Mosaic Progress Report

 I have been plugging along with this mosaic. To complete my new vision for this mosaic, I had to order some new mosaic tiles in different hues of blue. And I am so glad that I did. That original blue glass that surrounds the butterfly is very stark and doesn't work as a background for the whole piece. 

I am working on the top right now (light blue glass)so, it is presenting upside-down. The left side (inside the yellow millefiori border) is finished and will make sense once the right side is completed. When working with a mosaic that has so much going on in the middle area, it is necessary to have the sides soothing with a place for the eyes to rest and to frame the striking design or else it is too chaotic.

We are only ten days away from Christmas and I am happy to say that all the presents have been sent and the rest are here that are meant for here. Although, I do still have some gift wrapping yet to do. I love decorating the house for Christmas and baking goodies, but I also take pleasure in just kicking back and enjoying the fruits of my labor, right?

Even though it's the holidays, I will still be making time to work on my mosaic and I will post again when I have made more progress. Until then, I hope you and yours have a Magical Holiday!

Make Time for What You Love

 I picked up this mosaic (again) that I started years ago. Parts of it are lovely and others are merely pedestrian. It has made me realize that instead of forcing myself to continue to do uninspired work when I reach an impasse; it is time to stop and walk away until a worthy idea spurs me onward.

 From this place that I am now in my work, I am trying to save this depressing mess. Perhaps my empathy for this mosaic is driven by the way it reflects my mosaic journey. I started out creating mosaics from my heart. So much love and joy went into them. Then I thought I should make mosaics that other people might like and sell them on Etsy. Of course, I would get inspired and create a mosaic that I loved and could not sell. Then I would feel that I should make something to sell. I have now come to understand that my mosaic journey needs to be fueled by love and joy. I no longer will create a mosaic for the purpose of making a sale, but my mosaics are to be an expression of me through the medium of mosaic.

During the pandemic, I have had absolutely no luck in creating new mosaics. The fairy door is a hideous mess and I started a mosaic of a mermaid that failed miserably due to uninspired choices. As soon as I finish or set aside this twice abandoned mosaic, I am going to attempt a mosaic that has been haunting me for years,but one that I felt was beyond my abilities to properly execute. But then I figured if not now then when...

Here is the mosaic mess I am trying to save. The left side is amazing but the butterfly surrounded by blue glass does not fit, right. And the dragonfly at the top has ugly, boring wings. Stop laughing and saying it belongs in the trash. Okay, the challenge is great; I admit. However, I have been inspired and so I want to try and save it. I'll keep you updated and hopefully, surprise us both.

COVID HEARTBREAK

 Once again I am back after a serious amount of time has passed. The Fairy Door mosaic was a disaster in epic proportions (always wanted to use that phrase but not to describe my mosaic attempts). Thought I would deal with that before I jumped into the unfortunate reason for writing in my blog after all this time.

My older brother, Jim, died of Covid last Sunday. I was told that he went in to take a nap and passed in his sleep. He has battled MS for years, but he loved life, his family, and was a positive force (most of the time) in his world. He will be missed.

I am still wearing a mask when I go out for all the folks like my brother who would not survive having Covid. I really do not like wearing a mask but I feel it is a compassionate response to the fact that Covid is still with us and is life threatening. A lot of people are not wearing masks and unfortunately, that is their choice.