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Bringing exposure to wonderful artisans whose shops have gone unnoticed or under appreciated.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Metal Art

Sparks will fly when CabinHollow takes an order at their metal fabrication shop on Zibbet. They specialize in silhouettes, but have racks and hooks of all sorts available. One of my sons has wanted a CNC Plasma Cutter to go with our welder. Just take a look at this well stocked shop and see all the wonderful things you can make with it. Your favorite animal would make an eye-catching house number accent for your home or mailbox. Getting something personalized with a name or number is not a problem.

Most items in his shop are shown in black, but can be ordered in any solid color. I do like that red rooster yard decoration. It reminds me of the Rhode Island Reds we used to keep.

When it comes to metal, the lower the gauge, the thicker the metal, so 12 gauge is thicker than 14 gauge. It works much like the gauge on knitting needles, with the higher numbers being the smaller sizes.

Gerald cuts it out in Kentucky, ships internationally, and is also busy on etsy, CraftIsArt, and ArtFire. If you can imagine it in metal, he will do his best to make it, and special orders are welcome.

There is a beautiful cutting of Proverbs 3:5-6 on their blog.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Artful Gourd

Amazing – Simply amazing! Pyroengraved gourds are found at JRAGourdArt, a museum quality gourd art shop on etsy. I know pyrography or pyroengraving as wood burning. Jennifer has chosen to enhance the simple beauty and natural wonder of ordinary gourds with her intricate freehand designs, many of which feature Celtic symbols. She works with several gourd varieties transforming them into one-of-a-kind works of art. I had never seen canteen gourds before, from which she fashions exquisite hard shell purses.

When I showed this incredible artist to a daughter, she commented on how erasing must be difficult. Jenn’s Tree of Life bowl featuring her backyard friends, a squirrel and a number of birds, in a tree framed with beautiful Celtic weaves is a pyrography must see. She labored on this treasure for months.








The process of growing a gourd and preparing it as a usable canvas takes over a year. When properly dried, gourds can be worked on just like wood. Smaller artworks are available as precious Christmas tree ornaments made from egg gourds. If you shake one of these, you will hear the seeds inside!

Jenn patiently burns her wonders in Pennsylvania and ships internationally if possible. Find more of her unique work on her website. She is glad to take custom orders and will personalize a prized family heirloom just for you. If you live nearby, consider taking one of her gourd classes!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Stained Glass Menagerie

Discover a wonderful world of colors and imagination in this stained glass shop, TYorkStainedGlass, on ArtFire. This artist has a passion for stained glass, and her fanciful creations will astound you. Frogs, owls, penguins, fish, roosters, and dolphins along with a host of other fantastic creatures are sure to please. There are so many whimsical sun catchers to choose from. A charming cat face can be made in the colors of your furry friend.

There are beveled art works that will paint any room with a dazzling light show. If you are looking for a business card holder, there are beautiful styles and colors to choose from.

Visit the photos on their Facebook fan page to see the vast spectrum of this shop’s artistic expression. Larger glass art works are available. The 3D dragonflies are amazing. As you explore this artist, you will continue to be astounded at her artistic vision - birds and butterflies in every imaginable color combination!

The glass magic happens in Rhode Island. They ship internationally and can also be found on etsy. Special orders are encouraged and custom colors are welcome. The colors of stained glass never fade and these treasures will be enjoyed for many, many years to come!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

A Work of Leather

As many of you know, my husband makes electric guitars and amps as a hobby, so I was thrilled to find the astounding guitar straps available at EthosCustomBrands on etsy. With over fifty years of leatherworking experience, the Ethos Team is well equipped to work their leather magic and create a masterpiece for you, whether you are looking for a custom pair of kickin’ boots, eye-catching cuffs, or would like your jeans fashionably inlayed with leather.

I didn’t know that kangaroo hide was tanned, but apparently is it lightweight and very strong, and you will find it here in their fabulous Celtic inlay work. I have my eye on the portfolio cover, which fits a 1-inch ring binder and would be perfect for my husband’s worship music. They also have a line of device covers. Just let them know what you need protected and they will create the perfect leather case.

These wonderful leather works are created in Oklahoma and shipped internationally. They can also be found on Zibbet and Facebook. Custom orders are always welcome, and they will gladly work with you to create the perfect leather piece.