Well, I 'm back at it!  Finished this house number for my friends Sharon & Mike for their house in Maine.  The house is in Grand Lake Stream, a top notch fly fishing stream, hence the fly.  I scrounged up a fish hook from my husband and incorporated that.  Gave it to them last night.  Makes me very happy to be creating again!

National Violin Day!

In honor of National Violin Day

two seasons to go

let me know

if you have one that does not play,

it will become a work of Art!

 

Upcoming classes for winter/spring 2013

Classes at my Home Studio - 71 Lyndell Road, Downingtown, PA 19335:

Poly-Clay Tile Mosaic Frame
Create clay tiles using poly clay and use them to make a mosaic frame. A variety of stamp designs and finishes will be available for use in creating the tiles and a wooden frame will be supplied. Saturday, February 9, 16 and 23, 9 am to 12 noon. Call 610-942-9327 and leave a message to register or e-mail me at info@piece-of-mind-mosaics.com. Class fee - $95.00.

 

Memory Box Mosaics
Have you been saving your broken knicknacks and dishes? Have you collected coins, buttons, shells, rocks and keys but do not know why? Memoryware is a folk art tradition with roots in African-American and Victorian craft where lost and broken pieces come together to create a unique and beautiful work of personalized art. Students can create sentimental work or deeply personal objects using their collected relics. Students should bring their own personal collection of broken bits and pieces but will also have access to my collection of tile to supplement their designs. Saturday, March 9, 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday, March 16, 9 am - 12 noon. Call 610-942-9327 and leave a message to register or e-mail me at info@piece-of-mind-mosaics.com. Class fee - $95.00

 

 

Classes at ArtFusion 19464 (Formerly Gallery School of Pottstown):

Suncatcher Mosaics
This is a mosaic/stained glass hybrid. Using the direct method of mosaics, create a glass-on-glass suncatcher with soldered edges. First class will be cutting the glass base and stained glass pieces and then gluing the pieces on the base. Second class will continue cutting and gluing. Third class will be grouting and the fourth class will be soldering on a loop and tinning the edges.

4 Wednesdays - March 6, 13, 20 & 27. 6-9 pm first 2 classes, 6-8 pm second 2 classes.
http://artfusion19464.org/

 

Classes at Methacton School District - Arcola Intermediate School, 4001 Eagleville Rd Eagleville, PA 19403:

Beginning Mosaics

Learn the indirect method of mosaics. Choose from provided design patterns or create your own. We will work with vitreous glass, stained glass and mirror. Create an 8 x 10 inch mosaic suitable for framing. First two classes will be learning to cut glass and laying out the pieces on contact paper. Third class will be finishing laying out design and adhering the mosaic to backerboard using thin-set mortar. The last class will be grouting. Materials fee of $40 per student due first night of class and payable to instructor.
Arcola, Room 145, 6 - 9 p.m.
Mondays (4 weeks) Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 25
Cost: $65
www.methacton.org
 

Intermediate Mosaics

Using the direct method of mosaics, create a glass-on-glass suncatcher with soldered edges. First class will be cutting the glass base and stained glass pieces and then gluing the pieces on the base. Second class will continue cutting and gluing. Third class will be grouting and the fourth class will be soldering on a loop and tinning the edges. Materials fee of $40 per student due first night of class and payable to instructor.
Arcola, Room 145 6 - 9 p.m.
Wednesdays (4 weeks) April 3, 10, 17, 24
Cost: $65
www.methacton.org

 

 

Mosaic A Week -Week 12

Finally finished this one...doing Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy for my neck and arm. Mosaics as I had been doing them are pretty much on hold for the rest of the year. But I am contemplating a new style/technique without so much repetitive motion! You just gotta roll with the punches and find creative ways to keep on creating, right?!?

Here's the welcome sign in it's permanent home at Eagle Chiropractic!

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 10

This is actually week 11 but I have been having some repetitive stress issues with my neck and arm. So, I am putting Mosaic A Week on hold and for awhile it will be Mosaic A Whenever I Can Get One Done! Anyway...this one is for my chiropracter, Cynthia Glendenning at Eagle Chiropractic.

