Jayne Hopkins making Light Is Love Candles

How To Videos

Our artists share techniques & tips on their creative process

Sarah & Drew of SKP ink share a short video showing how to make a magnet. Their motto is “Bad Jokes by Good People“. Sarah & Drew are just two nerds looking to spread some smiles.

Bob Grinshpon is a Doctor/Artist, a jack of many trades, and pioneer in the field of evolutionary structural biochemistry. He crafts crystals out of pure elemental bismuth – #83 on the periodic table. Here are two short videos of his process.

Unlike toxic lead, there is 250 milligrams of bismuth in every dose of peptobismol, and research paper by Yang et al., 2007 showed that bismuth complexes inhibit SARS coronaviruses!
Molten bismuth solidifies in a rhombohedral crystal unit, and interacts with oxygen to form the colorful bismuth trioxide layer of variable thicknesses. 
The best looking crystals are sorted by size and crafted into the appropriate jewelry.
The UV activated resin is applied in several thin coatings with a 365 nm black light flashlight.

Miranda Lanning, Pyrography (Woodburning) artist of Inknburn shows a quick video of her process to make a small home decor item. Miranda has been hand-burning wood since 2020 as a way to express her love for nature and fantasy.

Local jewelry maker creates unique handmade pieces: My Carolina Photographer Nick Deel with CBS 17 got a behind-the-scenes look at some beautiful locally-made jewelry by our artist Kate Loughlin.

Unique Textile Creations Made in North Carolina: My Carolina Photographer Nick Deel with CBS 17 interviews our artist Elaine O’Neil. From family portraits to beautiful scenery, Elaine sews unique one-of-a-kind creations. Click below to watch the video.

Elaine O’Neil Textile collage artist and illustrator cbs 17
https://www.cbs17.com/my-carolina/unique-textile-creations-made-in-north-carolina/

We’re so excited about our Gourd Birdhouses! Here are other uses for gourds from our talented friends.

Enjoy a quick shekere solo from Beverly Botsford.
Learn more about the Kora from Will Ridenour.
African Dance Class in the CCB Plaza with the amazing McDaniel Roberts & fabulous drummers for our 4th Anniversary Celebration
Folk artist Mark Cool was featured on Salvage Upcycle and gives a tour of his property and shop with interview.
Meet Mel the Emu of Heathenn Handmade: Emu Mel and dog Patou race towards the drone that is making this video. Mel looks like a ferocious feathered dinosaur, but it’s just a bluff (this time). “Draining eggs involves pumping air into the egg to remove the contents, which we eat, and then washing and scraping the inside. The trick is to not chip or crack the egg,” says Artist Laura Wendell who makes jewelry out of the shells.
Here’s a “two-fer” from The Soaperie showing their soap-making process. Beautiful and fun!
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Amy Olszak shows the process of cutting and making acrylic garden plant markers with a Glowforge laser.
Jordyn Ballentine of Rough Diamond Art shows her process for creating a geode necklace. Jordyn’s resin and acrylic art is inspired by nature.
Wire Wrapping: Courtney Taylor of Ophelialilly
Courtney’s skill at wire wrapping a loop for a pair of earrings makes this look so easy!
Hand Knotting: Kayte Price of Smiling Elephant Studio
Kayte demonstrates how to hand knot a beaded necklace and what tools and techniques work best!

See more of our artists’ works: Meet the Artists