800 Steps to 800 Magnets!

My friend, Gayle Tustin and I have completed our wedding project of making over 800 clay magnets with Terra Sigillata and patinas. What an amazing adventure this was. We have rolled out clay, added texture, cut them out, let them dry, applied Terra Sigillata, fired them, applied patinas, fired them, adhered magnets to the backing and ta-dahhh... 800 magnets! If you have ever worked with magnets, you know they can be very tricky! They stick to everything and fly all over the place. We had many hilarious moments with the magnets moving, sticking to everything and frustrating us. At the end of the day the process and the final product was worth it. We are happy to have these done and are looking forward to giving them out on May 14th!

After being fired once, the patinas are applied and wiped off.

 

This is what they look like after they were fired again with the patina.

These crazy magnets were applied to the back of the clay with hot glue.

Applying pressure as the glue dried.

Many many steps later...  they were complete!

Happy Wedding Day - Jarrie and Justin - May 14, 2011

For Kim and her Welshman

One year and a month ago my very dear friend Kim got married to a handsome Welshman. They finally shut the door to long distance dating and were married at Orton Plantation right outside of Wilmington, NC on September 13, 2009. A gorgeous wedding for two gorgeous people.

Kim and I grew up together, went to Sunday school, youth trips, high school and college together. In 5th grade it was hilarious getting in trouble together and at twenty-five years old it was heart warming being her bridesmaid on her wedding day.

When it came time to buy a wedding gift for the newlyweds, I knew painting a custom painting for their new home was what I wanted to do... a cutting board, new sheets, towels or a blender just wasn't quite right to represent our friendship.

Kim and the handsome Welshman had to wait months and months for its completion (you can't rush great art... right?) and then one happy day I delivered it myself to their home in Raleigh, NC. 

 

24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

Location: Kim + Lewis' Home,  Raleigh, NC