Last summer I had this cabinet built because I was so desperate for storage space after closing JAG.  I was not very inspired to paint or finish it, since my life was in a bit of an upheaval. Anyway, I have been inspired to paint and put a resin top on the darn thing as well as paint the store! Sooo, here are the photos, using the resin was super easy and a great way to have fun with old furniture!

1. glue down paper, let dry completely 2. mix and pour resin on top of paper, use brush to smooth. 3. let dry for 24 hours-do not touch it!

4. finished product! Voila!

just the paper

pouring and brushing the resin

So,here we are!

Suzanne Walz – I am the one posting the blog, I also own two retails stores; J.A.G. – Jackson Art Gallery, www.jagartgallery.com  a contemporary store focusing on pottery, blown glass and metal sculpture.  Hazelle M., www.hazellem.com  is my a fun, funky whimsical store with a retro vibe. Lots of great gifts, jewelry and stuff that you’ll love. You can visit my sites, sign up and become a fan on  facebook, but I would much rather you visit the store so we can meet! As an artist, I prefer collage, found art, and painting anything. I am self-taught and with the help of my friends, I hope to create some pretty fantastic stuff.

Jacque Kudner Jacque Kudner has a passion to create.  She has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and education. While her children Elizabeth and Chris grew she volunteered in their school’s art program’s. During the decade of the 80′s Jacque designed original teddybears called Jacquebears. Her work was published in the Complete Book of Teddy Bears, and she was featured in several issues of Teddy Bear and Friends. One of her Christmas bears was on exhibit at the Teddy Bear Museum in Naples, Florida. Toy stores throughout the U.S. have carried her work. Jacque now works as an artist, using her talented eye to find antique treasures to create her re-imagined design. The common theme in Jacque’s work is her love of beautiful vintage things. Remagine Designs launches in 2011, specializing in vintage handmade jewelry, home and apparel accessories. Jacque Kudner creates a unique blend of past and present with creativity, sophistication and a look that is truly one of a kind.

Betsy Youndahl – With her Associates degree in Book Binding, Betsy helped us create our first project. Betsy has pursued her love of learning and creating since her graduation from Michigan State University. Classes in drawing, painting, photography, pottery, mixed media workshops and bookbinding have contributed to her artistic endeavors. She is a member of the Jackson Civic Art Association and feels strongly that ” if you are too comfortable, you are not learning!”

Katie Bisbee- Katie is a designer, creator, artist, crafter, and businesswoman. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two sons and two dogs. Katie creates sophisticated, hand knitted, felted handbags. The customized handmade handbags are both wearable and functional art. They are one of a kind pieces that do more than hold your daily necessities. After creating more than 100 bags and selling them all over the United States, she has come to learn the art of designing, knitting, felting and constructing. Katie’s handbags have been published in Haute Handbags, Spring 2008 and Haute Handbags Spring 2010.

Must dash now to create and sell, so next post, you will meet Jannae, Mary Jo, and Barb!

Then for our first project… Art Journals!

So with this blog, we hope to update you after each meeting or outing and share with you what we have found. We will post photos of what we’ve done, some techniques we have found were really cool, and perhaps spark your creative interest. We hope you will follow us along the way, your comments are always welcome!

Stayed tuned to meet the artists and read their Bios!