Schools Back in Session!

Wow I can hardly believe it was ever summer it feels so nice to be back with my kids at school...But I have made a promise to myself that I will keep up my creations...if for no other reason I will now have even more wonderful people leaving "presents" ( unwanted yet still useful items) on my desk ,on my cart ,in my closet ,lol... I love that I have even in a small way shifted anyone's thinking about throwing verus repurposing. If at some point someone in my circle of acquaintances stops before tossing something and thinks" maybe this could be....maybe Amy could use this for...." I will be so happy.

But this blog will also give my teacher brain even more chances to share. So look forward to more posts with tutorials or intersting projects my students and I get up to.

I'll continue to show my work and feel free to contact me if you see something that strikes your fancy. I'll also post local events and I love having vistors in the booth. Recently a customer inquired about private parties....well I am an art teacher ;) I do LOVE teaching folks of all ages. If a fairy garden party sounds like your idea or child's idea of the best party ever,let's chat! If you have a bunch of those"glass trays" and want to have a party with some friends to customize them then i say let's do it! :) goodness if you find something you think might be interesting but are nervous to give it a go solo or found some intersting materials.....who knows what fun we could get up to ;)

New gardens on facebook!

Perhaps I've always had a streak of whimsy and fairy gardens naturally lend themselves to that but I am having Soooooo much fun putting together themes like Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Check them out on the facebook page!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1193774144008916&substory_index=0&id=1170525109667153

Follow me on Pinterest!

If you enjoyed the last post you'll love what I dig up on Pinterest! Between my own projects and school projects AND all the other fascinating things I run across i tend to have quite an eclectic selection of pins. Look for me under the name Agatha Peel...if you find my sweet puppy rosie avatar you found me:)

Borax Beauties :)

I always get a lot of questions, comments, and interest when I use any type of borax crystal in my work.I tucked a crystallized shell into this garden and there was many a question about it's origins.

Although the crystals are pretty simple they do require some adult assistance. I've had amazing success with both pipe cleaners and shells in the borax solution but i've seen all sorts of fantastic things done with books and other crazy objects. I've also seen where you created a shell of sorts from baked polymer clay but haven't tried it.If you do let me know how it goes!

Here's a link to the shell one and i believe it has some other handy links from that page as well :) click here :)

The recipe they use is a bit weaker then what i do but borax can be hard to dissolve especially if not fresh. 

a couple troubleshooting tips

• 1. if you don't have crystals forming after they have been in solution overnight remove shells and reheat solution adding more borax and dissolving completely. Your crystals on will fall off if you put your object back in the solution when its still very hot but they will redevelop.
• 2.metallic pipe-cleaners seem to work the best. they show up for color pretty well.
• 3.make sure your objects don't touch or they will become connected.
• 4. if hanging objects and you plan to cut the string off, use thread  it's much thinner and doesn't show as much.

Have fun, be safe and let me know how it goes! :) 

Thanks for coming out!!!

We had an AWESOME time at Excelsior Flea Market chatting with all the customers and the other vendors. We certainly couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day :) I'll definitely be back especially for Apple Days. Remember if you have something you loved but didn't buy let me know...I'm probably just down the road or down the road from the post office ;)

Now you can find us on facebook!

And if you do please like us up and share:) I'll continue to post upcoming events here as well.

More Vintage Pretties

I couldn't help myself when I saw these glass trays. The concentric circle design was different then anything I normally see on these trays ... I knew they were just begging for new lives on desks, bedside tables, entryways, maybe in the bathroom. They'd be so handy holding all kinds of stuff ...keys,jewelry,all that random lotion and hair stuff.

A little paint job later with some alcohol inks and what once was old and outdated is new,pretty and ready for a new forever home.

All vintage glass trays are decorative only (non-food)  your choice of color :) AND one of a kind, so if there's one you love let me know!(colors may appear different due to monitors and I know they aren't nearly as pretty as in real life:))