Music Appreciation

Rescuing instruments that have come to the end of a musical career and turning them into colorful works of art is the passion of this mother and daughter team at BeesCuriosityShoppe on etsy. Inspired by the curiosity and wonder of Ashley's wee one they created an awesome recycling program. Retired canvases from the string, woodwind, and brass sections sport paint that seems to dance in bright and cheerful patterns as testament to their former life. Whether privately or publicly displayed, these inventive creations are sure to catch a passerby's eye.

Their talents are not limited to upcycling tuneless discards, and traditional canvas artworks are found in their shop. Boats on a Canal is a wondrous work done in a mosaic painting style. Be sure to see the custom mural listing. If you are in their area and are looking for very unique private or commercial wall art - Wow!

A percentage of the proceeds from their shop goes to Artists for Angels, a charity Deb started locally, providing portraits to parents of children who pass away at birth. They hope their charity will one day be established by artists nationwide.

This magical mystery tour artistically plays from Virginia, ships internationally, and is found on Facebook. Stop by their website to catch Deb's teaching schedule in Pennsylvania as well as their road show schedule, where you can view these marvelous works in person. Custom orders are always encouraged for instruments or "Off the Easel" art. I am pleased to have discovered another painter with an unusual canvas.

Wood In Motion

Working from a wood stash of domestic and exotic hardwoods, this master craftsman creates amazing and unique jewelry boxes at ArtistryInWoodworking on zibbet. John's elegantly lined treasure boxes are worthy of harboring the most precious baubles. His wooden wonders of zebrawood, yellowheart, and tigerwood can be displayed as eye-catching works of art in an office or home, the focal point for a shelf or table display. One of these desk organizers will concealed the paperclips and rubber bands with executive style!

If you are looking for a traditional rectangular jewelry box, John has a selection of those as well. This magician crafts each piece with great care, showing off the wood's natural beauty. The distinctive color and grain assure each creation is one-of-a-kind. The organic fluid motion in his pieces is intriguing. Be sure to see his jewelry box tree sculptures. They have me imagining scenery from Dr. Seuss!

 The happy hum in John's woodshop comes from Minnesota, he ships to the United States, and can be found on Facebook. He also maintains a shop on etsy, where more of his incredible talent can be found. If you see a style you adore, but fancy another type of wood, no problem! Contact John and this woodworking wizard will be happy to undertake your custom order. These wooden heirlooms are sure to be passed down to the next generation.

Sandsational

Artistically encouraged as a child, this geologist-trained teacher has taken her love of nature down an unexpected avenue, and we discover Heidi's charming sand painting at NaturalEarthCraft on etsy. Sand from around the globe, in all its natural glory, is the only paint this artist uses to capture a zoo of animals and appealing landscapes, including waterfalls. She mixes sand just as a painter mixes paint to obtain the right hues. Her sandy art is finished with an acrylic fixative so there is no shedding.

Some of Heide's incredible works of art come with a stand for display. Some pieces are also captured on canvas bags and blank note cards.

Designing with sand is not enough for this creative rockhound, and she enjoys jewelry making with natural stones. She has a line of beautiful eyeglass chains, earrings, and necklaces. I marvel at the multicolored Indian agate pendant; such a beautiful stone!

Heide's groundbreaking art is unearthed in Ohio, she sends internationally, and can be found on Facebook. What a wonderful avatar! Find more of her marvelous talent on her website, including a video showing her creative process. Give her a shout if you are interested in donating sand from your part of the world to her earth toned pallet. If you are interested in immortalizing a loved one in the sands of the world, she is eager to design a piece just for you!

Kimekomi Eggs

Here is a beautiful Japanese folk art, which dates back several hundred years, and is wonderfully continued at Ornament Designs on etsy. Alyx works with smooth foam egg shapes to create designer Easter egg decorations that will last a lifetime. Her gorgeous patchwork eggs are available in a host of colors, patterns, and trims; some with sparkling sequence. If you are interested in a particular pattern and color, she will be happy to create the perfect egg for you!

Kimekomi seems like temari's little sister. The kimekomi technique on tucking fabric in a groove was first developed to dress wooden dolls with fabric scraps.

