Category: Design Inspired by Creation

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Biochrome or Watercolors? Impressions…

I’ve discovered a new passion project! I had no idea it had a name but in researching after squishing, pressing, rolling, hammering and delightfully finding the wild array of pigments inside flowers and plants, I have discovered that biochrome is the actual name of the pigments!

My current fascination has evolved over the summer as I try out various methods on a huge drop cloth canvas. The beauty of the impressions created like watercolors and I have a vision of this giant canvas hanging in my studio at the end of the flower season!

After hammering until I got tendinitis, I got to thinking and in my thinking I pondered different ways to press the pigments, the biochrome!, out of the flowers without causing lasting damage to my wrists and hands. Last year I was really into embossing paper with metal dies. What if I used the same method with the flowers, taking a hand roller and pressing directly onto watercolor paper? Deckled watercolor paper even! That truly is my favorite .. the roughly hewn edges of handmade paper is just delightful.

The impressions lead me to impressionistic impressionism.. and I’m impressed! These look exactly like watercolor paintings! Croscosmia, lavender and pansy are my absolute winners. I’ve smashed day lilies, roses, love in the mist. I’ve wrung the life out of more hydrangeas than you would think possible. Passion flowers, hibiscus, raspberries! My number one in all my art is always the elderberry. The impression almost made me cry. The intricate beauty of an elderberry blossom, whether on the bush, pressed and dried, or rolled and hammered has brought more beauty to my art than I could have ever imagined.

Elderberry Watercolor Impressions copyright 2021
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NW Art Beat Studio Tour

Today is the second day of the Skagit Artists Studio Tour. Refind Creations was hosted by artist Rita Martin in her home studio. So many lovely people out visiting the tour! Such a great support from the local community and a fun way for them to show their guests from out of town some local art!

Porch leaners, silk scarves, makeup bags, candles and scanography were the main attraction in my section.

Next up! Fairhaven 4th Friday Art Walk where three of my Petals as Paint designs are featured at Blessings Salon Spa followed by the Schack Art Gallery Gift Shop through the holidays where my notebooks, makeup bags, and scanography will be featured!

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Refind Makeover – 2

I spent every summer of my childhood from the age of 8 through 15 working in the fields of the Skagit Valley. Every kid in the valley started with catching the “berry bus” first thing in the morning. That dusty, rumbling retired school bus filled with sleepy faces and brown bag lunches heading to the next ripe field. Our punch cards hung around our necks ready to be filled with little holes indicating our efforts so we could get paid every Friday. Nothing like the feeling of a fresh card! We were assigned a row, fell to our knees, and reached our little fingers into the dew painted leaves. Slugs, dirt clods, wet sticky fingers filled our morning. Every flat, 12 square boxes in a plastic rectangle, slowly filled on “jam berry” days while the fields filled with the giant retail berries filled in no time at all. Those were so fun to pick (and eat…. shhhhh). By the time the horn blew for lunch we were sweaty with our jackets tied around our waist, the dewy morning long gone.

We would head for the dusty bus on wobbly legs that had been folded beneath us for three or four hours, feet tingling as they woke up. The big jug of water on the tailgate of the pickup truck of the field supervisor was the first stop before heading to the line for the honey bucket. Finally we could get to the bus and grab our crinkled brown bag filled with bologna sandwiches, fritos, and a hostess cupcake or snowball. I lined my limp sandwich with the crunchy chips and nothing could taste better.

After a few more hours of picking we shuffled back into the bus for the long ride home. Purple fingers, dust covered shoes, and sunburned noses ready to get home so we could wrap our newspapers and get to our paper routes. That’s a story for another day.

These are the memories evoked from this vintage berry flat. I found this a few years ago at an antique store and loved it immediately. Though we hated picking berries as children, the work ethic, discipline and experience are now a bit nostalgic nearly 50 years later. I was thinking about painting it after using it to store the little miscellaneous supplies in my studio. I think I may stencil it with strawberries 🙂

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Refind Makeover – Project 1

I am very excited to join with Amy Howard At Home as well as her Maker’s Studio in learning everything from stenciling with inks and ceramic paints to how to do makeovers on furniture I’ll be using in the studio. While it was necessary to buy a few things new, for the most part the studio decor is made up of found objects, give-aways, great deals on Facebook Marketplace, and the neighbor’s garage sale!

