December Featured Item - Butterfly Book Page Necklace

Butterfly Book Page Necklace

The image within this focal bead is an acid free artwork from a birds and flowers collection that is carefully applied onto a vintage book page. It is then sealed with gold, silver or copper enamel to protect the artwork.  Bails are then crafted and attached in order to hang from your choice of 18-24" stainless steel ball chain. A dangling bead in your choice of pink, purple, blue, red, or black is added for more movement and sparkle.

18-24" stainless steel ball chain
Focal bead and dangle are approx 2 1/2"

The book pages I use are original (not photo copies). They are from a vintage book called "Birds That Every Child Should Know" published in1907 by Neltje Blanchan.

Each necklace pendant is one of a kind (OOAK)
* book page is original
* image placement varies
* enamel sealant varies

Necklace is packed in a post-consumer, recycled box with soft fiber fill, then shipped USPS

 

Our Waterfront Vacation - What happened the third day surprised us!

Waterfront Vacation Rental – Port Angeles/Sequim, WA

That’s what we typed into the search bar on VRBO (vacation rental by owner), the image above caught our eye!  We have been visiting the Sequim area for several years, so re recognized this picture to be the cliffs that over look the Strait of Jaun de Fuca.  

Chair made from a log

We arrived Thursday, Nov. 27th and settled into our cabin in the woods.  The kids explored the surroundings while we unpacked - they came running into the cabin to tells us about the trails leading down the cliff, the chair made out of a log, and how awesome the cabin is!! After getting some supplies in Port Angeles we decided to take the hike down the cliff to the water before the Seahawk game starts.

looking toward Port Angeles

walking the private trail to the beach

The owners built this trail on their property, its 1 of only 2 trails leading to the beach in the entire area!!

Here we are!!

the tide was out enough to walk the beach

looking toward Sequim

The trail is a little slippery with fall leaves and mud from the rains the day before.  It started to rain on us so we headed back to the cabin.  Our first day here was PERFECT...and the Seahawks won!!

The second day we woke to deer in the field next to us then we drove to Rialto Beach (about an hour away).  When we left the cabin it was raining and cold.  At the beach it was SUNNY!!  We love this beach, flat skipping rocks are everywhere, the waves are big, dramatic and sound like a train hitting the shore,  and beautiful giant driftwood trees litter the coast.  If you go, don't bother going to La Push - in our opinion its dirty, nasty and no parking.

I said it was sunny, I didn't say it was warm :).  We had a great time climbing the driftwood, searching for shells & rocks and dodging rogue waves!  

Our third morning we woke to SNOW!!!!  Most of Washington got snow this same morning,  however we just didn't expect is at this low of elevation.  We bundled up a little warmer and headed to Lake Crescent, we wanted to walk the Discovery Trail and hike to Marymere Falls.  The roads were a little icey in places through out Port Angeles, but the scenery was wonderful!!

see the deer?

deer

A perfect vacation - thank you Stewart for taking me to my favorite spots, and for letting Kyle bring a friend!!  

If any of you are interested in the cabin we rented, follow this link.  If you have any questions, comments or just want to know us, please like us on FB :)

Watch For These Blog Titles

Whats next?

Blogs Coming Soon

• Chipotle  Raspberry Jam  (January)
• Gluten Free Flour Tortillas  (January)
• Featured Art from Sherman Street Design  (Dec. 15th)
• Sequim/Port Angeles Vacation  (Dec. 12th)

DIY - Any Color Can Be A Chalkboard

any color can be made into chalkboard paint

Walls, Furniture, or Accessories

I've heard of  adding (2 tbls) grout to (1 cup) latex paint to create a chalkboard.  However, I've never done that, so I can't say how well it works.  What I have done successfully is a long process of painting, drying, sanding, repeating.

Here's how its done:

I'm assuming your item is ready for paint (clean, sanded smooth and dry), and you've picked out your favorite color (latex: flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss all work).

You will need to paint the entire surface you want to be a chalkboard with a smooth (sponge brush works great) brush from the left upper corner to the right lower corner (diagonal).  Let dry.  Now you need to take steel wool and sand the entire painted surface.  Last, Clean the surface.  Repeat this process in all directions.  (right upper to left lower, top to bottom, side to side) drying and sanding between each direction.

Once your done with this process, then you take white chalk and rub the entire surface from left upper corner to right lower corner, then wipe it off until all the chalk is off.  Repeat this process in each direction (right upper to left lower, top to bottom, side to side) wiping off the chalk each time.  Now you can take your favorite cleaner and clean the surface.  Your done.  This method is very durable, after all there are four layers of paint on the surface!!

