It's Finished!

I finished the custom mosaic this morning.  I had a few areas that needed a little more grout so I mixed a small batch and worked on that then painted the back a flat black.

I applied 5 coats of sealant to the grout knowing it will be hung above a stove so I hope the extra will help it to repel staining.  I am enclosing some of the powdered grout I used in a baggie so that if it should get some sort of stain on it the customer can easily fix it.

Since the area is cramped for space I decided it might be a good idea to use picture frame wire for hanging.  Usually I would hang 20lb. D-rings on either side assuming the customer would have large hooks, but I think it will be a bugger to try and hang it that way with the cabinets hanging down and  obstructing the view.

The finished size is 16x28

The Finished Piece!

I finally finished the mirror and was trying to get some good pictures of it.  The closeups are fairly easy to do but I sure have a hard time with the full front of my mirrors.  As soon as you snap the picture you realize that your feet were in it or the mirror is smudged or the flash went off and is blinding the photo.

Anyway, here it is.  I am very happy with the end result.  It took considerably longer to work each tile in so that the grout lines are finer, but it's a challenge and keeps me on my toes.

I was stuck for something interesting to do and my husband suggested I run some leaves up to the top so that's what I did.

The focal on this mosaic is a top to a trinket box that I hand painted to match the colors in the tiles.

I added a cute little knob that I hand painted in a rich salmon to enhance some of the flowers in the pattern of the dishes I used for this project. 

Claude Monet Inspired Mosaic

I found some really beautiful dishes in Claude Monet's "Water Lillies" pattern for my newest mosaic and have been playing around with some new ideas in my layouts.

Lavender seems to be a big color this year so I have been using it quite a bit in my latest pieces.  It is quite subtle in this one and it's a nice change for me.

I decided to team it with aqua and a blue-green color that's just wonderful and very muted and I found a lovely enameled lid that worked perfectly as the focal piece at the top.

Featured Artist "Anikas Art"

I was browsing through some shops on Etsy and came across Anikas Art, a place where you can find a variety of unique and creative pieces. What really drew me in was her "egg" art. Having just come back from a cruise where the theme in the dining room was the Russian Faberge Eggs it just piqued my interest and I asked her is I could feature her shop on my blog.

Tell me a little about yourself.

My name is Anika. I am born and raised in Germany and all my relatives and family still live there. I am married to an American. I came to the USA during an exchange program of my University, then did several internships in the same city in the USA and met my now husband during that time. I have a degree in architecture, but work currently as an architectural CAD technician until my German degree is accredited.I love animals, particularly horses and dogs and own one of each.I crafted, painted etc since I can remember. I just love to do it!I also love fantasy art, books and movies.

What made you decide to work with eggs in your art?

A friend of mine who does a lot of crafting made also Ukrainian Eggs. I found the intricate work very fascinating and asked her on one occasion if she could show me how to do that. She showed me and gave me books that she learned from. I have used eggs in my art in different variations ever since.

Where does your inspiration come from?

From nature, movies, books, friends, my work, my family, my pets.

What is the process to producing your painted eggs?

To make an egg I use the traditional methods for making what is called Ukrainian Eggs, even though I use my own (non-traditional) designs. I lay out the design in pencil on a blown-out egg. Then I use bees wax and a special tool to draw the lines of one color in wax on the egg. I go from the lightest to the darkest color. I dip the egg into a colored dye bath for each round. After each dip I let the egg dry, then I draw the next time wax on the egg for the next color. This is also called a wax resist technique. After the egg dried from the last dip I melt and wipe off the wax to reveal all the colors. Then I varnish the egg to make the colors last, since the dyes by themselves are not water resistant.

The detail on this egg is fabulous, especially considering the delicate canvas Anika has to work with.

Anika sells her paintings on canvas too. This is called "Abstract Lighthouse". I chose this one because I could feel the intensity of the waves crashing against the lighthouse.

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?

My favourite piece is my red gourd dragon. I love him for his uniqueness.

