There is always light if you choose to see it & be it - By Jenn White

Art matters. Art has magical healing powers. Art is everywhere & in everything. You yourself are a work of art.

Have you ever been so inspired & uplifted by another artist your sensitive artist's heart swells too big for your chest? So overcome by emotion it causes happy tears to spill from your eyes? 

This is how I felt while watching the first ever Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman's recitation of her poetry. There were many other talented musical artists & speakers there I love too, sharing their gifts, performing throughout the inauguration.

They were all like sparks igniting so much shining light within me. I was positively glowing with inspiration. 

I felt compelled to create many art pieces after all I had witnessed & experienced in the days.

I decided to share one of those creations with you today. 

When I create, I begin by drawing rough sketch ideas in one of my many sketch books. As I look through all the inspiring photos of the products on sandraevertson.com I find so much inspiration there.

It is so pleasing to my imagination to visualize how Sandra's products can be combined to compliment each other in endless ways.

 In this creation, it was the curve & style of the finger petals on the Milagros III craft blanks set & the San Miguel Allende Nicho Kit that began the theme of this assemblage.

 I envisioned flower petals, a bird's tail & a peacock. I instantly wanted to use some peacock feathers with these pieces. The colors in the feathers coordinate so well with the Relics & Artifacts VerDay Patina paints. I love experimenting with the VerDay magic!

I was transported. I felt warmth & light on a cold Winter's day. I imagined myself into a brightly colored shopping bazaar full of Mexican folk art. Such a lovely cheerful place! A colorful feast for the eyes everywhere I looked. I love when my imagination allows me to travel without leaving home.

 I love layering Sandra's products!

I looked to see what I already had in my Relics and Artifacts Stash that would coordinate with the pieces I was about to order & found several to audition. I added one of the Three Marias Statuettes & two coordinating winged hearts. One from Sandra's Taos Sacred Heart set & one from Sandra's Mexican Folk Hearts Ojo de Dios set. I usually start out simply "less is more" but I always seem to end up "too much of a good thing can be wonderful!" 

 While editing the photos I decided my creation was missing something. I felt it needed some bling. I started having "What if" visions. What if I cut apart this silver & gold Daisy Chain Dresden? What if I add this flower petal shaped Dresden Coat of Arms piece? What if I add this Dresden Triangle Trim all around the outside edge? I thought it might be too much but it all ended up being the perfect added touched to shine up my creation

I wanted to incorporate hearts, wings & eyes into this piece to symbolize love, peace, hope & freedom. The awakening & opening of eyes, breaking the dark spell to see the truth & the light. 

I wanted to incorporate all of the miracles that happened for me & my family during the dark times & life style changes of 2020. I wanted to memorialize the loved ones I lost & miss very much. I also wanted to give thanks for the loved ones who reached out to me. I am so happy they have renewed hope & are here with us today.

I am so grateful you are still breathing & I am still breathing & we have more time here to make positive changes in our countries & on our planet. You are not alone.  

Just because I behave in a positive way does not mean my world is perfect.

I am very sensitive but I refuse to give in & let hate win. 

I will shine my light of kindness & help as many people as I can before my life clock stops. 

If you haven't yet, I hope you will decide to awaken & choose to shine your light too! 

Loving kindness does not cost a thing & is a priceless treasure at the same time. 

It will change lives & yours for the better. If we all pay this kindness forward we can make our world a better place.

HUGS! YOU ARE LOVED! - Jenn White 

Relics & Artifacts products used in this piece are as follows:

♡San Miguel Allende Nicho Kit

♡Milagros III Set

♡Taos Sacred Heart Set

♡Mexican Folk Hearts Ojo de Dios 

♡Three Marias Set

♡Mythos sets (the 2 little birds)

♡Relics & Artifacts VerDay kit

♡Relics & Artifacts Patina Spray Refill. (You do not want to run yourself out of this magic!)

♡Dresden Trim Coat of Arms in Silver.

