Jan Dwyer Collectibles

 Jan Dwyer Collectibles

Handcrafted Exclusively in Catalpa Wood

This is my second post in a series featuring fellow artisans doing wonderful hand crafted designs.  Jan Dwyer of Jan Dwyer Collectibles, along with her husband Dean, design and carve the most fabulous decorative items from Catalpa wood.  Jan is a fellow artisan that I met a number of years ago at art and craft shows.  Jan and Dean both love designing and creating and it shows in every piece they create!  They have quite a variety of items from vases, animals, trees, lamps, Nativity sets, mirrors, flowers, leaves, and butterflies.  And they are adding new designs as we speak!



Vases

They start by actually cutting down Catalpa trees that need to be removed for various reasons.  After the wood dries they can start turning the catalpa wood into beautiful designs for home decor.  One of my favorite items are their vases.  I love the grain and bark on the vases. What beautiful examples of nature!  The vases are available in a lot of different sizes and shapes, so are perfect to use together in an arrangement.  In this closeup picture you can really see how the grain and bark are exposed and become the main feature of each vase. 

Closeup of Catalpa vases

 

Lamp





Here is a great example of just one of their lamps.  All the lamps have some exposed grain along with intact bark on the column of the lamp.  The lamps also come in lots of different sizes.

 





 

 These two little creatures are just a couple examples of the many animals Jan and Dean carve out of Catalpa wood.  I think almost any animal you would want, they probably already have in their line of animals.  One of the most popular right now are their owl designs.  They even have several perched on actual tree branches.  So Cute!!

Their Story:

I have been in the crafting business for around 30 years!  I have done something creative my entire life!  My kindergarten teacher told my mother she thought I would be an artist!  Because of my husbands health issues he is not able to work long hours, but loves being in his wood shop, creating with  his hands.


We use only one type of tree, the catalpa.  Catalpa is a soft wood, therefore the bark shrinks with the wood when it dries and does not come off like most bark of other trees.  We use the bark side of the wood in most of our designs.  Catalpa has a beautiful grain and an interesting bark.  I draw most of the patterns and my husband, Dean, cuts them out on a band saw.  I then carve the pieces using a palm sander, spindle sander, and dremel tools.  Our finishing process includes some staining to bring out the grain, as well as 6 coats of finish which is brushed on over several days.  Dean makes all the lathe-turned pieces, such as lamps, vases, cone trees, etc.

 I am constantly thinking of new things to design, create and challenge us both!  I believe there isn't anything as satisfying as having someone admire and want to purchase something we have designed and created!  It is always fun to meet like-minded people at the art and craft shows as we travel around the country.







Fall Leaves



They also do very intricate work shown here in this plate of leaves made out of Catalpa.  What great fall decor just to have some scattered on a table. 




Cone Tree

 

The cone trees are turned on a lathe by Dean.  Jan then applies a stain to bring out the beauty of the grain which gives the tree its distinctive appearance.  No two are ever alike!  I love the moose too!  He looks pretty awesome! 



Had to include a picture of the owls!

If you want to get in touch with Jan Dwyer Collectibles their email address is: jdcoll@iowatelecom.net. Or you can reach them by phone...641.369.2791.



Catalpa Tree











Celebrating Handcrafted

 Handcrafted and Custom Designed Handbags

by Rebekah Scott Designs

 I have been doing a few craft shows lately and found some remarkable handcrafted items.  Since this blog is about celebrating handcrafted,  I wanted to share with all of you some of my best finds along with their wonderful and fun stories. I love discovering people that are so excited about what they do that they put their heart and soul into everything they design and create.  This is what handcrafted is really all about. 



Many Designs to choose from!

  For starters:  Rebekah Scott Designs .  Rebekah designs the most fabulous bags!  I met her at a craft show in the Minneapolis area.  She started sewing and designing at a very young age. Her Mom taught her how to sew, always encouraging her creativity.
 So now she travels to some of the best craft shows in the country and also sells on Etsy.com.  You can find a lot of her great bags here in her Etsy Shop.  In addition to handbags, Rebekah also features baby shoes, headwraps, and other accessories.  And she does custom handbags! 




"The Mindy Bag"

 One of my favorites is called the "Mindy Bag" shown here.  It is lined with a beautifully colorful fabric, features 7-9 inside pockets, is 100% washable, has a cell phone pocket, and a key ring! It measures 13" X 15", so has plenty of room for all your stuff!  One feature that I think is great is the over the shoulder handle.  It is very sturdy and is a nice accent to the bag. 




Rebekah Scott



Her story:

I grew up West River in Philip, South Dakota. From a very young age, I was always playing in mom's sewing scraps; I could spend hours designing Barbie clothes and hats for my friends. Around the age of ten, I was sewing stocking caps and selling them on the playground to friends. I give my mother all the credit for teaching me how to sew. She spent many long hours helping me sew suits and prom dresses and even bathrobes for demonstrations. Mom also spent many long hours sewing outfits I had designed in my head and needed her to figure out just how to sew it.

I again really got excited with sewing and designing when my graduation gift for college was a serger from my mom and dad. I continued to save money at Christmas by sewing purses for my friends and family. Word spread fast and soon I was getting calls from people I had never met placing orders for purses. I started small until it took over my life and I knew that this was something God had prepared me for all my life and it was time to embrace it!

I am inspired by my own busy life with 2 little ones and how to simplify my life. so I add lots of pockets to the purses along with being washable-  can't be any better than that!

Rebekah  does a great job of designing bags that are useful and fashionable!  Be sure to check out her Etsy Shop, RebekahScottsDesigns.   Later this month we will be doing a Giveaway of one of her designer cosmetic bags! 

