Daddy, M.D. Calligraphy Print

This quote has been so popular lately that I have decided to make a print of it. It's available in an 8.5 x 11 print, black italic lettering on cream paper, and sized to fit an 11x14 frame. Orders for this print can be processed through my etsy shop.  I am happy to purchase these prints in tiny lettering with gold ink at no extra charge.

For customers who desire to customize their gift with a photo, I can also offer a hand cut mat with an extra opening for a photo. To place a custom order for this print including a mat, you may contact me through my etsy shop or send me an email. 

Calligraphy Print Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away

I've just completed this 8x10 print of the popular quote "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." I like this one for so many reasons. It's especially appropriate for wedding or anniversary gifts, or even Valentine's Day, but everyone has his or her own interpretation. There are many anniversaries of the heart. :)

Calligraphy Print Wisdom begins in Wonder. - Socrates

This charming Socrates quote is short, yet meaningful, in a world where everything is moving just a little bit too fast, and we sometimes forget to stop and look around us in awe, at the "wonders" of nature.

This is a new print of my hand lettered calligraphy, which I decided to present as a collage on a hand painted background. It measures 8x8, to fit a standard 12x12 frame. It is printed with Epson archival inks, on Epson Premium Presentation Matte Paper, to last a lifetime.

Hopefully one of many; enjoy!

Collage Note Cards

Here's a small sampling of some collage cards that I occasionally create for art shows or to sell in local gift shops. They are an enjoyable exercise in design and color, rather than being calligraphic works of art. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Kanji: Fun with a Brush! Calligraphy Commission

One of my corporate contacts recently requested these brush lettered characters for a personal gift. We decided to keep them fairly small, stack them, and frame them with with a red inner mat as an accent color. I cannot reveal the meaning; translation is being left to the recipient. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Calligraphy: Hand lettered triptych for a church office

These three pieces were commissioned for the office of a church in Virginia. They will be matted on black fabric, and hung side by side in 24x36 frames. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Framed Calligraphy: The Invariable Mark of Wisdom

This piece was created for a miniature show at the local art center. (Click on the image for a larger view.) It was also displayed in the gift gallery there, and recently sold. :)

Framed Calligraphy: My Daddy, M.D.

My client sent me these hand prints of her children, with a request that I use them in this custom gift for their father, who is a doctor. (Click on the image for a larger view.) I always enjoy lettering such meaningful words.

Hand Lettered, Hand Bound Calligraphy Gift Book

This gift book was created for a client who had originally planned on a framed piece to give as a gift. The words were very meaningful to her and to the recipient, so I suggested a gift book, with a bit of illustration, including a photo of the author and an envelope for some special keepsakes. She could not have been more pleased with the end result, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating this for her. Here are just a few images to illustrate the overall feeling of the book. (Click on the images for larger views.)

Calligraphy on Mat: If a man does not keep pace with his companions

Hand lettering on mats can sometimes be a bit challenging, but it's always extremely rewarding, especially when the finished piece is to be presented as a special gift. My client is a photographer from my local art league, and his client requested calligraphy on the mat before it was framed. The familiar text by Thoreau reads, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." I hand lettered this in black gouache on museum board, to complement the image. (Click on the images for larger views.) Photography by Bob Keating.

Calligraphy on Mat: Our dreams are as big as the Tuscan Sky

The calligraphy on this mat was commissioned by a client who wanted to add a special touch to her father-in-law's watercolor painting, as a donation for an elementary school auction. The names and the 'future occupations' of twenty-four young students were hand lettered around the inside edge of the triple mat, and a delightful poem about dreams and the Tuscan sky was lettered directly on the top mat. I used a warm brown ink to compliment the painting. This piece involved careful measuring and layout work, but the end result was worth the extra time, and the client was very happy. A few weeks later, I received a wonderful thank you card signed by each of the children, as well as confirmation that the piece had indeed sold. (Click on the images for larger views.)

Calligraphy Collage Moments that take our breath away

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This piece was hand lettered with a rose colored gouache, and many of my hand painted papers were selected for the design. The words are left to your own interpretation. (Click on an image for a larger view.) This piece was sold through the local art center gift shop, but I am currently taking commissions for pieces similar to this. Quote, size of piece, and color scheme are your choice; design is up to me! Please send an email to request details.

Custom Calligraphy: Commission for a Boat

This was a commission for a broadside to fit on the landscape of a boat. It's a quote by Arthur Ransome, and it was lettered in sumi waterproof ink on 140 lb. watercolor paper, with gold accents. My client lives on her boat, and the words are quite fitting for a person who enjoys life on the water, so I gave up straight lines and let the words move in waves across the paper. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Hand Lettered Headings for Destination Frederick MD tourism publication

During a graphic design internship a few years ago, I was commissioned to hand letter all of the headings for a local tourism publication. The calligraphy was done in black ink on Diploma Parchment, and then scanned into Adobe Photoshop for color and size adjustments. "O' Say You Can See" was displayed on the front cover, with various other headlines throughout the magazine. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Framed Calligraphy: A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

This is one of my favorite quotes:
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
-Lao Tzu
This print was originally lettered in white, on a brick red paste paper background. It's matted in a double cut 6" x 12" black rag mat, and enclosed in a black metal frame. I did a series of these last year, with three separate quotes, but this first one was my favorite. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Small works by Emerson, Seneca, and Sivananda

In preparation for an art show, I created these miniature tabletop pieces, with easel backs. They were sold as nice little gifts that don't require a frame. I used various color schemes, and some of the wrapped backgrounds were actually prints of my own hand marbled papers. Others are miscellaneous papers from my extensive stash. Some of the quotes I used for these pieces were:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Emerson

"One of the most beautiful qualities of friendship is to understand and to be understood" - Seneca

"Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success" - Sivananda

(Click on the image for a larger view.)

Calligraphic Note Cards

This is a collection of blank note cards, each designed with one of eight hand lettered motivational quotes. The collage work is made up of various decorated or hand made papers, and is wrapped with metallic threads, so that no two cards are exactly alike. The calligraphy is a basic formal italic. They are printed on white laid card stock and measure 5 1/4" x 8", including size A8 envelope. (Click on the image for a larger view.)

Original Matted Calligraphy Collage

These three images are samples of my original matted collage pieces. Each collage is individually hand lettered in gold gouache (opaque watercolor) on a cream colored text wove fine art paper, with collage work in various color schemes, consisting of decorated or handmade papers, beads, charms, wire, or fibers. They are then matted with ivory or black rag (archival) 8x10 mats. (Click on an image for a larger view.) Custom pieces are available. Quote suggestions are always welcome!