Category Archives: Mosaic and other crafts

A face only a mother can love :-)

23 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me, Mosaic and other crafts

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“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” ― Winston S. Churchill

I am in love with my mosaics even when they fail.  What is failure anyway?  The beauty of the creative arts, is that there is no right or wrong.  It is all subjective.

That is why I love mosaics: for its imperfections.  I look at this one and I see where I can do things better, different, but still I appreciate the time, effort and creativity I put into it.

This new piece taught me a lot.  It showed me that I need to learn certain techniques and how to use certain materials. Such as how to draw faces and how to use resin.

I am learning to love the creative process.  I am still in awe that I can be creative.  I still continue to try to rush, but I am slowly learning how to love the moment and not only to aim for the results.  

Here I present to you what was supposed to be an Indian with war paint on his face and a colorful headdress on his head.  The result looks more like a lion or a cat burglar.   Still, it is my creation and I love it, flaws and all!

“A thinker sees his own actions as experiments and questions–as attempts to find out something. Success and failure are for him answers above all.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young

“I believe in the power of the imagination to remake the world, to release the truth within us, to hold back the night, to transcend death, to charm motorways, to ingratiate ourselves with birds, to enlist the confidences of madmen.” ― J.G. Ballard

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” ― Robert F. Kennedy

 

“Do not let arrogance go to your head and despair to your heart; do not let compliments go to your head and criticisms to your heart; do not let success go to your head and failure to your heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

 

 

A Colorful Change in Plans

30 Saturday Oct 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Mosaic and other crafts

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“If you dare nothing,
then when the day is over,
nothing is all you will have gained.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book

As I was choosing materials for a new mosaic project I am starting, I grouped the glass tiles by color.  I loved the way they looked and decided to do a piece just like that.  

I call it “A Colorful Detour”. 

This is huge step forward for me.  To stop doing something I had planned to go do something totally different and unplanned is new and exciting.

Having ideas and being creative is not natural to me.  Going off course feels wrong to me, and yet this piece feels so right.

This to me represents being okay with doing something unplanned, just because; in art, as well as life.

My message to you is: It is okay to change directions in the middle of the journey.  It is okay to go off the script.  Change things up, do things different.  Don’t be so planned, so expected.  Routine is the enemy of creativity and growth. 

One of the joys of getting more involved with mosaics is finding out that I am creative, that I have this whole side to explore.  It doesn’t have to be perfect or make sense to anyone.

All my projects talk to me.  They all say: “You go girl, you can do it!”

“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson, with Annotations – 1841-1844

“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.” ― E.E. Cummings

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“Don’t be very frightened, Marilla. I was walking the ridge-pole and I fell off. I suspect I have sprained my ankle. But, Marilla, I might have broken my neck. Let us look on the bright side of things.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

“Love is like a wind stirring the grass beneath trees on a black night,’ he had said. ‘You must not try to make love definite. It is the divine accident of life. If you try to be definite and sure about it and to live beneath the trees, where soft night winds blow, the long hot day of disappointment comes swiftly and the gritty dust from passing wagons gathers upon lips inflamed and made tender by kisses.” ― Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio

Introducing Miss Lucky Ladybug

15 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me, Mosaic and other crafts

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“I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it”― Thomas Jefferson

She is not perfect, but she knows it and she is proud of her uniqueness.  She is larger than life, in her mind and size. If you look at her and make a wish, it will come true!

“When ill luck begins, it does not come in sprinkles, but in showers.”― Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson

 

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” ― Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”― Dalai Lama XIV

Coffee and friends: the perfect blend

30 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Daily Message, Finding Me, Mosaic and other crafts, Poetry

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“Either way, he figured a cup of coffee would hit the spot. For what is more versatile? As at home in tin as it is in Limoges, coffee can energize the industrious at dawn, calm the reflective at noon, or raise the spirits of the beleagured in the middle of the night.” ― Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow

Again I am struggling to finish posts.  Blame it on lack of time and lack of focus.  Ideas come and go, and they fail to land on a page and be posted. 

