New: Embossed Wood ART Tiles!

NEW!  Embossed Wood ART Tiles by JLynnJewels

This project has been many months in the making...and it began with a dream that woke me up out of a sound sleep...then followed up with lots of what I call "thought snippets" over the course of a few more months.  While I was woodburning my regular ART tiles, I began to plan in my head some "experiments" all while revisiting my past projects dating back to the 80s when I would woodburn with my husband (truth be told...he was always better than me with those lines and shading - so I keep hoping that he'll pick up the tool again).  I confess to loving the smell of burning wood (I know it's odd) - but the smell of wood burning in a fireplace, pit, or when I'm woodburning all bring feelings of comfort and seem to have a calming effect on me - could be the visuals of Smores too... 

So what's new?  Aside from our regular line of Florentine Decoupaged ART Tiles - I've added two styles with my newly developed technique for "Embossed ART Tiles" that feature many of my own Kaleidoscope patterns that I create with multiple pyrographic tools and tips.  You'll soon find these Natural/Stained Embossed ART Tiles in our stores - as shown here...

And you will also see some of these colorful Embossed ART Tiles too...

shown here in a various stages of my finishing process

And you may find some special heat curved Bracelet focals as seen below too...

as well as a variety of Pendants, links and earring pairs

  You know back in February I wanted to share the beginning basics of Woodburning and wrote a short informational Tutorial for those that just want to try their hand at something "new".  So whether you try woodburning - just to try it...or it becomes more than a hobby for you, as it did for me - you'll never know, unless you try!  Fortunately, there are many complete kits on the market that allow you to do that reasonably too - just check out my WoodBurning tutorial from February 19, 2012.

So I admit that my biggest concern when I took on this project was my health, air quality...and safety - especially with any tool that involves heat.   Whether that's a glue gun, an iron, heat embossing tool for stamping, a basic Woodburner, advanced Pyrographic tools, or a Torch and Kiln.  You need to do your homework in terms of not just your set-up - but ventilation as well.  Many items you work with (ceramics, metal, clay, glass, wood) give off unhealthy toxins that could effect your health down the line.  So I'm always reading into everything that's needed in terms of doing what I can do to enjoy what I'm doing for as long as I can. 

So - here's a little share that you will rarely see...because I'm the type of person that likes to stay behind the camera (despite having been in the front of the camera and on TV many times lol).  But since we are talking about safety - I thought I would share a picture of me..."suited" up in my Respiratory mask and my old Corduroy Jacket (which we all joke is my standard "uniform" because most days you can find me chillin' in my jeans, socks/fuzzy slippers and my cord Jacket - or denim and bare feet in the summer months...)!  So don't judge I think I snapped this one at 2am in the morning, so not too shabby of a picture lol (yes I'm a night owl...) - and for the record...I don't have "real" prescription glasses - but do where "cheater" glasses for reading and doing detail work (aka reading glasses) - however, I know it's only a matter of time before I have to graduate to the real ones (sigh...)

 

When I first started woodburning (in the 1980s...) there wasn't a lot of thought given to air quality and the effect on your lungs.  But since we were labeled as "Occasional Hobbyists" - it wasn't really something that we thought twice about.  If it got a little stinky...well, we would open the window.  Today though, I woodburn for several hours at a time - so doing what's necessary health wise is important (ventilation, fans, exhaust and these very fashionable respiratory masks with filters).  So whether I'm woodburning the edges and creating my bevel frames for my regular decoupaged ART tiles or doing the details carving or woodburning for the Embossed Tiles - I'm definitely playing it safe.

Many of you have asked...what makes my ART tiles different? Well, whether it's my new "embossed" ones or my "decoupaged" Tiles - both are handcrafted with many of my own images, artwork, and patterns - then finished in a high quality technique I developed (similar to Florentine Artisans that use a variety of added on details such as gold leaf, wood carvings, wood burning, and embossing) - each is handcrafted ~ one by one and finished with my own blending of Adhesives, Sealants and Varnish applied in multiple steps in a Fine Art method with lots of high quality layering and sanding, in order to bring you a meticulous finish that is smooth, durable and beautiful.

So to recap...YES - I'm still creating LOTS of tiles...both decoupaged and embossed ~ but if you're still a tad confused with the differences in my various ART tiles....here's the scoop and a little fyi:

DECOUPAGE...

Anytime you see a paper image on an object,

and it is adhered in any fashion...

it IS, in fact "DECOUPAGED"

Have you ever wondered what I start out with when creating my ART tiles?  Here they are...freshly cut (and laser cut), top of the line "naked" newbie wood tiles!  I use a variety of wood types (including some hardwoods for my "BEAD" tiles which have an invisible hole running the core of the Tile).  Here's a group picture of some of my newbies waiting to get "dressed" ;)

AND...here's a picture of the recent batch of decoupaged tiles that will be working their way into my online stores...each unique in their own way... 

So remember...

"Decoupage" is the art of adhering paper to an object

"Embossing" is the art of

creating raised or imbedded patterns to an object

I lovingly create BOTH types with my ART Tiles :)

Have a great evening!  OH - and if you've made it this far in your read...well then I'll let you know that if you are one of our blog followers and leave a comment - you have a chance of winning a small pair of EMBOSSED WOOD TILE EARRINGS PAIRS (in tile pair form for your own creations...OR I'll whip you up a pair of earrings if you don't design).

~J-Lynn