♡Dresden Trim Large Daisy Chain

♡Dresden Trim Small Daisy Chain

☆Remember to add your HEART CHALLENGE submissions on the Relics & Artfacts Tribe Facebook Group by 2/12/2021 for a chance to win a shopping voucher for sandraevertson.com

#2021raheartchallenge 

Please be sure to read the rules in the pinned post at the top of the group page.Thank you & best wishes to you!

Long Ago and Far Away

Editor’s Note: This is a re-cap of a challenge we had in the Tribe a couple of months ago. Then a pandemic ensued. Enjoy!

MUSE Spoon Challenge Blog Post by Jenn Pipe

There is a flea market that comes to town three times a year. Last September, I was scouring the grounds for finds that I could use in my upcoming studio classes. I was seeking inspiration while sifting through fields and fields of antiques and other people’s junk.

I eventually came upon a vendor who had lots of bits and baubles and an inordinate amount of old silverware. Once I saw the box full of old spoons, I knew I had hit the jackpot—I bought the whole lot from her and went on my merry way. My love affair of transforming these utilitarian instruments began that day!

Fast forward to February 2020: I was teaching an in-person women’s “spoon” class in the Self Esteem Through Art studio and I also volunteered to host a challenge in the Relics and Artifacts Facebook group. I thought, “Self, why not have the tribe create some spoons as well?” It seemed like a no-brainer and something that probably hadn’t been done in the tribe yet. 

Over the course of the challenge, we had quite a few beautiful submissions. There was a stunningly created winged spoon with a rich VerDay finish and lots of Relics and Artifacts products. There was another spoon that was transformed into this magical woodland scene, complete with tree branches, a swing, and these adorable little mushrooms! There was a solar system with a beautiful golden sun. A gorgeous submission that looked like a very intricate hand-held mirror that perhaps a god or goddess would own. One participant created three different spoons with three different themes and R+A products. And there was another spoon that was straight out of a fairy tale, complete with Apoxie Sculpt snake, candelabra base, and the quintessential good vs evil theme. 

When all of the MUSES convened to vote on the winner, we certainly had our work cut out for us! After discussions and deliberations, we decided that we had to award two prizes. 

Our 1st place challenge winner was Lyneen Jesse. She was the participant who created three separate spoons. But, it was her ocean-themed star spoon that truly captivated the judges. The composition was breathtaking, the finish was rich and vibrant, and the use of craft blanks was very well executed. 

Lyneen shared with me that mixed media is where her heart is, so she was excited to create on these unique little spoon “canvases.” Never having used VerDay before, she purchased some from sandraevertson.com. She admits to being disappointed after the first coat, but completely blown away after adding the second coat and applying the activator.

This is how Lyneen felt after applying the activator and watching the transformation: “OH MY! The transformation was AMAZING. I never would have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes. I am loving all of the finishes so far and the only one I still have to try is the bronze. Trust me, you will not be disappointed when you work with VerDay!”

Here is Lyneen’s award-winning spoon. Her spoon won her a $30 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

 Our runner up was Naomi Montana Walsh. When I first saw her spoon, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I knew it was telling us a story and it reminded me of something from a fairy tale. I couldn’t wait to reach out to Naomi to learn more! 

Naomi calls her spoon “Eve’s Temptation” and it is rich with symbolism. She wanted the bottom of the spoon to be like a pool. The foot represents Eve dipping her foot into that pool of temptation (in this case, the temptation is knowledge). Naomi sculpted the snake with Apoxie Sculpt and twisted it down the spoon handle. She then built a fruit tree at the top and then attached the spoon to a broken candelabra-like Halloween ornament for the platform.

Naomi believes Eve was best represented by an expressionless face as she was somewhere between her fall from grace. She also included an element of hope, which is represented by the dove at the bottom of the platform. So brilliant! So unique! 

This is Naomi’s spectacular spoon. She won a $20 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the challenge. I also want to thank my fellow MUSES for their creative contributions, which certainly helped this challenge to gain a bit of traction, and for their expert opinions on the submissions. 

This was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to host my next challenge for the Relics and Artifacts Tribe! 

