Shara’s Shapes

I am taking an online year long mosaic design class with Shara Frank who is out in Minnesota. Rethinking how I approach my art. Here are 2 pieces I completed before the start of class.

Large Pear and Small Pear.

Flower Garden

My creativity has been not been lacking though it’s implementation has. Large piece 36” x 24” inches. Started years ago but did nit flow. In an earnest attempt to not to purchase new materials, the piece developed. Persevered onward and finally completed. Tedious to grout due to the irregularity and differing height of tesserae.

GroundCover

Another repurposed Mirror. I am slowly going thru my substrates until they are gone.

A Jelly Fish Swimming

So I really do not have a title for this piece. Went shopping in my studio and found a plethora of items to pitch or use. This is a rescued mirror. The jellyfish is courtesy of Kory Dollar at Marvelous Fine Mosaic Art in Oregon. This was a challenge to glue especially the jellyfish. Some grout bleed but less than I anticipated . Still in the cleaning process ….. two hours in and about 1/2 way done.

Sensory Overload

I started this piece in February 2025 and it just was not coming together. Almost pitched it in the bin. Revisited it again in July 2025 and thought…. “Get er’ done.”

WIP……..

I have been in a bit of a creative slump for the past few months. No joy. No vision of what could be. But I persevered onward. I have three pieces awaiting grouting and cleaning up. The mirrors are a bit of mess with glue. One day at a time.

Off to a Good Home

One of my many children is off to a good home. Mirror made in 2020.

A Shower for Jen

This piece gave me fits. Planned to use Smalti but aborted mission. Could not find the right color let alone shape and adamento. My brain literally hurt. So I just started to trust my instincts and this is what transpired. Bridal shower gift. China Hearts were cut with my ring saw. Other circles are hand cut circles from mirror, glass and china. Other tesserae includes Jewelry bits, murini, glass fusions and the reddish roses are drawer pulls.

Just Hangin’

Series of fused glass dishes I completed as XMas gifts for the staff at VIA who works my autistic adult son.

Candle Holder Trio

What I do when I need to keep my mind quiet and my hands busy

Sister Pieces after grouting.

I used sable brown grout as I did not have any black just a muted carbon which I dislike. Some grout bleed but I am slowly figuring it out. Cleaning was very fiddly and monotonous, trying my patience. The frames only need to be stained. Lighting not the best for the pics. Size is 24” x 12”.

Sister Pieces - pre grout.

These fraternal twins have been an absolute challenge. From a mosaic course near Portland, Oregon with Kory Dollar at Marvelous Fine mosaic. She is the Empress of Glass on Glass Mosaics. A red-eye flight for me and I have done it 3 times in the past year or so and will do it again, next year, same class as I gave so much to understand and learn. The first pic is the mosaic I started in class. The sky looks like fish swimming in the ocean. The second is a second attempt at home. Ran out of glass from Marvelous Mosaic which is a candy store of glass. But made do. The sky was a challenge to cut, let alone glue down. Not perfect, it will do.

WIP

24” x 12” Second panel is progressing.

WIP

Wedding present. Working with Smalti and detail.

Boogie Shoes with Bling

Out in my studio and see jewelry bling in a small dish…. Thinking “what were these for?”

Boogie Shoes

The inside of this pair was a challenge to grout. I asked myself “what was thinking?” …. All these circles hand-cut with nippers.