Faith and Hand

Hand-lettered Goods for Homes, Occasions + Gifting

12/04/2025

Ink, gold, prayer, and gratitude.

A humbling joy to have been commissioned earlier this year to create an illuminated piece for His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church—my second papal piece, following the one created for the Pope of Rome.

As a Coptic Orthodox Christian and calligrapher, I carry this blessing close to my heart. I’m continually reminded that God, in His kindness, uses even the simplest of hands. May this work honor Him, who is the Beauty behind all beauty.

Glory and praise to Him.

12/02/2025

Just wrapped up a fresh set of place cards ✨ It’s been a while since I’ve scripted a place card set, but I had quite a bit of fun with this local order 😊

06/07/2025

It was an immense blessing and a profound honor to be commissioned to create an original illuminated manuscript for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV—gifted on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church, by His Grace Bishop Kyrillos, to the Pope of Rome.

This sacred work of calligraphy and illumination was crafted with deep reverence, using cotton paper, 24k gold, walnut ink, and gouache. The design draws from both Coptic and Roman visual traditions, symbolizing a shared spiritual lineage and the beauty of unity in diversity.

At its heart lies the papal motto “In Illo Uno Unum”—“In the One we are one”—a phrase that speaks to the hope for deeper communion between our Churches. We chose a powerful passage from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, honoring the Augustinian roots of the Pope of Rome:

“You are therefore many, and you are one; we are many, and we are one. How are we many, and yet one? Because we cling unto Him whose members we are.”

This was rendered in both Latin and English, a visual and theological bridge between East and West.

To have been entrusted with this offering has deeply humbled me. With all my heart, I send my love, prayers, and warmest wishes to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. May this gift serve as a symbol of shared hope, mutual respect, and the sacred longing for unity of the Apostolic Churches.

07/17/2024

Glory to God! Recently completed painting this mural in the narthex of St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa, CA. With the growing number of children attending the parish, they requested a youthful yet prayerful space.

I especially love the children’s icon stand here. It’s important to be mindful that children are always watching us. What a beautiful way to set an example for them by venerating the icons together when entering the church ❤️

Text reads:
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with hymns;
Give thanks to Him, praise His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth is from generation to generation.

Psalm 99:4-5

06/13/2024

“Those who are well have no need of a physician.”

24k gilded with gesso
Watercolor and gouache
9x12 in

11/11/2023

What an enormous blessing this was.

09/27/2023

Bearing the cross means to separate our souls from the delights and pleasures of this life. If you do this, you will find your life again.

Saint Clement of Alexandria

This year’s calendar theme is Carry Your Cross and unbeknownst to me I created this one for myself. Actually, it seems to be a reoccurring trend year after year that the calendar’s theme coincidentally happened to capture the season of life I was about to enter in. Maybe next year’s calendar theme should be a bit more cheery 😂 I’ll be contemplating next year’s theme in the next few weeks and begin working on them soon. Have any theme ideas? Leave it in the comments 👇 or send me a dm! 📨

PS It’s been a minute since I worked on wax seals. Love the charm they bring ✨

PPS Peep the little antique box with mother of pearl I bought from a flea market in Lisbon 🥰

09/11/2023

The way unto God is a daily cross. No one ascends unto heaven with comfort; we know where the way of comfort leads.

+ Saint Isaac the Syrian

(Faith & Hand 2023 Calendar)

03/09/2023

My friend, trust that the Lord has more compassion for you than you have for yourself. If you seek Him you will find Him. - St. Kyrillos VI

(A newspaper clipping I have from the 1960’s in my studio of His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI praying the Divine Liturgy during his papacy)

Blessed feast day everyone 😊

03/03/2023

I don’t share personal photos on here very often, but today seems fitting as it’s my husband’s birthday 😊

So much of what I do on here is through the support of God and this incredible man. He’s the one who encouraged me to book a spontaneous trip to London last fall when I found a course in the traditional art of manuscript illumination. I can’t tell you how many times I almost cancelled my flight out of fear of traveling alone, but he gave me the nudge I needed. He knew this is what I wanted deep down and how much of a desire I had to learn this art.

Thankful for his love, support and encouragement in my life and in our son’s life. God give him many fruitful and healthy years!

Happy birthday, Abouna🤍🥳

02/22/2023

My first manuscript is finished, glory to God, and published for the cover of Fr. Arsenius Mikhail’s book “For Our Salvation” by .

O Monogenis — O Only Begotten Hymn

“This is the prayer of O Monogenis: it is the prayer of all who worship Christ in His one Nature of God the Incarnate Logos, and it is the prayer that rings forth the truth of our Salvation. It is a hymn of power sung to the Lord crucified, in the hope of the Lord triumphantly resurrected.”

— HCOC (The Heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church)

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