Behind the Scenes

We thought it was about time to share a little behind the scenes of RELICS & ARTIFACTS® with you.

Although we have worked with several large corporations to produce our craft blanks in the past we have come to understand the value of producing our own product right here in the U.S.A.

I purposely surround myself with things that inspire me bits and pieces of unusual antiques. 

You may recognize parts that eventually end up in the collection. 

I really love sitting for hours carefully shaping, sanding and bringing each piece to life, preparing it for the master mold process.

I also sculpt various portions as needed to complete my vision at any given time.

Aside from having a little help in the pouring and cleaning department David and I do everything ourselves. 

I do the designing and production, David handles packaging, shipping and the business end.

I like that I am able to work on my own schedule, which carries me late into the night and early morning most days.

We also have the flexibility and freedom to release new designs whenever we want, the old way of having only two releases per year is too stifling to the creative flow.

We use a proprietary Stone Resin blend that gives the surface an eggshell like texture allowing it to take paints and glues really well.

Each blank you receive has been touched by human hands, not machines. I feel that fact lives in the fine details and shows in the end result. A sparkling, crisp, three dimensional blank canvas ready for you to incorporate into your own creations.

Designed, shaped, cast, cleaned packaged and shipped with care directly from us to you.

We appreciate your business. Thank you for five fun years of sharing our creative adventure and cheers to many, many more years to come!

RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Proudly handmade in the U.S.A. ~ Sandra and David

Le Roi Soleil- Wendy Aspinall

We are still in limbo, our lives have become endless numbers of days staying in place. I don’t know about you but my little studio has become my happy place. As I don’t have anywhere to rush off too, I’m spending more and more time there. And it makes my days brighter, it would so easy to let my mind vegetate but I find myself dreaming up new projects. 

 And this canvas is one of those ideas, inspired by the new Camafeos in the R&A store and the French Monarch Louis XIV or Le Roi Soleil, the Sun King. He ruled for 75 years and he was a dreamer like me, he envisioned the Palace of Versailles. 

I started my project by gluing on the Medium and small sized Helios II wood shaped suns onto a 4 inch squared canvas.

Then added the round Roman headed cameo. 

 Some paper clay stars. 

This was left to dry and then painted with the Verday paint in copper. 

Next I added some paper clay Medallions, some chipboard stars and an Eiffel tower and some flower pics. Then everything got another coat of the copper verday paint. When dry, I sprayed it completely with Patina Solution.

 Lastly I added copper wax to bring out some of the details on the Cameo and Medallions.

Thank you for your time and I hope this inspires you to find your happy place and dream big. Have fun and make art. And above all stay healthy and well.  Hugs Wendy. 

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! 

A Wonderful Way To Connect

The R&A Mail Art Swap

We are all feeling the isolation of being in Quarantine, we are all feeling unsure about the future. 

So what could be nicer in this time of stress to receive beautiful works of art through the mail. 

Presenting the 2020  mail art swap swap

Rules and parameters:

*If you haven’t already, become a member of our R&A Tribe on Facebook.

* Themed, HOPE, LOVE  and JOY. 

*must utilize R&A stamps on either postcards or envelopes. 

*You will send one postcard or envelope to each person in the swap group and you will receive lots of lovely mail back. 

* A postcard is a rectangular mailer sent without an envelope. Sending a postcard is an extremely affordable way to communicate when you’re using the U.S Postal Service—regular postcards cost only $0.35 to mail!

To qualify for postcard pricing, your mailer must be at least 3 ½” high, 5” long and 0.007” thick (approximately the thickness of an index card), but no more than 4 ¼” high, 6” long, or 0.016” thick. To qualify for the base rate, postcards cannot be folded. Large postcards can measure up to 6 ⅛” high, 11 ½” long and ¼” thick, but they cost as much as a First-Class Letter ($0.50 and up) to send.To be eligible for mailing at the price for letters, a piece must be: Rectangular. At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick. No more than 6-1/8 inches high x 11-1/2 inches long x 1/4 inch thick.

Taken from 

United States Postal Service 

*Sign  - up closes June 1st

*last day for mailing is July 1st 2020.

*Please add your mailing address to THIS sigh up thread so to group can Utilize the list.

*Sign up and post questions here.

and above all have fun

Wendy 

Special Thanks to Jenn White for looking up all the mailing information 

Mother Nature's Heart- Lanette Erickson

Hello Everyone, Lanette here. With all the craziness in the world right now I find myself trying to take a moment to enjoy the little things that so often go unnoticed. For example Hostas, Hydrangeas and Lilies emerging from their winter sleep. It happens so quickly every year, one day its gray and gloomy, the next the yard is green.  Normally I miss it, I'm busy with the end of school year activities. But this year I haven't, I saw glimpses of the quick change from gray and gloomy to alive and green. 

