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And that’s a wrap…

Today marked the final in-person class in the studio for 2022!

Beautiful beachy handmade ornaments with Sierra James and her family was a wonderful end to a wonderful year at Refind Creations Studio & Gift Shop.

After the shut downs and stops and restarts, it seems that we are creating a beautiful experience for the community and for the artists as well. To get creative in small groups of 1-8 participants has been such a joyful experience.

Thanks to artist Candice Christie for being the first guest artist! Candice is a prolific artist and teacher. We first met back in April at the Whatcom Art Guild. When I offered my space to host the first Acrylics Special Interest Group, Candice stepped right up and took on the planning and execution of so many wonderful projects. From Acrylic Pour to Gelli Plates, Candice has filled our imagination with so many fun experiences.

Artist Janille Dutton has created so many beautiful and unique art projects in her life and she is a joy to create with! Janille has led Acrylic Pour workshops that were so much fun and I look forward to many more classes with her.

Kim Snider’s love of all things flowers instantly bonded us! I can’t wait to see what kinds of creativity we explore in the new year, including attending an artists retreat! God has been so good to bring us together and you will definitely want to sign up for her Art Journal workshop in January!

To say that Colin Molaski’s classes were popular would be an understatement! Colin approached me about teaching abstract acrylics and his schedule filled with curious creatives who were inspired to create with the freedom that abstracts have to offer.

Sierra James is a new member of Whatcom Art Guild who has caught the acrylic pour and resin bug! She is so creative and has great ideas for classes. You can definitely look forward to taking one of her workshops.

The new year will be filled with many more creative classes and we all hope to meet you there. Cold wax and oil, abstract art, pressed flowers, and who knows what’s next. I’m so happy to be in this space for another year as I plan a new adventure for all of us in the future.

My dream space includes artist studios with gallery space, teaching space, and creative community collaboration… dream with me as I pursue the plan!

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Art Walk

Featured Artist – like they’re talking about someone else. I’ve been Mark’s Mom. Nicki’s Mom. MRI Tech. The boss. The chauffeur of Mark and Nicki. The daughter. The wife. And now The Artist!

Tomorrow-Friday February 22- I get to have my art in a new display. It’s featured every day at Whatcom Art Market of course. It took me months to not laugh at the idea of being an artist.

Now I’m excited to show my Petals as Paint and other creations – candles, collages, and magnets to people out enjoying a cold evening strolling around one of my favorite places – Fairhaven in Bellingham WA.

So happy to be at Sweet Bellingham, a bakery in town that has the most inspired edible creations! What a fun opportunity to meet people who are out having fun! Homemade marshmallows anyone??

I meet people all day every day who are hurting or suffering in my normal job. This will be a great change to see people buying candied apples and cookies, baking supplies and candies. Thank you Sweet Bellingham for letting me set your tables with tiny easels and candles and to hang and display my art!

For all the locals come on out tomorrow night! Head to Sweet Bellingham and Whatcom Art Market. And thanks to Fairhaven Art Walk for giving local artists an opportunity to share our passion with the community!

©Belindabotzong2019

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More Petals in Process

I’m working on another design for Petals as Paint. I am working on products with a couple Print on Demand companies to provide various price points for home decor, clothing and accessories. This one should look particularly pretty on scarves, pillows, and swimwear.

The focal point is pressed primrose while the accents are dahlia petals. The majority part is blue, purple, and green hydrangea petals. I love the textured undersides — so intricately beautiful!

©Belindabotzong2019

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Petals in Progress

You never know where my next design might come from…

A couple weeks ago I spent the weekend with two of my favorite people / my husband’s parents. She had a beautiful bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums and hot pink carnations. I was eyeing those lovelies for my next petals as paint… and here they are. She never lets us leave empty handed!

I dried them for a week in a tub of silica and they are perfectly preserved. And now they are happily becoming my next design!

I added in some white orchid petals, yellow spotted orchid petals, orange tiger lilies, a few random dahlias and some pink echinacea petals.

