An Ode To The Forest Floor by Muse Jenn Pipe

My internal GPS is normally set to the ocean, but today I want to pay homage to the restorative powers of the forest floor. A few years ago, I was feeling burnt out by the fast and furious pace of my 21st century life. The nonstop responsibilities of being a business owner were wearing me down. My husband and I were having a difficult time connecting due to our opposite schedules. And my daughters were involved with multiple activities that had us playing “divide and conquer” most weekends.

I joked one particularly stressful night that I needed some Calgon to literally take me away. Alone. For at least two uninterrupted days. I put out feelers on Facebook to see if anyone had any tips for a peaceful, remote location I could explore. My criteria included no chain hotels, no bed and breakfasts, and bonus points for no TVs or wifi. I was hoping to not see a single soul or feel pressure to remain plugged in.

A friend suggested the Getaway cabins in New Hampshire (they have outposts scattered all over the country), and I was sold! I booked a midweek trip, packed a bunch of art supplies and reading material, and told my family it was my goal to be completely unplugged (i.e. “Don’t call me, I’ll call you”).

When I tell you it was absolute nirvana, I am not exaggerating! Each cabin was perfectly distanced from the others and nestled among canopies of trees. They were also outfitted with all the modern amenities you could want (including the comfiest beds and linens, cooktop, dishes, bathrooms with running water, firepits, and picnic tables)! I was in heaven! That single getaway was a commitment to both myself and my creative process. I drew, wrote, mapped out content for new classes and workshops, and took the most delicious naps after exploring the area on foot. I left feeling more recharged and relaxed than I had in years and I vowed to give myself a gift of at least two of these trips per year (which I was able to do until covid hit).

With this MUSE project, I wanted to pay homage to that forest, those cabins, and the forest floor that cradled and restored me over and over again. 

I started with both colors of Apoxie Sculpt and I sculpted a variety of mushrooms, adding little details as I went. Once the Apoxie Sculpt was dry (*note: the black clay takes longer to cure than the white clay), I coated the mushrooms with clear gesso. Once primed, they were ready for multiple coats of VerDay finish to give them that earthy, mossy vibe. 

I then gathered up some moss and tree bark and got to assembling my “forest floor.” I used a tree slice with a raw edge as my substrate. The moss was adhered with a hot glue gun, and then I arranged my fungi just so and used the hot glue gun to adhere that as well. The final touch was a few adorable little metal acorn embellishments that were also finished with VerDay. I scattered those on the forest floor as well. 

This is different than the work I usually create, but I love how it came out. Just looking at it transports me back to those sublime weekends by the forest floor. I’m going to display it in a place where it will continue to ground me on a daily basis until I can return to my cherished nirvana. 

Thanks for reading! I hope this inspires you to both create AND escape! 

The Art Of Impermanence- Jenn Pipe

Let me tell you about some of my favorite moments from 2020:

The trips my husband and I took to the salt marsh during Golden Hour where we watched a nest full of fledgling osprey learn to fly and catch fish were some of my favorite moments. Or the time the snowy egret perched on the most perfect branch and allowed us to watch it preen and pose—as if it put on that show just for us.

There was the time when my daughter and I were walking around the nature preserve and a baby deer came right out of the brush next to us, as if in greeting, and then bounded down the path behind us. The moment was so fleeting—barely a breath—that neither one of us, despite already having our phones in our hands, were able to catch a picture of it (and I can’t help but think that was by design).

There were those mornings when my internal alarm would wake me up just in time to watch the sun light up the sky and for Mother Nature to paint the most perfect canvas. Mornings where I would rush down the stairs to get a photo from the deck before the light changed and the moment was gone.

Running across the parking lot at the supermarket when a biblical storm showed up, seemingly out of nowhere, drenching us and all of our groceries to the core. Then going home and jumping in the massive puddles that had formed in the yard, not a care in the world.

There were the countless moments of tenderness and spontaneous laughter between my daughters as they quarantined together this year, largely cut off from their respective social circles. Moments that hopefully remind them that they are each other’s first and best friend.

I spent a lot of time watching the massive tree next to our new deck the past four months. I discovered that the tree has a few branches that form the shape of a heart. And if I time it just right, I can capture a photo of those heart-shaped branches cradling the sun. I marveled at the tree’s strength as I watched it weather some pretty powerful ocean storms without losing nary a branch.

