Norene's garden...

They say a persons garden reflects their personality and this is so

true of mosaic artist extraordinaire, friend, creative co-hort and all around

Lucy to my Ethel.

The other day I went for a visit and as usual there's always something new

going on down below the house.

But first there was something new by the entrance way...

 Norene loves to create 'rooms' in her gardens and this is the latest, complete with lamp,

chandelier, framed pictures and 'carpets'...

 There's always moss and chicken wire involved somewhere in the garden...

 ...a mirror propped on a hand made easel reflects the lushness of the season...

 A neighbour made this bench out of an old bed frame...

 ...mason jar tea lights for when the sun goes down...

 We built this arbour for her golden hops on a whim one day and it's blended in quite well...

 The peonies are gorgeous right now and HUGE.

 Each one of these is the size of a dinner plate when open!

 mosaic beauty in a birdbath...

 Last winter Norene and Bill took down a few big trees in this space and this year the light

has been a bonus and the foxglove jungle is loving it!

 Up top Norene discovered this bizarre and mutant foxglove flower..

 I've never seen anything like it. It's like 3 flowers grew as one and it's the size of a large tulip flower!

 Crazy hey?

And as always, Norene is always creating something with her cache of dishes.

This is one of the latest fun projects she made for the garden...

Always a treat to visit!

 

 



remember "L" ?

Yesterday my friend and creative cohort Norene (mosaic artist extraordinaire)

came by with a lingering birthday gift.

I love spreading things out like this...might as well milk it for all you've got right?

When you see a finished product try to look past it's ending and into it's beginnings.

Long hours collecting just the right pebbles.

Learning to use a different method than the one you're used to.

Transferring the design from a thought to a paper.

Transferring a design from a paper to mesh.

Cutting and hammering hundreds of pieces of tile and rock.

Placing your medium in just the right spot.

Changing your mind and starting all over again.

Grouting, grouting and more grouting.

Wiping grout, polishing stones and marble.

Giving up one of your masterpieces as a gift.

Now, as you give it to your friend, you hope she will catch the significance of the design.

Being joyful that she's old enough to remember her Roman numerals.

Anyone else old enough to remember "L"?

And look at all those lovely Celtic knots?!
Like crowns...fit for a Queen!

Go pop over  here for a peek into what else Norene's been up to...

Cheers my dear!

Breaking yet more dishes...

All this week during the Sooke Fine Arts Show , my friend

and mosaic artist extraordinaire Norene Schmuck, is volunteering her time, talent, efforts 

and pounds upon pounds of broken dishes, to create a community based art project.

It will soon grace the front of the public restrooms in Ed McGregor park in Sooke.

A HUGE improvement over the ugly, cement walls which stand there now.

There are even pieces of crockery found on the beach below the park, included in the design.

It is two large panels which depicts people playing music and painting in the park.

People are stopping by from near and far to contribute...

Here's local Hardware guy, Bob, adding his piece...

And from Redding, Northern California, we have Vicki...

She's a real life firefighter on a well deserved holiday celebrating

a significant birthday...

Let's just say her trip is 50 days long...

Local yoga teacher Elise, her kids and mom Sylvia 

got in on the action as well...

My niece Stephanie, is helping with a ladies orange and yellow dress...

 All week long people of all sorts are coming by, admiring and getting giddy

with the fact they they will be a part of this gorgeous piece of public art.

It's part of the 25th anniversary of the art show.

(by the way, that's the work of my boss Karen and co-worker Claire...floral design Queens!)

So if you're in the area, come on down, have a look at some truly FINE art

and break a dish or two while you're there!