Magic Stones

Mind Boggling Sculptures That fit in the Eye of a Needle

Art so tiny, it can't be seen by the naked eye, beautiful sculpted figures created under microscope by nano-artist Willard Wigan.  As a child Wigan was severely dyslexic, yet he went undiagnosed.  In an attempt to escape the harsh words of his teachers, he hid out in a nearby shed were he made miniature shoes and hats for his new found friends, the ants. "It was a fantasy world I escaped to where my dyslexia didn't hold me back and my teachers couldn't criticize me. That's how my career as a micro-sculptor began"; says Wigan.  Today, his escape into his own Lilliputian world, has earned him national honors and critical acclaim, proving that some treasures can't be seen with the naked eye.  Working on such a small scale necessitates the use of innovative tools such as the hair of a fly, or the eyelash of an ex-girlfriend for paintbrushes.

• Website: Willard Wigan's homepage

Amazing Visuals and Immense Patience result in Khoda

Take a break, sit back, and enjoy Khoda

Khoda from Reza Dolatabadi on Vimeo.

What if you watch a film and whenever you pause it, you face a painting? This idea inspired Reza Dolatabadi to make Khoda. Over 6000 paintings were painstakingly produced during two years to create a five minutes film that would meet high personal standards. Khoda is a psychological thriller; a student project which was seen as a ‘mission impossible’ by many people but eventually proved possible!

Winner of the Best Animation Canary Wharf Film Festival (London) Aug, 2008
Award Nominee, Bacup Film Festival (Rossendale) Oct, 2008
Official selection for the "Best Short Film Program” at Waterford Film Festival (Ireland) November 200

Khoda from Reza Dolatabadi on Vimeo.

Featuring Etsy Artist, GEORGIESMOM CERAMICS, GLASS, PAINTINGS, STUFFIES

Today I'm featuring the beautiful paintings and ceramic work of Patricia Lazar, a.k.a. GeorgiesMom on Etsy.  I found Patricia in Etsy's Community forums.  I took a look at her shop and fell in love with her work.  Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Patricia has been selling on Etsy for 8 months. An experienced artist, she's been working with ceramics for about 10 years and painting all her life.

Here is my interview with Patricia:

Q: What was your very first ceramics project?

A:  My first ceramic project? I think I made mermaid mobiles!

Q:  What is your favorite material to work with?

A:  My favorite clay is low white earthenware - it's very flexible and great for hand building.

Q: What first made you want to become an artist?

A:  I believe I was born an artist...I was drawing and painting at a very young age, doing my own thing. One of my art teachers in grade school, maybe Grade 5, didn't believe that I made the things I brought to school that I did at home. She told my parents I was cheating, but my parents had seen me do it!

Q: How do you promote your work?

A:  I have done many juried art shows and gallery exhibitions in the past. I have a website called www.patricialazarceramicart as well as a blog. I hand out loads of business cards, and am well-known in the art community.

Q:  What is your favorite item from your Etsy shop?

A: I have a few favorite items: Ceramic Teapot Black Red Yellow Nude

Wall Pocket Vase Boston Terrier Dog roses too

Beth; "Making a not to myself to keep this in mind for my mother.  She has two Bostons.  Very cute."

 
CERAMIC TEAPOT looks like stone FUNKY

Beth: "I love the texture and color on this piece!"

Large Painting of Collies

I can see why these are some of your favorites.  They are wonderful pieces. Now getting back to the questions...

Q:  Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc

A:  A fleeting glance or vision becomes translated in my head as an art object. Often, when I start a clay sculpture, the clay itself tends to 'talk to me'!
If you would like to know the exact process that I use to hand-build a teapot for example, I'll be writing about that on my blog within a couple of days. As for when - anytime and just about all the time. My materials are earthenware clay, underglazes and glaze for ceramics; for painting I use acrylics, stretched canvas and varnish.

Q: Name three things most people don't know about you?

A:  Most people don't know that I have a fabulous studio in my home, that I adore all animals and have two dogs, and that I am disabled and live with horrible pain all the time, which is, thank goodness, much alleviated while I am engrossed in my art.

Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you?

A: I would like people to know that I have a teapot set in the Kamm Teapot Collection, the largest and most renowned in the world, I love to do commissions, and that my entire life has always been centered around art and it's extremely important for me to know that people love and buy my work!

Q:Where else can you be found on the internet?

A: My website: www.patricialazarceramicart.com
My blog: http://patricialazarceramicart.blogspot.com

My email: patricia [!at] patricialazarceramicart.com

Thank you Patricia for spending time with us here on Magic Stones!

