Etsy Excitement

Announcement: Here is a new venue for me, an Etsy site. The banner needs some work. The banner is fine, just my technical skills are a little lacking. So here is my Esty name: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jancalligrapher and expect to see a website in 2010! Exciting stuff. Retirement was overrated! HA.

More Christmas Wishes

As we get closer to Christmas, doesn't it sometimes feel crazy busy? I need to just stop and breathe and be peaceful, loving the sweetness of friends and the love I feel for family. Wishing that peace for you.

For all of the Wise Women

Greetings for the Season

I'm choosing to share some of my handmade Christmas cards with you and sending the warmest wishes during this special season.

Storms

I am always glad He is there in the middle of my storms. I hope He is there to comfort you in yours.

Christmas in Our Hearts

I just heard a song on the radio called "It's Christmas in Honolulu." It was a new song to me but one of the lyrics was especially meaningful. The song said, we might not have the snow and pictures of Christmas cards in Hawaii but "It is Christmas in Our Hearts." Coming from the Pacific Northwest, it feels so warm here and so unlike the Christmases of my past but it's Christmas in our hearts for sure.

Lighting the Flame

A big THANK YOU and warm hug to all who have inspired me and cheered me on, lighting my flame.

WELCOME

Time has a way of escaping me. Last week I worked on this special WELCOME order for a customer and then I had to stop and address Christmas cards. Time to get back to my blog!!! I have to admit that some of this is hand lettered and some is computer fonts. For instance, I decided to not try to tackle the greek!

Happy Thanksgiving

Taking pictures of some of my thanksgiving cards to send to you over the internet! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hugs.

Thanksgiving Wreath

Sunday Scripture Sink Art

The background artwork for this piece is called "Sink Art" because you make marks with India Ink on water color paper (140 Cold Press Arches in this case) and then run it under the water in the sink while it is still wet. Makes interesting shapes sometimes.
Happy Sunday

Almost Thanksgiving Week

It's almost Thanksgiving week and so many blessings to be thankful. I am thankful for everyone who shares my blog. Thank you, Jane for giving me the author to my quote. Maybe I was a bit premature about my wound, it opened up again. Very small but it is just taking its time to heal.

Unexpected Blessings

I never thought I would be drawing a picture of a Gecko (-: however they are a reality of life here in the Islands. If we are gone for any extended length of time, they come in and help themselves to anything in the house, leaving little trails of you-know-what behind them. I did not even unpack suitcases until I started vacuuming! Busy little critters! The unexpected blessing is that they eat bugs but they scare me anyway!

Prayers of Gratitude

I have dreamed about this day when I could share that my wound seems finally closed.  After 177 days of an open abdominal wound, my long ordeal might finally be over.  I am so grateful for so many people that prayed for me and held me up when I was feeling hurt, old and discouraged.  I am also so thankful that my wound never got infected.  And grateful for all the nurses who took such great care of me, Ashley, Barbara and Jenny.  Most of all, grateful for my patient husband who has fed me, waited on me, and bandaged me almost every one of those 177 days.  Thank you, God.  

About Life

It is amazing how excited I get creating new artwork for this blog. This was a fun, quick little watercolor and I like all the white space at the top. Kind of a happy accident. I know, I know, I should say I planned it that way but really not, it just happened!

Island Studio

Here is my little island studio I carved out of a corner of the guest bedroom. I am thankful for every square inch that I have to create. Note new little flat screen light table for practicing copperplate this winter --one of my goals. Thanks for checking in and love to see your studios too.

New Cross and House Blessing

Recently, we purchased a new cross for our home in Hawaii. It has a surprise box right in the center to place a house blessing. Here is the house blessing that I calligraphed today.

Beautiful Hawaii

This is a song I first heard sung by the Hawaiian Woman Singing Group, Na Leo. It is called the Hawaiian Lullaby. I could so relate to this song because I have beautiful Hawaiian Grandchildren ( 4 of them!) and I love the line about " I hear children laughing in this land that I love."

Portland Art Show

In my last blog, I mentioned my art show in Portland, Oregon. Sales were down this year but saw a lot of good friends from college days. Very fun. I wonder if I participate for the art or for the friends? I think it is the people, the heart connection! I only do the calligraphy, journals and books but my friend Jim does fused glass, stained glass, candles, soap, batik scarves, water color painting, carved flowers, cards, journals and has written scores of published books. He never sleeps.

Star Book Special Order

This weekend I participated in my annual art show in Portland, Oregon. One woman found a Sister Star Book and fell in love with it but she had two sisters. So even though I am moving in two days ( 2 days! mind you) I made another sister star book for her today. I thought I would share. Thanks for looking at my art work and for all your nice comments!

