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Art In Fishing Boot Rack Form

10/5/2020

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​"It is with great respect and appreciation to our family, friends, and community who have served in the armed forces, we say thank you.  May the one that got away, be as large as our Yuengling Trout."   Janise & Ed Crow

This is an evolving photo story about creating fishing themed art that serves as an outdoor wader and boot drying rack out of recycled materials for our veteran community at Camp Breac.
The camp is a fly fishing community for our military, veterans, and their families with the mission of conservation of natural resources, the arts, & education. Located on Spring Creek in Bellefonte, PA. 

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Click On Photo: A new tab will open to our "Making Fishing Art in Boot Rack Form for Camp Breac" album
Good fishing and lots of equipment at Camp Breac meant James Lanning, the proprietor, had a wet stinky storage issue of boots and waders.
So he asked us to help build an outdoor rack that would hold a dozen boots and waders.  The challenge was to use any natural materials around the camp and recycled materials made or used locally in Pennsylvania.
The criteria was to use any natural materials around the camp and recycled materials made or used locally in Pennsylvania.  Then the Crows started to work designing the new boot and wader rack that would serve and honor local veterans.
READ THE STORY

The Volunteer Team

Veterans Godfried, Charles (Chuck), Walt, & Jim
Sandy, Tani, Holden, Sparkles, Ed, & Janise
Note: We are still in the process of making this art piece and will be adding photos and video to this album as we go.  Our goal is to install & dedicate this recycled art project to the veterans on site at Camp Breac on Veterans Day.

We invite you to join us to honor our local veterans with this dedication art piece on November 11th. 
Follow our facebook page for more details 
https://www.facebook.com/CrowsNestArts1/
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Art from Recycled Bottle Caps

10/1/2020

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We love to support our local community with art projects. This project is near and dear to our hearts as it's for our local veterans at Camp Breac, The Spring Creek House in Bellefonte, PA.   Their mission of serving veterans and families, preserving, recycling, and educating meshed so well with ours, we were happy to see what we could do to solve a problem they had.  

The problem:
Lots of wet fishing boots and waders inside the lodge causing musty storage room.  The host, James Lanning needed a place for the fishermen dry their wet boots before they enter the lodge and store the boots. 

Criteria:
  • Outdoors
  • Use of any natural materials around the camp
  • Recycled materials made or used locally in Pennsylvania
  • Size: hold a dozen boots and waders
  • Theme: Fly Fishing and Armed Forces
  • Serve, preserve, recycle, & educate
We set to work... brainstorming, designing, and prototyping.

It is one part of the larger 14 foot outdoor art piece that will also serve as a fishing wader boot drying rack.  This project was more challenging than I anticipated.

​More on this to come along with the finished fish.
​ Got questions? COMMENT BELOW

CALL ME, I WANT JANISE TO HELP ME WITH A DIY PROJECT
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Quick Rustic, Light, & Airy Porch Decorations

5/21/2020

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Porch Makeover Rustic, Bright, & Airy by Crows Nest Arts
After Simple Rustic, Light, & Airy Makeover
Handmade rustic frame  door wreath by Crows Nest Arts
Handmade rustic frame  door wreath by Crows Nest Arts
Birch logs make great rustic decorations for porch Crows Nest Arts
Contact Me To Help Makeover Your Porch
This week I want to show you how you can easily freshen up your front porch to be welcoming & bright with odds and ends around your house or with a small budget.

Here I chose a rustic, light, and airy decor theme to blend with the current landscape of the area.

The goal: low cost, no maintenance (watering plants etc.), and easy to change for every season.  A bit of creative recycling and repurposing will crucial to this update.

​A fresh coat of beige/tan paint on the door, brightens and lightens the brick wall.

Spring is tree trimming time, we salvaged several large pieces of birch tree logs and cut them in a trio of sizes.  I recycled a couple of old pine Christmas trees, spruced them up a bit and drilled holes in the logs to hold the artificial pine trees.  To ensure stability in the wind, and a decorative finish, I used old rope to tie the three logs together.

The door wreath: A fun and memorable project.  We recycled scrap wood to create a square frame, cut letter C, stained them  and applied a white wash technique to give them that old barn board look.   Lastly, I repurposed silk flowers from a recent wedding, made geometric shapes out of straws to add a bit of modern to the swag and was a key theme in the wedding.  Repurposing these items from the wedding really gives this home a very special welcome to all who enter.

