It's that time of year again

Every year around the solstice I begin making these little amulet figures. I'm not really sure why, maybe it's like making soup something to warm the soul? These are just a few of many...

Looking forward to the return of the sun

Going on an adventure

I am off on an adventure, unlike anything I have ever done before...

I will only be gone for three days but I know it will seem like forever... Both for good and bad.

I hope to have something constructive, interesting or insightful to say upon my return.

Or at least maybe I will make some interesting art?

I made these two pieces seperately yet I like them together, I was just playing.... So I don't know what they are about yet..

My/OUR new home!

After nearly nine years at 595 Snelling Ave. my shop Mosaic on a Stick is getting a new- old home.The new site is only one block north and east of my current location, 1564 Lafond Ave. The Building was built by Cap Wiginton more on Cap here in 1938. It has been a very long process- far longer then I ever thought it would be. Still we are not there yet -the floors have been stipped and soon cleaned and polished.Walls to be torn down and new ones put up fresh coats of colorful paint applied.... Lots to do. We move in on Saturday!!!

So many memories have happened here many pieces of art created and wonderful people have shared their stories and their hearts with all of us.

I received a letter from an old friend of the stick with this beautiful bead she made you can see her web site here

The hardest part has been the packing of all my art supplies- I can hardly bare to be away from them for a minute, but of course I have plenty to do!

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH! 
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!   
thanks to Dr.Seuss

deflecter shields ON

Not to worry this wonder woman (? ) is protected!

I gave myself 10 minutes to play yesterday to relieve the stress of mountains of paperwork. Sneak peek soon to come.

que milagro!

I am waiting again- for lots to begin... lots!!! (maybe I should pack?)
plus its a snow day! which means play day- super quiet at my shop not much traffic on the roads...

I have been obsessed with milagros for a long time, both the power of them- these tiny objects having the power to cure pains etc and the look of them. I am trying to make my own again. These are mostly of glass frit poured into fiber paper molds and fired in my kiln.

Inside Out

I just wanted to play around with pattern and texture...

180 degrees

I am so grateful to my good friends who helped me with the installation this past weekend (Angie, Greta, Lorin, Tara, Charlene and Louise it would not have happened with out you all!) it was a blustery 40 plus degrees and lots of work.  It was an honor to be asked to create a mosaic mural for 180 degrees this is some of what they do- Since 2001, 180 Degrees, Inc. has contracted with Ramsey County to provide juvenile probation case management services. Ramsey County recognized the need for specialized services for juveniles who face multiple barriers. Under the umbrella of Ramsey County Human Services, case managers work with juveniles placed on probation through the Juvenile Court. Case managers report the progress of a youth directly with the juvenile court. The goal is to provide community-based services that will address the needs of these juveniles and reduce placement.

Case Managers work with any juvenile placed on probation involved in a Human Services program such as Child Protection or Children’s Mental Health. Case Managers work closely with other Human Services workers to develop a plan that ensures clients will be successful in the community. At the same time, Case Managers are responsible for holding juveniles accountable if he/she fails to follow through with programming in the community.

Process

Weeks and weeks of process this is what I live for!

I am so excited about the great projects I have right now, I feel so lucky and so honored to get to play.
If you look closely you will see the mistake I made here, I will be tearing out and rebuilding something, do you see it? Thanks to one of my dear friends for pointing it out!

self portrait

I was looking at the paintings of Barkley Hendricks from his exhibition
Birth of the Cool. I love the power that these figures hold. I wanted to make a piece about power real or imagined.

I have always been a big fan of altar pieces which are also power pieces as well as prayer pieces.

what resulted was this...

Self portrait of the artist as a Bad Ass....

kids and community

I had the pleasure of spending most of this perfect day outdoors installing a mosaic at Maxfield Elementary school. It was sponsored by my new friend Nettie and her non profit Nettie and Friends. It was designed by children and created by everyone we had kids from 5 - 65 work on this project and it is very special! I am so happy to have been invited to be a part of it. Here are some photos after installation but before grouting.
Tomorrow is grouting day I would love help! ;)

Thinking and drawing

I am doing a lot of sketching right now of a piece I am going to do with children for the Saint Paul library which got me looking at some older work. This one is about my daughters, I was never very satisfied with the way it came out but I like it better from afar, I find I like my work better in photos then in real life I am not sure why this is and I am not sure that it's a good thing either. I am a pretty harsh critic of my own work but I find distance often helps my feelings towards a piece.

Save yourself

I am not certain about the title of this piece... It's been brewing in my head for a few months and I had about a week to work on it. It's been a month of paperwork for me and little else. Tomorrow I begin series of 10
commissioned pieces. I have been looking at a lot of paintings and drawing lately, some how wishing I could capture that painterliness in my mosaic.