Persephone's Journey- Wendy Aspinall

According to Greek legend, Persephone was Demeter’s daughter. One day while she was out gathering flowers she was snatched from the Earth by the God Hades and taken to the underworld. Her mother was so upset with worry, grief and anger she caused crops and plants to wither and die for a whole year. The earth was gripped with a terrible famine. So Zeus commanded Hades to release Persephone. But before Hades let her go he tricked her into eating some pomegranate seeds, knowing that if she ate anything from the land of the dead she would have to return to him for part of the year.

Demeter was overjoyed to have her daughter back. However every time Persephone had to return to Hades Demeter mourned and the earth's plants and crops stopped growing. But when her daughter returns she is happy and the earth comes back to life. 

I wanted this project to have a distinct play of dark and light, The darker colors represent the time when Persephone is in the underworld and her mother is sad. The light brighter colors when she comes back.

Spring is all about growing and new beginnings. Where new blooms of life bring new hope for our lives. Maybe it’s to start a new class or push our boundaries. When we do we blossom. We again look for the elements missing in our life and like the growth in the spring we become who we are meant to be. 

Never stop growling and reaching for the person you are meant to be. 

Artists Model, Kroma Crackle, VerDay paints, Apoxie Sculpt, Acrylic paint

Twigs, White gesso, Moss, Molded flowers, Wooden block

Guest Muse Cathy Frailey- My Word Is My Bond

I would like to say how honored I am to be here, sharing this cross I made using Sandra's wonderful products. 

 A dear Christian friend of mine passed away in March - he was a Navy Seal during Vietnam and an American hero in my eyes. I wanted to make something for his wife and family that would convey his love of country with his Christian faith. I knew I had to use the Eagle Totem and the large heart from the Santo Domingo Sacred Heart Set. It was the perfect melding of the two messages I wished to convey. 

 The heart with the cross signifies Christ's suffering during his crucifixion, wearing a crown of thorns. I wanted it to also reflect the Purple Heart - the oldest military award given to US service members. 

 I used Finnabair's Electric Violet and Aged Brass waxes to reflect the colors of the Purple Heart Award. I used a stippling brush but didn't get it in every book and cranny. I also went over the gold parts lightly with my finger dipped in Liquitex Liquid Acrylic Ink in Gold Metallic. 

The eagle is our nation's emblem and, thus, also a symbol used by the military. It is prominent on a Navy Seal Trident Pin. It's also mentioned 34 times in the Bible, one the most well-known verses being: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

 I used Finnabair Charcoal Black Matte Wax for the feathers. I again used the Liquitex Liquid Acrylic Ink in Gold Metallic and Black for the eyes and beak. It's colored on both sides.

The sentiment - My Word is My Bond - is part of the Navy Seal Creed. It also reflects God's promises in the Bible. His Word is His bond with us. 

The cross itself is a good size and made of wood: 5.5" x 9.5". I covered it in Finnabair Paper Texture Paste and went around the edges with Gold Rub 'n Buff. I draped a piece of cream-colored Sari silk ribbon around it.

On the back, I put his name and other personal info which I won't show. Navy Seals don't want to be known or found. They serve their country in stealth and don't do it for personal honor or recognition. Coming from a military family, I want to honor those traditions. 

 Again, I want to thank Sandra and David for this invitation to show my work and to thank them for their beautiful products which I love to work with! 

 Cathy Frailey 

 It's Oddly Appealing

MUSE Jenn White & her Husband Glenn Celebrate two decades of their LOVE.

Here in the Midwestern HEART of America where I reside, the month of March is when we begin to experience my favorite season of the year.

The glorious Spring awakening & greening is full of so many natural miracles & magic.

Green Day, Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th is a very special day for my husband Glenn & I. It is the day before our wedding day.

On March 18th of this year we will be celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary. 

To commemorate this occasion, I created a mixed media assemblage canvas to decorate a wall space in our home. 

Here is the story of the meaning behind it and a short Tutorial.

The genuine four-leaf clover comes from the white clover plant Trifolium Repens. It grows wild all over our property. It produces one of the earliest wild flowers to bloom in the Spring giving our honey bees strength, energy & nourishment. 

