Save the Date!

Big Bird

It's been a busy August but Big Bird is finally grouted! I used three different colors of grout that were in the mosaic - blue, red and yellow. I also put some glitter on although it's hard to tell in the picture. This is one of those mosaics where I think, well, that made it hard to see. But what can you do? I should remember not to put actual pictures under tempered glass. Or at least do a better job of it.

I also did finish three more mirrors which I will put in my next post. But for now I just want Big Bird  to fly into this post.

Keeping up with my Weekly New Work Goal

I have been working on new mosaics! The mosaic above is a tempered glass piece that turned out looking like a bird. I started with a bouquet of Tuberous Begonias (left) made by a friend of mine. Then I put it in Photoshop and did a little Liquifying on it. Only when I showed it to friends did I see that there was a bird in the picture. This hasn't been grouted yet. I think I'll do two or three colors of grout.

On the right is a mosaic I am making for the American Begonia Society convention coming up soon. The picture is a botanical of Begonia boliviensis. I printed the picture on my large format Epson printer.Then I cut out glass squares and glued them down with Weldbond. Unfortunately some of the pieces (especially the long bottom glass piece) didn't get completely covered with glue and have a ripple effect. Hopefully grout will help to hide it.













To the right is another mosaic to enter in the ABS convention show. It is Begonia luxurians. It seems a little dull to me so I may spruce it up with some glitter somewhere. Martha Stewart has glitter paints that are transparent with only the glitter showing. I may try something like that on the sky.

And below we have a couple more mosaics; a cat rock and a big gold mirror, Neither is grouted yet. And I've been making Begonia rocks. I'll post a picture soon.

Still busy working on my mosaics!

Mosaic Mirrors

Yesterday I visited a friend to bring her a mosaic mirror she bought for a friend's wedding.

While I was there, I saw one of my mosaics that she bought last year. It's always nice to be reminded of previous mosaics I've made and especially to see them hanging in a friend's home.

Mosaic Begonia and a Cute Cat

Mosaic Begonia chloristica

This weekend my friends Mike, Gary and I went to Los Angeles to attend the Westchester Begonia Show and visit with friends. I submitted my mosaic of Begonia chloristicta and won a blue ribbon. The mosaic frame also won Best in Division for the arts division. What a thrill! I used the colors of the Begonia's botanical picture in the frame's vitreous tiles.

On the right is a picture of me with the mosaic. Life is Good!

You can just barely see the division trophy (bottom left) which was a pretty ceramic pot. I probably won't be breaking it up for the next mosaic!

On Friday night, Mike spoke to an appreciative crowd at the South Bay Begonia Branch. Our dear friend Eva took us to dinner at Cozy Mels in South Bay where I had a blue margarita. What could be better! Tequila in my favorite color.

And below is the darling Biscotti sitting atop the irrigation cover. He's hoping a bird will come by to check out the birdhouses.

Biscotti

Mosaics at Gazebo Plants and Flowers

My friend Mike owns a gorgeous nursery and florist shop in Montecito, California called Gazebo Plants and Flowers. His shop and grounds are filled with Orchids, Begonias, Bromeliads, trees, statues, pots, fountains, silk plants and other beautiful items.  And he has been kind enough to offer to sell Joooles Design mosaics and coasters at his store!

Above is a beautiful glass table with Streptocarpus, African Violets, Bromeliads and Joooles Design garden rocks and coasters! To the right is one of my heart mirrors hanging on the wall along with more rocks on the table.  I can't think of a more beautiful place to have my work on display!

Mosaics and Cats

Today we have a two of my favorite topics; mosaics and kitty cats. First is a mosaic mirror I finished for a client. I'm fortunate to have a lovely garden to use for picture-taking when a mirror is involved.

Below we have a mosaic I made on a cupboard face sample given to me by my neighbor. His family owns a company that installs kitchens, offices and other cool spaces. It is a botanical of a hummingbirds with flowers that I thought matched the frame. On my next attempt at one of these clear swirly glass mosaics, I'll be more careful to make sure all the squares line up properly. As you can see, I had to make adjustments near the bottom. I'm always learning from my mistakes!



And finally we have adorable kitty pictures. First we have both boys asleep atop the divider that separates the front door from the living room. There are fluorescent lights in the top so it is warm, and the kitties love sleeping up there. If it weren't for the two tails, you might think it was just one cat.

Sleeping kitties

And finally we have Prancer asleep on the bed. Is he cute or what???

Prancer takes a nap

Mosaic Rocks

Heart

I've started doing mosaics on rocks. Like the flag I displayed in my last post. I go to the beach and pick up a bunch of rocks that have come in on the tide. I look for rocks that are pretty flat on one side. Then I wash them to get all the sand and dirt out and glue on a design! Some are good, some not so much! I keep learning, however.

I've seen the ball chain outline used by a few different mosiac artists and thought I would give it a try.

Musical Note

This orange musical note on the right is a commission from one of my garden club friends. I've decided I really like the ones with mirror glass.  They really sparkle in the sunlight.

Bromeliad

The Bromeliad below was a rock I made for my friend Gary' birthday. I think it looks more like an octopus, but he was kind enough to say he liked it. Here it is sitting in his garden.

Ballet toe shoe and snail

This toe show was suggested by friends of mine from Los Angeles. They said ballet is very popular with the young crowd. So I made the rock on the left and NO ONE knew what it was. Well, one person did know but the other 10 people I asked could not identify it. Then when I tell them, it seems so obvious! The photo is before they were grouted.

Cat

The one on the left is obvious. A kitty cat! One of my favorite things!





And the colorful fish below started out as a musical note, but it just didn't turn out as I planned.  So I turned it into a fish!

Fish