Mhoti Studio

Last month I was lucky enough to be selected to receive a hand made RUNE as part of the Art Elements Monthly Challenge.  Niky Sayers is the talented artist who made this array of Viking Runes in copper clay. The Rune I received is titled SOWELU, meaning Wholeness, Life Force, or The Sun's Energy. This is the Rune Niky sent to me. It didn't have any holes in it, as she left it up to me if and where I wanted to put any holes. Based on it's size -5/8 inch x 3/4 inch (14 x 21 mm)- I decided to use it in a bracelet. I decided on 4 holes for best visual and physical balance. I wanted to create something in keeping with it's rustic nature as well as it's symbolic ties to the past and to nature. I also wanted to incorporate stones that would symbolize The Sun. In my stash I have an assortment of yellow semi-precious gemstones. I chose to use Citrine, and some very rough stones that I think were once labelled Herkimer diamonds (they had previously lost their tag.) T...

Oh Canada, my home and native land...... There is so much to love about Canada and being Canadian. I am a native of Canada's Capital city, Ottawa, Ontario.  Ontario is a vast province; from east to west it takes about two days to travel by car.  Part of Ontario is comprised of the Canadian Shield , a HUGE rocky landmass. We are a mineral rich province as one could expect with all those rocks around. We also have the most gorgeous Maple Trees that give us the best Maple Syrup in the world. In Spring these trees warm up, the sap runs, and we have tree growers who tap the sap and make syrup. Sugar shacks abound and one can visit them, watch maple syrup being made (by boiling the sap for hours and hours and hours in huge metal tanks). Some fresh snow packed into a plate , pour on some warm sap and we enjoy the most delicious treat, maple syrup taffy on a stick. YUM. In fall these same Maple trees turn the most amazing shades of red and orange, turning our fo...