My first project was this now very cute cabinet. I got this last weekend on Facebook Marketplace for $20. It was a hideous silver spray painted but very solid wood with little drawers and a shelf. It was used as a bathroom cabinet and a guy was doing some remodeling. How do I know it was from a bathroom, you might ask? Well, first clue was a left over Q-tip 🙁

I cleaned it up with some Clean Slate. Clean Slate removes wax, grease and oily residue from furniture and cabinets. With just one application you can properly prepare your surface before applying a new finish.

There’s nothing more satisfying than a new paint brush and an unopened can of paint… well, besides a new box of crayons, a fresh notebook, newly sharpened pencils and other school supplies! New art supplies are like that!

For this project I decided to keep it simple as I am just learning to use the chalk-based Rescue and Restore Paints from A Maker’s Studio. I started with a 2 oz. jar of Goodness Gracious, a beautiful blue gray. I had never used this paint before and quickly learned that the “pull” you feel with the paint means you better go grab a spray bottle of distilled water and, wow! was that fun! I did two coats to cover the gaudy silver spray paint but left a little tinge here and there.

For the little drawers I embellished with some of the mesh stencils from A Maker’s Studio. They turned out so cute with Paris Flea Market Rescue and Restore. And now, rather than a tacky silver bathroom cabinet, I have a beautiful storage for all the essential and fragrance oils we will be using in crafting spa products and candles for classes in the Maker’s Studio at Refind Creations!

A Makers’ Studio Rescue Restore Paint completely transforms furniture and cabinets from drab to fab.

What you’ll love:

No need to spend hours sanding, stripping or priming your surface before painting because you can apply on top of an existing finish.

It’s water-based with no VOCs so it’s completely safe to use, even for our littlest family members. Plus… it actually smells great as soon as you open the can!

Works on virtually any surface, including wood, glass, resin, melamine, Formica, concrete, iron, stone, and even outdoor furniture and décor.

With so many colors to choose from, it will be so much fun to transform all my treasures with the paints, inks, stencils and ideas from Amy Howard at Home and A Maker’s Studio! Follow along and join me if you like… I have plenty of projects to practice on!

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My Flower Ladies

A few years ago I started scanning flowers from my garden because I thought it would look interesting. Over time I joined various social media pages dedicated to flowers, gardening, art, scanography, design, etc.

 

Through those connections online I have been blessed with a core of lovely “flower ladies” who have given from their gardens, everything from dahlias to cosmos, roses to pansies and everything in between. They have also given from their hearts in friendship, encouragement, and creativity.

 

Thanks to all my flower ladies! Joanna, Cheryl, Nancy, Diane, Cristal, Shannon, Whatcom Gardeners, and, of course, Jade. You have all blessed me with an abundance and I am always thankful.

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Creativity Stalled

After my “Shattered” piece I found out that I wouldn’t be able to stay at the location where I had set up shop since last October. There were circumstances beyond my control and I had to move out. It’s been a reflective month trying to perceive what to do. Praying for clarity and wisdom. Searching online. Mourning the loss.

Just before the news that I would have to move I had signed up with A Maker’s Studio to be a distributor and affiliate. This company is something that represents my very core beliefs. They know how to craft, create, and supply makers, all to the glory of God. Amy Howard has created a little empire of beauty, originality, and creativity that just blesses my soul. I rarely find something that really speaks to my values, that makes me want to join in on a business and personal level. This is such a natural fit.

In order to be considered I had to do a little write up about Refind Creations, do an interview on the phone, and send photos of my studio and “bricks & mortar” storefront. Within weeks of being approved to join their family business, I was notified I would have to move out of my space. While it hasn’t been the ideal situation there, it was a place of great joy for me and those of you who attended drop in studio classes.

In the meantime I had placed my opening order for supplies. The paints, stencils, inks and tools make my hands itch for creativity. Everything they offer just makes me happy. I also ordered a “Maker’s Kit” for my daughter/co-owner, to be delivered to her home in Las Vegas.

I’m so excited to start thinking about new opportunities that change brings. I’ve been “shopping” for a new studio space where I can create and where eventually YOU can create as well. I have big plans, dreams, hopes and lots of prayers covering my business plan. I so look forward to having bridal showers, baby showers, birthday events, ladies night out, and friendly drop ins come create with me as soon as we can safely open.

I’ll be announcing my new location soon, and hopefully some workshops as well. In the meantime, Nicki will be hosting a Maker’s get together with friends to start learning how to use these awesome products and we will be posting often on our projects. I am currently in a mess of a pile of “stuff” with my entire studio boxed up and sitting in the middle of my living room but I have enough space to whip out some of these paints and stencils to start making some projects as well. I look forward to “Crafting a Beautiful Life”, as A Maker’s Studio representative and distributor!

