auld lang syne

Ringing in the New Year, wishing
everyone all the best in 2011!

new student work

These are two of my students work from the recent Beginning Smalti class at Minnetonka Center from the Arts. The class was 8 weeks long and we met for 3 hours each week. I think they did a fabulous job!

it's done!!!!

The "Little Mountain Get-Away" is done and ready for delivery!

india in a photo

I recently returned from India. What an incredible trip!!!
For me, this photo sums it all up.

wip 6

wip 5

student show at minnetonka center for the arts

When I'm not working in the studio on the "Little Mountain Get-Away", I'm teaching at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Right now, there's a small show of some of my students work. The artists are (from left to right): Meg Eakins, Barb Steen, Janine Irisarri and Sherry Sivo. I'm so proud of them!!!

a little mountain get-away - WIP 2

a little mountain get-away

This is the beginnings for a kitchen back splash.

crane project

This WIP the first of a 3-part project for a residential bathroom. The crane will be framed and hung on a wall at the end of a bathtub. The two other panels will be marshy grass, mounted on the front of the tub.

butterflies for children

I had the great pleasure of working with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade children of Class E at Lake Country School. They created this amazing butterfly wall hanging that will serve two purposes. One, it will be an auction item (yep, another one) for the Lake Country School annual event and two, a photo of the piece will go to Holocaust Museum Houston to be a part of the butterfly collection that will commemorate the 1.5 million children who were lost. To see more about The Butterfly Project in Houston, go to http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml

another auction item

Up for auction at my children's high school annual fund-raiser

my boychick

"My boychick" is a mosaic portrait of my son. The inspiration is from a photograph taken of him when he was 5 (he's now 17).

auction item for the plymouth playhouse

The Plymouth Playhouse is an innovative theater in Minneapolis. As part of their auction in April, the have taken a door that was once used in a production at the theater, cut it into 32 different shapes and then passed these shapes out to various artists in the Twin Cities. I was one of the lucky artists to receive one. The task was to create something that reflected the idea of transformation. With that in mind, I created a story called, The Rose and the Ginko. Here's the very short story: The Rose, robust, full of beauty and love, glorious in it's full bloom. The bloom, having spent each day embracing the sun, sharing it's fragrance and vibrancy, wilts and withers in the dusk of day. No longer the vibrant bloom, the rose transforms and awakens as the Ginko - filled with the quiet wisdom of peace, love and hope; sharing endlessly with all who hold the Rose in their heart. All of the various pieces will be reassembled back into the door and presented as an auction item at the event on April 19. I can't wait to see all of the different pieces of art assembled together!

teaching at Minnetonka Center for the Arts

Oh, I'm having so much fun teaching a mosaic class using smalti at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. The class is every Tuesday from 9 -12 and the group of women couldn't be better - talented and fun to work with. I'll post pictures of their fabulous mosaics next week.

december 23

The SAMA (Society of American Mosaic Artists) convention is coming up. It's a very exciting gathering of mosaic artist from all over the country. One event at the convention is The Salon, which is a mini auction of mosaics created specifically for this event. This is my entry. It's called: December 23.

the tuscan backsplash is done!!!

The Tuscan Landscape is done and ready for delivery. I can't wait to see it installed in the niche!

article in the American Jewish World

I'm very excited! I just found out today that there is an article in the arts section of the American Jewish World about my exhibit at the St. Paul JCC. Here's the link: http://www.ajwnews.com/archives/4757#more-4757. Thanks to everyone who has been instrumental in making all of this happen.

tuscan landscape backsplash - almost done

The Tuscan Backsplash is moving along.

julie's dream come true

For seven years, Julie has wanted a lively backsplash in her kitchen. The red is a perfect accent to her colored walls and bright art. Together we created this backsplash using "Lava Pebbles" from Smalti.com and "Cinnamon Pennyrounds" from MarylandMosaics.com

Finished and ready to grout - Class at JCC

I had the great pleasure of working with a wonderful group at the St. Paul JCC, teaching a beginning mosaic class. Almost everyone finished their piece in the 4 short hours we had to make a 10" x 10" mosaic. Next week we'll grout.
Here's April's "Fish"
Sophie's "Woman"
Paula's "GreenMan" and Anne's "Range"
Betty's "Sunflower"
Jeffrey's "Five"
Lori's "Bird"

Mosaic Class at the St. Paul JCC

Here's the class, busy creating using stained glass.

WIP - tuscan landscape backsplash

I'm so fortunate to have such great clients! I'm at the beginning stages of this piece. It will be inset into a niche behind the stove and is made out of stone and smalti.

the JCC show is up

This is piece number 13 out of 13 (my lucky number) and it is called "Opening".
The "History of Mosaics" presentation was last night at the JCC. It was the opening event for the mosaic show. I was so happily overwhelmed by the wonderful turn-out of people - a packed house. Thank you to all who weathered the cold and came to the opening!!!
The mosaic show is up at the St. Paul JCC and will run through Februry. This is the left half of it.