Inspiration

I get so inspired by materials: the textures, the colors, the patterns, the shapes.
I treated myself to some beads and charms recently.
Look at these sweet multi colored ceramic scarab beads from etsy shop thenile. I also got a bookmark with my order! I forgot to photograph it; I'm using it in a book already.

I don't know what I'm going to use them for yet as I don't make jewelry, but an idea will come.
For now, I have some in a glass bowl on my desk and a few lined up on the keyboard of the computer.

They've got hieroglyphic inscriptions on the bottom!

These gorgeous metal charms are from redvelvet in Sydney, Australia. Now I must learn how to oxidize metal to get the scarab and the owls to look like the African mask. If anyone has any oxidation recipes, please leave me a link! I remember using patinas and heat in bronze sculpture class, but I don't have a blow torch.

New Supplies

It's time to show you some great recent buys for my upcoming mosaic projects. I found three brightly glazed plates at the second-hand shop yesterday. I only wish they had had a set of each one, the colors are so vibrant. But alas, only one of each. And all for 0.75€. I'll add them to my growing stacks of plates and saucers, but I have the feeling I'm going to break these apart quickly.



I received lots of packages from fellow etsy sellers last week, three of which contained beads and charms. Aren't these beautiful? As I said a few posts ago, I wanted to make butterflies, but there were too many talented artists already making amazing ones...well I'm going to incorporate these charms into my mosaics. Butterflies, but also grasshoppers and beetles! Maybe I will be able to overcome my fear of bugs! These (above) are from lunasilver; stop by her shop and see her gorgeous charms!

Next, from Dragynsfyre, some lovely beads: moons and stars with faces, magic lamps, and little word beads, since I like to add messages to my work. You should visit her shop and see the themed beads, fairy tales, pirates and more!

And I got a bag of milagros from El Sol. I've been wanting to buy some to put in little retablos (retable in English, I think) that I want to make, and these are so nice. There were a lot in the bag, and my kids like them too! I might have to get another bag!

A Mosaic Workshop

I made this mosaic last year in a workshop at the Musée des Tissus/Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Lyon. I love participating in workshops there. There's this amazingly big work space, the artists are helpful, especially with technical details, and there's no phone ringing, or kids asking you to do things, at least for the duration of the workshop! Five hours of non-stop creation.

This mosaic workshop was two five-hour periods, two Saturdays in February. After ten hours, I had finished way less than half this mosaic! I worked another 20-odd hours at home, not including grouting or cleaning! And it's not even that big; it measures about 45 x 35 cm. I had it professionally photographed, and it is in my portfolio, but it's been sitting on my worktable, propped against the wall for almost a year.

So last week I decided to ask at the local fine art supply store if they'd let me hang it there. I had noticed that they had a lot of paintings up, but no mosaics. Well, the owner liked it, and said he was about to set up a display of mosaic supplies and my mosaic would be the perfect wall hanging in that area, right in the front of the store! He said he couldn't guarantee that it would be sold (who can ever be sure of sales?) but if it does, he doesn't take a commission. Thanks so much to Le Pinceau d'Or in Lyon, France!

So, I've found a home for my rather heavy mosaic, at least for now.