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About Me/Contact:


I am an interior designer by degree, artist by heart, and classical musician by years of practicing! I live in North Idaho and am married to an amazing structural engineer. 

When I decided to start this blog (November 2010) I had never before entered into what I call "social technology". I steered clear of facebook, instagram and blogs. This all came to a halt when I was questioned by a press person regarding a design challenge I won. She asked, "Do you have a site showing your work?" It was then I realized how important it was to embrace an online presence.  

 Thus began Old World Walls which later became The Clay Trowel.

  With this website I plan to showcase my work as an artist, American Clay Artisan, and designer.  ENJOY! 
Contact me:  TheClayTrowel@gmail.com

 (208) 819-1421




Popular posts from this blog

Plastering American Clay That Looks Like Concrete for Fireplace Surrounds

Hello Design Friends, Today I have a very exciting post.  Most of you know my absolute love for American Clay and lately, I've been specializing in plastering clay fireplace surrounds.  Most of my clients have asked for an industrial hand troweled concrete/cement look but I can produce any artistic style you've envisioned..  My favorite part about the clay is that it's REAL and NATURAL.  This is not a faux paint product or something synthetic trying to mimic a natural product. Concrete has clay in it.....so in part, I feel like you can't use a better product to produce a look similar to a cement or concrete fireplace surround.   What I have found from most of my clients who are looking for a concrete fireplace surround is they aren't excited about astronomical  bid they get! What they get from me is a work of art (hand troweled and artistic) for a fraction of the cost. Over the next few weeks I am going to showcase the MANY fireplace surrounds
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Concrete Trend for Fireplace Surrounds

  What makes my job exciting is turning the focal point of a room into a work of art! This last house asked for an artistic clay finish on their new fireplace surround.   I used Iroquois American Clay and washed the top with a dark pigment to achieve the aged concrete look.  Since clay IS an ingredient in actual cement it feels amazing and makes such a statement. There are so many artistic directions you can take the clay.  It can be modern OR old world style, it just depends on my technique and the color choices a client chooses.   The up close picture below is when the clay is wet - I love showing the DEPTH of the product and all the artistic divots and character each fireplace has. The fireplace is starting to lighten up as it's drying . I don't always receive a final, fully decorated AFTER picture but I did with these clients.   Blueplank Builders in Coeur d'Alene was the builder of this beautiful  home.     Give me a call to bid your own fireplace!  It's such a un
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Review for The Clay Trowel - Rustic Kitchen in Enjarre American Clay

Hello Friends! I just finished a LOVELY home project way out in the Coeur d'Alene forest :-) My team applied a very rustic, one coat Enjarre finish to their kitchen.  I always feel honored to turn a client's home into a work of art.  I appreciated her "glowing" review. BEFORE AFTER Their little girls room was done up in clay also.   My client even made that fairy art piece out of the clay! She was inspired by this piece I did. Best of Houzz 2017 - Client Satisfaction ~ Selina
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