Welcome to the Hollow!
Hi there! Thank you for visiting my little hollow.
I grew up in the country, surrounded by fields and forest. Part of a large family, I would often escape outside with my sketch pad to find a little quiet while surrounded by the peaceful sounds of birds and the creek in my backyard. My childhood nickname was Lark – I’m not sure if this was because I was often found singing or because I loved the trees and the water. My favorite spot was called my “Hollow,” a tiny waterfall shielded by a screen of leaves. And so now I invite you to Lark’s Hollow, home of all my creative energy.
My journey began on Pinterest – isn’t that the case for so many of us? I kept seeing tile coasters made with paper and Mod Podge. I thought they were pretty & made several versions. But no matter what I did to seal them I found they always reacted badly the moment I placed a hot mug on them. What good is a coaster that gets gooey every time you put your cup of tea on it?
After MUCH experimentation I found a process that fixed that problem. I bought beveled glass from a stained glass supplier and sandwiched my pictures between glass and a cork backing, sealing them with a clear glue called Diamond Glaze. Viola! My coasters never melted, got gooey, or ran. Problem solved, right?
Not so much. Well, yes – I solved the gooey coaster issue. I made a set of coasters for Mom for Christmas. She loved them! But within a few months they had faded from my original vibrant colors to an awful washed out catastrophe. She still uses them, but for me they are a constant reminder that we can always improve.
Back to the drawing board. I discovered that typical inkjet printers use dye-based ink. This produces photos that don’t last. They fade quickly and run if exposed to water. So I invested in a Canon PIXMA Pro-10 printer. This professional grade printer uses pigment-based ink, which is permanent and doesn’t run even if dipped into water. (At craft fairs I often set up a demonstration allowing people to immerse a photo in a cup of water. The kids love it.) Combined with Canon’s Professional grade Luster paper I get sharp, bright, permanent photos every time. They are guaranteed by Canon not to fade for 100 years. Sadly, I won’t be around to see that, but I can tell you that 5 years later my Mom’s new set of coasters haven’t faded.
She still has the old set out too, though. Sheesh, Mom. I’m surprised she doesn’t have my old kindergarten paintings on her refrigerator. Feeling the love. Haha!
So that’s the story of Lark’s Hollow. After creating my new coasters I got inspired by the other sizes of bevels available and expanded to ornaments, magnets, and pendants. It always makes me happy when someone compliments a pendant I’m wearing and I can tell them that I made it! My pendants are true beveled glass – not your run-of-the-mill premade pendant kit.
So come on in and browse through my Hollow. If you have any questions send me a message. I’d love to chat with you!