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Have You Ever Won A Contest?

4/23/2021

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​I Won the Wubbers University’s “Spring Break Giveaway”

Gold and turquoise custom ring by Janise Crow, Crows Nest Arts
The turquoise ring in the front is the one I entered into the contest. I'd be happy to custom make one for you, click below.
Janise Crow Wubbers University Spring Break Contest Winner
I can't wait to make something with these cool pliers!
Janise Crow Wubbers University Contest Winner Prizes
These are all the goodies I received as a prize, Thank you Wubbers University!
Back in March on a whim, I entered a giveaway through Wubbers University, they were doing a giveaway for Spring.  For those who are not familiar with who or what Wubbers is I will explain.  Wubbers is a jewelry tool manufacturer known for their mandrel shaped pliers.  They make forming wire into various shapes easy.  I own a few of the round plies and use them regularly to shape wire and thin metals.  To enter the giveaway you had to follow their rules/terms and conditions.  It was easy and clearly stated, so I submitted my information along with a photo of a ring I had made using their pliers and turquoise chips.  I kind of forgot about it, because I rarely ever win anything, so I just put it out of my mind.  Needless to say, a few weeks later I received an e-mail of Congratulations YOU WON.  I was so excited and replied immediately with the required information.  A short time afterwards, I received a treasure box of 2 new shaping plies, a couple strands of beads, several loose cabochons, a pair of earrings, and stick-on nail color.  What a fun treasure box that totally brightened my day.   I am excited to try out the new pliers and add those cute beads to a new design.  I’ll keep you posted on what I make.
You can check out the tools and more on Wubbers University on Facebook😊

Have you ever wanted to make jewelry for yourself or as a gift?  I can show you how in a private or small group, or zoom session.  Theses sessions make great gifts too.
​
Love the U- Ring?  I'm happy to make one for you. 
​ Custom Order One Today
Have you ever wanted to make jewelry for yourself or as a gift?  I can show you how in a private or small group, or zoom session.  Theses sessions make great gifts too.​
I want to Order a Custom U-Ring
Let's Make Jewelry Together

​Book your date now
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Who Says Art Can’t Be Functional? This Is Our Version of Art In Boot Rack Form

11/13/2020

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​A Good Day Fishing

Making Recycled Art with Yuengling cans, Crows Nest Arts, State College, PASandy, a wife of an Army Vet, really got into making the scales out of recycled Yuengling cans.
I’ve introduced you to Camp Breac back in January with our “Leaping Trout” chainsaw sculpture project.  Now I’d like to share with you a bit more about Camp Breac’s mission and how we made a boot rack into art.  Camp Breac is a historical site and is a fly fishing community for our military, veterans, and their families with the mission of conservation of natural resources, the arts, & education conveniently located on Spring Creek in Bellefonte, PA.

It all began in September with a phone call from Jim Lanning.  If you ever met Jim, you know you are going to spend some time…as you enjoy an Irish Coffee or a cold beer from the tap while you are brought up to speed about the latest happenings within the camp.  Jim relies on many volunteers to help with projects ranging from stream improvements, land and facility upgrades and maintenance.  Always with conservation, community involvement, and recycling in mind. 
During one of these chats, Jim shared a problem, a wet stinky problem.  As part of the camp’s mission to educate they offer fly fishing education, hands-on training, and even supply the equipment needed.  The problem was lots of wet smelly fishing waders and boots.  After a great day on the stream fisherman and women hang their boots and waders up on hooks in an upright position indoors.  The result is they don’t get completely dry.  Jim’s needed was a growing concern and he desired to have an outdoor boot rack conveniently located allowing the boots and waters to dry out in the fresh air before being stored indoors.  As easy as this may sound to do, Jim had some pretty interesting requirements…

First it had to hold at least twelve pairs of boot and tall waders. Next, it had to be constructed of recycled materials, materials sourced from the camp itself or locally.  It also had to fit within the camp’s theme and mission.  The location had to be easy for the fisherman and women to get to and close enough to the indoor storage area. Jim, Ed, and I scouted the landscape and agreed upon the location.  With such a visible location Ed and I knew a board and some pegs just wouldn’t do.  We truly wanted to show our appreciation to the many veterans and service members visiting the camp.  We left the camp with a 14’ board laying on the passenger side mirror and tied to the side of our pickup truck.

 Ed and I were excited about the project and discussed ideas all the way home.  After tossing around several ideas, we landed upon one we both had passion to build.  It started out as a simple and relatively easy project and grew into a very large and detailed project.  We took great care to use recycled materials, selecting materials sourced or manufactured in Pennsylvania.  Thanks to the Penn State students who unknowingly suppling us with wine bottles, and Yuengling beer cans as we pilfered through their recycle bins.  And a big shout out to the staff at Champs on North Atherton as they collected bottle caps and shared in our enthusiasm.

