FAB-ergé Egg Shrine Workshop in Florida with Michelle Duke

Join the talented Michelle Duke for a Faux FAB-ergé Egg Shrine class featuring Relics & Artifacts by Sandra Evertson.  This workshop comes just in time for Spring, Easter, and Passover.  If you happen to be in southern Florida, why not stop by for a light lunch and some creative fun?

There are two opportunities to take the workshop.  February 23 or February 24 from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  A light lunch is included on both days.  

For more information, please visit The Duke and Duchess Designs or contact Michelle at duketimes4@bellsouth.net.

Space is limited so reserve your spot early!

Michelle Duke is a retired Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse of twenty years.  She began to pursue her love of creating pretty things and other artistic endeavors.  Her beautiful studio is located in sunny south Florida.

 

Fractured Fairy Tale with Relics & Artifacts® and ColoriQue Ink: Cindy's Temptation

We are nearing the apex of our Fractured Fairy Tale collaboration with ColoriQue Ink!  Today, Ambassador Heather Thompson picks it up with Cindy coming to some realizations....and temptations!

Cindy ran off and lost her killer stiletto heel. She briefly glanced back, seeing the glistening shoe the foreground and the luxurious castle in the background. She stopped for a split second and thought to herself, “What if?  What if I stay?  I could have everything I ever wanted. Money, fame, no wicked sisters and a stepmother from hell."  She shook her head as if to shake those what if's from her mind, "Nope. Nada. Hasta la vista, baby! This chick is out of here!" 

Cindy jumped in her blood red three-wheeled carriage.  It was decked out with flames shooting out of the tailpipes, and a stellar set of wheels, perfect to the carry her away on her quest to find herself and to find true happiness.

Cindy pulled the clutch and revved the throttle.  A large ball of fire shoots out the tailpipe! She released the clutch and took off in a ball of smoke.  The smell of hot, molten metal permeated the air and as the smoke dissipated, Cindy is gunning for the horizon with the wind in her hair.

As she crested the hill, she slowed down and pulled up next to a broken down RV on the side of the road.  Standing there looking over a flat tire, she saw the dark and handsome spiked hair lead singer of the band from the night's gala. She looked at him and gave a coy wink and a secretive smile.  Before she realized what she was doing, Cindy motioned the rocker to jump on in. As he hoisted himself into the carriage, Cindy could be heard giggling and yelling, "HELL YES!" as she revved the engine one final time.  She and her Punk Prince took off into the night not knowing what kind of adventure they were destined to have....

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Egg Shrine 
Relics & Artifacts® Regalis
Relics & Artifacts® Sol
ColoriQue Ink by Lisa Jimenez:  Black Diamond, Ruby Slippers, Snow Summit, Verdigris
Apoxie Sculpt

"Nursing is Like Gardening" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson

As many of you know, I am a nurse but also an avid gardener.  I enjoy them both immensely. During the summer months, I try to bring some cheer to work and I wear a real flower in my hair. Every morning after the long night shift, I pull my hair down and throw the flower on the dashboard while I unwind on my drive home from the crazy night I’ve just had.

This particular flower dried on my dashboard and it was just beautiful. Instead of throwing it out the window as I drive down the driveway the next night, I actually left it there to enjoy the beauty it had transformed into. Finally I decided that I just needed to capture it in time forever.

Since nursing and gardening are so similar, I wrote a small comparison and inspiration piece.

Nursing is like Gardening

Nursing is like gardening;
Everyday is a new day. Each day will bring new
Beginnings, new experiences. A new chance at life
To Bloom, blossom and grow.

Nursing is like gardening;
You will always have your pests.
Your frequent visitors, your difficult
Ones that are needy, that you don’t
Understand and never will. The
Ones that will present a problem
Around every corner and the ones that will never leave.

Nursing is like gardening
You will always lose some. No
Matter how hard you try and how
Much time and effort and heart you put
Into it. Some were just not meant to live.
For what ever reason, it was meant to be.

Nursing is like gardening;
Rewarding, hardworking, a learning experience,
Frustrating, fulfilling, distressing
Beautiful. From one end of the spectrum to the other.

Nursing is like gardening;
Worth every minute -the good, the bad and the ugly (and the stinky)

Enjoy every aspect and learn everyday. It’s
A good day when you can learn something new.
In every bad situation make it a learning experience,
And find something good with in it.
Nursing is like gardening.

Supply List:

Relics & Artifacts® Egg Shrine
Ice Resin
Spellbinders Designer Series Seth Apter Gridiron
Amazing Casting Resin
DecoArt Fluid Acrylics:
Phthalo Green-Blue
Cobalt Teal Hue
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White
Americana Decor Crackle Medium

Day 3 with That's Crafty! and "Ganesha" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Monica Downing

We are kicking of day 3 of our supercharged collaboration with the very dynamic team of That's Crafty!.  This entire week is devoted to showcasing how perfectly Relics & Artifacts pairs with the glorious inventory of That's Crafty!.  As with most big events, we love a little bribery to get you to party with us because we never turn down a good time!  How does a chance to win *3* sets of Relics & Artifacts® Matte Resin Craft Blanks of your choosing sound?  Absolutely sinful, right?  Keep reading to find out how to be entered!

In the meantime, we have Monica Downing's absolutely exquisite, exotic and everything exciting project here for you today. 