So with the wonder of Mother Nature on my mind I picked up Sandra's Vessel Heart and went to work.  This is what I ended up with: 

I truly enjoyed creating this little heart. I started by cutting a wooden block for the base and attaching a piece from a wire hanger to the back of the heart with a bit of Apoxie Sculpt.

Next I went to work on decorating  my block base with just a bit of tissue paper, watercolors  and Sandra's Beautiful stamps. (Oculus Stamp & Elements Set of 4 Collection)

Next it was on to Sandra's Vessel Heart , I opened up my New Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays and sprayed my heart out. I know this heart was indented for Halloween. But with a mix of ribbon and bright colors I think it found another use.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today I truly appreciate it! I hope that I have inspired you in some tiny way. 

Until Next Time,

-Lanette

Relics & Artifacts Products Used: 

Vessel Heart 

Elements Set of 4 Collection

Oculus Stamp

Apoxie Sculpt

Persephone's Journey- Wendy Aspinall

According to Greek legend, Persephone was Demeter’s daughter. One day while she was out gathering flowers she was snatched from the Earth by the God Hades and taken to the underworld. Her mother was so upset with worry, grief and anger she caused crops and plants to wither and die for a whole year. The earth was gripped with a terrible famine. So Zeus commanded Hades to release Persephone. But before Hades let her go he tricked her into eating some pomegranate seeds, knowing that if she ate anything from the land of the dead she would have to return to him for part of the year.

Demeter was overjoyed to have her daughter back. However every time Persephone had to return to Hades Demeter mourned and the earth's plants and crops stopped growing. But when her daughter returns she is happy and the earth comes back to life. 

I wanted this project to have a distinct play of dark and light, The darker colors represent the time when Persephone is in the underworld and her mother is sad. The light brighter colors when she comes back.

Spring is all about growing and new beginnings. Where new blooms of life bring new hope for our lives. Maybe it’s to start a new class or push our boundaries. When we do we blossom. We again look for the elements missing in our life and like the growth in the spring we become who we are meant to be. 

Never stop growling and reaching for the person you are meant to be. 

Artists Model, Kroma Crackle, VerDay paints, Apoxie Sculpt, Acrylic paint

Twigs, White gesso, Moss, Molded flowers, Wooden block

Guest Muse Cathy Frailey- My Word Is My Bond

I would like to say how honored I am to be here, sharing this cross I made using Sandra's wonderful products. 

 A dear Christian friend of mine passed away in March - he was a Navy Seal during Vietnam and an American hero in my eyes. I wanted to make something for his wife and family that would convey his love of country with his Christian faith. I knew I had to use the Eagle Totem and the large heart from the Santo Domingo Sacred Heart Set. It was the perfect melding of the two messages I wished to convey. 

 The heart with the cross signifies Christ's suffering during his crucifixion, wearing a crown of thorns. I wanted it to also reflect the Purple Heart - the oldest military award given to US service members. 

 I used Finnabair's Electric Violet and Aged Brass waxes to reflect the colors of the Purple Heart Award. I used a stippling brush but didn't get it in every book and cranny. I also went over the gold parts lightly with my finger dipped in Liquitex Liquid Acrylic Ink in Gold Metallic. 

The eagle is our nation's emblem and, thus, also a symbol used by the military. It is prominent on a Navy Seal Trident Pin. It's also mentioned 34 times in the Bible, one the most well-known verses being: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31). 

 I used Finnabair Charcoal Black Matte Wax for the feathers. I again used the Liquitex Liquid Acrylic Ink in Gold Metallic and Black for the eyes and beak. It's colored on both sides.

The sentiment - My Word is My Bond - is part of the Navy Seal Creed. It also reflects God's promises in the Bible. His Word is His bond with us. 

The cross itself is a good size and made of wood: 5.5" x 9.5". I covered it in Finnabair Paper Texture Paste and went around the edges with Gold Rub 'n Buff. I draped a piece of cream-colored Sari silk ribbon around it.

On the back, I put his name and other personal info which I won't show. Navy Seals don't want to be known or found. They serve their country in stealth and don't do it for personal honor or recognition. Coming from a military family, I want to honor those traditions. 

 Again, I want to thank Sandra and David for this invitation to show my work and to thank them for their beautiful products which I love to work with! 