Etsy Blog Features Challenge

As part of the 90 Etsy Features Blog Challenge, today I'm Featuring Thumbalina Creations

Jonquil Thiessen is a stay-at-home mom of three boys who loves to be creative in many different ways. She loves to sing, knit, crochet, draw, scrapbook, write music, and make jewelry. She would feel lost if she wasn't able to be creative.

She started young, singing in church and at weddings at three years old. Music and art have always been her passion. She took art classes and music lessons all through school and college.

During college, she met her husband, Keith. They have been married for almost ten years. He also enjoys music and encourages her to further her interests. (Or maybe he justs puts up with it.)He does say sometimes that she has too many hobbies.

Jonquil's favorite medium is ... well ... It's hard to pick a favorite. She likes jewelry, but is considering opening a knitting store as well.

She has tried to pass on her passion to her boys, but as you may know, little boys do not have a long attention span. Some of the boys are off to school know, so she has a little more time to focus on her art.

Her main priority is her family. Etsy has become a valuable method of continuing with her art and still being able to love and take care of her family.

You can read more about Jonquil and her work on her blog

Featuring Toni Moore of Moore Taste Jewellery

Toni Moore of Moore Taste Designer Jewellery on Etsy brings you a variety of pretty shiny adornments from down under.  This Australian designer has a great eye for line and texture. 

With Gold and Silver prices rocketing higher and higher, Copper jewelery is now in vogue again.  Along with her beautiful silver pieces, you will find some fantastic affordable copper designs to complement any outfit.  Copper has rich tones and lends itself to interesting patinas and textures.  Here are a few of my top copper designs from Moore Taste:

Industrial Copper Pendant

Exquisite texture and color on this pendant

Huge Hammered Copper Dome Pendant

A beautiful Copper Pendant strung from a neoprene cord and fastened with a sterling silver clasp.  Nothing beats hammered copper when it comes to color, depth and reflecting light.

Large Domed Hammered Copper Earrings to Match

Perfect for everyday wear.

There are many more lovely treasures to be found at Moore Taste on Etsy, so head on over to her shop today!

Don't miss Toni's Blog

Oh Bella Dio

Bella Dio {bel-uh dio} is Italian for "Beautiful God".
 
About the Designer:
Bella Dio is a stay- at- home mom with 3 boys living in Indianapolis. Her jewelry making adventures began six years ago when she began playing around with beading during a play date with friends. It started out as a hobby making jewelry for herself and friends and family. It wasn't long before more people took interest in her creations and Bella Dio began to take her jewelry designing more seriously. She quickly progressed from stringing and arranging purchased beads to making her own beads out of Polymer Clay. She found that Polymer Clay opened up different avenues for her like selling her designs in the antiques/tea room where she worked. She continued expanding her skills and knowledge and added wire work to her designs. In between all of these ventures, a friend turned her on to Cafepress, where she started to design t-shirts from her drawings. Looking around, she found she wanted to express her faith to any generation so she made designs that had scriptures in them, but could be worn by anyone.

Bella Dio Web Coordinates:
http://belladio.blogspot.com
http://www.belladio.etsy.com
http://www.cafepress.com/belladio

Stop by Bella Dio on Etsy today

 

Luxurious Hand painted Silk items from Gilbea

Today I'm featuring beautiful hand painted silk items from Gilbea's shop on Etsy.

Gilbea is located in Pamplona, Spain,but she ships her creations worldwide.

She describes herself as a former water color artist who became hooked on silk painting. For the past few years she has been seriously working on silk fabrics, creating a variety of items, from silk paintings that hang from the walls to silk scarves to brooches and t-shirts.

Right now she's experimenting with new things for the Spring/Summer 2008 season. Silk bags, shirts, headbands, and a big etcetera. Keep coming back to her store to see her new offerings.

Here are just a few of my favorites from Gilbea's shop.  Head on over to see the rest of her fabulous work.

This is a beautiful hand painted demi-scarf is a purrfect accessory/gift for the cat lover. The unique design of a cat is in purple, orange, green and yellow colors.
What can you do with it?:
- Tie it around your neck
- Ponytail holder
- Accessory for your bag
- Anything else you can think of!

Silk scarf - Hand painted Pink/Red Geometric design

This is a beautiful hand painted silk scarf. This unique geometric design is in fuscia and red colors, for the perfect touch of spice this winter right through the summer season.

Red Women Top size S - with silk embellishment

This is a one-of-a-kind top of stretchy red cotton knit. What makes this top unique? A small piece of silk hand painted by me sewn to it!

