New Items
WHAT'S NEW! Updated 04/16/08
FREE SHIPPING
Free shipping this month on orders over $100. No special codes needed. Hurry, offer ends May 15, 2008 at midnight!
BIRTHDAY CARDS
We now have exclusive birthday cards based on Susan Loy's "Flowers of the Month" series as hand-made art cards. Literary Calligraphy© hand-made art cards consist of a full-size art print combined with an inside greeting designed and written by Susan.
View the... Art Cards
Card front has a deckle-edged Literary Calligraphy© art print by artist Susan Loy that is attached to a complementary square of colored paper. These squares are in assorted colors for each card design. The print and square are then secured to heavy-weight ivory card stock whose front cover has been cut to fit the square and to provide a window on the card's inside. The inside message tells about the flower and/or the author of the quotation. The message was composed by Susan Loy and is set amid a frame that was designed and painted by the artist.
The back of the card has a small box that reads "Hand-made in Moneta, Virginia," and provides contact information for Susan Loy and Literary Calligraphy©.
A heavy-weight envelope and clear plastic sleeve completes the package.
6-1/2" wide x 8-1/2" height.
Currently, we are limited to flower of the month birthday cards. However, other greeting cards including Anniversary, Congratulations, General Birthday, and Special Occasions will be available soon. (Check back again).
CONSTITUTION PROJECT
Our friends (and promoters) at Sugarloaf Craft Fairs have been using Susan's U.S. Constitution project for show publicity.
Check out... Sugarloaf's Publicity
BIRTH FLOWERS ... 3/02/08
Spring is now officially on the way. We're pleased to have a complete selection of Birth flowers, beginning with Snowdrops for January and ending with Paperwhite Narcissus for December. Susan Loy found the perfect verse or poem to accompany each illustrated flower.
Choose Hops for October and read Thomas Jefferson's thoughts on gardening. Or choose the James Russell Lowell poem, "And what is so rare as a day in June?" that accompanies delicate Red Rose Buds, the June birth flower. Ten additional designs include daisies, larkspur, and daffodils. Go to the selections for... BIRTH FLOWERS
We now offer Birthday cards, hand made in Moneta, Virginia that feature the new Birth Flower series. These will be available at the show and on-line at a later date. Check back!
Fun Stuff! Ever wonder what it's like to exhibit at a huge convention center? Ron tells us all about his adventure at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.Check it out at... Ron's Blog
NEW PRINTS
We've got a new Constitution art print and two new flower prints, Morning Glories and Snow Drops.
It took Susan more than 500 hours to complete "Article I. Congress" that is our new art print. She lettered the 2293 words of Article I, dividing it into 102 lines forming a 12-3/4-inch square. Using color change in the letterforms, she created a glowing landscape for the backdrop of her drawing of the U. S. Capitol Building. This is a print for the history buff, legal scholar, or anyone who loves liberty.
View... Article 1
In the new print "Morning Glories" Susan lettered the ancient Sanskrit Salutation of the Dawn as her quotation. These words are attributed to Kalidasa, an Indian poet and dramatist who lived from 353 to 420 a.d. It was probably written in 400 a.d., yet its message to live each day to the fullest is as meaningful today as it was sixteen-hundred years ago.
View... Morning Glories
Susan found a lovely quotation from American poet and writer, Celia Thaxter for her snowdrop illustration. Snowdrops are one of the first flowers of the year and have been known to push their pure white blossoms up through the snow. The snowdrop means hope in the Victorian language of flowers and is the flower of the month for January.
View... Snowdrops
CONSTITUTION PROJECTWe did a lot of publicity for Constitution Day and, although we didn't make USA Today, we did get local coverage. The Roanoke Times did a feature on Susan that you can read at
View... Roanoke Times Feature
The story got picked up by the AP and many local newspapers throughout Virginia. Susan visited two schools to describe her project to elementary and high school students. Stay tuned for more details!
View... The Lynchburg News & Advance
SUSAN DESCRIBES FOUR FLOWER PRINTS FROM SPRING 2007
Common themes run through the poems in my four new flower prints, featuring daffodils, chrysanthemums, poppies, and violets. Wordsworth's "Daffodils" is one of the best descriptions of flowers and their impact on the human spirit that has ever been written; not only do flowers fill our hearts with pleasure, but return in memory, where our hearts can once again dance with the daffodils. "Out in the Fields with God" by an unknown author shows how we lose our fears and cares in the presence of nature, among the trees, the birds, or the poppies. For Maeterlinck chrysanthemums symbolize the interconnectedness of all things, and the modest study of such a flower can explain many mysteries. Donne uses a single violet transplant to show how this modest flower has the strength to multiply and move us to ecstasy.
