Item #2008-0031

This is so beautiful I wanted to keep it for myself! It is a Kuan Yin devotional, in which the owner can place a flower or flowers, or a devotional such as water, rice or sunflower seeds in the ceramic vase in honor of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and Mercy. There is also a red onyx candle stick holder. This item is for sale on commission at Heaven and Nature in Harrisburg http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0030

Plaque made of ceramic, river rock and woven wood background, along with a multi-colored Buddha. This items is also for sale on commission at Heaven and Nature in Harrisburg http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0029

This assemblage art item is made from a basket, stone and a glass butterfly. It is for sale on my etsy storefront http://studio38.etsy.com/ but has not sold yet.

Item #2008-0028

Maroon resin Buddha plaque made with grapevine wreath, river rocks and wood frame. For sale on commission at Heaven and Nature store in Harrisburg, PA http://www.heavenandnaturestore.com/

Item #2008-0027

Now, this piece is VERY special to me. I made it for my friend Diana, whom I call Lady Di. I have given her some of my jewelry in the past and she told me she didn't have a jewelry box. I always intended to get her one - but instead I made one with jewels on it befitting a princess! Love you Lady Di!

It is also special because I used some of my grandmother's costume jewelry and some of my own on it. Can you believe that I made that box out of this? It was a kid's box that held a microscope - my wife nabbed it at Goodwill for me.

Challenge! My first commissioned piece!

So, someone who worked with my wife a long time ago (her name is Linda) saw a post of mine where I showed my artwork. I met her last night and had dinner with her and her partner (they are both really cool). She is commissioning a piece of art made by yours truly just for her! So I know what kinds of things she likes, she told me what things I have already made that she likes, and I got to wander around her house for inspiration. Next step - get creating!

I showed her this metal hummingbird soap dish that I got for free as a white elephant present and said I was thinking of using it. She loves it - so I am off and running with ideas. I actually have two different pieces in mind.


I have no idea how to negotiate prices and such, but she promised to be gentle with me ;) Her partner Sara tipped me off that I should apply for funding through the PA Council for the Arts - so overall it was a great evening! Great food, company and inspiration. I like those kind of Friday nights!

Item #2008-0026

I actually made this for myself. The three roses are from my mother's funeral in 2003. I coated them in clear ceramic glass with multiple layers to preserve them when they were dried out. I then used a box I got as a gift from a friend, and of course rocks! My mom collected rocks and loved butterflies - so it all fits together so perfectly.

This is a great idea for preserving flowers from special events - especially weddings, and they can be highly customized to match individual tastes.

Item #2008-0025

This is actually an urn that I made for a friend who had some of the ashes of a loved one who was cremated. She wanted the urn to really reflect the earthy natural beauty of her loved one, so I made this custom urn for her.

I used a box and a piece of handmade stoneware pottery (the best kind!) from a flea market and decorated it with beautiful asian fabric and a strand of gemstone flakes that I already had. This piece is very special and unique and my friend loved it.

Item #2008-0024

This is another item that I made for myself with one of the Buddhas from my collection. I also collect amethyst crystals because that is my favorite gemstone. I glued together a stoneware plate, an awesome wood bowl with bark on it (it is upside down of course) and then a lotus shaped plate, along with the glass votive holder that I filled with small amethyst chips. As I get more amethysts, they will just add to this collection and it will be covered in purple beauty.

Item #2008-0023

I made this to decorate my kitchen after it was renovated - it matches the colors I used (brown/green) and it reflects the asian part of the kitchen decorations. Another wall has more earthy/countryish items.

The frame I already had and I saved after the glass broke and ruined the picture that was originally in the frame. I spray painted it walnut brown and added texture by putting sand between layers of paint. I got the plate from Freecycle (26 of them actually! and they are handpainted in Japan - yay Freecycle!), the wood African items were purchased at a yard sale and the smaller frame I had - it was just spray painted to match and I framed a note card I had. The green fabric backing is just a fabric remnant that I got for another buck, and the match stick wood I cut off of a huge match stick blind that I bought at a yard sale to use "someday" for "something." Luckily, I have a bunch of it left and can use it for ALL KINDS of art.

Item #2008-0022

I made this as a gift for a dear friend of mine. Made of ceramic, stone and woven "plate."

Item #2008-0021

This was made for my kitchen remodel. I didn't like the kitty cat paper towel holder, so I remade it to fit into the new color scheme and earthy theme.

Item #2008-0020

Item #2008-0019

This was made with a real butterfly wing that was glued to a coaster and then coated in clear spray many, many times so that it looks like a bug in amber almost! I had to do that to preserve the delicate structure. This was one of two butterfly wings I found in my mother's belongings after she died. I tried my hand at woodcarving for the first time on the coaster, but not the carving on the frame. The frame was made in Thailand and I got it at Goodwill. It had a couple dings in it, so I just spray painted it and highlighted the carving. The backing is made of laminated stationary, and the two golden leaves were earrings of my grandmother's.

I made this for my friend Tina because she was having a birthday party and I wanted to make her something special. I immediately thought of butterflies, because she loves to photograph them - and is very good at photographing them (check out her blog at: http://blackcatsmom.blogspot.com/ - she is a very skilled photographer, having mastered macro shots like I only could dream of). She loved it, and I am glad I could share something special like this with a very good friend.