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
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Krylon spray adhesive
©Belindabotzong2018
I scanned handmade paper with Queen Anne’s Lace blossoms- looks like snowflakes – and winter is blowing in ..
[wpvideo uvk4wonG ]
Have a blessed time preparing for Christmas & Hanukkah..and hunkering down for winter … unless of course you live somewhere tropical then here’s a little taste of winter for you!
©belindabotzong2018
I did it! I spent all afternoon taking down everything in my space at Whatcom Art Market and completely redesigning it to feature Art Inspired by Nature– almost every piece is made from or inspired by flowers from my garden and others.
On the right I installed an antique door to use as a feature piece to display door-decor! It will change with the seasons to make a centerpiece display. Since autumn arrives this week I decorated the door with garlands of artificial leaves and sunflowers to highlight several door decor items I created.
Center of the door has cork and architectural pieces from antique doors and drawers.
To the left of the door are two more corks and roses themed with antique door hardware acting as a vase holding dried roses.
In front of the door is an antique milk can filled with garden stakes — sunflowers made of cork, pine cone scales and vintage lighting fixture pieces. There are a couple old cupboard doors as well. One is Birchwood and the other autumn leaves.
In the center of the space I’m featuring ceramic tiles hand”painted” with flower petals in various designs. Another highlight is a framed elderberry flower in reflection. And finally one of my favorites– paper doll dresses flanked with matching flower petals. So far there is blue hydrangea, yellow orchid, and pretty pink petals.
On the left I have the postage-paid postcards, a few palette clipboards, and a new item — 4×4 ceramic tiles covered in various petals or handmade paper cutouts – a magnet on the back to decorate your refrigerator if you like.
I feel blessed to have this opportunity to participate in a vibrant art market and guild with so many talented people surrounding me and encouraging me!
Stop by if you’re out and about in Fairhaven and see what catches your eye!
©Belindabotzong2018
Sold! So happy to have a new owner for this design – 
purple hydrangea petals on handmade paper! Hope it makes her heart happy whenever she looks at it ?.
I just returned from vacation and stopped by the Whatcom Art Market to pick up my commission for August. I was humbled, shocked, dismayed and grateful for sales over $400! As I approach the one year anniversary of Refind Creations I am so happy that the ideas, inspirations, and pure love of Refinding has been blessed by God! All glory to Him who inspires me with his designs and lets me have so much fun! Thank you to all who took time to shop in our local Art Market.
Close your eyes
Feel the cool breeze waft over the bay
Feel the setting sun upon your tear stained cheeks
Ponder the joy, sorrow, bittersweet and victorious life you have
Listen to the calls of she gulls and he gulls as they dip and soar
Smell the briny air as it freshens your spirit
Open your blurry eyes filled with tears of renewal, strength and refreshment
See the sunset reflecting in the bay, the stormy clouds on the horizon alight with glorious fire and see the gentle slope of Lummi and Orcas Islands
Ponder, pray, praise, visualize.
©Belindabotzong2018
Today on facebook I was happily surprised to find out that my idea for scanning in found objects is not original! I have been scanning in rocks, sea glass, and lately a multitude of dried, pressed, or fresh flowers rather than taking photos because the effect of scanning is so incredibly detailed and beautiful, unique, and amazing!
Here are a few of my latest creations which will be used in some way in my upcoming creations for the Whatcom Art Market space. I am also happy to report that ALL 6 of my Sunflowers have now sold, along with a few candles, succulents, and postcards. Thank you to all of those who were kind enough to shop and buy some of my creations! It makes my heart very happy that you found something that hopefully brings you joy. My favorite customer today was my mother-in-law, who would not take them from me, but insisted on buying a candle and some post cards to support my success. Ah, so sweet!
Enjoy a few of these latest creations and let me know what you think!
©Belindabotzong2018
Trial number two
Pretty sure this is only a summer outdoor activity.. very messy and in need of air drying so it’s good I got this wild hair in July rather than December!
This time I skipped the newspaper and brown paper bags that got me to a near cardboard material last time. Not that it can’t be used for something in the future but I still have visions of soft white pretty paper…
So I bought reams of printer paper from someone on Facebook for two bucks. And a shredder from amazon.. and I sat outside last week shredding five pages at a time … the limit of the shredder.., and made a big bag of it!
During this week I also dried some raspberry vines and lots of flowers and crushed them
My first couple batches were a little iffy but by the end I think I came out with some fairly nice pieces.. still not soft like I imagine.. but I think the white and streaks of yellow from the dried leaves can be part of a bigger collage I have in my head.
Papermaking has proved to be exceedingly messy and harder than I imagined but it’s satisfying so next time I’m going for cotton!
©Belindabotzong2018
Ever get an idea that consumes your brain
Watch YouTube videos of perfectly coiffed people doing exactly what you want to do
Read blog after article taking notes on the how’s and how nots
Find a flea market selling just the right stuff — antique window screens!
Goodwill bargains for tissue paper and miscellaneous
Refusing to believe that I could whip this creation up in my own kitchen and remain perfectly coiffed
I set up shop in the back yard on the hottest day of the year
I find a blender in the linen closet- a remnant if my sons bachelor pad and buy it from him for $20 so I don’t mess up my smoothie making ninja!
Got a bag of newspaper and a tub for water, following the directions I whip up my first batch.. scoop it onto the screen .. sop it up with an old towel and try to remove it from the screen, scraping carefully and failing ..
.. gray thin crumbly like an old paper towel ..
sweat pouring down my back down my forehead and down my legs.
This did not happen to YouTube babe in her coordinated outfit and fresh lipstick.
Into the house to spray on sunscreen and revive. I go online and review the steps. Go out to whip up another batch. Still too thin.
I head to the dollar store for more towels and sponges, newsprint stained hands, pony tail askew and bangs plastered to my forehead.
I whip up another batch. Only the blender doesn’t make a peep. No groaning. No moaning. It quit! Sorry ninja you’re on the job!
The sun rises higher in the sky. The sweat beads pour off the tip of my nose. My screen breaks as I pull the first batch. I plop the gob of goo into the dollar store bathmats that pass for hand towels. Not too shabby but difficult to remove. Must need more sludge. Ninja goes to work while I chug lemonade. My son keeps peering through the sliding glass door with concern for his mother’s sanity. I press on and pour dried flower petals into the sludge. Now we’re getting somewhere! The color of the paper concerns me as looking too much like egg cartons– but I’m committed now and this is a learning batch.
My arms are covered in sludge drying like a mud mask. I am drenched and so hot but I’m not giving up til I’m done. My rose colored glasses obviously need a prescription adjustment.
I keep thinking of biblical times and how someone made paper from papyrus! Last night I watched a long YouTube video about a man in Scotland who makes paper from flax.. that he grows from seed himself! Linen paper!
My husband stops by to comment– “cool! Looks like egg carton paper”
Grrr
So I learned — I want to do it again but only use white papers on a very mild day and plenty of actual towels. Dollar store bath mats make funny patterns.
I dumped the sludge bucket on the lawn much to my husbands dismay.. I’m thinking it might actually be the best piece of paper I made all day!!
©Belindabotzong2018