These poems each extol the benefits of nature, and the reward is bliss. Who can resist?
I've wanted to letter William Wordsworth's "Daffodils" or "I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud" ever since I visited the Lake District in 1993. "Daffodils" was probably written between 1804 and 1807, when it was first published. The second stanza was added in 1815. This poem was a collaboration between William, his wife Mary, who wrote lines 21 and 22, and his sister, Dorothy, who was often William's muse. The wild daffodil seen by the Wordsworths would have been Narcissus pseudonarcissus, which has six pale yellow petals and a trumpet in a different shade and is exceedingly variable in size, shape and color.
The author of "Out in the Fields with God" is unknown, but like many great poems whose author is unknown, it has been erroneously attributed to several great poets, most often either British poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) or American poet Louise Imogen Guiney (1861-1920). I loved painting the bright red Papaver rhoeas, the field or corn poppy .
Chrysanthemums were so beloved by Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgium writer awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1911, that he devoted an entire essay to them. Published in Old Fashioned Flowers in 1905, "Chrysanthemums" catalogues the virtues of this variable flower. It was a challenge to paint the florist's chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum hortorum, a blend of C. indicum and C. morifolium, with its riot of orange spidery petals.
John Donne is considered by many to be the best of the "Metaphysical Poets." "The Ecstasy" is a long poem, probably written 1601 to 1615.
There's a lot of meaning packed in just the one line that I've chosen from this poem, "A single violet transplant, the strength, the colour, and the size (all which before was poor, and scant) redoubles still, and multiplies." It reminds me of the power of seemingly tiny elements of nature to move us to ecstasy. Violets grow wild all over our farm, and at least eighty species are native to North American. The violet of European poets is most often Viola odorata, the sweet violet.
FLOWER SHOW AWARD
We won a 4th place ribbon for our booth at the Philadelphia Flower Show. This is our 4th award at the show including First Place in 2003 and Second Place in 2006. If you want a behind the scenes look at this huge show, follow the link below to our blogs.
FEBRUARY 2007 RADIO INTERVIEW
Susan Loy was interviewed by Becky Booker of KRXT Radio in Rockdale, Texas on February 13. Becky found Susan on the web and wanted to interview an expert on the language of flowers for her pre-Valentine's Day show. They talked about the Victorian Language of Flowers, Susan's series of flower paintings based on that tradition, and about tussie mussies. (View... "Tussie Mussies")
Susan told Becky that we send red roses on Valentine's Day because they mean love in the language of flowers. Also she noted that the Victorians must not have liked the yellow rose because it means jealousy in the language of flowers. However, Texans should be proud that their native bluebonnet (a lupine) means voraciousness, a very Texan trait.
FALL 2006 PRINTS
Susan Loy has recast the Preamble to the Constitution in a striking geometric design in brown and black, and of course, red, white, and blue. The opening phrase, "We the People," is at the center of the painting surrounded by interlocking graphics representing "liberty," "justice," and "tranquility."
View The Preamble
Gift for a Child!
Primary cheerful colors, intricate designs, and alphabet blocks surround this popular Mother Goose nursery rhyme, "Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace..."
View "Monday's Child"
SUSAN LOY DESCRIBES SPRING 2006 PRINTS
Seven years ago I read a passage in Thoreau's journal that made me want to paint birds. With a mind to paint them, I studied birds for five years before creating my first three bird prints. Last fall when I decided to letter the popular wedding
quote, "The Apache Blessing", I knew right away that I would use bird feathers to illustrate the "shelter" mentioned in the poem. I welcomed the opportunity to further my bird study. My research told me that Orioles were revered by the Apache. I learned that the orange color in Oriole feathers comes from a type of pigment called carotenoid and that the white at the tip of the feather is where pigment has worn away. There are many types of bird feathers, but most are either flight or contour feathers. Contour feathers provide warmth and shelter. I loved drawing these beautiful black and orange contour feathers.
The old maple tree outside my studio window has been host to many birds, and though it is slowly dying, it only improves in hospitality. I would mourn its passing were it not for the maple sapling growing beside it, teenage pin oaks, and a crepe myrtle tree that already provide incredible beauty and delicious shade.
Speaking of breath-taking, lily of the valley grow at the base of the crepe myrtle tree. I painted the flowers for my new print, "Lily of the Valley" last May when they were blooming. It's winter now, so I await the return in spring of their sweetly-scented white flowers.
I have painted lily of the valley many times. When I was a girl visiting my grandmother, who owned a snow cone and waffle stand in an Ohio amusement park, I would follow the creek outside the park to where lilies of the valley bloomed in huge drifts. The drift outside my studio is much smaller but still reminds me of those happy days.
