Featured Artisan - GlassSulptureOrg - Its Better Handmade

This week's featured artisan of the Its Better Handmade guild is multi-talented Joy Alyssa Day of Spherical Magic, a professional artist, working in glass blowing, fusing, molding, casting, etching, painting, carving, and engraving.

Her shops are filled with gorgeous Wow items - from Pet Memorials to Jewelry, Ornaments, Christmas Cards and much, much more. Check them out here.

Having lived in Venice, Italy and visited the glass factories there, I can appreciate the skills and techniques she demonstrates in her beautiful creations. One of my many favourites is this Yellow Sun Cast Art Glass Bowl

Stunning!

I also love her glass pumpkins. How beautiful is this?


Check out some of the beautiful pieces she created for some very famous people and places . Aren't they awesome? See them in her Gallery.
 

I can continue to rave about each of her creations, but I encourage you to see them all yourself at:

http://glasssculpture.org
http://glassnebula.com
http://sphericalmagic.com
http://imperialearth.com

and link up with Joy Alyssa at:
http://www.facebook.com/JoyAlyssaDay
http://www.twitter.com/Joy_Alyssa_Day
http://www.linkedin.com/in/joyalyssaday

Peace.

Ottawa Springtime vacation memories

Recently I spent several days in Ottawa. I was there to see the Canadian Tulip Festival, to take a river boat cruise, and as well as for the Victoria Day long weekend.
This blog, about my trip to Ottawa, is divided into 3 parts with each part being uploaded over the next little while.

The first part highlights the Canadian Tulip Festival. The Canadian Tulip Festival has grown to become the largest Tulip Festival in the world.
It was established to preserve the heritage of Canada's role in liberating the Dutch during World War II.
The first Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953. 2012 was the 60th commemorative edition of this botanical spectacle.
The festival has expanded to an event of 18 days, showcasing over 1 million tulips throughout Canada's Capital Region.
The most spectacular display of tulips is found in Commissioner's Park, at Dow's Lake,
where close to 300, 000 tulips in 60 different varieties bloom each year in 30 flower beds.

For more detailed information about the festival, see here:

And here is a small selection of tulip photos from the festival. I hope you enjoy them!

For anyone who has never checked out the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, it's a lovely chance to spend a Spring day in the midst of nature's beauty.

Tell me what you think about this blog post, share your own experiences if you have been to one of the past Tulip Festivals, or even your thoughts about tulips in general.

I'd love to read your comments.

Featured Artisan - Howling Caterpillars - June Week 5

This week's week's featured artisan of the It's Better Handmade guild is Brenda of HowlingCaterpillars.
I am intrigued by the name and would love to know the origin but it seems very apt for this unique artisan who has a hilarious sense of humour. Check out her Blog  http://howlingcaterpillars.blogspot.com. You will be howling with laughter too!

Brenda makes all shapes and sizes of DreamWebs. She calls them DreamWebs because as she says: "I hesitate to call them true Dreamcatchers, because I am not a Native American. My interest in this Native American Craft started with my Aunt who's an honorary Navajo, teaching me the basics of wrapping the hoops and tying the webs and I've gone on from there. My products are quite non-traditional and every one is special and has it's own name. Each DreamWeb comes with it's name and the Legend of the DreamCatcher."


I love learning about other cultures and I have many books and artifacts on Native American culture but her interpretation of their Craft through her DreamWebs is fascinating and creative.

I love her Anasazi Challenge Piece (below) and the legend that goes along with it. Read the colourful legend in her ArtFire Shop.


She has many other one-of-a-kind handmade items in her shop, including T-shirts, Good Karma Points, etc. Head on over to browse, you will be delighted.

Howling Caterpillares can also be found here:
Etsy
ArtFire
Blog

Featured Artisan - Heartandsowdesigns - June Week 4

This week's featured It's Better Handmade guild artisan is Gail of Heartandsowdesigns.

Gail says: "My inspiration is sharing from my heart to yours as in the name Heart & Sow. I want to sow seeds of love into others lives as an inspiration to them. I take my business very seriously and want each and every customer satisfied with my product".