The Crow’s Nest was buzzing with activity.  Ed started his chainsaw and chips were flying everywhere.  When the saw stopped, I hardly recognized the plain flat board we brought home.  After large holes were drilled into the textured wood, I began painting.  Using colors native to the creek at the camp the board was no longer a board, it had been transformed into a flowing stream that 2 large 4’ trout were going to be leaping out of to catch a tasty handtied fly.

With the vision of the art piece was clear in our minds, it was time to prepare the site, the location where the art in boot rack form would like.  I was very grateful to be accompanied by Jim, and two volunteer veterans Chuck and Godfrey.   They made quick work of pruning and weeding.  Chuck being skilled at building rock walls took on the task constructing rock tiers within garden area and Jim filled in the platform with pea gravel.

It was a large project and admittedly I felt overwhelmed, not just by the size, but I had underestimated how much more difficult it would be to turn recycled materials into usable pieces and how many hundreds of pieces I needed for just one 4 foot fish.  I truly understood the saying “Nothing is ever as easy as it looks!”  Thankfully my mother, Sandy stepped in to lend a hand with cutting hundreds of rows of scales out of aluminum cans. 

The rest of the story is better told in pictures. Click here to view the album of our visual story making the fish boot rack.
On Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2020 we honorably dedicated “A Good Day Fishing” aka Art in Boot Rack Form with everyone wearing masks due to the Covid 19 pandemic, to all veterans and service members who were there and will visit Camp Breac.  We thank you.

A pair of empty military and a pair of fishing boots in honor of those who served and did not return home will be bronzed and place under the rack on pedestals as soon as possible.

I encourage you to visit Camp Breac, meet Jim Lanning, and see if he has time for a tour and a beverage. Tell him “The Crows sent you”.
Comment back to me and tell me all about your experience at Camp Breac and how you like our art work.

Cheers from Camp Breac & Crows Nest Arts
Cheers! Jim, Sandy, and I are enjoying Jim's famous Irish Coffees at Camp Breac.
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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. 

Picture
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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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
Picture
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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Picture
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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How We Expanded Our Family Through An Ugly Tree Stump

1/5/2020

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Leaping Trout Chainsaw Carving

​I want to tell you about a little-known place that is making a big difference. It’s called Camp Breac and is located in historical Bellefonte, PA along Spring Creek which is a popular trout fishing stream.  It’s proprietor James Lanning, Jim for short, has a heart that is bigger than his body.  Jim is a retired police officer from California whom has continued his public service by acting as an advocate for military veterans, public service members, and Clearwater Shed.   Jim and his wife, Denise’s compassion, hospitality, and vision are contagious and all who meet them are quickly brought into the fold.  That’s how it was for Ed and I.  What started as favor for a friend to look at an old tree that had fallen down leaving a rather tall ugly stump standing in the center of the front yard, quickly turned into a lifelong relationship. 
After a tour of Camp Breac and one of Jim’s famous Irish Coffees made with local spirits from Big Spring Spirits the place begins to feel like home.  You quickly settle in and the many faces you meet are new family members that you share a common connection to.  For Ed and I, we are children of veterans with many family members that were part of the armed forces.   I particularly felt at home.  As I sipped my coffee, surrounded by veterans listening to their stories, my mind drifted to images of my childhood surrounded by military and civil servants and the feelings of comfort and a sense of belonging came over me.  Memories of my father, an Army veteran, came to mind as I sat chatting with and observing several more veterans.  I wondered if they realized how simply being in their presence brought me joy.  We left that day honored to be a part of Camp Breac’s mission and became part of the family. 
Jim had a dream to turn that ugly stump into something special for everyone to enjoy.  As family members do, we help each other out with time and talents, it was not different to Ed and I.  We agreed to take on the project and understood why Ed was recommended for the task.  Ed is known for his giant leaping fish carvings and this tree stump was perfect for one.   
It was winter when Ed began cutting into massive stump with his chainsaw.  It took him two weekends to carve the “Leaping Trout” that stands about 9 feet tall and faces Spring Creek.  After the color was added to the base to resemble the creek, Jim and veterans painted on the clear sealant coat. Another avid fisherman tied the large fly that hangs above the trout. 
Art in the outdoors is part of our mission and teaming up with Camp Breac is a natural fit.  We look forward to meeting more of our community and working on projects together in the future.
You never know what can build a community, for Camp Breac, in Bellefonte PA, it’s fishing for trout.   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.  We are honored to be a part of this family and are happy to share our time and talents.  
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.
When you meet Jim, tell him "The Crows sent you". :)


​
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    Hi, I'm Janise Crow a jewelry designer and mixed-media artist. Here you will find our latest projects, experiments, and even how to's.

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