French beurrier - butter dish

This is a ceramic butter dish I made. The butter goes in the top portion and water goes in the bottom portion. When the top is placed into the bottom, the water forms a seal around the butter, preventing it from going rancid. You can then leave it out of the refrigerator, and you always have 'spreadable' butter!

burned-wood bead necklace

The main beads on this necklace are twigs from my cedar tree in the backyard. I stripped off the bark, sawed them into manageable sizes, let them dry for 2 months, and then drilled holes for stringing them up. I used a wood burner with different tips to create the patterns on the beads. I think it looks very organic and perhaps even a little tribal... something to wear with your leopard print dress!

3 decorative glass bottles

These are regular wine bottles that I decorated using porcelain paint,fimo (polymer clay), rhinestone studs and glass baubles. The studs and baubles were glued on after firing the bottles in the oven to harden the paint and fimo. They were originally used as oil lamps. I had them filled with lantern oil and had a special wick that rested in the opening. But now they just sit empty on my window sill and I love the way the light shines through them.

painted sofa table

This was an inexpensive sofa table that I now use as a entrance table when you step in from the vestibule. It was "made in China" and looked like every other cheap piece of self assembly furniture. I took some old paint from leftover wall projects (all the colours come from one of the walls in our house!) and painted it very spontaneously. I then applied a crackle medium to get a funky texture, changed the drawer knobs.. and voila... something unique and eyecatching as you walk into the house!

small stained glass lamp

Here's another first... my first stained glass lampshade. I used a styrofoam mold for the shape and I used leftover pieces of glass and some round glass drops. There was no pattern to follow... I just made it up as I went along. I love the uneven bottom. The metal base was store bought (not very attractive) and I'd like to create my own ceramic base one of these days!

set of art trading cards

These are art trading cards (or ATCs as we like to call them). These were done for the purose of trading with other artists. Each one is an original drawing done with colored pencils. We meet once a month and trade our small art masterpieces (each card must be 2.5" x 3.5") with each other. I have been doing this for about 4 years now, and I am always amazed at the new and creative things that come out of the same people month after month. A "little" art goes a long way...

small ceramic "bump" pot

I call this a bump pot... because it is so crude (crafted by hand without using the pottery wheel) and I added the small bumps (dots) on top. It's about 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep. I like working with the clay... and moulding by hand. It's really very relaxing and the finshed pieces suit my funky aesthetic taste.

blue green painted floorcloth

This floorcloth was done very spontaneously... unlike my other creations. I wanted to let loose and just let the colour go wild. I love the effect and I really like the way it looks on the floor. Great for the kitchen... all spills are camouflaged!

multi-patterned painted floorcloth

This is another one of my painted floorcloths. It measures about 2.5 feet by 3.5 feet. I love mixing patterns together with bright colours. I loved this combo so much, I made placemats with the same design (using the same technique as the floorcloth)...only smaller. It makes for a pretty funky table setting!

long black necklace

This necklace was made with only black beads. The different materials (glass, polymer clay, wood, and plastic) shapes, and sizes are what give it, it's character. It can be worn long or wound several times around the neck (or wrist for that matter). I love the monochromatic theme and the assymetry of the pattern. Very versatile with any outfit!