Wine Tasting for Two
Approximately 16” x 16”
The collectors who commissioned this piece love my Wine Tasting for Two series but wanted something special for them. They especially wanted the heart shaped corkscrew to celebrate their love for each other. They provided some corks from their favorite wines, then chose the rest that were used themselves. They had fun choosing the corks and commented on the fact it made the piece more meaningful to them, since they had input on the elements used.
Leaf Backsplash
I was approached by a collector who wanted a backsplash for her stove but also a piece of art. She chose the leaf pattern and the colors based on the decorating in her house. It was important to her to be able to relocate the mosaic if she wanted to just use it as a piece of art or move. It’s a good thing she made that choice, as she moved a few years later and was able to take the mosaic with her.
Leaf Tray
A neighbor asked me to make this tray for her. We have many mature maple and oak trees in our neighborhood, so she chose those leaves. The tiles creating the border match the accent tiles in her kitchen.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
A collector saw “Take Some More Tea” at my solo show at UW Hospital and purchased it as a gift for her mother. Her mother then commissioned “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” as a gift for her daughter. The size card on the top hat is the collector’s birth date. The pocket watch was her grandfather’s watch. The Scrabble tiles spell out the title of the mosaic as well as a quote from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll.
Mom’s Teapot
Those of us who have lost a loved one know sometimes the simplest things hold the most memories and meaning. A woman brought me the teapot that had belonged to her mother. Her mother was an avid tea drinker, so there were many good memories connected to the teapot. Unfortunately, it had fallen and broken. She brought it to me to see if we could transform it into a piece of art. Our goal was to preserve as much of the design on the side of the teapot as possible. Not only was I able to create a meaningful mosaic for her, but there were also enough pieces to create one for her brother too, so they each got Mom’s teapot.
My Best Friends are Books II
Another reading enthusiast saw “My Best Friends are Books” and wanted one for herself. She saved up for two years! She loved being able to choose her own colors for the books and background. We used an old pair of her glasses. The Scrabble tiles spell out one of her favorite quotes, which is quite appropriate.
Queen of Hearts Fireplace
Epic Systems commissioned me to create the Queen of Hearts fireplace. It is located in the Alice building, at the top of the grand stairs. The fireplace surround covers 14 square feet. It took me several months to complete, working at it full-time. The surround includes: 45 hearts, 31 roses, 2 Cheshire Cat smiles, 2 crowns, 4 Drink Me bottles, 3 keys, 1 teapot, 2 cups & saucers, 4 top hats, and 6 pocket watches. I made the playing cards from fused glass.
Rose Tray
A coworker asked me to revamp an old tray for her. She loves roses and grows them in her yard. The rose petals are made from pink iridescent glass. As the light and angle changes, the colors of the iridescent petals change too.
The Bald CPA
I took my taxes to a new CPA and had to show him pictures of my work. He was so impressed; he commissioned a mosaic of his logo. I used black glass for the head and tie, but the rest of the glass is all mirror glass. The V is a deep purple mirror glass.
To a T
12 3/8” x 14 3/8”
Every year at Spring Green Art Fair, a gentleman would stop in my booth to admire my mosaics. We talked about creating a mosaic for his daughter every time. He decided the time was finally right when she graduated from UW-Madison. The mug reflects her love of music. She is also a writer. He was able to find the perfect teapot. The red background commemorates her history as a Badger. The mosaic fits her to a T.
Wine Tasting for Two III
A collector saw my Wine Tasting for Two series at an art fair in the St. Louis area and fell in love. She had an antique St. Louis Brewing Company corkscrew she wanted to use. Her father and grandfather had worked there. She had some corkscrews from favorite wines that I used in the border.