I have chalkboard painted desks, dressers, doors, chairs, walls, trays, wine bottles, mason jars, glass, ceramic, and clay pots with this method.  My next experiment with this method will be tee-shirts!!

Thanks for visiting :)

Check out my Etsy shop

November Featured Item - Hummingbird, Book Page Necklace

Hand Painted Hummingbird, Book Page Necklace

Featured Item - Hummingbird, Book Page Necklace

I love hummingbirds, their beautiful colors, their small size, and the sound they make as they fly. Over the years I've included them in my scratch board designs, murals, greeting cards, glass etching, framed art and jewelry.

The image within this focal bead is my original artwork - a hand-painted silhouette of a hummingbird - on a vintage book page, it is copper gilded to create a metallic shimmer. It is then sealed with copper, silver or gold enamel to protect the artwork. Bails are then crafted and attached in order to hang from your choice of 18-24" stainless steel ball chain. A dangling bead in your choice of pink, purple, blue, red, or black is added for more movement and sparkle.

18-24" stainless steel ball chain
Focal bead and dangle are approx 2 1/2"

The book pages I use are original (not photo copies). They are from a vintage book called "Birds That Every Child Should Know" published in1907 by Neltje Blanchan. Your necklace will come with a quote from the page your necklace is from.

Each necklace pendant is one of a kind (OOAK)
* book page is original
* hand painted image
* image placement varies
* enamel sealant varies

Each necklace is packaged in a post consumer, recycled, box, fitted with a non-tarnishing white fiber fill.

Coupon code for our readers!

You can purchase this through our Etsy shop for  $36 plus shipping.  We are extending to our readers a coupon code for this featured item, please send us a message on Etsy telling us that you read this blog to receive this necklace for $29.99 plus shipping.

New Look - New Name

digital design by Charlotte for Sherman Street Design

Shop Announcement -

I've started so many sentences then back spaced out of them.  I'm shocked that I have not blogged since January, I think you'll agree that playing catch up just wont work.  So I'll just announce to you that I am no longer just Chars Wild Art.  What?  My husband and I have been kicking around the idea of working together for years and now we are jumping in with both feet (or four feet)  - drum roll please - we started a new journey together....Sherman Street Design!!

We have combined our talents to reclaim wood and glass into home decor, garden decor and wearable art. 

• Glass Garden Flowers
• Tea Cup Bird Feeders 
• Bird Baths
• Wine Signage
• Wine Racks
• Lighted Coffee Tables
• Electrical Wine Bottle Chandlers & Wind chimes
• and more

While still offering Bird Houses, Glass Etchings, and vintage inspired Jewelry.

We are also on Etsy 

Perfect Brown Rice - How to

Most of you (regular readers/friends) know that my family had to make some changes in our diet.  We have several food intolerance, sensitivities, and allergies.  Yes, each of those have different symptoms and reactions!

My son, reason one for dietary changes is his health

Lets face it white rice is pretty to look at, it taste good, and its quick to make!  But we don't eat it anymore :( and had to make the change to brown rice.  One reason was due to my son and I are both borderline diabetic, meaning our sugar index is very high.

When it comes to rice labels the packaging can be deceiving!.  According to the box the only difference is brown rice has 3 grams more fiber and 1 gram of fat. While white rice  has no fat.

However, consider this interesting fact:  People become diabetic because our organs produced enough insulin designed in its lifetime (about 100 years) but it is being used within 20-40 years.  Research shows its due to over consumption of white rice/ white flour!!  White rice, once digested, the blood sugar levels boost high and insulin has to be released to control the blood sugar levels.  However, when brown rice is eaten, it digest slowly with the fiber layer on top and it gradually release sugar, so blood sugar levels stay normal.

When I first made brown rice I treated it like white rice, the results were disastrous! Soggy, sticky mush!!  Totally gross.  Then I learned from my Mexican friend how they make rice at the restaurants.  They don't boil it!!  You sautee it.  Here's how:

You'll need:

1 cup brown rice
2 cups liquid (liquid is water, some kind of broth, or for Mexican rice add a can of stewed tomatoes)
2 tbl favorite oil (olive or coconut is good)
spices ( I add about 5 cloves and two pinches of coriander, this is a good combo for just about any dish)

• Rinse the rice (its a pain, but it washes off the starch and cleans it
• Heat your sautee pan to high, add your favorite oil
• once this heats add the rice, stir it around.  It will start to brown and make a slight pop sound
• add your spices, stir
• add your liquid (it will steam and instantly boil, be careful)
• cover, turn down to simmer for 45 minutes.

Fluffy Brown Rice

 Serve with.....anything!!