Terry Sullivan generally makes his own frames from recycled timber. This batch was formerly used as a deck, a prop for a TV series.

Here are Terry’s steps for making his own frames.

Stage 1. I cut the boards into pieces and, on a table saw, I form the rebates. These are all then sanded down and mitred to the frame sizes required.

Stage 2. I assemble the frames using glue and mitred blocks, a simple tried and tested method. Once dry the corners a pinned for strength and filled to take out any holes etc.

Stage 3. Once sanded I apply a primer coat. This shot shows a batch of frames, it’s a simpler to do several at once.

Stage 4.  The final coats of paint are applied and hung up above where I work. I generally apply 2 coats and a polyurethane sealer.

Stage 5. The final result is simple and effective.

For watercolours the glazing comes from recycled windows and double glazed units which take ages to prepare but  is worth it to save it all being dumped.

As a child, Marilyn Olivia Clayton (MOC) could be found sketching, creating cartoons, beading rings with her cousin Karen, painting, knitting, crocheting, rug hooking and so on.

During her 32-year career as a Registered Nurse, Marilyn used art as a creative outlet and as a healing therapy.

A search for miniatures for a miniature garden led to Marilyn’s exploration of polymer clay as a medium for creating miniature pieces for gifts and eventually to making beads and then of course classes to learn how to put them together and so it began in earnest.

From classes in Polymer clay to jewellery making classes at her second home, Iguana Beads, in Cambridge; where Marilyn met two of her major influences, Deb Benninger of InDividual by Design (A phenomonal creator, and teacher of wire weaving), and Pearl Blay, blogger at the Beading Gem, and fabulous teacher of a variety of metal and beaded media.

Marilyn’s daughter in law, Sarah, a talented artist herself, pointed her to the popular art of mala making which connected her to the gemstones, to which she felt an immediate affinity. By the time she made family, friends, customers, including a native women’s group over a hundred malas, she was a pro at stringing beads and began identifying the healing properties of the crystals(gemstones) she was working with.

From there workshops with the Kims!  Kim Krompf of KW Studio the wonderful world of metal smithing; and Kim Kool of The Hive Encaustic studio where she began her exploration of the versatile, and mixed media world of encaustic painting. Both use torches!  Insert child-like excitement! And the ability to tell stories and create to her heart’s content.

In 2016 Marilyn began to sell her jewellery creations under the name “One of a Kind Jewellery and Crafts”.  She attended craft shows and had a website to sell her wares.  In 2018 she began to show and sell her jewellery at the Fenelon Falls Station Gallery and continues as one of the artist cooperatives’ members at this time.  The Gallery is open from mid-May to September each year and is a historical train station and wonderful backdrop for up to 20 artists’ beautiful wares.

In 2021 Marilyn retired from nursing and decided it was time to focus on the left side of her brain and move to the north country where she could enjoy her family and artistic pursuits in the fresh air and relative simplicity of a tiny town on the southern tip of Algonquin Park.  This 115 year-old school house seemed uniquely suitable for a home base and workshop.

This seemed a fitting time to launch her jewellery and encaustic/mixed media art with a rebranding and so 8th MOC Designs was born.  8th because of her position in her large family of 10 children and MOC of course, for her initials.

Cows can be very inquisitive. This curious young cow was stretching over a high gate to see what was going on. She had to be one of the cutest cows I’ve seen and I just had to paint her!

These photos show my process from start to finish for one of my recent oil paintings.This pretty little mare was very friendly and came over to see me as I was taking her picture. Click on the first image to see a larger version.

All of the artists at the gallery make what they create because they love the processes of it.  Marilyn Clayton wanted to explain this process.

The cuff bracelet pictured is a good example of Reticulation in Sterling Silver.  This process is one of Marilyn’s faves as it uses one of her favourite tools, a torch!!

The flat piece of silver is super-heated past red hot and just before melting.  What this does is get the copper that is in the sterling silver liquefying and moving around inside the sterling sheet.  This forms to patterns seen in this bracelet which looks and kind of feels, like leather.

R. John Leggett was first introduced to wood turning through some very good friends that introduced him to this hobby. Since then, he produces many many items that are used around the house every day, all food safe products.

Four years ago John started producing charcuterie food boards, which in turn became a large success for him. John says he finds wood turning very satisfying and relaxing, taking a rough piece of wood and make something beautiful out of it.

John in his woodworking workshop

Janet has always been fascinated by the unique qualities of textured glass and how the light passes through it.  The ever-changing light of day and seasonal changes can completely affect the look of a glass panel.  It is not a static image, so you could never be tired of its beauty and chameleon effects.  Janet photographed one stained glass piece in different light, with different backgrounds, in front of a shaded window, and even its own reflection on a wall.  And it looked different in each situation.

Fun stuff, right? Click on any image to see it larger.