I spent a good part of the afternoon in my studio (space heater on HIGH!) since it was cold and stormy outside. I do get more done in the studio during bad weather; in good weather I spend most afternoons with my horses! I am now at an impasse with the table, though; I do not have the tile I need to finish. I have placed an order for several shades of blue unglazed porcelain---I just hope I like the color. It's hard to order on-line when I can't hold the tile and see the colors in person. It will be a week until delivery.

I still need to make several grout samples. To do this I will mosaic a set of four coasters. They will have the same tiles/glass/colors as the table, but I will use four different grouts--one on each. This will help me determine which grout will look best. I usually prefer very dark grout in my pieces, but sometimes other colors work better. We'll just play around and make a set of coasters to go with the table.

The St. George Arts Festival was spectacular! Wow! My husband and I went down to the Festival and spent several hours looking at the incredible works of the talented and gifted artists represented there. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, woodworking, ceramics (Yes, I did make a couple of small purchases!), jewelry, stained glass, fused glass, and one mosaic booth. I can't list them all, but it was so worth the trip down to see everything.

The mosaic booth was great--mostly mosaicked mirror frames in geometric patterns using cut stained glass as tesserae. I liked their choice of colors, although I do not really care for the very reflective iridescent glass they used in many of the frames. (It reminds me of the color of gasoline on water.) I prefer looking into glass--most stained glass has real depth and an inner dimension that the iridescent glass just doesn't have. I did think this husband/wife team had several very elegant pieces. All of their pieces were very similar (mirrors) though, and I like to see more variation. They did have two vases (still geometrics) that were nice.

We loved the Arts Festival. I am considering applying for acceptance next year. It would be a big step for me, but one I feel I should take. I need to pursue a more aggressive marketing strategy so that I actually turn a real profit. Of course, I also need to frost-proof my studio so I can work year round! I did not like having to take the whole winter off this year. I certainly learned something about my new space--it needs mucho insulation!!

My studio is a great place to hole up and work without distractions. I can make a mess, leave it and go in the house to fix dinner, and not worry about the glass shards on the floor or the tools left out. It's great.

I am currently working on a 30" diameter commissioned table. It is for an outdoor covered patio in Southern Utah. I am about 3/4 of the way through laying the tiles and glass. I am using a reverse method since the glass and unglazed porcelain tiles are not the same thickness. It's a big project, fun too, as this is the first time I have used the unglazed porcelain. I love it! It's fairly easy to cut and the colors are perfect for this table. The non-reflective quality of the porcelain really sets off the reflective qualities of the glass. I will post more later about this project!

Welcome to Salt Creek Mosaics! It is here I hope to share a few of the creations that come from my studio, Salt Creek Broken Arts. I will post thoughts on my art, sources of inspiration, techniques, successes, and marketing strategies. I plan to frequently add photographs of new and past works as well as works-in-progress.

I love what I do and I'm happy to be able to share some of the fun! Working with glass and tile feeds my desire for tactile work. I love the feel of the various textures in my hands-glass, tile, the tools, grout. I used to do lots of fiber and textile arts for the same reason. I find that the glass and tile colors and textures are stimulating and enticing to work with. The challenge of the technical aspect is exciting, too!

Buying glass is great fun! Occasionally I plan a project and then shop for and purchase the glass or tiles I need. More often, I buy a particular sheet of glass or a tile because of its own intrinsic beauty. I often find that a certain glass will cry out to be included in a particular project; often my plans will take dramatic turns within the course of the creation of a piece depending on the feel I get from my materials.