The leaves of the rarely found four-leaf clover of this plant signify HOPE, FAITH, LOVE & LUCK. 

The CLADDAGH has symbolic meaning too. 

The hands signify FRIENDSHIP.

The crown signifies LOYALTY.

The heart signifies LOVE.

"With my hands I give you my heart & I crown it with my love."

(For more on the great story of the CLADDAGH, go to the Relics & Artifacts product page & read what Sandra Evertson wrote about it in her product description.)

My use of the color green signifies our luck in finding each other at a time in both of our lives when we desperately needed one another so much. 

Our mutual understanding & respectful acceptance that each one of us is equally valued, important, needed & wanted to make our way of life & our relationship work. 

How our earthy personalities, love of nature & the great outdoors compliment each other. 

The harmonious balance between our very youthful imaginative hearts & our commitment to respect each other’s passions.

My use of copper signifies the continuous electric energy flow of our relationship, our mutual love, our romantic sensibilities, our artistic creativity & how compassionate & affectionate we both are.

My use of gold signifies our glow of optimistic positivity. How generous & giving we both are, our two big hearts of gold.

My use of the two sun symbols signifies the power we have, when the shining of our two bright lights join to make such a positive difference in the world, bright enough to light & warm the hearts of others.

My use of the flame symbols signifies the importance of keeping the cozy, welcoming, warmth of the home fires continuously burning. NEVER let them die or burn out.

I hope you take time to enjoy this Spring & have a very happy Green Day! I know I will!

Thank you for your time & I appreciate you showing your love by clicking on the heart in the comments section below this post.

HUGS! YOU ARE LOVED! 

Tutorial : 

1 - Begin by painting all of the craft blanks & the canvas with black gesso. Lightly wipe the black gesso off of the Large Sol Dresden while it is still damp. You only want it to antique the embossed recessed areas.

 2 - After the black Gesso has dried completely paint the canvas with Copper VerDay Metal Paint then wipe it off with a damp towel. This creates a sparkling glow on the dry black gesso on the canvas. Set the canvas aside to dry.

 3 - Paint the Ex-Voto hearts & the Helios with Copper VerDay Metal paint, being sure to let the edges still show a bit of black gesso, then set them aside to dry.

 4 - Lightly highlight the raised areas of the Ex-Voto flames, Claddagh & Sol with Copper VerDay Metal Paint then set them aside to dry.

 5 - Paint the Ex-Voto hearts with Galactic green ink from the Moonlight Duo Ink Pad then streak paint the leaf detail designs using ink from the darker Martian Green Moonlight Duo Ink Pad on a long, narrow fine detail paint brush. Highlight the areas on the CLADDAGH you wish to have green accents.

 6 - Paint the heart on the CLADDAGH with metallic gold acrylic paint. Accent & highlight other areas on the CLADDAGH & Helios where you wish to add a touch of gold. 

 7 - Thinly paint a section of your craft mat with Copper VerDay Metal Paint. Place the Marrakesh red rubber stamp face down into the paint, the same way you would ink a stamp. Stamp the design onto the canvas as shown in the photo. Set aside to dry. The blank areas will not show once the Helios & Sol are glued into place. When the stamped paint is dry, paint the diamond, marquise, & tiniest circle shapes with metallic gold acrylic paint using a fine detail paint brush. When the paint is dry, highlight the gold diamonds & tiniest circles with ink from the Martian green Moonlight Duo Ink Pad. Apply the ink with a fine detail paint brush. It should create the effect of faux emerald gemstones. 

Paint around the rim edge of the canvas with a paint brush full of metallic gold paint to give the canvas a finished look of uniformity.

 8 - Paint the outside edges of the canvas with black gesso. When dry, glue the Large & Small Gold Daisy Chain Dresden strips to the outside edges of the canvas to give it a framed finished look. They have the look of gold 4 leaf clovers! PERFECT!

 9 - Center the Helios & glue it down to the painted canvas.

