January Full MOON #6

Hello Ladies,

Having two spots this month presented me with a challenge because I wanted them to be different!!!!  As you all know, I have used this opportunity to try new mediums as well so wanted to end with at least one new skill at the end of the Altar Project.

I am very focused on my current need for a vacation in the sun!  This led me to the top spot which starts with a photograph of the amazing blue waters inside of a cave in Italy on the Island of Capri.  The water is so starkly beautiful and amazing given the limited light inside of the caves.  I have a stash of vintage jewelry parts and pieces and one of them is an adorable sterling silver fish that at one time was a brooch.  Now it swims amongst the plants and waters on the Island of Capri!  It’s whimsical and light hearted.

I have been very interested in using concrete in jewelry so I decided this was the month!  I chose sterling silver.  I corrugated the metal and used that as the bezel creating a shape that was pleasing to me  I wanted a textured and smooth finish so it has a brushed satin texture overall and the high points were brought to a high shine.  Life has both smooth and rough roads and this piece was going to have the same.  The concrete is usually a gray color but I wanted to add my own bit of sparkle so I incorporated opalescent pigments to the concrete in a purple tone to match the synthetic lab created dark amethyst.  The combination of concrete and a gemstone are so intriguing to me!  Hard and soft combined.  For the background I chose a photo of bougainvillea that I took in Amalfi, Italy.  The lighting doesn’t show the true colors of the pendant I think it is much prettier in person and hope you both agree.

Both pieces are rooted in the colors of summer which I long for right now.

Nancy, I hope you like your installations and am excited to present them to you in person on Sunday!  You will need to tape or glue your backgrounds down and tape or glue your little plant with swimming fish too.  The pendant can sit inside it’s spot until you are ready to wear it or gift it to someone, whatever you choose to do.

Many blessings ladies,

Lynn

November Full Moon #2

Hello Ladies,

I was thinking throughout the month about now excited I am for Thanksgiving….we are always in Dallas with my elderly in-laws, 92 & 87.  They are healthy, happy, and love our visits.  We love them too.  So, you would think that I would automatically be thinking about making a Thanksgiving themed altar project.  However, I have the Christmas bug!!!!!  I usually have all of my shopping done before Thanksgiving and this year is no different.  That allows me to really enjoy December and all of the parties, cooking, and visiting that goes on between Thanksgiving and the New Year.

I decided to utilize a cute little angel that I had.  It needed to be painted which was very challenging for me as I am not trained by or related to either Hummel or LLadro!!!!  I know he is a little rustic and sports a very nice tan but what would you expect of a heavenly being?  They are always in the sunshine!  Of course, his wings are iridescent.  I found a beautiful card with dimensional pointsettias and included with the card was a cute little pin which I have included as part of your altar package.  I hope that you like it and that it helps you focus on Christmas and all of the things you have to be Thankful for during this holiday season.

I am thankful for all of you and the opportunity to work together on this amazing project.

Warm Regards and Blessings!!!!

Lynn V

October Full Moon #3

Hello Ladies,

This month has been CRAZY BUSY!  I took a few hours for myself and visited Peg at the Best Of The Northwest show and what a treat that was!!!  Relaxing and fun.  Her work, as always was beautiful and her booth warm and inviting.  It wasn’t difficult for me to find something beautiful for my mom’s birthday in March!

This month my spot is for Lou, who, if I remember correctly not only LOVES HALLOWEEN but has a birthday on October 13!!!!

Early in this art exchange several of you used Shrink Film aka Shrinky Dink so for many months I have been committed to trying it!!!!  THIS IS THE MONTH!  I also wanted to introduce some of you to Pebeo Vitrea 160 paints (since you are all so creative some of you may have used them in the past).  For those of you have not heard of them or had a chance to try these amazing paints I will provide a brief overview of the process.  These paints are meant for hand painting glass and dishes.  You paint it on.  Let it dry for 24 hours.  After it has dried completely you place it in the oven, turn it on to 300 degrees for 40 minutes.  When it’s done you turn off the oven, open the door, and let the piece air cool because it is glass and will crack if you cool it too quickly.  TADA!!!!

