Create a New Story.
Highlights from some of my favorite creations, using found objects and elements of nature to bring them new life.
Guardian Angel Bookends, inspired by a photogravure from 1886
My first set of bookends! Inspired by finding two matching cameras and a collection of Yale Shakespeare volumes.
Mystic Merlinite Bookends, created from a beautiful piece of poplar wood. I learned how to bring out the natural quality of the grain by using a beeswax finish for these. Holders for the spheres are brass candle holders from Italy.
Bookends inspired by the sea--brass tall ship bookends were found pieces. I constructed the bookends from poplar wood and used the cover from a beat up copy of Rudyard Kipling's 'Soldiers Three' to create the background.
My first experiment in mold making! This is a keychain cast in resin. I found an antique skeleton key and made a two-part silicone mold with The Grumpy Gnome. He taught me how! I cleaned the edges, and hand painted it to resemble the original. It's very lightweight!
I used a print from a very beat up first edition of Mark Twain's 'The Mysterious Stranger' to make this wall plaque. The lock was a piece I found in an antique store, and seemed like a great complement.
Salvaged book cover of an original 1916 edition of Mark Twain's 'The Mysterious Stranger.' I turned this into a wall plaque with aspen wood and d-ring hardware.
I made these bookends with poplar wood, and kept the natural grain. The green base is an old book cover, with hand-painted gold detail. The base is cast in cement, with moss and a lion doorknocker. The lion reminded me of the doors we saw in Florence, Italy.
This is a transfer I made onto a wood coaster, from an original painting of mine. The artwork was inspired by a typographer from the 1880s. I painted the original in goache, then photocopied it and made a transfer onto the wood with mod podge. I then sealed it with a gloss spray and clear shellac before applying cork to the bottom.
One of my first coaster sets! I'm learning about pyrography, and combining burning the wood detail with paint washes and metallic accents. So much fun!
Original art painted in goache and watercolor for one of the coaster series, "Dream."
A process photo from making one of the bookends. Typically, I work with poplar wood. Occasionally, I use red oak. I join the wood with wooden dowel and glue, and line the bottom with felt.
Experiments gone well, this is the progression from my adventures in mold making. The resin skeleton key was my first project.
The Grumpy Gnome found an entire bag of antique stamps, from all over the world! I've been experimenting with casting them in clear resin to preserve them, as they are beautiful but not in collector condition. My hope is to make them into jewelry or keychains...
Wolf Mother Bookends! Inspired by malachite, the beautiful stone of travelers and powerful feminine energy. I found these metal wolves at a local antique show. They were really rusted, so I brought them back with a vinegar soak and a gold leaf wax finish. The background is salvaged from an antique book cover.
These brass door plates were our first discovery for our new business, Apostrophe Soul! We found the set at a garage sale near Mary's neighborhood. I did a vinegar soak to clean them, and constructed the wooden bookends from poplar. They are stained a dark espresso and sealed with gloss varnish. They're our "doorways" to the world a book can open!
This is an old military steamer trunk that I refurbished for a friend. I could fit in this trunk, it's enormous!! I had to strip the whole thing down and refinish/repaint it. I also built a minibar to go inside. After I finished the restoration, this piece traveled with her on her move to Hawaii!
Botany bookends, inspired by beautiful door plates and vintage botany illustrations that I salvaged from a local antique shop. I really had fun working with the gray stain, and cleaning the hardware with vinegar. A rose gold patina surfaced after the deep clean I did with the metal.
Bookends made with poplar wood that feature original prints from Mark Twain's 'The Mysterious Stranger' (1916). I love these illustrations!
Found metal details that I cleaned up and used as a source of inspiration for our logo. They reminded me of apostrophes.
Experiments in cement casting with horseshoes, a metal butterfly, and crystal. I love the versatility of cement!
Love hand made gifts?
We have a variety of hand-crafted items available on our SHOP Page! Click on the link below to see our featured items, in the Handmade Gifts Section.