Treasures from Nature

Having a bird breeding business will certainly give you insight into the perfect birdhouse, and a creative array of colorful little bird abodes can be found at HouseofGourds, an Etsy shop. Kathy even grows her own gourds, which also turn into eye catching feeders. Retirement hasn't slowed this artist down and she keeps a busy schedule with local craft fairs in addition to her online business.

If you are looking for a pet turtle that won't wander off, you will be happy to discover her line of painted pet rocks. I find the coral snake very striking. How does that old rhyme go...Red next to black is friend to Jack; red next to yellow will kill a fellow. Kathy unfortunately discovered poison ivy upon moving to Wisconsin, but this has led to the creation of her soothing poison ivy soap, which she also sells locally.

Kathy crafts in Wisconsin, ships to the United States, and can also be found on eCrater. Please contact her if you are interested in a custom order or would like information on wholesale. Be sure to stop by her shop as this creative soul has other treasures waiting to be discovered.

Gourd Artist Lynn Thomas

Throughout history gourds have served utilitarian purposes, and apparently, they can be carved and worked with just like wood. Today's focus is on a member of a cooperative, Catskill Mountain Artisans Guild (closed), an Artfire shop promoting artisans from the Catskill Mountains. Lynn is a gourd artist who finds the gourd to be the perfect artistic medium.

Each gourd is uniquely created by nature, and Lynn works to uncover its hidden beauty transforming it into an exceptional work of art. Gourds are extremely lightweight, and much sturdier than they appear. With an endless array of shapes and sizes available, she will continue to push the creative envelope and develop new techniques and designs.

Lynn crafts her beautiful gourds in New York and ships to the United States. She takes special orders, and you can see more of her amazing work at her website. You'll want to keep an eye on this artist as she has only been working with gourds for a few years with impressive results.