These moments are just the tip of the iceberg. And although they are vastly different, they all have one thing in common: IMPERMANENCE. Impermanence is defined as the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time. 2020 was a powerful teacher for me and one of the things it (re)taught me was the art of impermanence. Fleeting moments. Wisps of life and love. Gossamer things.

One of my favorite things to say in 2020 was, “But we will never get THIS EXACT moment ever again.” I would say it when I was chasing sunsets, watching storms roll across the ocean, taking a walk in the neighborhood we had walked 100 times before, during beach-combing and sun-bathing excursions, while voting and volunteering, during mealtimes, and when spending time together as a family. It became my mantra: a way for me to seek out joy, be 100% present, focus on the things that truly mattered, and find the beauty in a broken, broken world.

I thought I would like to give this concept a go in my art, as well. I have been feeling kind of flat and uninspired lately. The creative and artistic ideas aren’t beating down my door like they typically do. I thought it would be a good idea to experiment and play and create a bunch of things without gluing them down. Focus on the joy of the process instead of working towards a definitive outcome and see if I could free up the bottleneck to my creativity in some way…

Here’s what I did: I started simple with a piece of square kraft paper. I sketched a very simple silhouette onto it with a white gel pen. This silhouette would be my constant. Then, I gathered a bunch of materials from my office and set out to see what I could make with them. How fun it was to arrange and rearrange things until I felt I had them “just right.” How exhilarating it was to simply sweep the canvas clean and start over when I was done. How representative of life and nature to not glue things down and to enjoy the moment while it is here and then let it pass.

I ended up spending a couple quiet nighttime hours in my home office while I made these pieces. It was really fun to play without expectations or any direction or definitive outcome.

The first of the three is called “Winged Beauty.” In this piece, I started with the crimped pieces of paper that often accompany Sandra’s craft blanks. I turned those into hair. I then cut a piece of the Halo Dresden Trim into eyelash shapes, with petals from a mum as eyebrows. A Mexican Milagro Charm was used as a nose and I found a piece of bark that was perfect as some pouty lips. I used some balloon flowers, moss, and evergreens for the bodice and then I added the word “beauty” as a necklace. A set of Raphael Wings gives this piece an ethereal, angelic quality, while the “crown” was made with a piece from the Milagros III set.

The second piece is called “Grit and Grace” and my favorite part of this compilation is the eyes made from two of the Finger Ring Rosaries! I used an assortment of seed beads for the hair, a piece of a twig for the nose, and felt for the mouth. A sword from the Excalibur set, one of the resin hearts, and the snake from the Hieroglyphs set round out the Relics & Artifacts pieces for this installation of impermanent art.

My third and final piece is called “Undercurrent” and, with the exception of some polished shell pieces I found in my favorite cove, it exclusively uses products from the Relics & Artifacts line. I started with a large wooden Helios for the head, the same Dresden eyes from figure #1, and then a wide assortment of Sandra’s ocean-themed craft blanks. You will find pieces from Siren’s Song, Neptune,Cascara, Grotto, Triton, and Mermaid all working harmoniously together. 

Where this process was entirely new for me (I don’t typically create until and unless I am ready to commit to something), I feel like it opened me up to a bunch of new artistic avenues. I ended up combining materials I wouldn’t normally combine, I played with texture and composition, and it inspired me to want to pull more found items and items from nature into my artwork, whether that art ends up being permanent or impermanent. It was a low-investment, no-commitment way to make beautiful things and free up that creative bottleneck. I have a feeling this process will become part of my regular repertoire and I hope it inspires you in new and beautiful ways! 

I can’t wait to see what you create! Please tag me in your posts! 
In honor of the beauty impermanence and art in all its glorious forms,

Jenn Pipe
MUSE Design Team 2021

Let Joy (and Sandra’s Stamps) Be Your Compass:

Back in the day (circa 2000--), I was a HUGE scrapbooker who cataloged every memory, both big and small. I am a very tactile and visual person and the act of combining heartfelt words with my photographs, pretty patterns, and textures lit me up from inside. It’s a way of storytelling and memory keeping that really vibes with who I am at the core.

My style of art has morphed since then and the way I document our memories has morphed alongside of it. I also have access to a much more robust portfolio of art supplies—which means that a lot of what I create these days is off the page and many times doesn’t even involve a single word or a sheet of paper. As I reflect on it, that evolution has been both a blessing and a curse.

Sometimes, when I’m looking for inspiration to hit, or when I want to get those creative juices flowing, I have an overwhelming desire to get back to my roots. Which is exactly what I did here. I had a few specific goals in mind when I set out to create my projects for this month’s MUSE blog post:

• Work small—each assemblage should be under 5x7.

