Glass Tile Pendants

Thanks to Christy, for her email this morning, I was inspired to play with my glass tile pendants...  These little creations are easy to make and turn into lovely gifts... 

I had a collection of the trays, that I picked up on Etsy, and the glass bezel tops, the ones that I had measured one inch diameter.  Lucky for me I have a one inch circle paper cutter, so I could start stamping out some butterflies, but one could use scrap book papers, maps, written notes, hand created art (as long as it's properly sealed) or what have you.  (Next time I'll try to take photos of the process)...

I cut out my one inch rounds, and glued them with Diamond Glaze to the bottom of the tray, the trick is to cover the bottom of the tray with a super thin layer, ensuring that there are no bubbles and that it is evenly coated.  I then just place the picture onto the glued tray, and put on one more fine & very even layer of glue, at this stage it's important to ensure that there are no bubbles in it.  I then take the glass bezel, and lightly from one side to the other set it on top - the trick here is not to fiddle with it to much but let it dry.  If your finding glue is oozing out the sides, you've likely added to much glue.

Set it onto a chain, and voila - it's all ready for gift giving...  I have a few of the butterfly series that I've just posted to Etsy at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lynch?ref=si_shop .

I'd love to see what you create! 

& More Journals...

Each year my sister and I try to make the kids something, as handmade gifts have a special meaning in our family...  This year, it's all about the art journals as all of the kids love art projects, and although I'm completely biased, their work is amazing, so I wanted to give them a special place to keep their art.

I created the "wish" theme for the kids, of course with wishes had to come starts.  I'm loving creating these journals (to bad everyone I know now has one or more)...

Happy Holidays...

The Christmas Angel

A Reid Family Tradition as written by Beverley Reid...

40 years ago a little boy sat with his mother staring at the Christmas tree they had just finished decorating. While they thought it looked beautiful, something was missing. "Oh my," said the mother, "we do need to put a decoration on the top...maybe a star or even a giant icicle."
 "I know, Mummy," said the boy. "How about an angel?"
 "What a good idea!" his mother replied. "Let's see if we can  make one."
Together the little boy and his mother started to search for bits of paper and cloth that might be turned into an angel. From his mother's sewing basket, the boy found some brown yarn and a red ribbon.  His
mother looked in her office and spotted an empty paper roll she thoughtmight work as a body. She remembered a Styrofoam float in the back yard which they could use for a head and a sparkling old Christmas tree that could be taken apart for a silvery dress.
As the afternoon wore on and the sun began to set, the boy and his mother worked together at the kitchen table to finish their Christmas creation.  The boy wanted their angel to have a beautiful  smile and big eyes to see Santa.  They decided that her name would be  "Audrey the Angel" and that she was the most special Christmas angel in the world.
 What the little boy and his mother didn't know, was that Audrey was a magical angel.   In the years to come, when she was brought out of the Christmas trunk, she would have things to say and while she often complained in language that wasn't very Christmasy, she was secretly grateful for her life as the family's Christmas tree guardian and most important Christmas tradition.

This year to honor the 40th anniversary of this magical angel, a new version based on the story was created for each of the family members, so that they would all be able to enjoy.  Emma & Jane thoughtfully put a name to each of the angels, to give them a little more personality...

We then decided to start a new Gabriola tradition, of the "Gabriola Angel" which is to be gifted on Christmas eve each year to someone in the Gabriola community, whose home it should live in for the year, it can be someone inspiring, caring, or anyone who exemplifies the Gabriola spirit, they then get to put their name on her, and next Christmas eve they choose the home that this special angel will get to live in all year long, helping spread the magic...

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

I LOVE this little painting...  and what a fabulous message captured by Christy Wilson.  I was very fortunate this year to get my hands on a copy of her very limited calendars each month has a bright and cheery painting of Christy's work.  In additionn she specializes in custom pieces ideal for weddings, baby showers, and just fthe every day :)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

The "WOW" factor best describes Tammy Hudgeon's amazing glass works, and there is no better way to start the morning, then waking up to open up to gift 6 a piece of original Tammy's glass wear.  I just can't wait to hang up this stunning piece.

Tammy's work is featured at Artworks, in the Folklife Village here on Gabriola along with many galleries, or you can visit her website online, she also has a blog which features some of her new work.  In addition to her amazing glass work Tammy does the most incredible mixed media art - I'm looking forward to adding a piece to my collection.

Thanks Tammy, you are truly an inspiring individual...

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

Ok...  So, I can't really say I was so surprised, but you know what how great is it to take the time to wrap your own gift - especailly made by you!  Well with the 12 days of Christmas, we each made 1 day, which meant on one of the days we'd be opening up a gift that we created ourselves.

So, today day 5 is mine.  I created these little journals, each was unique here's the link to my Flickr site where you can see all 13 of these creations:  Knotty by Nature Gabriola .

I had so much fun making them, I hope each of the girsl will enjoy opening them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

I have to also put a special thank you out there to Sue, who this weekend did an amazing job manning my booth at the Gabriola Elementary School Craft Fair.  She did an amazing job - thanks Sue.  Now that it's over, I have my etsy shop back online, and will be adding some new items shortly!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

It's exciting to get into the highly anticipated goodie bag filled with all sorts of Christmas Treasures, and what a way to start on Day 1.  A beautifully hand crafted owl mug by the very talented ceramic artist, Mariko McCrae of Feedlot Studio, here on Gabriola.

In addition to her amazing creations, and custom work, she also offers open studio on the island, and gives us all a great atmosphere to come and play with the clay.  Her insipiration & passion for art is truly contageous.

What a Great Way to start out our 12 Days of Christmas gift exchange.

12 Days of Christmas

A collective of 12 island artist Inspired to create, got together with the idea to celebrate the holiday season - handmade.

  The group comprised of a few of the islands many artists, who decided to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, by creating, exchange and sharing our art with each other.  

For the 12 days of Christmas each of the artists will have an amazing surprise from a fellow islander to open up!

Each participant created 13 pieces they were not meant to be big, just something that they have created that puts a smile on their face for having created it & something they want to share, so it could be a pendant, gift cards, a print, or the choice of each artist. 

The reason we are creating 13 pieces is that one set we would all like to donate to PHC as a silent auction fundraiser, the gifts will be wrapped, so they won't be able to see what they are bidding on other than the story about what we are doing & who's participating... 

There is an amazing gift basket of the 12days of Christmas up for silent auction at the Commons, Christmas Craft fair Dec. 3, 2011 with all proceeds will go to People for a Healthy Community. The gift basket would make a wonderful Christmas gift, or perhaps the 12 gifts means all your shopping is done for the holidays, all while supporting a good cause.

I'll be blogging the gift exchange through each of the 12 days featuring an island artist each day. As well I'll be posting the process, number tags, name tags, etc should you choose to set up your own gift exchange, so check back...