susangaylord.com

Valentine 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 23:09:00 +0000

Lettering was done with Calligraphica Crystals

and a Leonardt #40 "blue pumpkin" nib.

Words resting on a cutting of Pieris from the garden.

Celtic Spring 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:31:00 +0000

This year

spring greets us

with a blanket of snow.

May it nourish the earth

and soothe our aching hearts.

Samhain Greetings 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 14:12:00 +0000

May we hold the golden light

of the witch hazel leaves

in our hearts as the days shorten

and we welcome the new year.

In the Celtic calendar, Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is the first day of winter and the first day of the Celtic new year. The seasons begin on the cross-quarter days, the midpoints between the equinoxes and solstices.

Autumn Greetings 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:58:00 +0000

May the tender days

of autumn bring us

comfort and calm.

Autumn (Celtic) Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:55:00 +0000

It is Lammas, Lughnasadh, the first day of Celtic Autumn.
Let us open our hearts to nature’s beauty and nurture the light within.

Nasturtium, Rosemary, & African Basil
in a vase by Sandra Kavanaugh

Summer Solstice 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:43:00 +0000

The Celtic calendar helps us understand

that light and dark are intertwined,

that the longest day begins

the journey to the longest night.

Let us circle through the year

in communion with nature and each other.

May Day 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:49:00 +0000

For summer is a'comin' today

And whither we are going

We all will unite

In the merry month of May

Let us join together

to share nature's rebirth

and support each other

in these difficult times.

Nurturing Each Other and Ourselves

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:07:00 +0000

My new project, Nurturing Each Other and Ourselves, grows out of the hopelessness I feel after the election. Eight years ago I did a project called Words For Our Time working with eight words—peace, justice, truth, love, strength, compassion, courage, hope—to make larger scale works with 58 quotes from leaders and creators. This time I feel the need to widen my circle, to draw us together, and to find strength in our friendships and connections.

Here’s how it works. You send me an email with two words—one for you and one to share. I will hand-letter each and mail them both to you. I'm looking forward to seeing your words and experiencing the peace and joy I feel when I work with my favorite calligraphy materials (dark paper, Calligraphica Crystals metallic watercolor, and a "blue pumpkin" pen nib).

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:53:00 +0000

Let us open our hearts
to the beauty of nature
and share our joy.

Gifts in the garden
Snowdrops from my late mother-in-law Lyn Gaylord
Painting of snowdrops by Sandra Kavanaugh

Winter Solstice 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:00:00 +0000

May we find

peace and renewal

as we trace

the labyrinth's path.

Click here to print the labyrinth to trace with your finger. There is also a basic pattern you can use to create
a labyrinth with your own embellishments.

Celtic New Year (and first day of winter) 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

As the days shorten,

let us grow the light within.

Autumn 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 22:49:00 +0000

Autumn

this distillation of summer's sweetness

asks us to find beauty in nature's details

and savor the shortening days

Plant is Callicarpa also known as Beautyberry

Summer Solstice 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:25:00 +0000

Wishing you light and joy

as we celebrate the longest day

and the turning of the wheel.

Lettering was done with a "blue pumpkin" nib and Calligraphica Crystals.

In the background, a foxglove in the AirBnb garden where we stayed

within the Neolithic Stone Circle in Avebury, UK.

Hopefully a small book will be forthcoming.

Beltane/May Day 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Wed, 01 May 2024 11:15:00 +0000

for summer is a’comin’ in

And winter’s gone away-o

from the May carol “Hal-An-Tow”

traditionally sung on May 8 in Helston, Corwall

Beltane is the first day of summer in the Celtic calendar midway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. Here’s a 1965 BBC video of The Waterstons singing Hal-A-Tow.

Vernal Equinox 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:21:00 +0000

On this day of equal dark and light,

let us set extremes aside

and celebrate spring's arrival.

Lettering with Calligraphica Crystals and Hiro/Leonardt #40 "blue pumpkin" nib

Celtic Spring Greetings for 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000

May
Imbolc,
the first day of Celtic spring,
bring us light and growth
as the days lengthen
and the wheel of the year turns.

Lettering was done with Leonardt #40 blue pumpkin nib
and Rose Gold Calligraphica Crystals.
Tiny buds are Pieris. Background is snow on Pachysandra.

A New Year Greeting for 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 20:36:00 +0000

Winter Solstice 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 13:42:00 +0000

SOLSTICE
From the Latin
sol (sun)
sistere (to stand still)

May the stillness
of the solstice
fill our hearts
and bring peace
to our souls.

Art from my most recent book, Offerings
photograph by Kevin Harkins

Thanksgiving 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Lettering with Calligraphica Crystals and Leonardt #40 (blue pumpkin) nib, Pattern with feather and coffee grinds and water made in Anne McMillan’s Handmade Brushes class, Baptisia (false indigo) seed pods

Samhain Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The days may get shorter,

and the nights longer,

but the light will never leave us

and will always grow again.

Samhain is the first day of winter and the new year in the Celtic calendar. Witch hazel (Hamamelis) leaves and Shizen black handmade round paper. Lettering done with Leonardt #40 "blue pumpkin" nib and Calligraphica Crystals.

Autumn Greetings 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 12:05:00 +0000

May autumn's bounty
sustain and comfort us
as the days shorten
and the light recedes.

Lettering was done with a Speedball C-3 nib and Iridescent Copper Golden Fluid Acrylic.
The tree is a crab apple, Malus sylvestris in Latin.

Lammas 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 01:27:00 +0000

As autumn arrives,

let us harvest the beauty

of Lammas and hold it within.

Lammas, August 1, is the

first day of autumn in the Celtic calendar.

Hydrangea on Autumn Joy Sedum

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:30:00 +0000

May we revel in the exuberance

of the longest day.

May Day 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Mon, 01 May 2023 19:04:00 +0000

May the flowers of May bring you peace and joy.

Spring Equinox 2023

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:49:00 +0000

May we rest in the calm of the equinox.