Center the Sol Dresden & glue it to the Helios.

Mark the center of the Large Sol Dresden & begin gluing down the Ex-Voto Hearts making sure the flame points line up with the corners of the canvas.

Glue the CLADDAGH down in the center of the 4 Ex-Votos

 10 - Snip the Peridot Bohemian Gemstones apart with wire cutters. Apply them with glue as embellishments on the canvas wherever you desire.

 4 - Ex-Voto resin craft blanks

1 - CLADDAGH resin craft blank

 1 - Helios laser cut wood craft Blank

 1 - Large Sol Dresden in Gold

 Marrakesh Red Rubber Stamp from Sandra Evertson's Tapestries Collection

 8 ounce bottle of copper VerDay Metal Paint

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Total Eclipse Black

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Galactic Green

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Martian Green

 Set of Peridot Bohemian Jewels Rhinestones

 Package of Large Daisy Chain Dresden in Gold

 Package of Small Daisy Chain Dresden in Gold

Other supplies used:

 1- 8"x8" wall art 

canvas

 Black gesso 

 Various artists paint brushes

 Inexpensive bright metallic gold heavy body acrylic paint

 5 second super Glue

Creating Change: An Homage to Mother Nature, Jennifer Pipe

I’ve had Mother Nature on the brain lately. She is so forgiving, so generous, and so regenerative, but I think she is getting fed up with our collective apathy. She is desperately trying to tell us something and I’m not convinced the majority of us are listening. 

The fires in both Australia and the Amazon. 
The unfathomable plastic pollution in the ocean. 
The earthquakes and hurricanes in Puerto Rico. 
The leveling of natural parks and historic burial sites in the US for “walls,” pipelines, and drilling. 
Seventy-degree weather in Antarctica. 
The pollution-for-profit mindset of our current political leaders.  

These are all signs that something is amiss. The warning bells are ringing loud and ringing often! It’s mind-boggling and concerning and should be top of mind for everyone. We’ve lost our way; and our short-sightedness and greed could certainly be our undoing. Humans are our planet’s worst enemy. We take and we pillage, often forgetting that our resources are finite and this is the only place we can call home.

As I was creating this project, I pondered my roles and responsibilities as a member of the 2020 MUSE Design Team. Am I here to simply create unique pieces of art? Is my main purpose to solely promote fabulous art products? Should I keep things light and fluffy? Or am I called to go deeper than that? Could I share with you my passion for Art as Activism? Can I be real, raw, and vulnerable about my feelings? Can I simultaneously create beautiful things while also being educational and thought-provoking? 

Since art often helps me process my emotions and make sense of the world around me, I think I have to be true to myself and go with the latter; knowing that not everyone will share my viewpoints or feel my sense of urgency. This piece is simultaneously a tribute to our natural world and a canary in the coalmine cry for immediate and lasting change. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful in the days and weeks to come—I also hope, if nothing else, it results in you thinking about the importance of clean air and clean water for all. After all, the human race can’t survive without those things!

The Project:

The base of this project is a 3.5 x 3.5 inch wooden cube, which I coated in black gesso. Atop the cube sits a resin eagle from Sandra’s “Totems” collection in a nest of moss, bark, and greenery. The eagle was painted using the “iron” paint from the VerDay paint kit and I am loving the results! The eagle’s nest is anchored by one of the resin frames from the Italian Baroque set, also painted with VerDay—brass this time.

The flags sticking out of the nest are our clarion calls:

·      Stop taking things for granted,

·      Pay attention to our ecosystems,

·      Remember, we only get one chance!

On each of the four sides of the cube, I made an homage to a particular aspect of nature. Water, forests, air, and soil. 

The “forest” side has a hand sculpted tree and heart, both fashioned from Apoxie Sculpt. The text reads, “The forests that protect our wildlife.”

The “water” side has a mermaid tail which I hand sculpted using Apoxie Sculpt. It also features handmade Apoxie Sculpt bubbles. The text reads, “The water we need to survive.”