• Keep it simple and mainly 2-dimensional (paper and embellishments only).

• Use lots of layers.

• Create additional backgrounds with Sandra’s wide array of stamps!

• Make it fun and playful.

I started by pulling out my R+A and ArtFoamies stamps, marveling in the collection I have amassed in a relatively short period of time. I also gathered up some patterned papers and scraps, fun embellishments, and some washi tape. Have you ever tried to create art while simultaneously and consciously limiting yourself to certain materials? It’s a great way to challenge yourself and get the pistons in the creative centers of your brain firing on all cylinders, so give it a try if you haven’t already.

Then I made some backgrounds, primarily using Sandra’s Air, Marrakesh, and Tenango Oscura ArtFoamie. I also used Cupola, Halo, Driftwood Crown, and the Portal series. Then, I unleashed my Inner Child and let her out to play! I tore papers, gathered up some whimsical embellishments, and layered with wild abandon. The result was these beautiful (and fun) multi-dimensional assemblages. What a feast for the eyes!

Are you curious about what you might do with such creations when they are completed? Well, anything you want! But, you can gift them, add them to books or journals, turn them into cards, swap them, pin them to a mood or vision board, or have them be the focal point in a larger art journal page. They can also be the centerpiece on a canvas where you add more 3-dimensional elements like the R+A craft blanks. The possibilities are endless! I chose to adhere them to an oversized folio I have been working in—they act as benchmarks in my artistic journey and reminders that some things come full circle.

Keep creating!

Jenn Pipe

MUSE Design Team 2020

P.S. Here is where I highlighted Sandra’s stamps in each piece. I used Marrakesh and Cupola in “Let Joy Be Your Compass.” In my “Enjoy the Journey” ocean pieces, I used Air, Halo, and the tiniest little scrap of Marrakesh. In “Be Brave,” I used a Tenango Oscura background, Air, and Esoteric from the Portal series. And, in “Forever in My Heart” I used Tenango Oscura, Driftwood Crown, and some of the smaller foamies hearts from one of Sandra’s retired pieces.

You Can't Change The Wind, But You Can Adjust Your Sails- Jennifer Pipe

Those of you who know me know that the art classes I teach (and a significant portion of the art I create) are based on a lot more than just creativity. Almost everything I do is deliberately and lovingly infused with principles and practices of self-discovery. It’s my niche. And I believe so fully in the power of art as a personal growth tool, that I built my entire business on it. 

To that end, the art I make for myself is often infused with messages and reminders that I need to hear. This piece I created is no different. The year 2020, in its oft-challenging entirety, has reminded me that there is very little in this world that we can truly control outside of the things we say, the actions we take, and the things we think. Sometimes, when things feel thoroughly out of control, we forget that regardless of what is going on in the world around us, we still have complete and unwavering control over one very important thing: OURSELVES. 

We get to choose how we react. 
We get to choose how we show up. 
We get to choose how we respond. 

And, there is tremendous power in that choice! The quote on this ship will be a trusty reminder of that when I feel tempted to resort to blaming, finger pointing, and not accepting the consequences of my actions and inactions. It encourages me to take personal responsibility whenever possible, and to focus on my desired outcome as opposed to focusing on the challenge(s) at hand.  Because, at the end of each and every day, we can’t change the wind, but we can certainly adjust our sails.

Here’s How I Made This Boat:

My husband and I took a trip into a local antique shop and I saw this boat. I figured it would make a nice decoration for one of the mantles in our new home and I knew I would be able to alter it and make it fit our aesthetic. 

·       I then started by coating the entire piece with a thin coat of clear gesso. 

·       Once the gesso dried, I painted it with my base coats. The sail was painted with a coat of acrylic paint, and the base was painted with a contrasting color. 

·       I knew I wanted a focal point on the sails, so I added some contrasting, abstract splotches of Liquitex acrylic inks (I used two shades of blue and a gold). I layered the colors, and made sure I dried them in between so the resulting colors wouldn’t be muddy. 

·       I splattered a bit of paint on the sail and the body of the boat. 

·       Then, I took out some stamps from my collection and added the quote, the number “4” on the sails, the waves on both sides of the hull, and the letters “ri” on the back of the boat. 

·       Once all that was dry, I started working with some products from the Relics and Artifacts line. 

·       I adhered some of the gold Daisy Chain Dresden Trim around the base of the boat. It made the base of the boat pop a bit and helped to bring out the golds in the painted sail. 