Like temari balls, kimekomi balls make uniquely designed Christmas ornaments, and Alyx has a selection of these in her shop. If you would like to make your own, she has kits available, which can be customized for color preference.

Alyx is in the groove in Japan, ships internationally, and can be found on Facebook. A wealth of information on the kimekomi style of crafting can be found on her website, where instructive videos are also available. I'm going to add this to my 'try it someday' list. I warn you; she makes it look very easy!

The Designer's Ark

These delightful creatures aren't available two by two, but limited runs ensure a unique selection on plush creations at stuffedsilly on ArtFire. Monkeys, dragons, and silly monsters are among the wonderful selection of original designs perfect for a birthday surprise. Lisa even has bunnies, ducks and chicks ready to go on an Easter basket ride. Each comes with a numbered tag including their official birthday!

With an education in fashion design, Lisa went to work in the fashion industry only to discover that her true passion was as a toy maker. She develops her patterns, which have continued to evolve over the years, with great attention to detail. Do you have an idea for a little pal, or maybe prefer a different color? Contact Lisa and she will be happy to work with you to make your custom one-of-a-kind toy.

Lisa will craft your new best friend in Canada, ship internationally, and can be found on Facebook. She has a website as well as an etsy shop where more of her endearing creations can be found. Lisa hopes to make you smile with her fanciful works. I believe we have discovered another one of Santa's satellite workshops.

Rock Painting

Put on your hiking boots, grab your walking stick, and explore the NatureTrail on etsy. Well worn river rocks are this artist's canvas of choice. Shelli paints the most amazing pet rocks with tile paint, which cures to her stone canvas. Her unique treasures are then finished with tile sealant, making a very durable work of art. Guinea pigs, hedgehogs, cats, bunnies, and birds are among the ark of friendly animals captured on stone.

The pièce de résistance has to be Shelli's one-of-a-kind blue dragon mom with her babies. Undertaken as a challenge to create an art piece with scales, I believe she has excelled in the task. This marvelous work of art is now waiting for a dragon aficionado to add it to their collection. Shelli has taken her artistic talents to canvas, capturing the perfect pair of owls peering down from their tree branch. She also has a selection of Scrabble tile pendants sure to delight any animal enthusiast.

Shelli dresses the rocks in Colorado and ships most items internationally. Explore her past sales to see more examples of her incredible talent. She welcomes requests, but due to the nature of her canvas selection, no two art works are ever the same. She can even immortalized your dear pet on a rock or canvas. After a meal, my cats seem to sleep like stones for hours!

A Parliament of Owls

Who's hiding in the fruit bowl? It may be a grape sized owl from LuaTuomi, on ArtFire, where you will discover the most amazing little owl charms, each with their own name and back story. Individually made, these wee ones are painted in vibrant colors and fanciful plumage patterns not found in any Audubon Field Guide. Lua must work with brushes the size of a cat's whisker and paint the size of a mist drop to create these dainty works of art.

Hand carved and painted by Lua's inspired hand, these one-of-a-kind treasures are sure to get a double-take hanging around your neck or proudly displayed under a glass dome in the curio cabinet. Any one of her necklaces would make a wonderful surprise for an owl collector!

Lua's owls are roosting in Finland and migrate internationally. Her domain, www.luatuomi.com, currently points to her ArtFire shop. Drop by her Facebook fan page and check out the photos for more owl friends. Be sure to see the owl reading a book, and the photo snapping owl!

Lovely Lampwork

I discovered the most beautiful glass perfume bottles that remind me of cocoons at BeadworxAZ on etsy. Jodi is a full-time artist who very efficiently turns her talents toward lampwork. She has an outstanding array of dainty vessels in a rainbow of colors made from Italian glass. She also creates eye-catching focal beads and jewelry. She christens each of her beloved works of art with a name. I adore the Tidal Moon pendant in fantastic blues, and the lively Fire Dance in red, orange, and yellow.








Her creative talents don't stop at lampwork as Jodi crochets, works with polymer clay, leather, and wood burning. Hanging one of her sun catcher wind chimes will certainly attract the magpie looking for nest adornments. Be sure to see her embellished driftwood faery wands, and one-of-a-kind bejeweled knitting needles.

