Christian Retailing

Hand-sculptured cross bears personal touch Print Email
Written by Rhonda Sholar   
Monday, 05 January 2009 04:51 PM America/New_York

Artist inspires with stone-filled wire design celebrating ‘colorful gift’ of life

Blome crossHand-finished, hand-painted home décor items take on a one-of-a-kind look for artist Elizabeth Blome, whose designs are available from E. Blome Designs.

Blome, who taught herself to paint as a form of therapy when her mother died of cancer in 1993, introduces Life, a 12-inch silver cross in the “Whimsey Cross Collection,” this month. Life ($24.95) is hand-sculptured and inspired by Romans 6:4.

“The symbolism of the colorful metal butterfly (which is located on the cross) adorned with stones is how our life is a colorful gift from God,” Blome said, referring to the design of the Life cross. “Even though we may stumble and stray from Him, we know with our faith we are transformed each day like the creation of the butterfly.”


The Life cross joins Faith, Courage and Boldness ($30 each) in the “Whimsey Cross Collection.” Each cross includes scripture and a statement of faith card.

“The most common comment I seem to get when stores call in a re-order or my sales reps share is the story behind my company and the statement of faith/message of hope cards, which are pre-tagged with each cross,” Blome said. “All my items are designed to hopefully help people connect with the piece they are buying. Whether they are struggling with something, or they have lost a loved one or simply because it takes them to a place or time that make them happy.”

Blome’s most popular pieces are stone-filled crosses—wire-bent crosses she stuffs with different sizes, shapes and colors of rocks and which retail for $21 for a 12-inch cross or $31 for a 19-inch cross.

Other products the company adds this month are the Cross and Fleur-de-Lis Inspirational hangers. Retail is $8 for a set of either 12 cross or 12 fleur-de-lis hangers. Twelve sets of 23 hangers each wholesale for $48.

E. Blome Designs’ offerings also include birdhouses for indoor or outdoor decoration, tin plaques and wall hangings, keepsake chests, decorative stones, wooden crosses, medium and large shadow boxes, necklaces and prayer boxes. Each piece consists of aged elements that are handcrafted in the Houston studio.

Blome, who was a victim of abuse as a child, donates a percentage of company proceeds to Child Advocates, an organization that helps give children a voice in the courts.

For more information, call 713-896-4469, or visit www.eblomedesigns.com.