Friday, November 23, 2007

Gingerbread Houses!





With the supplies at the ready, my son and daughter were eager to begin to build their annual holiday gingerbread houses. We do it on Thanksgiving day, as if the bird and the stuffing is not enough to throw us over the edge....mmmm...candy!!



This year, my 11 year old daughter went with a traditional look....above is her house in progress. My son's house started out great and then...well..and then he decided to put in the detail of the reindeer ummm....marks. While I snapped these pictures, he was making a sign that said do not eat yellow snow. Ha. He is 13 and well....full of life. That is a good thing.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Thank You Pie


Apple pie with a 240-volt outlet with switch as a vent. Maybe the first apple pie like this you have ever seen! What's it all about? Well, I got a new kiln and it needed a special outlet. My father came and did the wiring for me and he is really hard to buy something for as a thank you...but he loves homemade apple pie! You should have seen him smile when my children and I brought it to him. I have fired the kiln a couple of times and am loving it!!

Friday, October 19, 2007

X-Ray


skeleton
Originally uploaded by AardvArt in a Fieldofclover
So what candy reminds you of your trick or treating haunts of your youth? For me..well..let's just say that anything with peanut butter is #1. My children always hand over the peanut butter laced candy.......yum.....!!!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Passion and Action




My daughter's second yearly fundraiser for the wolves of the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia NJ was last weekend. Check out this wonderful place by clicking here:
Lakota Wolf Preserve


Despite the nice weather, she did not have as many people stopping by her table to check out her wares. She made these cool bracelets and helped me design and make some fused glass wolf pendants and wolf pillows. She raised a bit over $50.00, which will help the Preserve feed the wolves and provide for medical care. She had quite a few items left over, so I put them in my Etsy shop, in their own section. All proceeds will go to the Wolf Preserve. Stop by to see! www.aardvart.etsy.com

Friday, September 28, 2007

Owl in a BowTie


As soon as my daughter started to develop fine motor control, her creativity began to emerge. Although I was and continue to be somewhat weary of her experimental ways, I strive to allow her color outside of the lines. Never one to like little arts and crafts kits, my daughter will take the ordinary and make her inner vision come to life. Like when at 2, she made it snow in her bedroom and down the hallway with a container of cornstarch. Much to her older brother's initial horror, he too enjoyed slipping and sliding in that "snow". At 3, she began a series of toilet paper sculptures. Lined up in the bathtub to dry, I was happy that we had another tub to actually take a bath in. I never took a photo of those sculptures. Not even the one that ended up being 2 feet tall. I regret that.

She is 10 now and shows some interest from time to time when I am working with my glass. She had me cut an oval and I showed her how to cut her glass selections with the glass cutter. I kept quiet while her inner vision surfaced, and smiled when I saw the owl that was born. She warms my heart.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Political Pendants


Fresh out of the kiln, these are my new Republican and Democratic fused glass pendants. Designed to be passed on through the generations, these pendants will help support your favorite political party. We have a presidential campaign right around the corner, so lets start thinking about who we believe will best lead the USA. One vote can make a difference.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Happy Mother's Day


I know, it was yesterday...but I just wanted to get my good wishes out to all those women that are moms to both 2 and 4 legged kids. :) Or any number of legs for that matter.

My own mother is really tough to buy for...but does like a special present. I decided to make her a fused glass sun catcher. This is how it came out. It took 3 fusings, so it was a 3 day project...but I thought it came out pretty cool. I snapped the photo before I wrapped it, and now I wish I would have photographed it in a window as well...maybe that's enough reason to start a new sun catcher project.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Autism Awareness


I have created these autism awareness fused glass pendants and would love to find a group that wants to do a fundraiser using them for autism awareness. Let me know if you have any ideas! I have worked with many individuals from preschool through age 21 with autism, as well as with their families. Awareness is so important. Those with autism are awesome. You just need to be willing to follow them whenever possible. They can teach us so much.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Where is Spring?!!


The weather here in New Jersey is so chilly...I can't wait for Spring. I have been busy creating with my stash of glass. I love cutting the shapes and putting them together...shape, color then function.
Once things warm up here, I need to spend some time with my husband searching for four leaf clovers...I now only have one bottlecap necklace left in my inventory. Still lots of four leaf clovers, but not the correct size.

Wishing that my etsy shop would take off a bit, but things on eBay remain pretty steady sales wise. I guess I really need to focus on advertising!!

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday I was able to uncast my Jelly Bean Resin Pendants. I love working with resin...it is a bit scientific..lol

I got geared up in protective gear so the particles do not get in my eyes and lungs and started filing away at the excess material, polishing them and then drilling a hole with my drillpress. They came out so nice, so different! I can see them hanging in a sunny window or aroung your neck. What are your favorite flavors of jelly beans? I love the popcorn!!!

I also made post earrings and hair clips. Last night I posted them on my site, www.aardvart.etsy.com

Lots of people took a look..but they are still there! If you enter "with these two hands" into the message to seller when paying, I will ship it to you for free!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Is the grass turning green?

I am really hoping for warmer weather to come soon! I have used up so many of my four leaf clovers creating jewelry and accessories and it is time to go four leaf clover hunting once again!! So many people bought the four leaf clover bottle cap necklaces since I started making them last Fall. I hope that each and every person out there that wears one has had a bit of good luck find them. ;)

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Today...

just trying to see have to navigate this place....upload some photos, talk out loud a bit to anyone listening....