OUR MARKETING MESSAGE: SUPPORT AMERICAN ARTS & CRAFTS
For the past 20 years, we have provided the best customer service in our industry -- first with an 800 number, first with email, first with a complete web site, etc. This commitment and our busy show schedule cause many to believe that we are some big company. Wrong. We are just a small group dedicated to giving you the type of customer service offered by our favorite large retailers.
To address this misperception, we are now including the following explanation in our printed literature and web site:
"Susan Loy, her husband Ron Ayers, and some 'righteous women’ have worked with pride to deliver this Literary Calligraphy art work to you. It all begins in rural Bedford County, Virginia in Susan's studio, which occupies the second floor of the 1918-era farm house she shares with her husband and various cats and dogs. Each painting may take months to complete. The shop and offices are in another building next door and are surrounded by rolling pastures, forests, and gardens. Susan's original watercolors have been printed in Bedford County by Bison Printing for more than twenty years. Whether you support Literary Calligraphy at your local art or craft festival or by ordering on the toll free phone number or web site, thank you for supporting a genuine American small business and American arts and crafts."
Fall, 2005 New Prints
The stunning view from Susan's studio in all four seasons was the inspiration for our new print "To Every Thing There Is A Season". Elaborate patterns of interlacing circles form a color wheel representing the changing seasons. The borders in the primary colors of the seasons are set off by a black background, which forms an elaborate knotwork pattern. Each corner contains a tiny painting representing the season.
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee..." is lettered in English and Hebrew in a shimmering rainbow of colors in "The Priestly Blessing". It is a perfect gift for Bar and Bat Mitzvah, birth of a child, housewarming, graduation, retirement, and wedding.
PRACTICING PEACE is a collaboration between Susan Loy and poet Cathryn Hankla.
Susan hand lettered Hankla's inspiring poem that urges the reader to live "moment to moment" and to practice peace when, "the grill won't start, when the dog keeps barking, when the check bounces, when the train is late, when we are angry and searching for someone to blame."
Calligraphy by Susan Loy will donate $25 for EACH print sold to the Endowment Fund of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, Virginia.
Our Literary Birds make a lovely grouping.
· One will be a double treat for all Susan's collectors that have asked for a gift for a sister,
because Wordworth's poem artfully captures sibling affection in "To My Sister", starring a European robin.
· Bird-watchers and lovers will appreciate Thoreau's masterful nature writing from his personal journals in "Purple Finch".
· Third in the flock is "My Symphony" with a pair of yellowthroats and an inspirational text about living simply but elegantly. Special pricing is available for flocks of 2 or 3 birds.
Custom Engraved Plaques Now Available On-line!
Custom engraved plaques are available on-line for any size Literary Calligraphy® print at one price, $30. Usually, collectors have names with wedding, birth or other dates engraved. Other popular options are an event, e.g. Ruby Anniversary, graduation, or as a service award (call for group sales).
The design is a double mat with a surrounding V-groove creating an inset for the gold or silver plaque. It is different from our famous "circle-in-a-square" custom mat, which is not suitable for a plaque (trust us). You choose from a variety of frames.
Plaque includes lettering up to 20 characters (including punctuation and spaces) on each of two lines. We send these out for engraving; please allow 2 weeks for final delivery. A plaque is a service item, so that the $30 fee does not add to your purchase amount when calculating shipping charges. Engraved items are non-returnable.
You order your plaque during your print order, once you are in the Shopping Cart. There will be a box for you to write in your message to be engraved. If you have problems, you can email or call us M-F 8am-5pm EST at 1-800-261-6325.
More Recent Designs
Calling all Irish! "May the road rise to meet you" is perhaps the most famous traditional Irish blessing, and is featured in both English and Gaelic in our popular print "IRISH BLESSING." Susan expertly combined green shamrocks and navy Celtic designs to create this tribute to to all things Irish. It's a perfect friendship, wedding, or housewarming gift.
NEW! Now Available as a blank note card! FLOWER LORE
Want to know why we decorate with holly at Christmas, and why it means foresight in the Language of Flowers? Learn more about the history and lore of flowers at Our Book Section!
Excerpts and reviews of Flowers, the Angels' Alphabet can be read on-line at http://www.cslpress.com
Books ordered directly from us - via shows, internet, or telephone - will be signed and personalized at your request.
You can order Flowers, the Angels' Alphabet now at our secure cart. GENERAL ORDERING INFO:
- All purchases can be easily made via our secure cart; or
- Call toll-free 1-800-261-6325 (M-F, 8am-5pm EST).
- Fax your order to: 540-297-1599.
- Literary Calligraphy, 5326 White House Road, Moneta VA 24121.
