Item #2008-0039

Another 20 year plaque for Karin's 20th year sober. The three colors of Tiger Eye represent strength. This one is for home, the other one (2008-0001) went to work with her.

Item #2008-0034

This is a plaque I made with a Buddha hand carved in Lamphoon Thailand. It was a gift to my friends Gina and Sue who went to Thailand forseveral months this past year. It is great to share my art with loved ones.

Item #2008-0037

Buddha that I made and love so much I don't want to sell it! It is made with handpainted wood beads from Asia, a cutting board and soapstone "dish" (I don't know what else to call it!)

Item #2008-0036

Plaque I made with a resin Buddha, river rocks, beads and a woven basket "plate." This is for sale on my etsy storefront, but has not sold yet http://studio38.etsy.com/

Item #2008-0033

Assemblage art/mixed media that I created with one of my photographs and items of significance to myself so that I could showcase them.

Item #2008-0032

This was the first time that anyone commissioned me to make a piece for them. It was an awesome experience because I got to know the person, see their house to determine their style and what they liked and then created away. My very first income from my art! It is made with a pewter-like soap dish with a hummingbird and flowers, beads and glass.

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 #2008-0020

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.

Item #2008-0017

Item #2008-0014

Item #2008-0013

Item #2008-0012

Item #2008-0011

Item #2008-0009

This is the true beginning of my 60's and 70's style art phase, going back to earthy tones and using twigs and rocks may seem silly to some, but it is beautiful and makes sense to me! I especially love this piece because the owl was a pendant of my mother's that she got in the 70's and then I inherited it when she passed away in 2003. Some of the rocks in this piece were actually hers, and the origami butterfly in the lower left corner was hers also. The tray was free from Freecycle (where I request consideration for just about anything wood that I can make into art ;) I call this a mosaic, even though it doesn't fit into what people would traditionally call a mosaic - who needs to be traditional? You don't need to be when you are me!

Item #2008-0006

I made this for my friend's 9 year old daughter because she was redoing her room for her. Nikita is a very special kid, and her mother is amazing, so I wanted to contribute something beautiful to her new room. I customized it to match the colors of her room. All of the items in this were either free or I already had them. The wood for both parts of the plaque were actually from this guy who let a bunch of strangers dig around in his garage and have things for free - I came home with a big bag of scrapes of beautiful birch plywood. I LOVE free!

Item #2008-0005

This was made for my friend Hilary to announce the birth of her daughter Maddie. Hil is very different from Casey (who the previous item was made for) and I got the idea for hers when I was at a yard sale and bought a cutting board in perfect condition for a buck. Hil is a little more country and Casey is a little more rock 'n roll, so their custom art is very different. The white fencing I literally had for 3 years and found a use for! My enviro-ethics make it hard for me to throw things out that could be used later - oh well, it is good to have strong enviro-ethics even if your drawers are overflowing with things you will use someday.

Item #2008-0004

Two of my friends were having babies at the same time in June, and I decided to make them birth announcement plates like the one that I made for my nephew last year. For his I used a plate, but for my two friends I could not find a plate that suited them at a thrift store, so I got creative!

My friend Casey was decorating her nursery in black, red and white - because she is so cutting edge ;) I got the ugly wood tray at a flea market for a quarter and the only other thing I had to buy were the black and white bone beads - everything else I already had. I am one of those people who holds on to things forever and say "I'll use it for something someday!" Even the fabric around the edge of the tray is a guatemalan purse strap that I have had hanging out for years and finally found a use for! Casey LOVED it!