I am really excited to share this project with you all!  I finished this piece some time ago, and let me tell you.  It's been like pins and needles just waiting to be able to share it.  I'm telling you, absolutely excruciating!  I may have even considered just doing shots to calm my impatience and just chill.

I had actually had this idea for a long time. When I received the clear acrylic uprights from That’s Crafty!, it was the PERFECT vehicle for what I wanted to do. It was like finally scratching that pesky itch that you just couldn't reach!  Bring in Relics & Artifacts® Egg Shrine and it's like a full body massage!

Now, a little history lesson on Ganesha along with an intellectually stimulating diagram illustrating his illustrious symbolism (some deep stuff right here):

Ganesh, also spelled Ganesa or Ganesha, is the Lord of Good Fortune who grants prosperity, fortune, and success to his followers. He is considered the Lord of Beginnings, and the Remover of Obstacles, both materially and spiritually. He also places obstacles in the path of those who need to be put in check.  (He's gangster like that.)

Because he is a jack of all trades (and clearly a master of all), Ganesh is widely respected by almost all levels of society in all parts of India, regardless of any other spiritual affiliations (Once again showing just boss he is!).  His image is found everywhere, in many different forms, and he is prayed to before starting of any task.

He is considered to be a patron of the Arts, Sciences and Letters. Devotees believe that if Ganesha is worshiped, he grants success, prosperity, and promotes unity in diversity.  Sounds like a cool dude to me!

The more you know, right?  We all have learned something new today!  Thank you so much for embarking on this lesson in history, culture, and spirituality.  What an amazing project and lesson.  Who knew what a remarkable place in such a deity held in Eastern society? 

Now for the giveaway!  If you've been following along each day, that's great!  You are well on your way to being entered into the giveaway.  All you need to do is be sure to visit the Muse each day this week and leave some love.  It's that easy, and we like easy!  Also be sure to hit up the That's Crafty! blog because they have a li'l something' somethin' up their sleeves too! 

Today, Alison Hall inspires us on the That's Crafty! blog.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® "Egg Shrine"
That’s Crafty! Clear Acrylic Upright-mixed pack of 3
That’s Crafty! Dinky Stencil – Fleur
Ice Resin Iced Enamels – Ivory
DecoArt Acrylic Paint
Ganesha Printable
Gold Leafing
Gold pen
Large Metal Filigree Embellishment.
Large pink flower

Information Source:
"The Hindu God Ganesh: Who Is This Elephant Headed Deity Anyway?" Retrieved from http://www.kashgar.com.au/articles/ganesh.

"From the Tribe" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Ambassador DeeDee Catron

This month's "From the Tribe" RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Ambassador is a woman of incomparable talent.  She's been in the industry for quite some time and has worked with a multitude of people to include Donna Downy.  It is our pleasure to introduce DeeDee Catron as February's Guest Ambassador.  Grab a coffee, a comfy seat, and let's let DeeDee show us what she's all about!

"I am a Mixed Media Artist | Instructor | Designer sorting through the ever expansive mixed media world in an effort to conquer ALL.THE.THINGS. I can never settle on one medium or one technique and I truly love to throw them all together. I live in Las Vegas and I teach classes both locally and abroad. I also offer occasional paid eCourses and tons of free mixed media demonstration via my YouTube channel."

DeeDee's work of art is absolutely mind blowing in its composition and construction.  We'll let her share the story.

Hello Relics & Artifacts Tribe! I'm super excited to be here today sharing a project I worked up specifically for Sandra and the amazing team. I've been a long time fan of the girls who work the Muse and Toil was a labor of love inspired by each and every one of them.

Toil started out as a political statement and evolved into a much more personal expression. It's about keeping the balance between respect and courage.

Between wants and needs,

Between light and dark,

Between life and death.

It's about the inner struggle and which wolf we'll feed today. 

Toil encompasses a lot of symbolism and there are a lot of struggles on the piece. The contrast in texture between the smooth resin and the harsh grungy masking tape is so appealing. The full figured Renaissance style face versus the feeble old skeleton makes my heart race. It's always fun for me to start a project, watch it morph, finish it and then talk about it.  When Mr. Catron saw the finished piece he blurted out, "It looks like a mausoleum!" and I was so happy about that! It wasn't something I INTENDED but what a cool final effect, right? 

What do YOU see when you look at Toil? What emotions are stirred, if any? I really look forward to conversing with you about the art. ♥

DeeDee's art invokes thought and is every bit as evocative as it is provocative.  She's so graciously put together a Snapguide tutorial for you on how to create a piece like this one.  Beautiful, powerful, thoughtful and so full of soul, we thank you for sharing your creativity with us.  For more about you can connect with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram (@deedeecatron), and YouTube.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Egg Shrine
Relics & Artifacts® Archangels
Golden Fluid Matte Medium
Golden Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic
Golden Heavy Gel
Liquitex Glaze Medium
Liquitex Gesso (P) (White & Clear)
DecoArt Media Gray Fluid Acrylic
UmWowStudio Star Confetti Chipboard
UmWowStudio Angel Wings Chipboard
Stabilo Marks All
Amazing Crafting Products 2 Part Clear Cast Resin
Mona Lisa Gold Foil
May Arts Ribbon
Tim Holtz Rubons
Tim Holtz Alterations & Configurations Box
Sand paper, scissors, heat tool, clay tools, baby wipes, canvas strings, plastic skeleton, paint brush, measuring cups, stir stick, vintage italian text, paint cup, water, coffee, graphite pencil, vintage dictionary page, masking tape