Happy Halloween

Some of my handmade cards to wish you a Happy Day and Happy Halloween.

Love is the cure!

I went on a retreat recently in Portland, Oregon. We received a lot of handouts but this was my favorite quote from the weekend. Love is always the cure!

Accordion Christmas Books

I have a show coming up in Portland on November 6,7,8. Today I am making some small 3x3 Christmas Accordion Books. I thought I would share them with you. I lettered the words of the Scripture in Isaiah 9:6 in the Blackletter hand. Then I had the words printed in 4 sections and scored. I put them all together to form a small, accordion book.

Wild Geese

I love the poetry of Mary Oliver. I did this one today with some water color painting of the "wild geese!"

Art is Children's Faces

Isn't art also in children's faces? They are so sweet and so expressive. Here are my twin grandsons, taken after we all saw "Where the Wild Things Are!" And one of them with the movie poster.

Sending Out Some Love

I did this calligraphic design several years ago in a class that I took and then redid it just awhile ago. I guess I just love the juxtaposition of the french and the english together plus I love the sentiment. A great goal to love someone today even more than yesterday!

Sunday Catching Up

I just this minute got home from driving to California to see my daughter. I took along lots of pictures to blog but no wireless at her house so posting today. We had fun and got a lot done in her new house though. Now for the laundry and the laundry and checking out the fridge to see what doesn't look good. (:

This piece of calligraphy was lettered on a piece of handmade paper made by my friend, Jan Molder. Check out her beautiful papers, jewelry and lamps at her website at www.wyldewoodpapers.com/.

More than Rich

As the title suggests, I feel more than rich because of the blessing of my husband. He is so protective and takes such good care of me. Besides all of that, he makes me laugh everyday. A wonderful gift.

Broken Heart

This is one of my all time favorite quotation. Sad but true.

Peace To You

I always have good intentions about creating more art for my blog and here it is Sunday again. Where did the week go? I guess I was busy this week creating two covers for my church. One is the cover for the History and one is the 2009 Directory Cover. They were fun but I hope you enjoy today's quotation, peace to you.

A Blessing For Sunday

I have wanted to do this verse for awhile now so I worked on the calligraphy yesterday afternoon. My good friend, Donna, at Champuru.net taught me how do do the background and calligraphy separately and then combine them together on the computer. I know most of you know how to do that but I am enjoying the learning process. As Fall is in the air, I am sending this blessing for this Sunday.

Saturday Alphabet

Just playing around with some Italic capitals. They make interesting shapes all done lengthwise like this. Happy Saturday!

Make You Feel My Love

Last Friday night we went to hear one of my friends sing. She is a singer songwriter in the Spokane area. She sang a beautiful song written by Bob Dylan and the words so inspired me to create a new calligraphy.

LOVE WITHOUT KISSES

I have always loved this saying for lots of reasons. I love stars and I love kissing and it sounds so beautiful in the french language, especially the last line, sans etoiles. Beautiful.

Assembly Line

The Calendars are back from the printers and today I assembled them into piles and then bags, ready for presents and selling. Fun.

Last Painting

After being gone for two weeks on vacation, today I painted the last picture for my 2010 Calendar. Can you guess which month this picture depicts?

Calendar 2010

Every year I create a small desk calendar with a particular theme. The theme this year is called "A Taste of Hawaii." Although it does not sound all that time consuming, creating the calligraphy, and 12 separate drawings and paintings has taken me about a month so far. I thought I would share one of the months with you.

Choose This Day

I had to do two posts today because this Scripture was part of our readings at church this morning. And plus we will be out of town on a road trip for a couple of weeks so not too much posting while I am gone. Enjoy.

August 23, 2009 Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone, have a great day!

More Than Kisses

Love Saying

I have always loved this little saying by Mother Teresa.  I always thought it fit a calligrapher like me who wanted to send love into the world with my Calligraphic creations.  

Sunday Love

I spent this weekend with my daughter who is visiting from California. It is always SO good to spend some time with her. We play Scrabble and talk. I love every nuance of her personality, her huge laugh, her big heart. I love her so much every day but sending this Sunday Love especially for her.

Secret of Life

I loved the words of this saying so much that I decided to letter it in Calligraphy. The saying was given to me by my friend Elizabeth. And she should know. She has been a constant encourager as I have sat, injured, in my chair this summer. She has given me countless greeting cards, and little "just because" presents. She is a beautiful friend.

Bible Book Mark

I created this design many years ago for my church but redid it just recently for some friends to put in their Bibles. Have a happy Sunday.

Artwork for a Friend

This artwork was commissioned by my friend, Sue. The quote comes from a book about Mary Magdalene written by a friend of hers. I lettered it on white paper, and layered it with a burgundy mat board, piece of Scrapbook paper and burgundy ribbon.