UNL1KE

See, I have 4 kids and a stepson who when they lost Gamma, it hit hard. I realized that they didn't really get anything to remind them of her. Ok, maybe some of her sport shirts, books and Nic naks. But this was not their memories, or their thoughts of how she impacted their lives. So, I decided to ask each one of them what reminded them of her. I was shocked, I got 5 so completely different answers. I thought this was so cool. As I started to create each one. There was a feeling a sense of excitement and passion. The more they were coming together that feeling, was as if I had been doing it for years. I just loved creating something so unusual. They were More like a work of art, like something you could pick up at a fine gallery... the fact it was an URN was just the hidden treasure.

My oldest son’s memory with his Gamma, was owls and sea turtles. My mom collected owls. She has quite a few in her home. The sea turtles came about when my mom, who had this funny habit, that when she went on a cruise, always seemed to come back with something that had a sea turtle on it. So, as you will see in the first picture, this was the His piece.

This is a live bark bottom, with a resin coating. A natural grape wood vine branch. On it, is a glass piece perfectly fitted into the branch. It’s filled with glow resin. Inside the glass has a sea turtle, divers and some shells that they collected over the years. To the left of the glass, you will find an owl trinket holder. This owl holds the ashes and is permanently sealed. I have magnetized this to the branch so that it could come off. If he ever decided he wanted to bring his owl and his Gamma with him. Keep moving left u will find a beach Scene. With beautiful coral piece that his wife picked up. Along with a message in a bottle. This actually has my mom’s handwritten card shrunken down to fit, that says, “missing you more then you know” This was a card she sent during the pandemic, when it was not possible to see her. (Moving on) Just In front of the bark, is a baby turtle breaking out of his shell. As you keep heading over the other side, I wanted to do something for his wife, so I made a small field and put a cute figurine from Jay Strongwater. This standing bunny with the floppy ears was so cute. I also added a multi changing light under the branch. This was it also can light up at night and be a very calming Scene.

This all came together just from the 2 words owl and sea turtle.

*Jay Strongwater is a great artist and happen to be my mom’s favorite and why he was a must to incorporate in all of their designs.

PROJECT 1/REVEAL#3

PROJECT 2/REVEAL#5

The second piece. Was for my second oldest son, his idea was conch shells, ocean, & sharks. Ok, this was a similar idea with land and sea. Instead, I focused on the ocean part. I made a hollow bottom added lights. Because I knew I wanted to make an ocean scene. A wave was a great idea. I was going to work with resin for this one. I have no molds and there is nothing out there that could create what wanted. This piece was 5 different sections, from the base to the curve of the wave, (better known as the barrel) was a challenge but eventually I got it perfect. This wave has everything that a true wave would. The rolling sand, the white caps, all of it. It even has the Manta ray swimming along in view. As it looks to crash onto the shore, you will find the gold dusted beach sand, hand-picked seashells, and a very impressive Jay Strongwater coral piece. His artwork always has Swarovski crystals. This centerpiece has Hundreds. I did add some real shells to the piece so that when I added the conch shell trinket box for her ashes, it was not awkwardly standing out. On to the shore Again, there is the message in the bottle as I did for any water or sand theme. Just because it's so cute it's a real note from my mom. Like a small treasure. However, his time when the lights are on it shines through the sand, and you can see the bottle, so that was a very cool feature that I was not sure was going to work out, but it did. And another hidden gem. If you turn the piece around, you see the great white shark in the midst of the deep ocean. This piece is probably about 10 lbs., maybe more it's heavy, but absolutely stunning.