I am trying to be better and do better.   

In the meantime my mosaics keep going.  Here is another one.  Now that I posted the pictures, I can see a lot of issues with the final product.  Such as, there are some areas where I need to clean some more of the grout off.  But if I am going to wait to do that first to post, this would be another post that wouldn’t see the light of the day.

Also, that is the beauty of mosaics, it is never perfect 🙂

“I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.”
― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“We want to do a lot of stuff; we’re not in great shape. We didn’t get a good night’s sleep. We’re a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup.”- Seinfeld

“What the hell makes you smart?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t go for coffee with you.”
“Listen – I wouldn’t ask you.”
“That,” she replied, “is what makes you stupid.”
― Erich Segal, Love Story

“Coffee and chocolate—the inventor of mocha should be sainted.”
― Cherise Sinclair, Hour of the Lion

“Coffee is a lot more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup” ― Gertrude Stein, Selected Writings

“Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”-Anne Morrow Lindberg

And here is a sneak peak at the start of a ladybug, inspired by Monica at https://brilliantviewpoint.com/2021/09/03/ladybug-more-luck/

 

Art redone: From oil painting to mosaic in glass

19 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Mosaic and other crafts

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“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein

Here is another piece I just finished. I like to use old paintings that I find in stores or tag sales.  It serves two purposes: First, it already has a frame, often it is antique and beautiful.  Second, it gives me a starting point, an inspiration, even though the end result is, oftentimes, much different, as you can see below:

Doing mosaic art is my happy place, and I I love discovering that I do have some creative bone in my body.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Practicing

15 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Mosaic and other crafts

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“Tomorrow’s victory is today’s practice.”
― Chris Bradford, The Way of the Warrior

It looks better in person.  Believe me! I always say that, but it is true.  Anyway, how can I find any of my mosaic babies ugly?

I am blaming my phone.  I may invest on a camera to just take pictures of my work. I feel that the colors aren’t true in the pictures.

It is a purple plate that was begging to become something else.  Now it is something else. 

 

 

“I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one’s being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.” ― Martha Graham

The fallen flower

23 Friday Jul 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Finding Me, Mosaic and other crafts

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“If we demand perfection from ourselves we are not living in the real world…The inherent problem in the relationship between the ideal & the real is that the ideal judges the real as unacceptable and brings down condemnation and wrath on the real. This sets up an adversarial relationship between the two and like all adversaries, they move further and further apart.” ― Henry Cloud, Changes That Heal: The Four Shifts That Make Everything Better…And That Anyone Can Do

I just finished this piece and it makes me so happy to look at it.

The idea started with some flowers I found at the studio from some other project.  I used a store-bought ready to hang frame.  

I cut an old blue mug in half for the vase. I am choosing to leave it as, with the nicks in it. I added the flowers, then the white tiles for the background.  Then different green glasses and mirrors for the additional leaves.

I was going to use green grout, but it didn’t feel perfect. In the end, I put gray grout on top of the green.  It is hard to tell in the pictures but there are hints of green in the final product and it gives the idea of old and used.  Exactly what I wanted.

I chose to leave the frame in the natural wood, instead of painting it white or some other color.

“Take these broken wings and learn to fly.” ― Paul McCartney, Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics, 1965-1999

“Doctoring her seemed to her as absurd as putting together the pieces of a broken vase. Her heart was broken. Why would they try to cure her with pills and powders?”― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

“The storm is out there and every one of us must eventually face the storm. When the storm comes, pray that it will shake you to your roots and break you wide-open. Being broken open by the storm is your only hope. When you are broken open you get to discover for the first time what is inside you. Some people never get to see what is inside them; what beauty, what strength, what truth and love. They were never broken open by the storm. So, don’t run from your pain — run into your pain. Let life’s storm shatter you.” ― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life

Somewhat like a flower

21 Wednesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Dating, Finding Me, Mosaic and other crafts

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“Tired, tired with nothing, tired with everything, tired with the world’s weight he had never chosen to bear.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned

Hello, I hope everyone has been well. There is a lot going on here, and at the same time, nothing.  If that makes any sense at all.