If you would like to check out their products, story, or projects, click on this link!

Tell me what you think and take a look around this updated and always improving website! This has been another big project I started before the move and I am so excited to have it updated, refreshed and marketing away.

I’ll accept any and all prayers that you send in my favor as I go into the next phase of Refind Creations!

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Shattered:Bright Spot

This piece represents my experience during the pandemic and quarantine caused by Covid-19 – Entry for “Out the Window” Artist Challenge for Whatcom Art Guild

Unlike the vast majority of people, I was not affected by being sequestered in my home. I work in health care, and while not working in the hospital on the “front lines”, my position was deemed essential.

Shattered: There were still people who needed care beyond the realm of a covid-19 infection. There were still people who were receiving shattering news. Young ladies finding out they had breast cancer and brain tumors. Old people with metastasized cancer that had entered their bones. Men discovering the heartbreak of prostate cancer. To them finding out they had covid instead would have been a blessing, or the least of their worries.

Bright Spot: I was in my normal routine as far as my work, earning a full pay check until we slowed down immensely. Then my paycheck was covered and we were able to manage as normal in my household. I was able to care for people who were so very grateful for my service. We had so much time to spend with patients and there was no complaining about wait times, difficulty of the exam, or challenges with getting scheduled.

Shattered: We had just returned from a week in Palm Springs when the shut downs happened and planned to return again the following month. Those plans had to be canceled and we moved them out to next week. They may be shattered again. This has been a difficult winter/spring/early summer for my husband who suffers with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Finding sunshine is one of his deepest needs.

Bright Spot: My family isn’t very sociable so we did not suffer through the loss of social interaction. My son, who lives with us, was at a healthy time mentally after three years of struggling. He has handled this time with strength. He started walking more, riding his bicycle for the first time in years. Stayed in touch with friends on Zoom and daily texting, though they missed their brotherly trips to the comedy clubs, dinner out, and just hanging out. My newly retired husband was already settling into a home-based routine. I offered him projects to work on for my art – framing, building crates, and other “honey-do’s”. He tried that and embraced the process, buying new saws and creating a workspace in the garage.

Shattered: My drop in studio classes had just started in January and I had been building up a good following. Art Walk was the highlight of the month for the studio where people could come and see my latest projects and hear about the workshops and opportunity to create with me. Suddenly those classes were shut down and art walks were cancelled.

Bright Spot: I would go to my studio every day after abbreviated schedules at my job. The first trip downtown was so interesting. There was no one, and I mean no one, anywhere to be seen in downtown Bellingham. It was a literal ghost town. I had the entire building to myself and it was so peaceful. I cleaned, reorganized, and settled in for months of solo projects. I was inspired to try creating more and making self-care products. I spent countless hours making collages, whipping up lotions, and pouring candles. I sold some equipment that I didn’t find joyful. I got a printer and started making greeting cards. I worked on my Etsy Shop. It has been an introverts dream. Big shiny bright spot. I added face masks to my Etsy store and my sales have been really good.

I saw a load of tempered glass for sale online and went to pick up 65 pieces of it for whatever may come to mind. I had a vision of shattering some of it to use in upcoming projects. Have you ever tried to shatter tempered glass? I brought a few pieces into the studio. Wrapped one in canvas and tried with all my might to hammer it to pieces. Nothing. A few days later I went to get something out of my trunk where the pile was sitting. Lo and behold… one had shattered all on its own! My dream come true. I just had to figure out how to get it out of the trunk without causing a ruckus. I had been trying different products like polyacrylics, acrylic pour, and polyurethane to create art pieces with the glass and pressed flowers. So I slid the broken pieces onto another full sheet of glass and poured polyurethane over it to create this fractured piece, leaving a space for a pressed yellow gerbera daisy to create the bright spot. It became the piece for the artist challenge for our local art guild. We were to come up with something that represented what we have seen “Out The Window” during the time of being quarantined.

So many people never left their home even once for weeks on end. I cannot imagine how shattered your life has been. The pandemic of fear of the virus for many has been far worse than the virus itself even. Living in fear shatters hope, dreams, aspirations, and ideas. Some were paralyzed by this fear and a new layer of mental health issues have been poured out on a portion of people who were already teetering on the edges.