PROJECT 3/REVEAL#1

The third piece and for my 3rd son. his memory was lighthouse, dolphin and seals. This I started with a lantern but not just any lantern, I had to find the right style and look I was going for. I knew I wanted it to be the centerpiece within a centerpiece. (I'll explain) after searching everywhere, I came across this vintage lantern at an antique shop. When I got it home, I had to figure out how I was going to incorporate dolphins first. I must have bought 3 different dolphin statues or figurines. I chopped them down, drilled and sanded each one to see what one was going to make the final cut. Well, my idea was to place it in the center and build around it inside. At the top part, I carved in a multi changing color light, so it would shine down on the dolphin. And with all the colored glass rocks and crystals, it was as if the light was also reflecting on the ocean waves. I then added the sand and of course the message in the bottle but still needed something. I found a trinket box dolphin figurine that needed a bit of alternations so that I could have the ashes placed front and center of this amazing piece. Ok, now, for the base. I had to search for seals this was hard to find the right size and some of my orders were coming all the way from England. in this time, I was going to now make the bottom piece. I wanted to create a stone like texture and reenforce it, With a double acrylic layer for a sturdy bottom. This created the perfect structure to place the seals around, and make it look as if they were taking a break from the water. I placed a Strongwater figurine (this time a seal) and this was almost completed, I added a mini projector. When this is turned on, you see the moon on the wall, or the ceiling. This was placed in a hide spot for a custom fit and design that also creates the perfect lighthouse mood at night. Pretty cool

PROJECT 4/REVEAL #4

The 4th piece was for my daughter. She is the only girl, and my only child who lives with her dad. her ideas was the color lavender, Lillys and butterfly. This was completely different then her siblings. (As They all had a land and sea theme)

I started my search to find the perfect Lilly first. I knew I didn't want just a fake flower or plastic piece but more of a porcelain object. I found one online and it was perfect. It arrived in 5 days, and even though it was a little bigger than I expected in person, I was actually happy about that. Off to my favorite craft store to get materials for the base. I passed a really pretty shadow box and picked up 3. I grabbed some fairy lights, gravel, and a few real touch flowers to create a perfect backdrop for the butterfly. The flowers went with the Lilly perfect. I then added the lights inside the flowers and under the gravel to add a beautiful glow at night. I located a lavender butterfly trinket box that I dolled up with crystals and placed my mom’s ashes inside , nailed it to the back plate of the box. This made it look like it was flying. I decided that because she can’t have any pets at her dad's due to allergies I knew that maybe adding something to make this piece even better. I got a sawyer the Strongwater lizard who is like 8inches long to place in this piece. Now it’s a terrarium, classy and just beautiful.

This last piece was for the kids was for my stepson. Now he did not have his whole life with my mom but a good 10+ years. His memory was not an actual item or thing. It was a memory. It was when the whole family would go out on the golf course. See My mom lived on the 18th hole to be exact, and Every Christmas eve we would go out on the course and sing carols and look for Santa. I knew exactly what I was going to do for his ... re-create that exact Scene. Starting with a display case. Then I decided I was also going to drive over to it, and make sure I got pictures of the golf course and where we used to do these carols. I had all the items needed and even took some sand off the course itself. Now our family is not small by any means. These Holiday nights could be 10,12 of us, and that is just me my husband and grandkids and their wives. upon doing some research, I got in touch with a guy that does 3D printing. I was able to go through his extreme catalog of mini figurines and all at a 1.67 scale. To give you an idea on size, one of these figurines can sit inside my ring from a finger (very small) [you can see this on my work page]. After hours of searching, I was able to find each and every figurine I was looking for. Not only did they match the look, clothing but also the action that they would be doing on that evening. I made my order and when I got them, I was a little shocked of how small they really were. However, I did have to make it scale to the golf Corse, so they were actually the perfect. I got my magnifying light out and started to paint each and every family member. I think I did 13 in total. All sitting around in a circle on a clay log. I even made some mini presents to add to the time of year. This piece was different on how it hit my soul, when looking at it, I remembered being there.