I canceled two dates.  The two men were both annoying me for different reasons so I decided not to meet them.  I have been on this canceling phase for some reason. It will pass. 

I am meeting my friend Anthony tonight.  I miss him and our conversations, so I am looking forward to it.  He nourishes me spiritually.  Thanks heavens for the friends that brighten our lives.

“Feelings are for the soul what food is for the body.” ― Rudolf Steiner, How to Know Higher Worlds: A Modern Path of Initiation

I have finished two mosaics pieces.  One is below, and and the other will be on the next post.

I think I am the lazy mosaic maker.  I often start with a canvas with already a design there and frame, and go from there.  I have been told canvas don’t work  for mosaics but it has been working for me.  

I have been trying different materials and techniques.  I see growth and it feels great.

It looks better in person, I promise 🙂 The colors don’t look quite right in the pictures.

“That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true happiness is to learn, to advance, and to improve: which could not happen unless we had commenced with error, ignorance, and imperfection. We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light.” ― Albert Pike

 

More than a Flower

07 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by in Daily Life, Daily Message, Mosaic and other crafts, Volunteering

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Before anything, I want to remark how sad it is to watch what happened at the Capitol yesterday.  I cried.  I expect scenes such as those to happen in third world countries, such as my homeland of Brazil.  When it is right here in the US, it is shocking.  I continue to pray for peace and order.  I continue to look for the miracles that are sure to come after so much tragedy.

“I am realistic – I expect miracles.” ― Wayne Dyer

I miss you guys. I feel I have been away for months and it has only been one week 🙂 It is my busiest time of the year at work, with audits and other deadlines. 

On the personal side I am helping a friend with her laundry.  She has more laundry every 2 weeks than my sister and I both combined have for 2 months. And what is up with washing heavy winter sweaters after each single use?  Do people normally do that?  

My washing machine has started to make a funny noise.  I guess it has never seen that much action.  Perhaps I don’t wash my clothes enough.  🙂  ok, ok, I am going to listen to Mother Teresa and stop complaining.

“Give, but give until it hurts.” ― Mother Teresa

The mosaic studio is still not open.  I have not managed to do any mosaics at home.  I am reading through some mosaic books I have, including one I got for Christmas, and coming up with ideas and be ready when it reopens.

The piece below was done at the studio about a month ago.  A friend was throwing out 3 old paintings and offered them to me to use the frames.  I thought they would be perfect to make mosaic on.  I used one for my mother’s gift. The second is below and the third one is still in my mind.

This piece was not going to be a flower.  When I was about to start, I took a second look at the fading flower that was already there and decided to use it as a starting point.  

I am very happy with the result.

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” ― Osho

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” ― Marcus Aurelius

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” ― Rabindranath Tagore

“In the silence of love
you will find the spark of life”
― Rumi

Pamela still lives!

28 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by in Daily Life, Mosaic and other crafts

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“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera

I made a mosaic as a gift for my mom, this one here: https://atomic-temporary-33385295.wpcomstaging.com/2020/12/09/of-saints-and-mothers/

I decided to also make one for my dad so he wouldn’t feel left out.  I chose to make Pamela.  Pamela was a poodle that my parents had for 17 years.  She died about 10 years ago, and to this day they still miss her and talk about her.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ― Anatole France

Pamela was originally my sister’s dog, but later she grew to hate my sister.  My sister tried to discipline her and she didn’t like that.  I also think that she saw my sister as competition for my parent’s attention. 

She was one of a kind.  She believed she was a person.  My parents treated her like a baby.  She was bossy and spoiled.  She always wanted to be patted, but would turn around and bite when she got tired of that.  She was extremely jealous of my parents. 

She died of old age. But to this day, my parents swear, they still can hear Pamela’s paws around the house.

“Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.” ― Mary Bly