·       I then started painting and layering assorted sizes and shapes of the Helios laser cuts, knowing that I wanted to adhere them to the sails for a gorgeous 3D effect. I chose paints in gold and bronze for the Helios pieces. 

·       Then, I used one of the Roman Sun Coins, noticing how it fit perfectly as a focal point in the center of the Helios pieces. I painted the coin white and brought out all the details with layers of a fiery orange wax. 

·       I then assembled all of the pieces together using a 3D medium, and then once they were completely dry, I attached them to the boat using Apoxie Sculpt.  

·       *Tip: if you are going to stamp a quote on your artwork, practice on a piece of paper first to ensure that it will fit. Nothing worse than starting to stamp and realizing you actually don’t have enough space. 

The end result of this project is gorgeous and it came out exactly as I hoped it would. I can’t wait to give it a place of prominence on the mantle. 

My parting challenges to you this month: find some of your favorite products from sandraevertson.com, sit down to play, and incorporate an inspiring quote or reminder into your project if you can. Then share your projects with us in the Relics and Artifacts Facebook group—tag me in your post so I can be sure to high five you and show your post some love!   

Thanks for reading and happy creating, 
Jenn Pipe 
MUSE Design Team Member 2020

Long Ago and Far Away

Editor’s Note: This is a re-cap of a challenge we had in the Tribe a couple of months ago. Then a pandemic ensued. Enjoy!

MUSE Spoon Challenge Blog Post by Jenn Pipe

There is a flea market that comes to town three times a year. Last September, I was scouring the grounds for finds that I could use in my upcoming studio classes. I was seeking inspiration while sifting through fields and fields of antiques and other people’s junk.

I eventually came upon a vendor who had lots of bits and baubles and an inordinate amount of old silverware. Once I saw the box full of old spoons, I knew I had hit the jackpot—I bought the whole lot from her and went on my merry way. My love affair of transforming these utilitarian instruments began that day!

Fast forward to February 2020: I was teaching an in-person women’s “spoon” class in the Self Esteem Through Art studio and I also volunteered to host a challenge in the Relics and Artifacts Facebook group. I thought, “Self, why not have the tribe create some spoons as well?” It seemed like a no-brainer and something that probably hadn’t been done in the tribe yet. 

Over the course of the challenge, we had quite a few beautiful submissions. There was a stunningly created winged spoon with a rich VerDay finish and lots of Relics and Artifacts products. There was another spoon that was transformed into this magical woodland scene, complete with tree branches, a swing, and these adorable little mushrooms! There was a solar system with a beautiful golden sun. A gorgeous submission that looked like a very intricate hand-held mirror that perhaps a god or goddess would own. One participant created three different spoons with three different themes and R+A products. And there was another spoon that was straight out of a fairy tale, complete with Apoxie Sculpt snake, candelabra base, and the quintessential good vs evil theme. 

When all of the MUSES convened to vote on the winner, we certainly had our work cut out for us! After discussions and deliberations, we decided that we had to award two prizes. 

Our 1st place challenge winner was Lyneen Jesse. She was the participant who created three separate spoons. But, it was her ocean-themed star spoon that truly captivated the judges. The composition was breathtaking, the finish was rich and vibrant, and the use of craft blanks was very well executed. 

Lyneen shared with me that mixed media is where her heart is, so she was excited to create on these unique little spoon “canvases.” Never having used VerDay before, she purchased some from sandraevertson.com. She admits to being disappointed after the first coat, but completely blown away after adding the second coat and applying the activator.

This is how Lyneen felt after applying the activator and watching the transformation: “OH MY! The transformation was AMAZING. I never would have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes. I am loving all of the finishes so far and the only one I still have to try is the bronze. Trust me, you will not be disappointed when you work with VerDay!”

Here is Lyneen’s award-winning spoon. Her spoon won her a $30 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

 Our runner up was Naomi Montana Walsh. When I first saw her spoon, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I knew it was telling us a story and it reminded me of something from a fairy tale. I couldn’t wait to reach out to Naomi to learn more! 

Naomi calls her spoon “Eve’s Temptation” and it is rich with symbolism. She wanted the bottom of the spoon to be like a pool. The foot represents Eve dipping her foot into that pool of temptation (in this case, the temptation is knowledge). Naomi sculpted the snake with Apoxie Sculpt and twisted it down the spoon handle. She then built a fruit tree at the top and then attached the spoon to a broken candelabra-like Halloween ornament for the platform.

