I found this quote the other day in my internet wanderings and immediately copied it and attached it to my studio door. A little reminder to find some time, no let me rephrase that, make some time to let inspiration find me working. My time is so precious, there is just not enough of it and sometimes I feel like I squander it. Oh, I really do need, somehow, to find a way to do it all, all the things I need and want to do.
Right now I’ve got all my bits of ocean tumbled pottery spread out on what little space is left on my studio work table. I’m creating a new mosaic with them. The first mirror I made with them is in a previous post, The Beach Shard Pottery Experiment. The plants are crowding out the work space because I had to move them to the table, so I could put the starter seeds in the window instead, but that’s another story and another place I’ve spent my time.
But I have made some time, put some music on and started to move the bits around to find the right composition. At first, I looked for the odd bits with pattern on them and made them the focus.
Later I realized that I was enjoying the off white bits, the bits that had curves of the plate rims on them and started to see that I could use them as the focus and create an interesting surface with those.
I’m trying to create a sense of movement with these curves.
So there it is, that’s as far as I got. Only a little time and then I went off to help with Easter dinner and make a Rhubarb Cobbler with fresh spring rhubarb from the garden. Delicious, by the way. My mosaic will have to wait for me, but I will get back to it, now that inspiration has found me working.
If you find mosaics intriguing I hope you’ll spend a little time yourself on my posts about my pique assiette mosaics.
Great quote! It reminds me of a book I just finished, “Outliers”…. very good.
I like the quote! I like mosaics. I look forward to seeing your completed project. Have a great week!
Hi Deb, Glad you like mosaics. Now I’ll just have to make time to get it done.
Hi Jenn, It is a good quote isn’t it? I’ll have to check out this book. I should also check to see if Picasso did any mosaics.
Dear Helen, I feel that the mosaic surrounding the mirror will, when complete, be quite beautiful and I was most intrigued to follow the thoughts you have when starting a new project. In this one I do feel that the curves from the plate rims do generate a sense of rhythm and movement.
It is always difficult working in a relatively small space but it does, as a positive outcome, generate discipline. The rhubarb pudding sounds delicious – is it similar to an English crumble?
And yes, the dyed eggs in Hungary are hardboiled ones. The downside is that the colour often seeps through so one is faced with a blue or green egg!!
Hello Edith, It will be interesting to see just how the mirror turns out. I’m happy that you see the rhythm and movement in the pieces. You are right, working in small spaces does make you organize a bit more, although sometimes I do find it frustrating. As for the desert, no, it’s more of a cobbler than a crisp. That is dollops of biscuit dough cooking on top of the rhubarb sauce. Quite good with vanilla ice cream. I’m imagining being faced with a blue or green egg. Not too appetizing. But what a shame to peal off the designs.
Hello Helen, I’ve just started to explore your wonderful blog and plan to be back very soon to look at more of your lovely mosaics! That is a truly inspiring quote and from a very appropriate source for an artist 🙂
Hello Heidi, I’m happy to hear that you have enjoyed my little world of mosaics and will return. I like the quote, sometimes I need a stern reminder to get to work. Who better to hear from than the very prolific artist, Picasso?
Hi Helen,
I’m so glad to have found your blog…I love artsy things, and your mosaic’s are lovely. It’s nice to be able to combine gardening with your art. There are several other garden bloggers who manage to do that, too. I know I will enjoy your creativity! I want to thank you for the fave at Blotanical–especially because it allowed me to find your blog! Have a wonderful spring;-) Jan
Hi Jan, I’m so glad you found my blog too and especially that you like artsy things. I just found your blog the other day and learned about the Earth Day contest you are running for Garden Bloggers. It’s a wonderful idea and you are to be commended for hosting it. And, of course, I’m busy right now creating a post so I can participate too.
Love the quote! Your mirror is going to be beautiful. I wish I were that creative, I’m afraid I would’ve just glued them all on without paying attention to the color or curves. Can’t wait to see the finished mosaic.
Hi Catherine, Glad you like the quote. Actually, I believe strongly that everyone is creative. That thought is the basis for all of my teaching of creativity with mosaics. Your beautiful garden is an example of that, you have used your own innate creativity to arrange and design it. And oddly enough, with mosaics you could have just glued them all on without paying much attention, just doing it intuitively, and it would have turned out beautifully. You’ll have to trust me on that.
Helen, you asked about the flower on my blog, it is a Cinneraria. They love cool weather, and do quite well here in the spring.
I love your mosaic, what is ocean tumbled pottery? Don’t tell me that you found all those lovely pieces on the beach? Is that possible? What finds, no matter where they came from.
Can’t wait to see the finished project.
Did you have that hail storm we did? Knocked down my trellis, and everything.
Jen
Hi Jen, Glad you looked up the other mirror frame made of beach pottery. I wonder if you’ll be able to find any on the beach in White Rock? It’ll be a while before it’s done, as I always say, mosaic is a slow art. We didn’t get hail, but I did think we were going to blow away last night. Kept me awake til 4 AM. BTW thank you so much for the flower name, I’ll see if I can find some here.
Okay, I feel something coming on, not inspiration but the desire to work (or should I say play).
Can I say it again? Thanks Helen.
Hi Mary Lou, Yes, by all means say it again. As for work or play? Oddly enough I read somewhere recently, mental pause has struck again, so I can’t remember where, that artists should refer to what they do as work so that people will respect what they do more. I, on the other hand, tend to agree with Cyndi Lauper, and think that Girls just wanna have fun!
Thanks Helen for leaving a comment at my garden blog. I’m glad you found it educational. I enjoyed this post on mosaics. I have a lot of broken garden pots. I thought of doing something like this.
Hi Jordan, You have a lot of good garden info on your blog. Plus, you did have the name for my mystery plant. Glad you enjoyed the mosaics. Mosaic, I always find looks best out in the garden, glinting in the sun.