I welcome the opportunity to work with you to update or makeover your porch into a welcoming version of your style and personality.
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A New Sign For Our Community Rock Garden

5/2/2020

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Neighbors encouraging each other.  We invite you to participate and add your painted rock.
A New Sign For Community Rock Garden State College, PA by Crows Nest Arts, Janise Crow
New Sign Replaces Broken Sign
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Painting the new rock garden sign
Hand painted rocks for community garden, Crows Nest Arts, Janise Crow
Our Garden is Growing with over 40 rocks!
Hand painted sign for community rock garden, Janise Crow, Crows Nest Arts
Garden Sign Securely Fastened
After some pretty strong winds our sign had fallen and broken.  I knew I had to get the paints out and make a new one.  I used a recycle floor tile, craft paints, and sealed with several coats of clear acrylic.   It was a fun project.  I made it much brighter in color.  Ed and I designed a frame that now hangs the tile securely in place.  The garden is growing, it's so fun to see others thoughts, art work, and words of encouragement.  For me, it rewarding to have neighbors and park visitors stop and chat about the rocks and brainstorming what they plan to paint on a rock.  I hope to see more painted rock and encourage anyone interested in adding to it.  I look forward to seeing your rock soon.

If you need directions: see this previous post
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Corna Virus - Simple Acts Bring a Community Together

3/27/2020

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We are in a volatile time in the world right now as we experience the Covid-19.  We wanted to create a space / place for our community express words of encouragement, fear, art, and other feelings in a safe and simple visual way. 

The Community Rock Garden – you matter, you are not alone, and you are part of a community
Why:  We are all experiencing something new (covid-19) which impacts us all and we have many thoughts and feelings about it.   Our community has a rich history of supporting each other and I thought a community rock garden would be a good way to express ourselves to one another in simple, but visual way.
How It Works: Select a rock, paint/draw on the rock images, messages, encouragement, feelings, art, or what ever you want.  Then add it to the tree line garden area located in the middle Greenbriar/Saybrook park, barked/natural areas (not grass) around the trees.

​​Who: Anyone who wants to participate, all ages
What: rocks painted your expressions on a rock and share it in our garden
When: Started 3/27/2020 – no end date
Where: Greenbriar Saybrook Park, in State College, PA  (row of trees in between near the Greenbriar pavilion) Google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/X6av42yNZz3LLYJ16
 
    Instructions:
  • Think about a feeling, message, word, encouragement, etc. you want to express
  • Locate a rock, consider the texture and size as it relates to your expression
  • Clean the rock, may need to scrub with soap and water
  • Paint/draw your image, words, phase, symbols, etc on the rock
    • You can use anything you want, paint, markers, crayons, nail polish, glitter… be as creative as you wish… stick figures are good too
    • You may want to apply a base coat then paint on top of that layer
  • Be sure to seal your work with a clear coat of paint or nail polish
  • You can add your name or not.  I would suggest first names or initials only if you do. Dates are fine.
  • Add your rock/rocks to the garden area: row of trees located in the middle of Greenbriar park
 
Guidelines:
  • If others are visiting the garden, please remain 6’ apart
  • Add rocks in bark area around the trees, NOT IN THE GRASS
  • Don’t touch someone else’s rock
  • Add as many rocks as you want, whenever you want
  • Share this with other friends especially in Greenbriar, Saybrook, Chestnut Ridge, and Chestnut Ridge Manor.
  • No experience or special skill necessary
  • If you would like to participate and are unable to get out of your home or walk the distance within the park, I would be happy to pickup your rock, add it to the garden and send you pictures, I bet your next door neighbor would also.
  • If you would like to help with this project by clearing away the leaves and brush around the trees, feel free. Thank you
 
Inspiration:
I used symbols on my rocks here is where I found some symbols along with their meanings

More inspiring images
 
          Share pictures of your work, your story of the meaning behind your art work, the rock garden, you at the garden, etc on social media (be sure to tag us or checkin at Crows Nest Arts)  Facebook Instagram   CrowsNestArts1
Thank you so much for sharing this lovely rock garden idea.  I just added one  and would encourage others to do the same. The process of creating and then taking it to the designated spot in the park felt nourishing.  Good for the soul.  Jody
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Bottle Wall  - From the Recycle and Trash Bins to Colorful Garden Wall

3/22/2020

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The task was to makeover a tired and falling apart fence/wall to disguise the air conditioning units located in the the garden area.  Doing our part to cut down on waste in the landfills we planned an echo friendly project using as many recyclable objects as possible.  Color, shape, durability, and function were key elements in our design process. This was an investment of time that was well worth the results.  What do you think?