No matter what you’ve seen or experienced in any part of life, always look for the bright spot. There are lives shattering around us. Be the bright spot. Even when those clouds fill our skies and the rains pour endlessly gray, it always ends with a bright spot. When mental health fails us and we are pressed until we shatter from the loss, grief, overwhelming pressures we must find the bright spot. Whether it is in a baby’s laugh, a psalm, a song, a wish or a touch, God always provides a bright spot. Sometimes we have to look hard, dig deep, hold on tight, or ask for help finding it. But it is always there.

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Print on Demand-ing

Sometimes its been frustrating having a website where print-on-demand products are my main sales line. I have to rely on someone else, far away usually, to not only print high quality images that best show my work, but also have a high quality product that people find value in.

I am a thrifty shopper. I love sales and I really love online shopping for the majority of items. I don’t buy many clothes online, however, because sizes, fit, feel of the fabric, etc. all matter. I really hate returning things. I want to try on clothes in real life.

The clothing line I was having printed when I first started caused me too much grief. I don’t offer returns but I felt that if someone was unsatisfied with the fit or print, or worse… that the leggings were see-through!… that I owed it to the customer to make it right. That was usually a refund outside of my stated policy.

It is also difficult to find high quality products that integrate with websites and Etsy. If I find a company I see value in, but they don’t integrate, that means I have to spend a lot of extra time putting information here for customers to get all the details from, pricing, shipping, and descriptions. All by my own data entry. It’s time consuming and tedious. Things don’t always look like I want. There is a lot of grabbing images, editing, SEO, and so many other little time-suckers.

The beauty of print-on-demand, however, far outweighs the downside of selling my art this way. It is valuable to me as a business owner, it is a blessing to the environment, and it is extremely convenient for both me and the customer.

I can switch vendors in a day. If I find a certain product not meeting a standard because a customer complained legitimately about the product, I can find another supplier. There are no contracts. There is no quota. There is just me deciding on a moment’s notice that I want to switch production.

Today was one of those days. I have had face masks online since the beginning of Covid-19. I was having them printed in England but they only came in packs of four and shipping costs drove up the price. Then I had a customer complain that after she bought one set she loved, she ordered another set and it was totally different material and the sizing was completely wrong. So today I switched to another vendor I’ve used routinely over the years. They just happened to open a line of face masks this week. They come one at a time. The features are better. The pricing is about the same but with more choices on designs this is a much better choice for customers.

I don’t have inventory to manage so there is no waste. I always feel that if I buy some of my products in bulk and they don’t sell, I will end up resenting that design or product. I end up giving it away, donating it to charity, or just keeping it in a box. Wasteful and discouraging. With print-on-demand, there is no product to waste. It does not get made until someone orders and pays for it.

Convenience for the customer and for me is a huge incentive to use print-on-demand, drop ship services. It cuts down on shipping costs when a product goes directly to the customer from the printer. All I have to do is design it using templates provided by the company and when orders come in it is nearly 90% automated. Payment is processed to me directly from the customer or through Etsy. I pay the printer. It all works beautifully and allows me to be able to ship around the world. I’ve sold products in Holland, Germany, Australia, and all over America. This would not happen without the services of print-on-demand vendors.

It is so wonderful to hear from customers who love the designs and products. Some days it’s frustrating when things don’t arrive quickly or there is a mis-understanding.

One lady thought when I said a phone cover had seaglass on it that it had actual sea glass… not realizing it is a printed image of real sea glass! I learned that my descriptions are extremely important, that communicating with the customers is very valuable, and that honest feedback makes my products better.

Today I spent extra time with a lady who wanted less green and more purple and pink from the hydrangea blossoms. If I had pre-printed the product, it would not have been possible to adjust the flower design to make her happy. Print-on-demand makes it all possible!

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Self-Portrait

They say—and I am willing to believe it—that it is difficult to know yourself—but it isn’t easy to paint yourself either.

Vincent van Gogh in a letter to his brother Théo, September 1889

Whenever I hear the words, “Self-Portrait”, Van Gogh in the blue suit always comes to mind.

About five months ago, before the world turned upside down with a virus, the members of the Whatcom Art Guild were given their quarterly artist challenge. Render a portrait of yourself in any medium and prepare to bring to our next meeting.

Well, of course no meeting in March was allowed so the board got together online and we contemplated what to do. Would people want to participate during this worldwide pandemic? Would it provide a distraction or would it be a burden? We decided to give it a try, promoting the self-portrait as a way to stay connected with our members during a time of profound separation.

