Wired Heart Cage

Yes... it's been some time, but the truth is I have enjoyed
the serenity of just doing and being in the moment, none
of which has included blogging, however it doesn't mean
that I haven't thought of YOU- my fellow blogging artists.
Actually, I think of you often and hope that each and
everyone of you are doing well and finding peace in
this holiday season.

For a while now I have felt my heart in a stranglehold, a bit
lost, not my usual self perhaps this is what has inspired my
wired heart cage. It holds a myriad of game pieces, some
beach glass which I have stamped with a dragonfly, a toy
compass, a found rock upon which I have inscribed the word
"listen", a found coin token, a broken seashell. I used bailing
wire, copper wire, and silver wire to create the enclosure
and a vintage skeleton key.

I believe the message in this piece is significant for this time
in my life. I'm in the midst of some sort of change, new
direction and that there are still missing pieces to be found.
The key is to listen closely and pay attention.

I must say it was really challenging trying to stabilize these
little game pieces while wire wrapping but I really did enjoy
the process. The finished piece is about 4" x 5".

My next intention was to create a base for this heart, some
sort of background. I started to work this mosaic and I had
the idea of making the part where the heart would be
placed to be only mirrored pieces so that it would allow
for the heart to stand out and the small game pieces would
be reflected back into the mirror.

Nope, nadda, no good. It was not the right idea. Too busy.
Now I'm not quite sure how I will finish this mosaic but
I am certain of the next move for my heart.

I do appreciate your patience and kind words while I've
been away. My daily full time job has been busy and
mentally draining these past few weeks.

I'm hopeful that the New Year will induce a new
creative spirit and a little more peace into my daily
existence and YOURS.

One thing I know for sure is that I've learned not to worry
about what comes next. It's a grand adventure and I'm
along for the ride. Thank you for joining me.

My other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

Polymer Mosaic Mirror

I've been working on a myriad of fun projects. This one in
particular is a polymer mosaic hanging mirror. It was made
as a gift. The persons' names are actually on two of the
tiles but have been blurred out for this post to not spoil the
surprise should they visit. You can click to enlarge.



The finished piece measures 14" in diameter. The finished
clay pieces were adhered with Weldbond glue.
Most of the clay pieces have been painted with PearlEx
powdered pigments. I have also incorporated bits of
ephemera, glass beads and assorted commercial glass and
ceramic tile.


Here are some close-ups. Your embellishments should
be able to take the heat. Glass and metal are good.


Small glass seed beads in Diamond glaze are used to fill
space left over.

You can attach smaller Polymer elements with liquid Polymer
prior to baking. Here you can see the commercial tile
incorporated and also the brighter handpainted while
tiles.

I also wanted you to see this piece its beginning stage (below)
so you could see the polymer tiles before they were
embellished and baked.

Working in the round was a real challenge. I first had this
idea for a sun/mandala and then decided to incorporate a
mirror. I decided to use a vinyl record album as the base.
First I textured the album with AcrylPro tile adhesive so I
could insure the tiles would have an acceptable surface. I
then spray painted both sides with a matte silver spray paint.

The few colored tiles you see were hand painted on baked
white polymer clay. Your hand painted color will always be
more lively on the white clay than on a colored or metallic
clay. You can click on picture to enlarge.

At this stage, the clay has been rolled to about 1/8" thickness,
stamped or textured and I'm cutting pieces and trying to
decide their placement until all spots are filled. Once I have
the design in place I remove all the tile pieces and then begin
the process of painting and embellishing. The tiles are then
baked following the recommended time on the clay package.
I've used Premo and SculpeyII for this project. I also use a
thermometer in my toaster oven to determine the real
temperature. I have found that temperatures are not as true
as the dial. (I don't use my toaster oven for food once I've
used it for clay)

If you haven't seen my first polymer mosaic you can see
it posted here and here.

Thank-you for your visits and kind words!

Thought for today:
"Take care that the face that looks out from the mirror in the
morning is a pleasant face. You may not see it again during
the day, but others will"

My other blogspot: "The Way I See It"

Escape

8 x 8 mixed media polymer mosaic

My completed polymer clay mosaic, ready to hang. My previous post shows the pieces I had created for completing this project. It took me a bit longer than I had hoped, but more importantly I enjoyed the process. It was an escape, a detour if you will, from my usual creative path. There is a kind of mindfulness that takes place when trying to decide what pieces will go where. It was a relaxing and meditative process until... you find that you have an area that needs a tile which has yet to be created. I need to stockpile tiles. Incorporated in the final piece are commercial glass/stone tiles and beads.

This was my first mosaic.

Thought for today: "Hiding places there are innumerable, escape is only one, but possibilities of escape, again, are as many as hiding places. "- Franz Kafka

Perhaps we all need to find an escape, a diversion from our normal routine, a change of pace.

Thank you for your kind words and visits. Do stop by "The Way I See It" my other blogspot.