I decided to cut out a cute and adorable pumpkin in Brass.  I used the process of chasing and repousse to give it texture and volume.  I then hand mixed the colors that I wanted and created a deep pumpkin orange color with a touch of pearlescence.  You have probably figured out  like that little bit of pop in my pieces that it gives.  I wanted FLAMES for the background so you could see it through the HAPPY PUMPKIN’S eyes which would give it just a little bit of menace but not too much.  Last, but certainly not least,  I needed an adorable Halloween Witch flying past the moon on her broom!!!  This is where the Shrinky Dink came in.  I found my witch, printed her out, cut her out, then put her in the oven to shrink to size.  I hope the pictures help capture as much of the process as possible.  The pumpkin color was a little darker after it went in the oven but it is still a pumpkin!

It will be front heavy so I would suggest hot glue to hold it in if you like it and want to keep it.  It is glued to the background.

I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Halloween this year!             

Many blessings to everyone,

Lynn Vernon

September Full Moon #2

I have always enjoyed the organic nature of plants and animals.  The unique patterns, textures and shapes that they have are of particular interest.  My September installation started with a pod.  I made a mold of the pod and then I mixed up very fine cement and poured it into the mold.  While the cement was curing I started searching through my papers for something that said “use me please”!  Found some beautiful muted gray paper with flocked black circles and I adored it!  I cut a piece of mat black paper to the size of the space.  I wanted dimension as well.  Hmmmm, what to use to add volume without weight.  No popsicle sticks or balsa wood in sight.  HA – wooden chopsticks!!!  Hot glued a broken piece to the black paper and then hot glued my beautiful grey and black paper to that.  The color scheme was chosen!

Being a metalsmith who has had no time at the bench all summer except for these projects, it had to have a piece of metal!  I folded copper mesh sheet into an accordion and hot glued that down. 

Once the cement pod was cured I used two different types of paint to give it the colors I wanted so it would match the overall color scheme of the space.  I used Golden fluid acrylics in Iridescent Stainless Steel which is a coarse paint and for highlighting the ridges I used the same brand in Bone Black.   Once the paint was dry I glued on three iridescent half drilled peacock pearls.  I love how the round pearls carry forward the black flocked dots.  Last, but not least, I hot glued the cement pod to the copper.

I love how dimensional it is.  I wish the pictures could show how the paint on the cement pod glistens from different angles.

I actually think that I would love to make this type of project again on a larger scale and frame it as art!  =)

Lynn H – I hope enjoy your altar installation!!!

Warm Regards Ladies!!!

Lynn V

AUGUST FULL MOON #10

Hello Ladies
I think that life influenced my project this month for sure!  I wanted to try working with paper cement clay which has a very heavy texture that I like.  I created a cloud with a little pocket for the hand carved bone moon to rest in.  I love the face on this moon because it is so peaceful…..serenity is so important in my life right now.  More on the paper cement.  It has this beautiful grey and white bulk to it.  Originally I tried to paint it thinking I would layer on the colors to create what already existed but in a more refined way.  I started on the back – thank goodness – because I HATED the fact that the paint literally covered up the texture!  I decided that the colors were perfect but needed just a little bit of mica powder to add a shimmer.  I used a touch of lacquer to make sure it adhered which darkened my cloud just a little.  Given our weather this week it seemed appropriate for it to be a storm cloud.  I truly love thunder and lightning storms.  Paradoxically, I hate rain!  I can handle short lived torrential down pours but hate the drizzle and general grey days of rain we experience.  HOWEVER, I do so love the greenery it produces and the sound of running water in rivers and streams.

For the background I used one of the beautiful papers that Peg sent me and added sparkling gold star brads to finish off my night sky with full moon!  As so often the moon is seen between clouds here I think it is appropriate to have it partially covered.

Many blessings!!

Lynn Vernon

JULY FULL MOON #9

This month of July  created a interesting twist of creation as the Little Altars project has 11 artists and 12 months of exchange. I worked for days creating a schedule of exchange that would be as random as possible, in order to keep this fresh and ever changing.  And during the exchange each person would have 1 month to create just for them selves.