The “air” side features a night sky scene and has a mixture of items both molded from Apoxie Sculpt and found in my stash. The moon face is the focal point of this side and the text reads, “The quality of the air we breathe.”

Everything on the “soil” side was sculpted by me, using Apoxie Sculpt. The whimsical mushrooms, trio of hearts, and polka dots were all made with love. The text reads, “The soil that fortifies our food.”

I printed the words out and adhered them with Mod Podge, highlighting the area around the words with a black Posca pen. 

I used stencils and both StazOn and Distress Inks to add visual interest to the backgrounds. At the end of the process, I highlighted some of the areas on the cube with unaltered copper VerDay paint. It gives it a nice dimensional appearance and helps create a more cohesive feel between the top of the cube and the sides. 

·      Resin eagle from the Totems collection

·      Resin Italian Baroque frame

·      Apoxie Sculpt

·      Brass and Copper VerDay Paints

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share both my art and my heart with all of you! May this post inspire you to try new materials and techniques. And may it also inspire you to contemplate new ways of existing on this beautiful blue marble we call home. 

 Jenn Pipe 2/18/2020

The Kiss Me Again by Wendy Aspinall

Becoming a Muse made me think about what inspires me, who or what makes my heart beat faster.

For me it is the work of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Especially his golden period, when he produced one of the most recognizable and popular pieces, The Kiss.

And as February is the month of romance. What could be more romantic than the painting The Kiss, it’s also my personal favorite and the inspiration for my contribution to this month’s Muse blog post.

I have re-worked some of his pieces with digital images but never in a physical format before, so I’m very pleased to share with you my canvas inspired by Klimt’s work.

The Kiss me again canvas re-invented with help from Relics and Artifacts by Sandra Evertson.

And like Klimt I too have used gold leaf to bring my piece to life.

Also resin blanks from Visage and Persona.

Apoxie Sculpt. Verday paint in bronze, a canvas painted with black gesso

Acrylic paint, Gold paint, Gold leaf.

I really had fun making this canvas.

I would like to hope the artist is looking down and is pleased with my interpretation of his stunning work, from one Muse to another.

I also hope I’ve inspired you to have fun and make art!

It's All In The Details

I get enjoyment from many different aspects of Creating.

Sometimes I have a plan and do quick sketches to get my ideas down on paper and while I have dozens of sketchbooks filled with project drawings and ideas, it would take me years to actually make all the pieces I've designed and want to create.

I love collecting, gathering and sorting through my antique materials.

Taking time to try out different arrangements until I find the perfect piece and placement, you know it's the piece that looks as though it were made to go in that spot!

The golden seed beads and bouillon trims you see here came off of a 1920's Flapper dress and all of the set stones are actually "paste" stones from the 1700's. Paste is a term they used for a certain kind of highly refractive lead glass that was hand cut, faceted and then polished to resemble real gem stones.

The large center stone is also early paste. These stones are getting harder to find all the time.

In order to get just the right look on the flames I've layered several different tones of yellow from mustard to butter, sun to sunset, all topped with little highlights of metallic gold.

When I'm hunting for antique pieces it's the details that make all the difference for me. The thing I go crazy for on these stones is the setting, look closely, each setting has a little dot of round metal that holds the stone securely, isn't it beautiful?! And just so unique.

When the last bit of embellishment has been applied another aspect of being a maker is ready to happen. Photographing the finished piece is a much fun for me as making it was. It's an expedition, traveling around the object, camera in hand, peering through the lens just waiting for the right angle to reveal itself.

And lastly the satisfaction I get when actually wearing a piece I made from beginning to end. The sense of pride and accomplishment means so much to me, its especially gratifying in times of unrest in the world. 

I never take for granted the act of creation. Makers are the journey takers, the adventures, the wanders and the experimenters. Thats who we are, we explore, we observe, we absorb, we interpret, we express and we contribute.

RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ancient Heart (heart and flame)

RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Rising Spirit V(wood support back)

E6000 Adhesive/Tacky Glue

Acrylic Paints Yellow Tones/Gold/Brick Red

Necklace chain

Antique trims/Camera