Naomi believes Eve was best represented by an expressionless face as she was somewhere between her fall from grace. She also included an element of hope, which is represented by the dove at the bottom of the platform. So brilliant! So unique! 

This is Naomi’s spectacular spoon. She won a $20 gift certificate at sandraevertson.com.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the challenge. I also want to thank my fellow MUSES for their creative contributions, which certainly helped this challenge to gain a bit of traction, and for their expert opinions on the submissions. 

This was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to host my next challenge for the Relics and Artifacts Tribe! 

Creating Change: An Homage to Mother Nature, Jennifer Pipe

I’ve had Mother Nature on the brain lately. She is so forgiving, so generous, and so regenerative, but I think she is getting fed up with our collective apathy. She is desperately trying to tell us something and I’m not convinced the majority of us are listening. 

The fires in both Australia and the Amazon. 
The unfathomable plastic pollution in the ocean. 
The earthquakes and hurricanes in Puerto Rico. 
The leveling of natural parks and historic burial sites in the US for “walls,” pipelines, and drilling. 
Seventy-degree weather in Antarctica. 
The pollution-for-profit mindset of our current political leaders.  

These are all signs that something is amiss. The warning bells are ringing loud and ringing often! It’s mind-boggling and concerning and should be top of mind for everyone. We’ve lost our way; and our short-sightedness and greed could certainly be our undoing. Humans are our planet’s worst enemy. We take and we pillage, often forgetting that our resources are finite and this is the only place we can call home.

As I was creating this project, I pondered my roles and responsibilities as a member of the 2020 MUSE Design Team. Am I here to simply create unique pieces of art? Is my main purpose to solely promote fabulous art products? Should I keep things light and fluffy? Or am I called to go deeper than that? Could I share with you my passion for Art as Activism? Can I be real, raw, and vulnerable about my feelings? Can I simultaneously create beautiful things while also being educational and thought-provoking? 

Since art often helps me process my emotions and make sense of the world around me, I think I have to be true to myself and go with the latter; knowing that not everyone will share my viewpoints or feel my sense of urgency. This piece is simultaneously a tribute to our natural world and a canary in the coalmine cry for immediate and lasting change. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful in the days and weeks to come—I also hope, if nothing else, it results in you thinking about the importance of clean air and clean water for all. After all, the human race can’t survive without those things!

The Project:

The base of this project is a 3.5 x 3.5 inch wooden cube, which I coated in black gesso. Atop the cube sits a resin eagle from Sandra’s “Totems” collection in a nest of moss, bark, and greenery. The eagle was painted using the “iron” paint from the VerDay paint kit and I am loving the results! The eagle’s nest is anchored by one of the resin frames from the Italian Baroque set, also painted with VerDay—brass this time.

The flags sticking out of the nest are our clarion calls:

·      Stop taking things for granted,

·      Pay attention to our ecosystems,

·      Remember, we only get one chance!

On each of the four sides of the cube, I made an homage to a particular aspect of nature. Water, forests, air, and soil. 

The “forest” side has a hand sculpted tree and heart, both fashioned from Apoxie Sculpt. The text reads, “The forests that protect our wildlife.”

The “water” side has a mermaid tail which I hand sculpted using Apoxie Sculpt. It also features handmade Apoxie Sculpt bubbles. The text reads, “The water we need to survive.”

The “air” side features a night sky scene and has a mixture of items both molded from Apoxie Sculpt and found in my stash. The moon face is the focal point of this side and the text reads, “The quality of the air we breathe.”

Everything on the “soil” side was sculpted by me, using Apoxie Sculpt. The whimsical mushrooms, trio of hearts, and polka dots were all made with love. The text reads, “The soil that fortifies our food.”

I printed the words out and adhered them with Mod Podge, highlighting the area around the words with a black Posca pen. 

I used stencils and both StazOn and Distress Inks to add visual interest to the backgrounds. At the end of the process, I highlighted some of the areas on the cube with unaltered copper VerDay paint. It gives it a nice dimensional appearance and helps create a more cohesive feel between the top of the cube and the sides. 

·      Resin eagle from the Totems collection

·      Resin Italian Baroque frame

·      Apoxie Sculpt

·      Brass and Copper VerDay Paints

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share both my art and my heart with all of you! May this post inspire you to try new materials and techniques. And may it also inspire you to contemplate new ways of existing on this beautiful blue marble we call home. 

 Jenn Pipe 2/18/2020