Jodi works her magic in Arizona, ships internationally, and can be found on Facebook. If you are in the Gilbert area, ask about her teaching schedule. She enjoys custom orders and is trade friendly with other etsy shops. If you are ready to indulge a love of the sparkly, spend a few minutes strolling through her fanciful shop.

Box it Up

I have a wooden treasure box I picked up in Calgary many, many years ago, and it still smells of cedar. Beautiful keepsake boxes to last several lifetimes are found at BoxTower on ArtFire. Alexandra has a love of huskies and an eye for the intrigue of Celtic knots, incorporating them in many of her works of art. She uses wood burning (pyrography) skills to create amazing designs then expertly colors them in with oil pencils and wood stains. Her unique boxes are then sealed for an enduring finish, protecting the color and design.

Alexandra's delightful boxes come in a range of shapes and sizes; hearts, flowers, triangles, and stars among the traditional squares and rectangles. More shapes will be coming soon. She recently introduced a line of bookmarks, which are the perfectly affordable way to own a little piece of her incredible talent. The Siberian Husky is charmingly simple in its design and sure to delight any lover of the breed.

Alexandra heats it up in Illinois, sends internationally, and can be found on Facebook. If you have a shape, color, and design in mind, be sure to contact her. An elegant wedding day, anniversary, or precious memories box for a newborn will be treasured a lifetime. Surprise dad this Father's Day with an exceptional box for his deck of cards or checkers!

Egg Hunting Baskets

When I collected eggs, I never had as fine a basket as you will find at northernpinestudios on ArtFire. Any one of Cheryl's designs is sure to impress the hens, and they may even try to nest in it if you set it down too long. Come to think of it, I never had a fancy apple basket when I ventured into the orchard to get apples for pie. Don't be fooled by the splendor of these colorful woven beauties. With over 3 decades of experience, this artist weaves working baskets that are just as useful with a dried flower arrangement.

Cheryl has several heart shaped baskets to choose from for special Valentine gifts. The mini heart baskets would make lovely engagement party or wedding table decorations. Of course, she has a host of charming Easter basket candidates to delight young hearts year after year. If you have a treasured basket that needs loving repair, she may be able to work magic in her repair clinic.

Cheryl tangles the reeds, grapevines and sea grass in Michigan, ships internationally, and can be found on etsy. I like the blue snowflake wall decoration very much, and you know how I adore blue things. Stop by her Facebook fan page and marvel over the lively photos of Egg Gathering Baskets; more impressive examples of her craft. If you have a style or color combination in mind to match a wedding or special event, be sure to contact Cheryl. She is happy to weave the ideal basket for you!

A Paper House

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky. They're all together ooky... Are you singing along yet? To my delight, I ran across the Addams' Family home at themoonlightmuse on zibbet. This amazing artist uses mad paper crafting skills to create very impressive 3D shadow box homes. She has also captured the Bates' house from the movie Psycho. Marcey's incredible works of art would be very much at home hanging in a real estate or architect's office, and sure to be real conversation pieces wherever they are proudly displayed.


Marcey has also turned her artistic talents to polymer clay creating a selection of magnets, pendants, and wee sculptures. How cute is that little zombie bunny magnet! and the RIP tombstone and crow looks like it belongs in the Addams' yard. Be sure to see Ruby the red dragon with her hoard of treasure!

Marcey trims her shingles in Michigan, ships internationally, can be found on Facebook, and has an etsy shop. She does a fantastic job with the doom and gloom!

Folding Ribbon

This creative jewelry had me quite puzzled when I first saw it. Stop by ChasingAlila on etsy and take a closer look at the eye catching statement pieces Lia has been creating. Her amazing wearable art necklaces are absolutely gorgeous. She has a braided collection in lovely color combinations. I find the black and white memorizing. An accordion collection is just getting started and the lead piece is an awesome dark blue beauty. Necklace lengths are adjustable to achieve the perfect fall.

Lia folds her wonderful works of art in California, ships internationally, and can be found on Facebook. If you have the perfect color combination in mind, be sure to contact her with your idea. She is happy to work with you to coordinate a wedding or any special occasion.