As always, I like to show where each artist does all their creating. For Anika, it is currently her dining room table but she hopes to build a workspace for herself in her basement soon.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

I only sell on etsy at this time. My blog is: http://anikasuniquecreations.blogspot.com/

Anika also works with polymer clay and makes some lovely jewelry so be sure to stop by her shop and take a peek. Her talents are truly endless.

Custom Mosaic Tables?

I have been thinking for some time about adding a line of custom table tops in my mosaic shop as they are fun to make and you can do so many different designs. I will probably gear it more towards the glass and ceramic tiles and then offer several color choices rather than dish tiles, as those are generally a One-of-a-kind deal.

This is the very first table I tried. It was done in the pique assiette (broken dish) with a beautiful focal tile and matching dish tiles.

The edges are all finished in two rows of the mini ceramics tiles, one white and one cobalt blue.

The focal tile is really a gorgeous mix of vibrant colors and I decided to team it with the blue and white so as not to take away from the lovely design.

I haven't put this for sale in my Etsy shop as I am still working out the packaging situation, but will have that remedied shortly.

Thank You to my Followers

I so appreciate the people who have chosen to follow my blog that I like to take the time to showcase their talents, whether they are an artist or a fellow blogger. Today I am saluting 5 of my followers. I hope you will take a moment and look through their shops as they have some amazing things.


Kerri is the owner of a brand new shop on Etsy called OHearn67. I just love this pen and ink drawing of a giraffe. I so wish I could draw and I always gravitate to those with wonderful talents like this.

Kerri's shop has a variety of lovely handmade items at very reasonable prices.










Klaire, of Mystic Silks is a wonderful friend and fellow teammate of Design Style Guide, a website dedicated to promoting handmade home decor.



I chose to showcase this gorgeous silk scarf of hers because it is done in my favorite color combination of blue and brown. Klaire also sells her original silk paintings in her shop on Etsy which you may have seen when I did an article on Mystic Silks on my blog. To read more about the meticulous process involved in creating these beauties please refer to my archives.





DoxalloDesigns is where you will find one-of-a-kind high end jewelry. I felt her explanation of this incredible ring was wonderful and that is why I chose this piece to showcase her talent.
"I created this ring while on a lakeside metalsmithing retreat. The bumpy border reminds me of the meandering shore of the lake and the rocks which are often found alongside the water's edge. I imagine the triangular jasper as a boat skimming along the top of the water."

This is what art is all about. Seeing something in your mind's eye and creating your version in a tangible piece.




Linda, from MosaicSmith is a friend I met in a group on Etsy called Talking Mosaics, a place to share your love of all things mosaic. She has a fantastic ability to take a picture of something and turn it into the most amazing life-like mosaic. She also has a vivid imagination and created this stunning mosaic using an escargot tray. Each circle in the tray has it's own design made from glass Linda has hand cut to fit. This would be a wonderful conversation piece in your kitchen.

AmiKami makes vintage inspired hand knit and crochet fashions. This adorable piece is called a "fascinator" which is an alternative to wearing a hat and ear muffs. What's really great about these are the many ways you can wear it. I have 2 styles shown here, but there are several. She also sells bracelets, necklaces, headbands and more.

Talking Mosaics at the Mosaic Cafe

When you are an artist and seller on Etsy you have the opportunity to join teams and groups where you share a common interest. In this case it is a love of all things mosaic.

"Talking Mosaics at the Mosaic Cafe" is a group of very talented artists who come together to share their techniques, advise, support and sometimes failures. It's a place where you can express your opinions, show off your newest piece, or just talk about your everyday life.

I have been with this group a very short time, yet they all have made me feel welcome and connected as though I had know them for years so I wanted to take the time to showcase the talents of these wonderful women. I have mentioned before how it truly amazes me that our creations are so very different yet we all have the same resources at hand.

These photos are just a hint of the wonderful mosaics you will find in their shops. Many of them have more than one shop, so please stop by and take a look. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Just click on the photo.

RedCrowArts


JoyfulArtStudio

Domosaics

Julen

Artsyphartsy

MosaicSmith