 Cathy Frailey 

 It's Oddly Appealing

MUSE Jenn White & her Husband Glenn Celebrate two decades of their LOVE.

Here in the Midwestern HEART of America where I reside, the month of March is when we begin to experience my favorite season of the year.

The glorious Spring awakening & greening is full of so many natural miracles & magic.

Green Day, Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th is a very special day for my husband Glenn & I. It is the day before our wedding day.

On March 18th of this year we will be celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary. 

To commemorate this occasion, I created a mixed media assemblage canvas to decorate a wall space in our home. 

Here is the story of the meaning behind it and a short Tutorial.

The genuine four-leaf clover comes from the white clover plant Trifolium Repens. It grows wild all over our property. It produces one of the earliest wild flowers to bloom in the Spring giving our honey bees strength, energy & nourishment. 

The leaves of the rarely found four-leaf clover of this plant signify HOPE, FAITH, LOVE & LUCK. 

The CLADDAGH has symbolic meaning too. 

The hands signify FRIENDSHIP.

The crown signifies LOYALTY.

The heart signifies LOVE.

"With my hands I give you my heart & I crown it with my love."

(For more on the great story of the CLADDAGH, go to the Relics & Artifacts product page & read what Sandra Evertson wrote about it in her product description.)

My use of the color green signifies our luck in finding each other at a time in both of our lives when we desperately needed one another so much. 

Our mutual understanding & respectful acceptance that each one of us is equally valued, important, needed & wanted to make our way of life & our relationship work. 

How our earthy personalities, love of nature & the great outdoors compliment each other. 

The harmonious balance between our very youthful imaginative hearts & our commitment to respect each other’s passions.

My use of copper signifies the continuous electric energy flow of our relationship, our mutual love, our romantic sensibilities, our artistic creativity & how compassionate & affectionate we both are.

My use of gold signifies our glow of optimistic positivity. How generous & giving we both are, our two big hearts of gold.

My use of the two sun symbols signifies the power we have, when the shining of our two bright lights join to make such a positive difference in the world, bright enough to light & warm the hearts of others.

My use of the flame symbols signifies the importance of keeping the cozy, welcoming, warmth of the home fires continuously burning. NEVER let them die or burn out.

I hope you take time to enjoy this Spring & have a very happy Green Day! I know I will!

Thank you for your time & I appreciate you showing your love by clicking on the heart in the comments section below this post.

HUGS! YOU ARE LOVED! 

Tutorial : 

1 - Begin by painting all of the craft blanks & the canvas with black gesso. Lightly wipe the black gesso off of the Large Sol Dresden while it is still damp. You only want it to antique the embossed recessed areas.

 2 - After the black Gesso has dried completely paint the canvas with Copper VerDay Metal Paint then wipe it off with a damp towel. This creates a sparkling glow on the dry black gesso on the canvas. Set the canvas aside to dry.

 3 - Paint the Ex-Voto hearts & the Helios with Copper VerDay Metal paint, being sure to let the edges still show a bit of black gesso, then set them aside to dry.

 4 - Lightly highlight the raised areas of the Ex-Voto flames, Claddagh & Sol with Copper VerDay Metal Paint then set them aside to dry.

 5 - Paint the Ex-Voto hearts with Galactic green ink from the Moonlight Duo Ink Pad then streak paint the leaf detail designs using ink from the darker Martian Green Moonlight Duo Ink Pad on a long, narrow fine detail paint brush. Highlight the areas on the CLADDAGH you wish to have green accents.

 6 - Paint the heart on the CLADDAGH with metallic gold acrylic paint. Accent & highlight other areas on the CLADDAGH & Helios where you wish to add a touch of gold. 

 7 - Thinly paint a section of your craft mat with Copper VerDay Metal Paint. Place the Marrakesh red rubber stamp face down into the paint, the same way you would ink a stamp. Stamp the design onto the canvas as shown in the photo. Set aside to dry. The blank areas will not show once the Helios & Sol are glued into place. When the stamped paint is dry, paint the diamond, marquise, & tiniest circle shapes with metallic gold acrylic paint using a fine detail paint brush. When the paint is dry, highlight the gold diamonds & tiniest circles with ink from the Martian green Moonlight Duo Ink Pad. Apply the ink with a fine detail paint brush. It should create the effect of faux emerald gemstones. 

Paint around the rim edge of the canvas with a paint brush full of metallic gold paint to give the canvas a finished look of uniformity.