Photo's of Springtime in the Yard






Robin's Nest

Just poking around out in the yard this morning and found this very content robin just sitting on her nest in a tree right by our front porch.  She hardly notices us!  She is totally intent on her main focus right now!!  So Cute!!



Pink Dogwood Tree with nest



This is our Pink Dogwood tree right by the front porch ( the one with the robin's nest).  It is blooming but hard to see in this picture. This is very strange....but the large Oak to the right in the picture actually has a heart design in the bark.  Totally natural. I really had absolutely nothing to do with it!! 

Goldfinches

Wow, something must be tasting pretty good here!  The Goldfinches are everywhere. They even fight for a spot at the feeder although it does look like one is politely waiting his turn!

Pink Clematis

Also found this Pink Clematis blooming its little heart out this morning.  This plant is several years old but has never really done well.  Maybe this is the year!!  When planted I had visions of a solid mass of blooms covering the lattice.  Any suggestions on how to coax Clematis to grow?? 

Happy Spring!





 

Mother & I Photo Frame for Mother's Day



Mother and I Photo Frame on Etsy



With Mother's Day coming up soon this frame is a great way to celebrate the special relationship between mothers and daughters!   This is one of our new frames in our Etsy Shop .  We laugh we cry we make time fly best friends my Mother and I is off white screen printing on a black background.  The opening accommodates a 4" X 6" photo.  The outside measures 9" X 13" and  has a keyhole slot on the back for hanging.

For a very personal touch it would be fun to include a vintage photo of you and your Mom as a keepsake along with a  written story about the photo!  Of course current pics are great too!  We all have those very special pictures tucked away somewhere that we never get to enjoy because we never see them!  Hope you all have a Happy Mother's Day.

The Color Black



Black  from Tubidu Graphics  on Etsy.com

Do you think of black as a color?  Or white as a color?  Of course you do and here is the excellent example of how striking it can be together.  Both are neutrals and can be paired with anything.  But just being together, just the two of them, is also a very dramatic statement.  This Etsy treasury is from Tubidu Graphics It is a beautiful treasury, so well put together, showing home decor and fashion trends with a modern flair.  The Man Cave sign is actually from my shop on Etsy, Mulberry Creek . Right now I am loving black, even for spring.  When paired with white, it brings it to life, brightens it up, and adds another dimension for our eyes.  I am starting to pair black with the color Dove. The Dove softens  black and relaxes the experience.  So try some black...they say every room should have at least 10% black, usually in the way of a accessory.   Do some experimenting with the color black and see what happens!

Pink-The Blush of Spring Etsy Treasury from MROriginals



Pink-The Blush of Spring from MROriginals

Spring has sprung over most of the country early this year....so lets celebrate!  This colorful treasury says it all when it comes to spring.  It speaks of love, hearts, flowers, and of course you need to throw in a little chocolate also.  This blog has been all about color lately and PINK is a classic color for spring.  Another great color this spring is purple or sometimes called cabernet, aubergine, or eggplant.  You see it everywhere.  Where I notice this color a lot lately is on walls,  linens, cloths, and mens ties of all things!!  So the guys are even getting in on this one!!  Bring on the color and let it uplift our lives and our spirits!!  Be sure and check out MROrginals on Etsy, the creator of this wonderful spring treasury and the creator of this beautiful spring flower vase quilt.  What a great addition to any spring home decor! 

Flower Vase Wall Hanging Quilt



Tranquility Treasury



Tranquility Treasury by Laura Graves on Etsy



When I saw this treasury today on the Etsy front page I absolutely loved it.  It's all about the color!  Turquoise, Aqua, or Teal....whatever you call it, the colors are fabulous!  This color has remained a favorite through the years for many.  I remember my mother using this color in our new home in the kitchen and pairing it with copper and yellow!  It was beautiful and remains timeless. So don't be afraid of color.  Color has such an impact on our lives and our outlook on life so we need to make it bright and happy!  Thanks to Laura for this beautiful treasury.  You can visit her shop and see her beautiful archival prints and illustrations at this link. 

Welcome To Our Home Vinyl Decal

Vinyl Welcome To our Home

All of this beautiful spring weather has started us thinking about sprucing up the outside of our homes.  The jobs are endless when you start looking around.  Washing windows, fertilizing the lawn, raking out the left over leaves that seem to get blown in the strangest places, planning the garden, ( notice I said planning not planting ) and thinking about the flower garden.  This Welcome is a really nice way to spruce up your front porch.  The size is 21" X 5.5" and will fit right on that middle panel.  Check it out....it is the newest listing in our Etsy Shop for spring!  Welcome To Our Home

A Burst of Sunshine Treasury




A Burst of Sunshine by Celestial Soap and Gifts






 I could not resist listing and sharing this bright and cheery treasury from Etsy today.  It certainly welcomes spring with open arms and just makes you want to soak up all that warm sunshine.  Enjoy!!  It is from http://www.etsy.com/shop/celestialsoap

Coffee Vinyl Decal




 

I've been working on new kitchen vinyl decals again this week.  I love this quote because I am a firm believer in it!  I am a big Starbucks fan and always use Starbucks Espresso beans, freshly ground, in my espresso machine every morning.  So I had to have this design!  It is listed in my Etsy Shop. 

Live Laugh Love Vinyl Decal



Live Laugh Love Vinyl Decal

 


                                                                                                         This is a brand new vinyl decal design that I just listed in my Etsy Shop this week.  It measures 16.5" X 8.0" and is shown here in black vinyl.  Here is a link to this design...

Etsy Shop