They are currently drying their second layer of clear acrylic and soon will be off to get scanned. The tile will be framed and put up for sale at Whatcom Art Market and the design will be transformed into home decor, clothing and accessories in my Etsy store – https://www.etsy.com/shop/RefindCreations33

Each one makes me very happy and I hope you enjoy the process and the final product!

https://amzn.to/2TQZvsG

https://amzn.to/2X4I1v6

©Belindabotzong2019

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Wearing Art

Petals as Paint and Inspired Creations are two of my projects that are now expanding into clothing, home decor, and products like purses, bags, and iPhone covers.

Please take a look as I work toward filling my Etsy shop in the coming weeks. Please let me know what you think- positive or critical — this will help me know which ones to feature or not.

I’m working on a give away for February so keep your eyes on my site – like, share, follow, comment! Thank you!!

In production and available online at

https://artofwhere.com/artists/refindcreations/

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Newest Projects

Welcome to my updated blog! It’s still being finely tuned and I would appreciate feedback!

I have several projects underway right now and enjoying a lot of mornings writing. That’s a whole other blog on belindabotzong.com

I’m planning to have my son, Mark, posting there as well. He reviews sites and YouTube videos so I will share some of his thoughts and curiosities.

Today was all about replenishing the sunflowers at Whatcom Art Market. I found more materials at my favorite junk store and got some tiles from Restore to use for a few ideas.

My sunflowers are made with vintage fishing cork, pine cone scales, acorns, lots of adhesive, iron pipes and bobeche for the leaves.

They’ve been very popular and I’m thankful that my husband helps assemble!

©Belindabotzong2019

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Petals as Paint – Secret Garden

Grand finale for 2018– secret garden is an eclectic collection of many petals and botanical beauty. Hydrangea and rose petal sky. Trees of Japanese maple leaves and an unknown perennial. A garden of moss, purple stasis, butterfly bush, geranium, wheat, and other unidentifiable petals.
Substrate of ceramic tile which will all be framed in reclaimed wood
©Belindabotzong2018

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Petals as Paint—Swirl

Next design in process! This one is vibrant red and yellow painted in a swirl of Dahlia, sunflower, geranium, rose, and fuchsia petals- swirl of copper leaf and topped with a swirl of a copper wire clef.
12×12 ceramic tile substrate which will be framed in recycled wood
https://amzn.to/2RjZ8sU
Mod Podge
https://amzn.to/2LCXU6I
Liquitex gloss gel acrylic medium
https://amzn.to/2Sr67NI
US Art Supply Gloss Acrylic Medium
https://amzn.to/2SoSPRT
Krylon spray adhesive
©Belindabotzong2018

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When Doubts Fill Your Mind…

In memory of my mom who went to receive hope and cheer eternally on October 16 2018 –
Roses, twine, handmade paper, architectural hardware, brass tacks, burlap, crushed glass, reclaimed wood frames, copper and lots of mod podge. Hope these bless someone’s soul.

https://amzn.to/2RjZ8sU
Mod Podge
https://amzn.to/2LCXU6I
Liquitex gloss gel acrylic medium
https://amzn.to/2Sr67NI
US Art Supply Gloss Acrylic Medium
https://amzn.to/2SoSPRT
Krylon spray adhesive
©Belindabotzong2018

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Petals as Paint —Purple Passion

Painted in Dahlia, rose, saffron, hydrangea, crocosmia and geranium– And even a few bougenvilla petals from Israel– this Beauty is the next project heading to Whatcom Art Market and getting transformed into uniquely designed home decor. Each one is my favorite!


Supplies-
Ceramic tile substrate with reclaimed wood frame
Dahlia, Rose, hydrangea, crocosmia, saffron, geranium petals
https://amzn.to/2RjZ8sU
Mod Podge
https://amzn.to/2LCXU6I
Liquitex gloss gel acrylic medium
https://amzn.to/2Sr67NI
US Art Supply Gloss Acrylic Medium
https://amzn.to/2SoSPRT
Krylon spray adhesive
copyright – BelindaBotzong2018