What occurred in July was 3 of our Artist all had their names and created  a varied bounty of delights.

 Here is Kimberly Kostals" piece Pennies& Cupid Doll 

Waiting to hear the inspiration for this little altar

 Kathy's 52 inspirations

Lynn Vernons' Inspired by Viking knit

JULY MOON #3

Hi Peg,

I hope this finds you well!

This month the Altar project was for myself and as you know the spaces in my box are long and narrow.  I decided I wanted to experiment with Viking Knit.  I created my own mandrels with different sizes and numbers of holes.  I then worked with both colored and sterling silver wire.  I worked through several variations of the Viking Knit process and transitioned some of my samples through all three in one piece, single, double, and triple.  I also used various gauges of wire.  I found the process VERY relaxing and enjoy doing it while I sit with my husband watching TV.  

Many months ago my son-in-law asked me to make him a Mjolnir and I wanted a handmade chain to go with it.  I am carving the Mjolnir out of wax and will have it cast for his 29^th birthday next month so figuring out the right size for the bail was important to know before carving since the chain will be an integral part. 

I’m very pleased with my Viking knit skills!  Tried once before years ago but had a mental block.  I think I’m over it now!  =)

Many blessings to you my dear!

 Lynn Vernon

JUNE FULL MOON #4

Hi Cyn,

I hope you like my little creation.  I just spent the last two weeks in Italy and a good portion of that time on the Amalfi coast in  a very small town called Praiano.  We stayed in the old part of town in a small two bedroom Villa that could only be reached by foot.  No road traffic at all.  No Wi-Fi, no TV.  The main road was an actual 350 steps down from where our little villa sat on the hillside.  Another 400+ steps and many more feet of switchbacks led to a beautiful beach area called La Sibilla.  A small tiny cove where fisherman tie their boats to buoys and row in to shore, water taxi’s depart for various attractions, and I dug for gold – well, maybe not gold but pottery, porcelain, sea glass, and tile shards!  Your creation this month should fit nice and snug in your box.  I would glue it in if you like it so that it doesn’t fall forward since it is slightly front heavy.

So, the story of its creation:  I took beautiful brown sea glass that was collected on a trip to Hawaii and used that as a mosaic for the back.  I then chose to use copper to mirror the beautiful browns in the shard itself.  I corrugated the copper and cut it into a shape that mirrored the shard.  I faceted the sides of the shard because I needed something for the wire hold on to and liked it so much I continued it down the side.  The sole factor driving the creation of the piece was something to highlight the shard and leave its origns to the imagination.  Just think about the very rocky beach it was found on, in a far off land.  Who knows what life it held before I uncovered it by digging in the rocks with a stick at the waters edge.

Have a wonderful month and thanks again for my installation last month.  I really do like it.

Warm Regards,

Lynn Vernon

MAY PINK FLOWER MILK MOON #4

Hi Peg, Here’s my May installment.

Once again, my own collected and unfinished treasures provided the inspiration for this month’s Little Altars spot.  Since I was making the spot “for myself” meaning my exchange this month was with me, myself, and I, this was an interesting and sort of indulgent endeavor.  Some sort of serendipitous spell came over me as I wondered around my little places of projects and treasures, and I pretty quickly came up with something that I thought I’d really like.  Nice when there are very few false starts, and that’s what happened this time. 

I’m an elephant fan, so the opportunity to use an elephant bead that I’d probably never put on a piece of jewelry was a plus.  And the flat beaded disk has been teasing me to do something with it ever since I made it.  Of course it was supposed to be part of a larger project, but now it’s in a perfectly happy place, pretending to be a water place for the elephant.  Both now live on top of my currently favorite play materials: watercolor paper, watercolors and gouache.