 8 - Paint the outside edges of the canvas with black gesso. When dry, glue the Large & Small Gold Daisy Chain Dresden strips to the outside edges of the canvas to give it a framed finished look. They have the look of gold 4 leaf clovers! PERFECT!

 9 - Center the Helios & glue it down to the painted canvas.

Center the Sol Dresden & glue it to the Helios.

Mark the center of the Large Sol Dresden & begin gluing down the Ex-Voto Hearts making sure the flame points line up with the corners of the canvas.

Glue the CLADDAGH down in the center of the 4 Ex-Votos

 10 - Snip the Peridot Bohemian Gemstones apart with wire cutters. Apply them with glue as embellishments on the canvas wherever you desire.

 4 - Ex-Voto resin craft blanks

1 - CLADDAGH resin craft blank

 1 - Helios laser cut wood craft Blank

 1 - Large Sol Dresden in Gold

 Marrakesh Red Rubber Stamp from Sandra Evertson's Tapestries Collection

 8 ounce bottle of copper VerDay Metal Paint

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Total Eclipse Black

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Galactic Green

 Moonlight Duo Ink Pad in Martian Green

 Set of Peridot Bohemian Jewels Rhinestones

 Package of Large Daisy Chain Dresden in Gold

 Package of Small Daisy Chain Dresden in Gold

Other supplies used:

 1- 8"x8" wall art 

canvas

 Black gesso 

 Various artists paint brushes

 Inexpensive bright metallic gold heavy body acrylic paint

 5 second super Glue

The Kiss Me Again by Wendy Aspinall

Becoming a Muse made me think about what inspires me, who or what makes my heart beat faster.

For me it is the work of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. Especially his golden period, when he produced one of the most recognizable and popular pieces, The Kiss.

And as February is the month of romance. What could be more romantic than the painting The Kiss, it’s also my personal favorite and the inspiration for my contribution to this month’s Muse blog post.

I have re-worked some of his pieces with digital images but never in a physical format before, so I’m very pleased to share with you my canvas inspired by Klimt’s work.

The Kiss me again canvas re-invented with help from Relics and Artifacts by Sandra Evertson.

And like Klimt I too have used gold leaf to bring my piece to life.

Also resin blanks from Visage and Persona.

Apoxie Sculpt. Verday paint in bronze, a canvas painted with black gesso

Acrylic paint, Gold paint, Gold leaf.

I really had fun making this canvas.

I would like to hope the artist is looking down and is pleased with my interpretation of his stunning work, from one Muse to another.

I also hope I’ve inspired you to have fun and make art!

Christmas Time Is Here, An Ornament Project by Kent Mullens

Christmas is one of my favorite times of years.  It is a time of being with family and friends.   There also seems to be a sense of hopefulness around this time of the year.

Christmas is important to me because of my faith.  When Sandra asked me to be a guest on the Muse I  had the perfect idea of what I  wanted to make.    I love to make and create ornaments to give to my family especially my wife and daughters.  I had seen a couple of new releases that I knew I wanted to utilize to make a Christmas ornament.  This Chiristmas ornament will not be given away. It will be something  that I will save for myself.  It will be a reminder to me about the true meaning of Christmas. 

I chose one of the Cathedral windows to use for my piece.   These windows remind me that the past always holds the keys to the future.  The windows can be a shining light illuminating the future by looking at the past.  I used water colors in shimmering platinum and and grey. On the roof I added a touch of green to help create a patina.  I then took granite pencil over all the raised areas so that the texture would be exposed.  I used swarovski crystals and pearls  to give the window a sense of opulence 

I also chose the crown from the Mini Santos collection.  The crown is a symbol of royalty and power. I colored it with watercolors in gold, yellow and pewter so to give it depth.  I then embleshied it with Swarovski chrystals and pearls.  

I then used a star stamp from Tim Holtz set Christmas Time 2 CMS 389.  I embossed it on Yupo paper with shimmering gold embossing powder.  I cut it to fit the window pane and adhered it with glue.  

I then took the smallest doll in the tribe series and wrapped it in Tim Holtz Mummy cloth and glued it so that it looked like swaddling cloth.  

I attached the crown to the bottom of the window upside down and then glued the baby to the bottom of the crown.  I then attached a gold ribbon to the back of the ornament so that it will hang from the tree.  

I love the symbolism of this piece.  As a follower of Christ I am constantly reminded that Jesus came to turn power upside down and is a reminder to us that love, hope, compassion are the way in which people will know who are true followers of Jesus Christ.  I hope you have the merriest of Christmas and a hope filled New Year.