Gail is a very crafty lady specializing in creating aprons, blankets, hair accessories, scarves and scripture cloths.  She has been sewing for over 30 years (Wow!) and enjoys seeing her finished creations worn by others. Read her Bio to learn more about her.

This is a perfect example of how her creations can be enjoyed.


and how about this patriotic item?


Gail also says that "Although I do have items in my shop, most of my items are custom orders. My customers pick the style of the item they like and share an idea or print in mind and I create a one of a kind look just for them.
Custom orders is the backbone of Heart & Sow Designs".

Contact Gail to have your one-of-a-kind custom piece made just for you.

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Heartandsowdesigns
http://www.heartandsowdesigns.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook.com/heartandsowdesigns
http://www.twitter.com/heartandsow
http://heartnsow.com

Featured Artisan - MyEuropeanTouch - June Week 3

This week's featured artisan of the It's Better Handmade Guild blog ring is Monika of MyEuropeanTouch.

When you browse through her studio, you will be amazed at her talent and technique in being able to take bits of broken plates, glass and china to create what is definitely one-of-a-kind mosaic pieces for home decor. Besides being able to put the pieces together, she shows her artistic side with the beautiful designs she incorporates into every piece.
Please take a minute to read her interesting Bio and get to know her.

It was difficult to decide which was my favourite item, but I fell in love with this one. Imagine it centre stage in a sunroom - comfortable chairs, lots of pillows, a favourite book - with the sunlight beaming down and highlighting the lovely colors. It will fit with any style of decor.


We all have kids in our lives whether they are ours, or family's and or friends so I zeroed in on these adorable functional and heirloom pieces.


Great gift ideas.


I invite you to visit Monika's studio to see what I mean and then come back to my blog and leave a comment to share your favourite.

You can see all of Monika's work at:
ArtFire
and 'Like' her on:
www.facebook.com/myeuropeantouch
and 'Follow' her on:
www.twitter.com/myeuropeantouch
www.myeuropeantouch.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading. See you back here soon.
Judy

Featured Artisan - Pin and Tack - June week 2

This week's featured artisan shop from the Its Better Handmade guild is PinAndTack, a boutique filled with pins, tacks and delightful treats for your home, office or gifting.

Corrinne is the  owner of PinAndTack and she loves all things that sparkle and shine! Rhinestones, glitter and anything that adds bling will most likely be found on her creations. She says her studio is an explosion of random supplies as she creates in a lot of different areas. I love the explosion of colour in her whimsical items.

Something I use almost every day is a journal to jot down my design ideas, thoughts and to-do's and I found some delightful journals in Corrinne's boutique. They are just the right size to carry in a handbag to have at a moment's notice and I would like to share my favourite with you: (isn't it delightfully feminine?)


I also keep one in the car for when I get a call to pick up groceries or the dry-cleaning, etc.. and these smaller sizes are perfect. Just reaching for this one is sure to make you smile and I bet they will bring back childhood memories of hearing the stories.


There's lots more to browse in PinAndTack's boutique, so head on over and cheer up your day.

Follow and Like PinAndTack on:
Facebook
Twitter
Artfire
Etsy
Blog

Do leave a comment below and share your favourite items from PinAndTack's shop.
Thanks for visiting my blog.

Featured artisan - Daffydill - June week 1

Today I would like to invite you in to one of my fellow Canadian artisans' online shops. Deb of Daffydill is amazing in that she is able to take bits and pieces of vintage items that have seen better days and re-engineer them into up-to-date sought after jewellery. Deb started jewellery making with beading, but has since incorporated several other artisan methods - crochet, wire wrapping, weaving to name a few.

You can read all about her journey here:
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/bio/daffydill

She has a variety of jewellery accessories to suit any occasion and two of my favourites are:
(love the colours and design)


and these earrings:


Something old is definitely new again!

Hop on over to browse Deb's shops, and share your favourite item by leaving a comment below.

Visit her online at:
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/daffydill
http://www.etsy.com/shop/daffydills
and follow her on:
https://www.facebook.com/Daffydills