Summer Fun

OK, my last post showed the newest "transom arch," but I decided I should show the first transom arch I made also. I finished this one a couple of months ago. It's entitled: "Morning, Noon, and Night." Those who know me well will understand that I have often been accused of having horses on the brain morning, noon, and night. This is not strictly true. I also have mosaics on the brain as is aptly proven here. This fantasy depiction shows three silver horses galloping through a glassy sky sparkling with mirror glass and shiny gems. It is designed to fit above a doorway (preferably the one closest to the barn!) $175

Finally we have a house number! We have lived here for a year now, and we are formally identified at last! No more explaining to UPS men and friends how to find our house without a number. It's there and it's visible. Just wait till my studio has a proper sign!

I finished my second "mosaic transom" this week. It's an arched stained glass mosaic designed to be attached to the wall above a door like a true transom window. Of course it's opaque so no light shines through, but it is still beautiful. (Hey, if anyone out there would like a glass-on-glass mosaic for your real transom window, just let me know!) I didn't actually care for this piece very much until it was finished. The grout just pulled it all together and I like it very much. So much that I'm thinking it needs to hang in my house! (At least until sold!)($175) The glass colors are stunning together, and it looks very natural. The photos don't pick up the glossiness of the glass, or the true reflective colors, either, unfortunately. Oh, well, take my word for it: this piece really shines!

I'm off to finish the house number plaque for our mailbox today. I have tons to do this week regarding my oldest daughter's wedding and my youngest daughter's doctor's appointments, but I do so want a house number!

I have finished the glass and tile table I was working on at last! This has been a great creative learning experience with extra-special interest to me.

Using a double-reverse process really stretched my brain! Trying to work in reverse is bad enough, but doubling the confusion was even more challenging! But it worked: the different thicknesses of the tesserae required this method, and the finished table is smooth and level. I had never worked with unglazed ceramic tile before, but in the process of creating this table I discovered it's a fun, easy tile to work with. I love the color range available, the tiles cut easily, and the matte finish compliments the reflective qualities of glass perfectly. You will definitely see more of these tiles in my upcoming work.

I presented this table to its new owner earlier this week. She loved it, and I am so glad. I have to explain that although this table was a commission piece, but I wasn't paid in cash. We had worked an exchange deal on a horse. The owner gifted the horse to me, but Judy sent her to the trainer for her first 30 days in exchange for the table. I actually brought the horse home from the trainer's in December of last year, but was unable to work on the table until my frozen studio thawed out this spring, so I was a little behind on the payment. Sorry, Judy! Anyway, it was a happy exchange for all involved. The previous owner is happy that her horse has a good home, Judy is happy with her new table, and I am ecstatic with my new horse, Glory Al-Riyah. She is a beautiful young bay mare, who I adore. We are having a good time together, training and working toward a long partnership and endurance career. (see Riyah's blog: www.gloryofthewind.blogspot.com)

I am in the "complicated" process of grouting the table I have been working on. This entails each section being pre-grouted, cleaned, flipped, and carefully placed into the thin-set coated Hardi-backer. I then soak the backing paper off, sponge the tiles clean, and prepare to repeat with the next section. It really is quite complicated, but it seems to be working out nicely. I finished laying the top today, so tomorrow night I will be able to re-grout the entire table top. I will leave it to cure for a few days before I finish the edge. I do believe it's going to look nice!

I spent a few hours this afternoon working on the coasters for the grout study. Since the weather has remained nasty, I set up a wet space in my studio. It actually worked well and I didn't make a huge mess. And it was relatively warm, too!

For the coasters I used the same unglazed porcelain tile and stained glass as I used on the table. I mixed up a batch of thin set and then my first grout sample which was charcoal. After pre-grouting and cleaning the lizard mosaic, I spread thin set on the tile base. I also back-buttered the mosaic with thin set to even out the difference between the tile and glass thicknesses. After aligning the mosaic on the tile, I laid another larger tile over it and tapped carefully with a hammer to set the mosaic into the thin set. I then wet the backing paper and peeled it off a few minutes later. The mosaic was then carefully cleaned again to remove excess grout. When the thin set and grout have had time to set (a couple of days) I will re-grout the top surface. The grout colors are charcoal, natural grey, and tan. As expected, I like the charcoal best. The natural grey simply mutes the whole thing. Tan looks good. I could actually consider that one also. I'll make the final decision tomorrow. I'm ready to get the table finished!

All the rainy weather we are having is getting in the way of me finishing this table! I am ready to get into the "wet phase"-- thin set and grout, but it is too cold and wet to work outside. My studio is warm with the space heater cranked up, but it's hard to do the water work in there. I may have to commandeer space in my husband's shop. I could fire up the wood stove and be nice and toasty. Who would think it's the end of May? It feels like March.

I have made a set of coasters to match the table. I will use these to do a grout study and determine the grout color for the table. I love to use charcoal (almost black) grout, but I won't decide for sure until I see the finished coasters. Will post pictures when I get them done.

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.