We received one of the early entries all the way from the other side of the world! A self-portrait from a member living in Spain. I received this message from her today, as we get to the end of the challenge:

I am so delighted to see how lovely the Facebook WAG site is! 
Thank you for your taking the time to make it such a super, fun place!  And thank you for posting my work! 
I have been living here in Spain for about 2 years now and I have been looking for community for my art and for the past year I’ve been wondering how I would find this.
Well— look no more! I am just so grateful to be in the WAG, and I have plans to return home when we are able to without the worry of being in the world of pandemic. But in the meantime, we’re able to connect with the internet and our art and it’s the best of both worlds!
So, it’s been very nice to have you reach out to me, and I will give you a holler when the spirit moves! 

This self-portrait art challenge has been so very interesting. So many deep, meaningful, inspirational and fun submissions.  Some did a literal reflection, looking in a mirror and putting pen/paint/brush to paper. Some did a spiritual reflection while others were more abstract in presenting the depth of inner selves.


We are so used to focusing on what we see in others or worrying about how we are perceived that we often don’t take time or refuse to take time to self-reflect. 

This was the perfect project for the times we are in. Where people may be more self-reflective as their daily life came to a halt and they were forced to look at their lives, their activities, and their families in a whole new way. A blessing in disguise for many. A devastating time for others. 

Time spent in reflection, pondering, prayer, and meditation is never time wasted. The forces of life-changing opportunity are at work.

My own self-portrait is a reflection of my life, the people who have impacted my life the most, and the abundant blessings I’ve been given. Consider a self-portrait for your own life, spirit, personality, or reflection.

From my entry: Each blossom represents a part of my life. Passion flower eyes for my trip to Israel. Hibiscus butterfly heart for my mom. Red roses and blue hydrangea for my grandmas big rosebush and blue hydrangea bush. Daisies for my childhood playing “he loves me he loves me not”. Pansies for the first flower I ever loved as a child.  Pink peonies for my daughter. Camellia blossoms for historical beauty. Burgundy and pink hydrangeas for my wedding. A blue feather for my brother who is an eagle. Hellebores and cosmos and a mix of flowers for my “flower ladies” who bless my life in doing crafty things with flowers! An orchid for the love of a husband who cheers me on in all I do Dogwood for the cross of Christ that strengthens me, blesses me, encourages me, and saves me. Little purple flowers for my son whose eyes captured my heart nearly 30 years ago and who is my very heart. Petunias for my mother-in-law who cultivates flowers and love.  Lavender for the power of nature.  And the whole collage for my Refind Creations business and blessings!! There could be oh so many more but this was a good start!

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First Candle Making Workshop Complete!

Yesterday was a day filled with sweet fragrance, not just from the essential oils, coconut oil, soy wax, and sugar wafting in the studio. It was the sweetest because a total of 16 ladies, aged from as young as four to as old as “who knows” showed up to make their own candles and sugar scrubs.

It was crowded with the layout of my small space, but everyone was so kind and helped each other go through the line, step by step creating a beautiful soy candle filled with fragrances from lavender to citrus to jasmine.

First were seven lovely ladies I’m thankful to work with every day! They put together a group and came to support my new endeavor. It was awesome! And, since I’m used to training, learning, and working with most of them it made the whole day start off on the right foot!

Next a lovely lady named Samantha just popped in to see what we were up to! It was Sam’s birthday so she was welcomed with birthday wishes and joined the lineup.

Soon enough four more arrived, then two more… and yet again two more… It was a nicely spaced pace and while the first batch of candles was settling, sugar scrubs became the focus.

Brown, fine, granulated or raw… take your pick! Add some oil.. let’s see, avocado, almond, or perhaps coconut. Coconut won hands down it seems. I think the idea of it getting a little solid was preferred. Lots of stirring in the coconut bowls with the coconut spoons!

After the jars were filled with what could be the most amazing addition to cookie dough(??), there was the embellishment station where dry rub transfers, stickers, twine, and ribbon were all put to good use… and even a little bling for some.

The first group headed to lunch, returning to perfectly set candles. Wicks were trimmed and bags were filled…. and the next round took place. All afternoon we had someone in line to do the next activity and it was so much fun!

I’ve put in an order for more wax, more fragrance oils, and have my list of supplies ready for the next round! Thanks to everyone who came and I hope YOU can join us for what promises to be another fragrant day filled with love and laughter at Refind Creations Studio!