Briny Breezes Crafts

Briny Breezes Crafters and Craft Shows

My grandmother gave me a love of crafts.

Never one to be idle, my grandmother Grace would knit anytime she was seating in her chair visiting with friends or while watching TV.

By the age of 9, she had me knitting sweaters and other items;  but what I really enjoyed were creating resin crafts and hand hammered crafts.

Resin Trivets

My grandmother’s sister Edith taught me how to make resin trivets, napkin holders and coasters. I really like putting flowers and shells into suspension.

resin daisy trivet

Resin casting was popular for making trivets, napkin holders and coasters.  My favorite was a trivet I made with flowers and a butterfly.

I no longer have it, but it looked similar to the one pictured here at left. I actually had and used the trivet for several years.

Aunt Edith would show me how to design the trivet as she and her friends also created works of art and fancy using anything from colored glass to coins to shells, jewelry, marbles, you name it.

((Resin Casting Supplies and More Information))

Hand Hammered Aluminum Trays

During one visit, my grandmother taught me how to make a  hand-hammered aluminum tray for my parent’s 25th wedding anniversary.

My grandmother Grace (pictured at left ) with some of her aluminum trays on display and for sale at a Briny Breezes Art Show in the Quonset Hut.

From what I remember, we would use tracing paper to trace a design from a magazine or a pattern book.  I remember tracing roses.

We would then transfer the design to the tray.  Then using a chisel and a hammer, I would tap-tap-tap around the lines of the design to etch the design into the aluminum. I remember that it took a great deal of effort to stay on the design and not mar the surface.

I also remember that (not sure I recall the steps) at some point we took steel wool and swirled the back side of the tray to dull it and I also remember crimping the edges of the tray (see the one leaning against the wall nearest my grandmother’s arm).

((Hand hammered trays, collectibles and additional info))