SLATE & STONE
WS 450 The Sunflower
Bold and Beautiful. The sunflower is actually one of natures most intricate mosaics - with hundreds of tiny flowers posing close together, making up the big picture. Up close, you can see the individual delicate flowers. Step back and it visually transforms into one giant yellow flower.
Hand cut slate, natural stone, smalti glass, recycled textiles. 9”x9” framed
WS451 When You Peel Back All the Layers…
…you reveal things you might not expect to see. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not. If they are not
good, change it. You have all the power inside you.
Slate, natural stone, smalti glass, miliflora
WS438 Bella Bella
Natural, locally sourced stone, hand cut slate, glass and upcycled tile.
Natural fabric background, framed.
WS461 Squirrely
“Ever come across a squirrel that cannot make up its mind about which direction to take?
This piece reminds me to slow down, think things through and make an educated decision before doing something crazy. It may save you in the end. “
Hand cut slate & smalti glass
WS 439 Opposites Attract
Contrasting colors really can work well together in harmony… in all aspects of life.
Framed, yellow/blue smalti glass, natural stone & slate, upcycled textiles, glass beads, miliflora
WS454 Be the Moss of Your Life
This art piece represents the lovely mossy growth found in nearly every dark, moist outdoor area. This tiny little plant
packs a wallop! Requiring little to no maintenance, purifying our air, requiring little attention or resources to sustain itself.
Be the moss of your life. Simplify. Require less. Receive more.
Framed, natural slate & hand foraged stone, upcycled textiles, smalti glass, tile.
DRIFTWOOD ART
Gettin’ Sassy
Nature At Work
Sea Anemone
Each clay flower petal was individually handcrafted, shaped with care to create intricate, texturized detail. Other blossoms designed from cut shells and glass beads- shells
that have been case ashore, gathered up and given new purpose. Once discarded, now reclaimed, they become beautiful and meaningful again. All of these elements were arranged with intention, coming together in a composition deeply satisfying to the human eye.
My patience was called upon to create this unique piece. With so many materials, textures and techniques woven together, it has become a work that truly speaks to me. There are six flowers in this composition, each brought to life through a different material and method. Fine English bone china, eposy sculpt, shells, everyday china fragments and stone. These tiny pieces are paired with natural tree bark and weathered construction remnants- rusty nails, washers and other foraged materials, each adding unexpected depth and character.
A sea anemone is like a flower that decided to come alive. Its body waits quietly on the sea floor, rooted like a stem, while its tentacle arms unfurl in a graceful circle as delicate as soft petals. They sway with the water, drifting in slow, hypnotic motions that seem effortless, almost ornamental. Yet each movement has purpose. Those feathery arms extend outward with subtle intention, sensing the faintest touch. They reach out as though simply stretching toward sunlight, but they are listening, waiting, ready. In their calm display lies a silent power. This is what I see in this piece.
Individually crafted flowers, one petal at a time using clay, china, repurposed textiles, natural moss, buttons. So much going on here.
MOSAIC WALL ART
W404 Beach Flamingo
21”x17” Rich texture. Glass, upcycled tile.
W403 Lotus Flower
Custom designed, hand cut mosaic tile & glass, approx. 15” diameter, Wall hanging mount on back. This item is also available for sale.
M307 Pretty Flowers
Repurposed tile, glass, 10”x10”. Center mirror area 4”x4”
W421 One World Zen Medallion
Over 635 hand cut pieces make up this beautiful round medallion. Look close, six international coins are embedded into the outer edges exemplifying our ability to
cohabitate in peace with one another on this planet. With no beginning or end, no one is any better, higher or more powerful than anyone else. We should all strive for this…
M324 “Jungle Tropics” Mirror
Stained glass, hand blown glass beads, repurposed tile
10”x10”, center mirror area 4”x4”
COMMUNITY PROJECTS & TRAVEL/
HONDURAS BIRDING TRIP
Guatemala
In 2019, 2020 & 2022 I participated in community mosaic projects in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, hosted by professional artist Cynthia Fisher of Big Bang Mosaics, Shelburne Falls, MA. The purpose of the projects was to help improve the economic situation and boost tourism in an impoverished village by turning it into an art/mosaic sightseeing destination. It was here that I learned the technique of creating and installing large outdoor mosaic murals. In reality, I learned so much more than that. The Atitlan area is comprised of 95% indigenous families, who are warm, loving and humble people. This was the moment that I actually put the shoe on the other foot and walked a mile (or 50) in their shoes. Using my love of creative expression for someone else’s benefit was truly humbling and incredibly rewarding.
Community mosaic project in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. Organized and led by Cynthia Fisher of Big Bang Mosaics. Many hands make great art!
Honduras Birding Trip
Walk a mile in my shoes… or sixty.
I was recently offered a unique opportunity to participate in an 11-day birding expedition throughout the entire western half of Honduras in Central America. Interesting, right? Not exactly being a “birder” except for what flies through my backyard, I accepted this gracious offer, loaded up my binoculars, rain gear because it happens to be the rainy season there, and a whole check-in bag full of shorts, tank tops and yes, I am embarrassed to say, my blow dryer. I wore almost none of it. What do I know? Not much apparently.
Lesson #1- pack light. When you are done packing, remove 50% more of it. I ended up wearing the same zip off convertible pants (thank goodness I bought two pair) which I purchased the day before, 4 days in a row along with a few other calf length, quick dry pants which I tossed into my supersized luggage at the last minute. The mosquitoes loved those the best. My bare ankles became their next easy meal. Now, I thought I would be respectful of the jungle and equipped myself with “natural” insect repellent. It didn’t work! Lesson #2- Deet is your friend!
I continued to endure throughout the trip, day after day. We climbed, hiked, sloshed, froze and forged ahead all in an effort to find as many Honduran birds as we could. I was a bit of a weak link I’m afraid, not knowing the
difference between a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and a Great Horned Owl. My ego began to get the best of me. I became greatly aware of my birding deficits. My group excitedly announced their sightings with great expertise. An Ovenbird, a Worm-eating Warbler, a Purple Crowned Fairy (hummingbird). When I saw a bird all I could announce was “I see a bird.” Embarrassing!
All this being said, this was absolutely the most exciting and rewarding trip I have ever taken. There’s something very humbling about learning to laugh at your deficits, wearing the same dirty pants 4-5 days in a row and not caring, realizing you don’t need a blow dryer to be beautiful, and the mud…. Mud puts everyone on the same level.
Now, I want to talk about the birds. So many birds! They are gorgeous and abundant. I became child-like at my first Scarlet Macaw sighting. Most stunning bird I have ever seen. This was followed by the Keel-billed Toucan, the Motmot and the Lovely Cotinga. Then there was the ever so tiny Violet Sabrewing hummingbird. The bird sighting list climbed to well over 264 species by the end of our trip. I was hooked! Thank you Gregg Severson and Kellie Hoyt from Birding With Gregg.com for opening my eyes to another world outside my comfort zone.
Now about those birds… Here are some of the highlights from my trip. Soon you will see my
interpretation of these birds in the form of Mosaic Art.
