Enameled Copper Earrings

This torching is so addicting!
More photos coming this weekend… Perhaps a shot of our solar patio / garden lights with handmade clay pieces.

COMING UP: May 3 & 4
HANDMADE ON CHARLES STREET
…home show featuring handmade art & crafts all made by local artists.
7746 Charles Street
Omaha

More posts to come related to what you will find at our show.

Torch Enameling – My First Try…

…So I sold my old giant workhorse kiln with the idea that I would use those funds to begin a new adventure. Copper enameling!! (I still have my baby kiln, no worries…) Fired up the torch today and fired some enamel powder onto some copper. This is a “process.” you might say, but it sure is fun to see instant results. Unlike testing my patience waiting to open a kiln that has taken hours to fire…

Embellishment will not be a problem. I have sooooo many beads that I have collected over the years. Some are a part of both of these pendants.

My May home show will have some of these and also lovely jewelry selections from other artists. More posts to come!

off and running…2013

Tabletop or Patio Bird Feeders

This project is for the birds… No, I mean it! Fill the top of these towers with bird seed and watch them flock to your patio table or garden! It was fun choosing from all of that glassware and china that I have been hoarding in my basement. These will likely go to the Garden Gallery in Elkhorn to sell, complete with a little bird seed!

PS: Birds are hungry all year long… You can save these for warmer weather or set them out on those sunny days right now…

Happy New Year!

I cannot wait for 2013! Lots of new adventures are on the horizon including my first enameling class next Thursday! It’s always exciting to take on a new project during the winter dreariness… I will post something soon that resembles a handmade enamel art piece…at least that is my plan.

Mark your calendars: Handmade on Charles Street is planned for May 3rd and 4th. I hope you can stop by if you are in Omaha!

My Little Clay Houses – Glazed!

Little Clay Houses

If you look back at my post from October 23rd, you will see the raw clay version of these little gems! They average about 2″ tall and I love them! These will be available (among other things…) at the Craft Cottage Boutique November 29 – December 1st in Omaha. *( more details to come about this great holiday boutique).. Let’s just sit quietly and enjoy these little clay houses, shall we?

Tiede’s in Overton, Nebraska

Serving Dish and Little 5″ Old Bottles

If you ever have a chance to take a day trip and are interested in antiques and flea markets, you should go to Overton, Nebraska which is about 10 miles east of Lexington just off of Interstate 80. The place is called Tiede’s and it is well worth the trip!! I was on my way to join friends and work at the yearly Log Cabin Boutique at Johnson Lake and I met up with my fellow artist/craftspeople for a visit to Tiede’s. This store has TONS of glassware, books, frames, fabric, LP’s, furniture… did I mention BOOKS? I hit the jackpot when I found a copy of Johnny Cash’s Volume I Hits (LP) album. (2 bucks and in great shape!) That was my best find (among others) for the day, but I will definitely be back.

Great prices and helpful staff! Hours are not daily, so call ahead. I know they are regularly open on Saturdays. Some of the little bottles in the photo are marked “Root Beer Concentrate.” They are adorable!

LIttle Clay Village – new project!

Little Clay Houses – unglazed

These little houses (and other buildings…) are a hoot! I cannot wait to fire them and choose glaze colors. They stand up and will end up being that little handmade accent piece on a shelf or in a planter. I will start with houses and I can see adding shops and trees for a whole village collection! OHHHH, the possibilities! It’s a good thing I have every cutter known to mankind in my studio…
********coming up! Glazing the little houses*********

Old Jars… New Look

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR A CLOSER LOOK! I love old glass… including these old jars that remind me of my mother canning her tomatoes and dill pickles. Here is what my “new look” involves… I made clay discs… one for the top of the jar including texture stamps on some around the perimeter. Another smaller piece hangs from some hemp cord just under the lid. Some screw on while others are glued to a large cork that fits into the hollow canning rim lid. Clay was dried, glazed and some are then decoupaged with lovely photos found in magazines. It all seems to work out and they fit the themes that I choose for each one in color and design. Thanks for visiting! These will be available at the fall boutiques that I participate in. See more at friends by design.

Another Table Project Complete

BEFORE

AFTER

Detail

I found this table a couple weeks ago at a garage sale and decided to make it my next painting project. So many blogs are featuring furniture re-creations… I have a whole new respect for those that do these on a regular basis! Sand-prime-design-tape-paint-paint some more–and likely a coat or two of polyurethane is now needed for the top!! I do like the final results, but it’s back to clay for me and time to gear up for those fall craft shows we all love so much… Stay tuned.

Upcycled Jar Project

Canning Jar Project

Here is one of the jars I found on my mother’s canning shelf. (She made the best canned tomatoes and her dill pickles were a family delicacy!… and I have the recipe!)
This pint jar is now decorated with a handmade clay dangle piece attached with hemp and another flat clay piece on top of the jar lid. The top clay piece has a magazine photo mod-podged to it. The jar, itself has some mod-podge work attached to it, as well.
It’s fun going through magazines to find pictures with similar colors and themes.
I’m going to like doing more of these for my fall shows! I look forward to some fall and holiday-themed ones.
Look for these at Picket Fence Boutique, Old Creek Boutique and Log Cabin Boutique this fall!