Even though it was a lot smaller than the other ones, The impact it had to everyone was huge including my stepson as it was his memory brought to life in a sense. It was such an awesome idea. After placing the trees and making the resin canal. I had to add my Strongwater but most of his art is pretty big and would not really fit this piece, but I definitely didn't want him to feel he was the only one without one. I had to think of what I can do to add this and yep, I got it! Earrings .. I was able to find Christmas tree earring from Strongwater, and they were slightly curved, so it was even better than I expected. I put Gamma in the middle of these 2 perfectly curved earrings and permanently closed them together. also sealed the display case. I added a green velvet ribbon to the bottom outside, added mini display lights on the top. This way if he wanted to have it on at night he could, and it shows just as amazing with lights on as it does with them off.

PROJECT 5/REVEAL #2

My mom’s best friend and my god mother she is known as AntieM . Now she was invited over for the reveal on my mom’s 1 year. She had no clue that I had also made something for her. We have had many conversations and there are so many memories, that were passed between us. But a few key points, were her telling me where they last hung out before moving down to Florida. she told me the clubs they went to her favorite candy, and I wanted to incorporate it all. However, when she told me that my stepdad had accidentally broke a dolphin figurine of my moms, she would have tried to fix it to have something that would remind her of my mom. I thought, that’s it. I can make a centerpiece for her table. And have a dolphin coming out of the water with the backdrop as the place they grew up. Find an old flyer to their favorite club. I also added in a candy dish or a place to put the small trinkets. This was perfect. She will get a kick out of the fact I did this. I wanted to create something on the outside of this piece. Knowing my mom’s birthstone was a diamond for the month of April. I wanted to find something that had her stone, but also had special meaning to my AntieM So, I thought how great if I can find cremation jewelry Stirling silver cross with a diamond like stone. I found it, to my surprise. I was able to fill the cross with my mom’s ashes. I made a micro magnet, attached it to the back of the cross. I had an additional magnet on the outside of the glass piece so that when she was not wearing the cross she has a safe place to keep it and still be a part of the project.

PROJECT 6/REVEAL#6

PROJECT 7

After my mom passed, she left behind 4 siblings. I asked each one of them, if there were something of my mother's that they wanted regardless of what it would be. They didn’t really have an idea at that time. However, my uncle said, he would love anything of Her’s Art wise. Even though I knew my mom was extremely creative. I didn't come across any of her art. I thought this was very strange. However, in her office she had 4 canvas paintings, that I know she made. All were an ocean scene with different fish on each painting. And when you put them all together side by side it completed a set or scene. I decided this is what I was going to make them. As I can’t take possession of the actual painting just yet. I wanted my family to have something to have on her one-year mark. My plan was to take a picture of each of the paintings and see if there was a way that I can recreate them. I ended up finding these small trinket boxes online. they actually had A painting on it already. I found 4 of them. 2 each of the same style. After I received all 4. The canvas area on these particular pieces, was not the correct size for what I was going to create. I needed a larger canvas area. So, with molding clay, I was able to make the right size. I then baked the piece in the oven to ensure its durability and hardness. After this, I pretty much duplicated My mom's artwork from her paintings onto these tiny 2-inch Canvas pictures. I made all 4 differently, just as all 4 of the canvas paintings were. And when putting them all together, it created the same scene. I was so happy this turned out exactly the way I wanted now. I will say this was not a complete start to finish creation by myself. As I started with pretty much a mold or an already full designed piece, I just tweaked it a little. I did keep most of the structure. And I also used the current trinket boxes for my mom's Ashes to be in. I did not change any of that. I thought they were so cute. the only thing I really needed to do was recreate My mom's art and that's what you will see in these pictures. Is that recreation There is also a video on the bottom of my work page. That explains the entire process. Why I made these an oddly enough? These were the first items sent out, however. I made sure to let the family know that when they received their packages not to open it. Until July 7th that was reveal day. They all decided to get together and open them with each other. As I said, that could not have been a better situation as each one of them got a different piece. And all together created the entire scene. It could not have been more perfect