Thursday, May 30, 2013

it ain't easy (being green)




Making tiles for a monochromatic mosaic.  Obviously, it will be green, and the working title is, "it ain't easy (being green.)"  I've been having a bit of fun with my signature tiles lately and so far this circuit board has been the most.  Here it is not yet fired so I am hoping to open my kiln tomorrow morning and be very happy.  How do a life saver and a circuit board work together?  Just wait till I add the Buddha face.  You'll see.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

snowy owl





Finished this 16 x 20 inch snowy owl mosaic that has been floating in my brain for a while.  I guess she was waiting for the right person to come along and take her home.  Pretty fab when I get something done and I have a home for it.  Love that.  I have never grouted something more challenging than that owl face.  Oh, and the whole thing is sitting pretty in an Evan Germann frame.  WOOT WOOT or should I say whooo whooo?

Thursday, May 16, 2013

GREAT news


SO FREAKING HAPPY!  We just got physicals this morning and Rob's blood pressure is perfect.  Why is this so exciting?  Well even though Rob is at the gym 6 days a week and he's not overweight, his blood pressure was alarmingly high.  It runs in his fam.  At last year's physical the doctor checked Rob's BP four times because it read so high that the doc didn't believe the numbers.  He told Rob to head straight to the pharmacy, don't even go home first, AND please don't ever forget any pills.  Rob went to a lot of follow up visits to monitor the meds so none of these numbers are flukes.  His meds came with the warning of shitty side effects that all drugs come with.  In a years' time they had only a minor effect on his blood pressure. 
 
So at Christmas we got a vitamixer and started pounding down veggies, while cutting WAY back on meat and dairy.  Three months later, a blood test showed Rob's cholesterol was already down to just a smidge over norm but I bet now it is norm also.  Today it has been about 5 months since we started searching the internet and eating smoothies.  And you know?  I actually LIKE eating them.  Well, after this news, I LOVE eating them.  Hippocrates - "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"  Oh, and since there is a side effect to everything you put in your body or brain, I will tell you there HAS been a side effect to smoothies.  We feel good.  Laughably, Rob is not impressed.  Like what?  This night and day difference in such a short period of time could be a coincidence?  WhatEVER!  I say we kicked genetics in the ass.  Rob's blood pressure meds are so nasty that he has to be weaned off.  After that, we will be thumbing our noses at big pharma.  WOOHOOOO!

OK, so this mosaic is just a happy little 6x6 mosaic I made last week.  "butterfly bling"  I thought it fit my mood.



Thursday, May 2, 2013

Go Tar Heels!




 
What a stellar day.  I finished this work last week and it just got picked up.  This is what I live for and I kind of feel like, "How does it get any better?"  I don't always get to see people's reactions when they buy my work so this goosebump moment is something I treasure.  I gotta say, I LOVE commissions and this one was one of the best.  This one got me a check AND A HUG! 
 
I am not trying to pose as a sports fan.  I don't get sports at all... but for two weeks, I was all about tar heels.  I could have been their biggest fan!  I was searching all over the internet  looking for stuff about the player that was chosen and trying to see details that could be incorporated.  I even sought council from a tar heel aficionado, thanks Ryan!   This commission was fun, the final results pleased me, and pleased my client.  Those three things are all that is necessary for me to call it a flying success.
 
Oh, and am I worried about someone saying I copied their stuff?  Well, I didn't use any logos.  Colors are fair game.  Carolina did not invent argyle or a foot, and a two letter combo would be hard to lay claim to.