Latest work; Frog Prince, finished!

FROG PRINCE

Finished.

The process.

New work - finished!

Mosaics take a long time. So everytime I finish one I do a little happy dance. This Portrait of Kate was made with stained glass. My first time using stained glass. I love it! More stained glass work to come:)

In progress.

Six Owls and A Party goes (back) to Brampton!

A big thanks to Fernforest Public School for inviting me to share Six Owls and A Party + my mosaic workshop with eight grade 3 classes over the last three days (it's a big school!). Every class had a great bunch of kids - engaged, thoughtful and very polite!

Six Owls and Party goes to Mississauga!

I was at Saint Bernadette Elementary School in Mississauga today with my Magic of Mosaics presentation. Apparently I set up in just the right spot this morning😳

Location, location, location...

Six Owls and A Party goes to Peterborough!

I was at Armour Heights Public School in Peterborough, Ontario today with my Author Visit + Mosaic Workshop.
After the reading of Six Owls and A Party this grade 1/2 class had a ton of questions:)

The Batman Owl!

Accessing their work.

Clever + Enthusiastic Kids!

For the last two days I've been at Cardinal Newman Elementary School in Brampton, Ontario with my Magic of Mosaics presentation - such an enthusiastic bunch!

I loved that this girl kept using the window as a lightbox - so clever!

One Crazy Before and After!

A while ago Hannah wanted to change her bedroom up - something I'm always game for.
The first thing she wanted to do was take the wallpaper down. Ugh! I said. That's such a big job! I said. How about we paint the wallpaper instead! I said...
Months (many, many months) later my brilliant idea(?), which was a huge job, is finished! All due to the diligent work of Hannah:)
It was the craziest before and after we've (she's) ever done!!!
Oh yeah, and we painted the bed too but that only took a couple of days.

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

New work, in progress

I've been working on a new piece with material that I've never used before - stained glass:)
The upside to working with stained glass is that it comes in so many beautiful/stunning colours plus it's very easy to cut and grind.
The down side to working with stained glass (actually there is no down side) the problem is that I've been cutting such small pieces - when I grind them I have to get really close to the grinder, resulting in some pretty messed up fingers and nails:(

For the love of mosaics I'm soldiering on (lol)...
P.S. Katie is officially my Muse:)

A Mosaic Marathon

Poppy Field II, the project that keeps getting pushed aside:(
It was started in June of 2012 (yikes!) and has become a Mosaic Marathon with no finish in sight...
One day it will be finished! She said full of optimism:)

The Owl Project, Part 2

I'm happy to say that last week I finished The Yellow Owl (the last panel) which means that the biggest part of my Owl Project is done. Yeah! Each panel is 1.5'x4' and made with glass beads, chained chrystal rhinestones and hand cut Vitreous glass tiles.
I'm now onto Part 2 of this project; getting them photographed. Because there is so much detail mosaics are very difficult to photograph.

Here's a look back on the making of these panels.
The first photo (this small unfinished mosaic) sparked the idea that started The Owl Project.

And this is the sketch that got it all started.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of The Owl Project ...

My next Mosaic Workshop - Sunday, Oct.19/14

You can sign up for my next workshop here.

Where is it: Artscape Youngplace (180 Shaw Street, Queen West. Rm 109)

When is it: Sunday, October 19th, 10:00am-5:00pm.

You'll learn a little about the history of mosaics, the techniques used and create your own pique assiette mosaic mirror. Note: All of the necessary tools and materials will be supplied.

It's all about being inspired and getting creative.

Before and After Bathroom Alcove

For the last couple of days I've been working on a small makeover in our 'master' bathroom. This alcove was made a little more useful and a lot more exciting by adding an easy to make built in shelf + some white paint (Benjamin Moore's 'Cloud White'). White♥

After the before and after is finished there is always styling to be done. Styling, I love doing it but it's racked with decision making:) Which one works for you?

Work in Progress (still)

It feels like I've been working on this piece forever. Yikes, according to this post it has been forever!
I'm determined to finish it by the end of the summer. Now that it's in writing, I'd better get to it...

Want to learn how to Mosaic?

Sign up for my next workshop here

It's all about being inspired and getting creative.

Where: Artscape Youngplace (180 Shaw Street, Queen West)
When: Saturday, June 14th, 10:00am-5:00pm.

You'll learn a little about the history of mosaics, the techniques used and create your own pique assiette mosaic mirror. Note: All of the necessary tools and materials will be supplied. 

My New Studio/Guest Room

All the moving around, switching up and painting that we've been doing lately started with me wanting to move my studio space from our dark, unfinished basement to our bright, spacious guest room. Beds were switched, shelves were made and lots of painting was done.
I'm happy to say that I'm no longer working in 'the hole' as Marathon Man often called it. Our guest room is now my new studio/guest room. I'm loving all the light, the dogs are loving the day bed and how could our next company not love waking up to a room full of mosaics?!
From dark Basement...

To full of light Studio/Guest Room

I made 4 shelves that are all 8ft long. They were easy to make and are perfect for displaying my many sample boards.

Now it's time to get back to making mosaics and for William to take a nap:)

Winnie the Pooh Bedroom Flashback

While cleaning out our basement today I came accross this old picture (1999?). It's the other half of Emma's fun crazy coloured kids room from yesterday's post. I like to think of it as 'controlled crazy'.
It made me smile and it's a far cry from my present day love of all things white.
I asked Emma (now 15) what she remembered about this room? She said that she remembered watching me paint it and that she loved it. Another made me smile moment:)

Arts Market, this Thursday

I'll be at Artscape Youngplace, this Thursday night, in their Arts Market...

ARTSCAPE EQUINOX: A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
March 20 @ 6pm-10pm, 180 Shaw Street
Join us at this family-friendly celebration of the spring, offering inspiration and temptation for our creative season ahead. Visit an open studio, watch or participate in a creative class, tour our gallery exhibitions, browse the arts market, learn about upcoming programs, and mix and mingle with artists and friends.
6 pm – drop-in programming begins; wander the building and explore an array of artistic offerings
6:30 pm – join exhibition curator Heather Nicol  for a special talk and tour of the Hallway Galleries
after 8 pm – join us in the Flex Studios for spring cocktails at our neighbourhood mixer (cash bar), featuring tunes, treats (including kid-friendly snacks) and creative delights

Planning the next piece

I've started planning (drawing and choosing tesserae) for my next large piece (4'X6'). I get excited about what will be even though I know it'll be months before it's finished...

Booth set up for IDS14

Today was set up day for The Interior Design Show. It went very well. We were in and out of The Toronto Convention Centre in a couple of hours! It was all done in 3 easy steps;) Load car with booth stuff. Unload booth stuff at convention centre. Load 5'x10' space with booth stuff. And now we're good to go with IDS14.
A Big thanks to John and Kevin Wiggers, Handy Man Dad, Marathon Man and Sue for helping make this set up go so well.

With my booth (#SN16) all set up I can now relax and enjoy the next 4 days. Hope to see you there.

Christmas One of a Kind Show 2013

Last Saturday we did The Christmas One of a Kind Show. It's a big show!
It was exhausting - so much to take in. And it was inspiring - so much creativity in one place. Here are a few of my favourite works...

Sarah Hillock's Sophie, oil on mylar 60"x36", $1600

Sparrow Avenue's Moose Pillow with snow, $46.74

Erin Rothstein's "Tasting Room - Toast", limited edition print, signed, unframed 24" x 24", $400

The Christmas One of a Kind Show runs from November 28 to December 8, 2013.