It is with great excitement that I present this month’s Little Altar installation.  Having read that Beth, the receiver of my little creation, is a Landscape Designer and Gardener with a love for nature I began contemplating what new skill I could acquire while making her something she would appreciate.  Then it came to me in a flash!  This past year I participated in a collaborative jewelry exhibition as part of the International Glass Bead show.  127 Artists from around the world submitted their designs to a juried set of judges.  The judges selected 40 glass artists work.  Then 40 metalsmiths were invited to create 3 pieces with the beads they received.  One for the Glass Bead artist, one for the Gallery to sell, and one to keep.  I was partnered with an amazing artist whose name is Leslie Kaplan.  Why, you might ask is this important???  Well, Leslie is a professional Landscape Designer!!!!!  Her second or equal love is glass and she creates amazing pieces she sells through her company Rush Creek Glass.  On her website you can see that she creates amazing glass works and stunning gardens!  Check it out here:  http://rushcreekglass.com.    I also happened to have one of her Limited Edition, glass flower cabochons that still needed to be set!!!!  Hence, an opportunity was born and Beth is the new owner of a truly one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.  It seems to me that this month’s altar is a match made in heaven and I sure hope Beth likes jewelry! 

Because the flower is so beautiful all on its own I created a very simple setting for it that showcases it, not the setting.  I used a floral motif to roll print the 24G sterling silver and soldered the first section together.  Because the flower is glass it had to be set in place via a cold connection and the only thing safe enough was epoxy.  It is slightly larger than the space so I created a little back drop with beautiful purple ribbon to be glued down and provided a hook that can be glued to the roof of the space to hang the pendant from when not being worn.  I would cut the screws off the hook and glue to the front of the frame but you can choose to do what you would like.

The pictures do not do the colors of the glass justice as the opalescence of some don’t reflect well in photos.  Chain shown only for pictures and is not included.

So, while I didn’t learn a new skill, I sure hope I made the right decision!

Warm Regards and many blessings to all,

LynnV

SEED MOON 2

Happy SEED MOON!

I love the smell of fresh cut grass and new bark (lumber too!).  I love spring, sunshine, flowers, and the promise of warm days to come.  I plant new things every year and watch them grow.  I quite literally check things almost every day to see even the most miniscule fraction of growth.  My husband laughs at me when I make him look at the tiniest first tomato that is barely the size of a 1mm pearl.

I recently used Polymer clay for the first time and decided to try something again this month.  Somehow, I couldn’t keep my flowers small enough, they wanted to be big and be worn instead of hiding inside their little shadow box all of the time so I had to design my box to “hold” two small flowers that could be easily removed.

I wanted fresh grass, blue skies, and a puffy cloud.  The cloud, seemingly ever present here in April (and most of the rest of the year), is the reason we have so much green and so many beautiful flowers and trees.  I used a two-step process for making my lawn.  I cut tiny little pieces of grass from my clay and baked them.  Then I hand planted each individual blade, approximately 50, with tiny tweezers and then baked again to complete the process.  Cut to shape and it sits neatly in front of my hand painted sky with glittery cloud.  This grassy foreground then acts as a stand to keep my flowers standing up.  Tucked behind each flower is a sterling silver earring wire so they can be picked from their perch in the grass and worn.  They seemed lonely to me and I wanted a pendant to match.  Wouldn’t fit in the box so it is just a little added bonus.  The flowers were made with Polymer clay and just before baking I hand painted the leaves with powdered pigments to add a pearlescent shine.

To install in the box, just glue the back piece “sky” down, slide the grass in, and then place the earrings behind in the grass with their ear wires hidden behind.  Keep your necklace on hand and wear when the mood blooms in your heart.

I hope that Gwen likes my little altar installation and that the color of the flowers are something that will compliment her wardrobe on occasion.

Best wishes to all,

Lynn

Snow Moon 3

This month I’ve been thinking a lot about doing a better job of writing down my ideas, sketching things for future reference, etc.

So my idea was to make a little book titled Moon Beam Dreams with inspirational quotes on every other page.  The book has double backed tape on the back and should be installed to the far right of the space so it opens up easily.  I photographed the front, the first and second pages as a visual reference.  The quotes contained in the book include:

Time clocks on front left referencing the passage of time

1.      Believe it’s possible

2.      Something to remember

3.      Scatter sunshine

4.      Never give up

5.      Magical

6.      Surround yourself with greatness

7.      Sprinkle it with Fabulous

8.      Make pretty stuff

9.      It’s all good

Lynn Vernon