Gilbea's Web Coordinates:

Gilbea on the WWW:     www.gilbea.com

Gilbea on Etsy: http://gilbea.etsy.com

Gilbea's Blog:  Gilbea Art

Featuring Little Brown Bird Handcrafted Jewelry

Today I'm featuring the work of Mary Ryan, her Etsy shop, Little Brown Bird features her handcrafted jewelry designs.  Mary prefers to use semiprecious stones or interesting glass beads in her work.  She loves to pair them with sterling and fine silver.  Mary says that her style is constantly changing and evolving, this gives her body of work an eclectic feel to which I can truly relate.
Mary's art is not limited to any one medium, she loves photography, writing, painting, singing, acting.

Mary's decoupage pendants are lovely, colorful, and very affordable:

Floral Breeze-Decoupage Pendant Necklace

Midnight Fantasy-Decoupage Chiyogami Pendant Necklace

White Crane- Decoupage Chiyogami Pendant Necklace

Additional Web Coordinates:

Blog~ 
http://thelittlebrownbird.blogspot.com

Flickr page~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebrownbird/

TalentDatabase~
http://www.talentdatabase.com/channels/8-Fashion/profiles/1193902-Little-Brown-Bird

Mary just opened a new creative supplies shop in January 2008.
In The Raw
http://intheraw.etsy.com

Luckygirl Trading Dichroic Glass Artist

Luckygirl's Etsy profile speaks volumes about this artist and her work:

In the spring of 2001 I was overwhelmed by sadness and huge piles of clutter. My marriage was in the midst of a very ugly ending, and he had left tons of his stuff behind. I suddenly realized that I was a very lucky girl to be rid of him, and Lucky Girl Trading Company was born. I began listing his stuff for sale on eBay, clearing away both the clutter and the sadness. A few years later I met my lucky guy--who was selling a bit of jewelry--and married him in a hot air balloon ceremony in 2006.

We've worked together to build Lucky Girl Trading into a fun and fulfilling enterprise. I've also discovered working with glass--one of my all-time favorite creative outlets.

I've also discovered two ancient arts: Kumihimo and Temari. Both are centuries-old crafts, and both give me a zen-like tranquility while working.

I truly am a Lucky Girl! Every day I gather pretty, sparkly things and send them to people. I imagine a person opening their mail and taking out their new pendant or chain or pouch. It's perfect--they have a huge smile on their face--and so do I. I'd love for that person to be you!

Luckygirltrading's color combinations in her dichroic glass pieces are rich and inviting.  Wear the beautiful pendants on a simple chain or incorporate them into your own design.

I'm especially intrigued by this artist's Temari work, Temari is the art of Japanese Thread Balls.
A thousand year old craft from Japan, Temari is traditionally given as a gift. From humble beginnings as simple toy balls for children's play, Temari create a magnetic effect on viewers today. As a spectacular decorating focal point, the puzzle of the design is mesmerizing. The concept is elegantly simple, the end result is simply elegant!

I'm ready to go out and try this fabulous meditative art form. 

Here are a few of my favorite Luckygirl's beautiful Temari Balls:

Teal and Sunshine Temari

This Temari ball has a rattle housed in bottle caps inside, so playing with it could become addictive. Ready to hang on a Christmas tree or hook, you can easily clip the loop if you prefer to display it on a stand or table. Temari also make terrific good luck and housewarming gifts.

The Joy of Pink Temari

Bright Rainbow Temari

Other Luckygirl Web Coordinates:

MySpace 

Make Every Day Your Lucky Day (blog)

Railyuh - Featured Photographer

Today I'm featuring the photography of Aurelia.  She uses her high school nickname for her Etsy Shop name. She explains in her Etsy profile, "Some people have asked where the name "railyuh" comes from so I thought I'd share. My first name is Aurelia (pronounced uh-rail-yuh), but I grew up going by my middle name because Aurelia was hard to spell and pronounce. By the time I was in high school a shortened version, "railyuh," became my nickname with a few close friends. It soon became my online screen name, hence my shop with items "made by Railyuh"!"

Aurelia says that photography is one of her first artistic loves. She especially enjoys landscape photography. She feels the beauty she sees in the natural world inspires her to fill her home with natural handmade items. She enjoys viewing ordinary objects from different angles and perspectives in her black and white photography. She intends her images to spread a little beauty into the lives of each person who views them.

Visit Made by Railyuh on Etsy where you'll find prints, photo cards, note cards, and postcards

Spread the love and the beauty by sending this beautiful photo greeting card

Alaskan Sunset Photo Card

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this photo print:

Trillian Falls 5x7 Print

Browse the shop for more beautiful and inspiring images. Then, be sure to drop by  her blog to learn more about Aurelia and to see sneak previews and updates for her shop.