Blue Pig Studio Scotland

  RecentlyI returned from a holiday in Scotland touring the Western Isles and the Hebrides.  While there, I was able to visit the Blue Pig Studio, much by chance as all the stars must of have been alignment.  Touring with Best Scottish Tours, we visited Hebridean Soap Company located on the Isle of Lewis.  I remarked to the owner who had given us a tour of their soap making operation about the mosaic mirror above her wash sink.  She told me that a friend of hers made it years ago.  Our tour guide, Terry Markwick, made further inquiries and delivered me to the Blue Studio where I met Jane Harlington who was so generous to allow me to take some of her stash.  In return, I have surprised her with an assortment of my tesserae. I sentthe package out last week. I have never shipped internationally so this was a bit of a learning experience. 

Scottish stash from Jane Harlington. 

My Madonna and Child II Mosaic New Home

Photograph of my Mosaic Madonna and Child at Queen of Heaven Roman Catholic Church in Henderson, NY.  I guess you could call it my "summer parish" . Placed above the Contemplation Table. 

Rescued lamp

I bought this lamp at our church flea market for $5.  The tesserae includes pearls, glass tiles, VanGoh glass, and cabochons.  The blue gems glow in the dark.  I made this piece from what I had on hand. 

Studio Clean Out

And these are some of my bitty birdies offered on my Etsy shop:

www.etsy.com/shop/aMosaicist

Fused Glass Flowers

So I am cleaning out my stash.  These are some of my flowers. Please check out my Etsy shop for details.

www.etsy.com/shop/aMosaicist

Newest Mosaic Dress

Birthday Dress for Amanda

I made this mosaic dress form from sculpting wire, rigid wrap and styrofoam. The gold tone necklace at the waistband is one I purchased over 20 years ago. The blue stones/gems around the waistband and bottom border glow in the dark.  I really had a difficult time deciding upon grout color. My perfection gene was surfacing so I just listened to my intuition. 

Bittie Birdies

Soon to be offered on my ETSY Shop.  This birds are tac fused in my kiln using 96 Coe glass embelished with  dichroic glass and murini. 

Series of Fused Glass Dishes Recently Completed

Initials

Multiple Birthdays Gift for my Josh Sutter, Because  I start to make him a piece and it ends up having flowers. 

Series of Cups 8 of 12

I did a series of half cups. I have been experimenting with Epoxy Sculpt and jewelry. 

Dress Forms

I have two of these dress forms for sale on my Etsy shop. Made from a wrought iron decorative dress stand from Hobby Lobby. Covered with sculpting mesh and rigid wrap plaster gauze. 

Another Story Mirror

I just completed this story mirror from found objects I had in my studio. 

Another Story Mirror For Laura Quinn Wischner

Christening gift for my cousin's granddaughter. I just could not deal with grouting, so I tumbled some glass/ china and strategically placed it over the background. Just started using Epoxy Sculpt in my pieces.  Some the jewelry belonged to both her grandmother and great grandmother.

Madonna Framed and off to it's new home at St. Ceceilia's Parish in Adams, NY.

Professionally framed the Art & Frame Shop in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  These ladies are the absolute BEST! They have been framing my pieces for years. 

Madonna I

This Madonna was completed in 2014. The inspiration was a Christmas card from my husband's cousin, Kathy Risley.  After being in a show or two, I gifted this mosaic to Monsignor Wargo and the Church of St. Joseph the Worker. I currently hangs in the parish rectory. I can see how my style continues to evolve.

Madonna II Finished and off to Allentown Art & Frame Gallery

This piece was initially started as a challenge to myself to see how  my style has changed. Same cartoon drawing and same greeting card used as an inspiration. This will be going to St. Cecilia's Parish in Adams, NY.  

Completed 2017. Tesserae is  Italian smalti from Orsoni and Mexican smalti.

What To do with Half Cups

So I found these half cups in my studio. As usual, I thought "What was I going to do with these?" So  this piece just evolved from what I had on hand. Size is 14.5" x 20.5" It is made of mirror glass, stained glass, smalti, jewelry bits, Italian cabescons and wire. Has taken me 3 months to complete as I worked on it when other projects percolated. 

Progress on Madonna

Waiting for a Smalti shipment

The background fill has been percolating for days. Still undecided. Ordered some glass. Trying to play with size and shape but don't want the background to distract from the Madonna. 

What I do while I am percolating on a color and between paint drying

These are part of a series of half cups. Started working with Epoxy Sculpt to adhere the jewelry. 

St. Cecelia's Parish in Adams, NY 60th Anniversary Commission Piece

I started this piece as a challenge to myself. I wanted to work with smalti and to see how my style has changed/ evolved. I had the cartoon drawing and original XMas Card in my studio. On impulse, I traced the image on a piece of art board and began working on the faces and the gold accents. Father Marty contacted me and asked If I could make something to commemorate his church's 60th anniversary which is on June 18, 2017. Divine Intervention. 

Cutting  Halo was a real challenge because I wanted it to be one piece. After I started the piece I realized I hadn't painted the artboard gray as I had in the past. Thought a bit and painted the cartoon drawing which was how I was taught by Gina Hubler. My Hubby says I should call the piece " Birth of a Pope"  because the babe looks like he has a little white hat on.   I worked 2 hours setting the first babe face. Chipped it out and redone with 4 hours of work but that includes the blanket. 

Another 5 hours of work. I have just enough purple smalti to finish the Madonna's dress.