​The Process:

Design: size built to hide the air conditioning units, visually pleasing, colorful
Bottles: collect used bottles, sanitize, remove labels, drill holes, and rewash
Spacers: collect items to use as spacers in between bottles, we used gears on this project
Build Frame: purchase pressure treated lumber, cut lumber, assemble with screws and bolts, drill holes, stain and seal, and then mount in location.
Bottle Rods: cut rods to length, string on bottles  & gears in desired patterns.
Final Assembly: place rods with bottles through holes in frames, add top bottles.

This is part of a bigger custom garden re-landscaping project using recycled materials. Yes, Ed did have to hold on to my feet a few times as I had to dig pretty deep in those recycling bins! Haha! The gears were left over from Sarah Etchells and Will’s wedding decor.


Follow our updates on Facebook  See March 22, 2020) 
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Concrete Block Planters - From building building blocks to colorful planters

3/19/2020

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These decorative cinder blocks are part of a larger project to makeover a tired and underutilized garden area.  The area was flat with some existing plants and river rock, but pretty lifeless and boring.  Keeping with our mantra of to cut down on waste in the landfills we planned an echo friendly project using as many recyclable objects as possible.  The inspiration came from Mexican style tiles, I love the colors, and the feeling of playfulness in the artistry.  Color, height, durability, and function were key elements in our design process.
Hand-painting cinder blocks for custom garden makeover by Crows Nest Arts
Hand-painted cinder blocks for custom garden makeover by Crows Nest Arts
Before: recycled cinder blocks for custom garden makeover by Crows Nest Arts
The Process:
Design: height with visually pleasing, colors, playfulness, and holes for plants
Concrete Blocks: collect used blocks from around the house, clean, prime the blocks
Color & Design: researched the web for design ideas, and rummaged through paint stashes to come up with a color pallet
Hand painted each block, some needed several coats, then sealed with block sealer, and allow to dry for several days.

Want to work with Janise on your own DIY projects? contact Janise

On to the next items needed.    I will keep you posted on the progress of the larger garden makeover. 
Follow our updates on Facebook
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Never Give Up Eagle & Fish Memorial Carving

1/27/2020

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"To others this may appear as a unique piece of artwork but for me it represents years of memories with my Dad. This carving opens conversations with friends as they visit our home and we are able to share a piece of his story and our memories together. Thank you Ed and Janise for helping to keep his memory alive as he lives on in our hearts each day." CJ & Crystal
I like to carve using a chainsaw. Better, I like it if i can put a story behind the object.  It's what changes a carving into a sculpture.
It was a privilege to work with Crystal to surprise her husband CJ to honor the memories of his father who's motto was "Never Give Up".  Ed
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Building a Community for our Veterans with Trout

1/5/2020

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If we can bring joy to a veteran by sharing our time and talents, it’s time well spent.  You never know what can build a community. For Camp Breac, in Bellefonte PA, it’s trout.  Camp Breac sits along Spring Creek, a stream well known for it’s trout fishing.  Jim and Denise Lanning had a vision to create a place for veterans and their families to enjoy the outdoors, fish, and most importantly connect with others veterans, families, and supportive community members.
Many volunteers help out at Camp Breac. Kris Edson was tasked with taking out a large old Norway spruce had that had died. He thought the tree and location was perfect for a large trout carving and contacted Ed who is known for his large fish carvings.  After Kris cut the large tree it to proper size, Ed carved this beautiful wild brown trout leaping from the water.  And Janise added the finishing touches with a bit of color to the water at the base of the fish. The trout carving is finished with a protective clear coat.  Lastly, Army vet Daniel Kerstetter created very large Light Cahill fly for the wild brown trout to chase and it now hangs above the carving.
​

 It is our hope that many conversations and connections are made around the old spruce, now a brown trout that serves as welcome to everyone visiting Camp Breac.
​
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Vintage Bottle Caps Turned into Jewelry

10/10/2019

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Estate sales make for interesting finds.... You can make some really cool stuff.  I love upcycling vintage bottle caps because they have such a rich history in our culture.  They make unique fun jewelry.  Here I domed each bottle cap and added a band of vintage Chez seed beads for added interest and color.  They are light weight and are certainly to bring complements and envy from those who appreciate handcrafted eclectic jewelry.  
You can find these necklaces and bracelets here 
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