Planet Nice Crafts

Hello Friends! How are you? Can you believe it is December – where did 2024 go? I finally had enough material and emotional bandwidth to put together a post. There have been several miracles and changes this year and one of them is finishing the medallion and posting on Odyssey@Etsy . Here is the finished piece: Final Medallion Wall Art It was finished in July and required help for the mounting and faux frame. I posted it on Etsy and even entered the Etsy Design Awards but alas we did not receive notice. We did exceed the goal of completion in October. Soon after it was finished, travel was amped up with two weeks overseas in August and three trips in November. Overall, travel was smooth and weather was kind providing nonturbulent skies and dry roads. Today, I just posted on Odyssey@Etsy and @planetnicecrafts on Instagram some photos from a pit stop in Columbus Indiana just south of Indianapolis. A pretty awesome town with a mixture of architecture. I have not posted the photos here ...

Hello Everyone! I finally had a moment to breathe and do a bit of Photoshop and writing. The reason why you haven’t heard from Planet Nice is that the life schedule has been in upheaval for the past 2-3 months. Here at Planet Nice we are at the whim of the major economic driver (aka full-time employment 😊!) as it supports the Craft blog and PlanetNiceOdyssey@Etsy. So, all I can do is give it my best. We have moved on from the celestial events of the early Spring to cicadas. Lots of them! There has been a background hum since May with some other noise effects thrown in there. I first spotted the actual 17-year cicadas on May 24; I noticed the emergent holes about a week or so earlier. 17-year Cicada in Chicago Area They haven’t been too pesty, it has just been noisy but in a few weeks I think they will have moved on back to the Earth and the annual cicadas will then have a turn. As adjustment to shifting schedules takes mental and physical energy, crafting or any creative time is m...

Hello Everyone! I would like to reveal this year’s MAJOR project..a painted plaster medallion to be mounted as wall art. The project was actually “born” in 2016 when I attended a short course taught by a master plasterer. My favorite part was when we did decorative plaster as that was the most crafty. We were given the opportunity to take our class made medallions home and I jumped at the chance. Me with Medallion, 2016 At the time, I didn’t know how to paint artistically, the closest being when I painted wood trim in my home unit. I DO remember the instructor mentioning using an oil based primer as a first step. Struggling with how to present this project, I will start with material from 2016. I do have some process videos but I am leary of posting on the Blogger platform, so I will be posting a couple of them on Instagram @planetnicecrafts and Etsy PlanetNiceOdyssey as they have been more reliable. According to my old photos, the decorative medallion w as created with two ingredi...

The holiday season is at a close. The holiday lights are depleted to non-existent and we are left with really dark mornings…this is so depressing sounding for Planet Nice. So, what do we need – SNOW. That’s right we need it and be careful what you wish for because for us in the Chicago area at least..we are getting it RIGHT NOW. How was your holiday season? Mine felt like a whirlwind. Soon after Halloween 2023, I took a vacation to Washington DC. What a great trip, I hadn’t been a tourist there in a very long time. The weather was warm and it wasn’t crowded. I was completely unprepared for all the walking, I had some very sore legs starting on Day 3 sightseeing. There are a few trip pictures AND my final drawing project posted on Planet Nice Odyssey  (I know, relentless branding). Here are additional trip photos: Tadeusz Kościuszko statue near the White House The Lincoln Memorial - how could one not be moved by this hallowed place? First thing in the morning at the National Museum ...