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 9

Wind Chime. Thanks to Michelle for suggesting I make a wind chime!

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 8

I can't believe it's been 2 months already!  Here is my own dragonfly design.  Thought I would do my own after the Tiffany one.  The body is a bright sparkly purple which does not show up in this photo.  Sorry...need to work on those photo skills!

Time to seal that grout!

If you have a mosaic that lives outside or anywhere near water, now is the time to seal it.  It's very simple to do and it will extend the life of your mosaic, preventing the grout from cracking.  Any Home Depot, Lowes or hardware store that sells tiles or prepared grout will have a grout sealer.  Silicon is best.  You just sponge it on and then wipe it off the tiles.  It takes little time but the results are worth it!

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 7

Sunflower!  This one shows the terra cotta grout color well.

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 6

This is a Tiffany design.  Isn't it gorgeous?  The design that is!  Suzanne has claimed this one but more can be made....

OUT AND ABOUT - SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER

Restaurant Festival
West Chester, PA. Sunday September 16, 12 - 5:30 pm. Rain date September 23. Piece of Mind Mosaics will be on High Street between Gay and Market. Come on out and see what's new! www.west-chester.com/recreation.php

Maysies Farm Fest
Ludwigs Corner, PA. Saturday September 29, 1 - 11 pm. Rain date September 30. Visit ww.maysiesfarmfest.org for more information.

Stodutburg Bavarian Village Arts & Crafts Festival
Stoudtburg Village - just off Rt. 272 in Adamstown PA. Sunday, October 7, 10 am - 5 pm. Stoudtburg Village is a community of shops and homes modeled after the romantic 17th Century Bavarian village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. www.stoudtburgvillage.com

Spirit Animal Mosaic Class

This is the work of my student at Phoenix Village Art Center, Kristin.  Love the purple border and the shell that came out so boldly.

The turtle is a powerful ally in a 24/7 world.  When you are stressed from texting and e-mailing and driving and meeting and talking every minute of every day, call upon the turtle.  Like taking a vacation in the mountains or by the sea, connecting with the turtle forces us to remember that we live on earth , not online or in our offices,

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 5

This one is for my friend Sharon...she hasn't even seen it yet!  She will need to give me some pointers on photographing mirrors!  Check out her work at Nature's Art Photography - http://www.naturesartphoto.com/.

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 4

OK, so I didn't do this all in one week but I did finish it last week.  Had some help from Deb & Greg and some other folks at Coatesville Area Art Alliance (www.cthreea.org).  The glass  along the edges came from Joel Bless at GlassLight Studios in St. Peters Village.

Memory Box Mosaics

These are the result of the memory box mosaics class last Saturday and yesterday: awesome, aren't they?

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 3

A new approach to frames.  That's just a photo of the violin.  Still loving that millefiori!

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 2

A new kind of suncatcher.  I am liking the sunflowers (and the millefiori)!  Millefiori are the little round pieces in the middle.  The grout in this piece is actually a terracotta color but the sun was so bright it came out looking black.

MOSAIC A WEEK - WEEK 1

Thanks to my friend Margaret for getting me started on birdhouses - that was fun!

FALL CLASSES

Gallery School of Pottstown:

Memory Box Mosaics.  Have you been saving your broken knickknacks and dishes?  Have you collected coins, buttons, shells, rocks and keys but do not know why?  Memoryware is a folk art tradition with roots in African-American and Victorian craft where lost and broken pieces come together to create a unique and beautiful work of personalized art.  Students can create sentimental work or deeply personal objects using their collected relics.  Students should bring their own personal collection of broken bits and pieces but will also have access to my collection of tile to supplement their designs.  Saturday, September 15, 22 & 29– 10am to noon.  www.galleryonhigh.com to register.

Suncatcher Mosaics.  Create a glass-on-glass suncatcher using  stained glass mosaics and solder. , September 15, 22 & 29– 1 pm to 3pm.  www.galleryonhigh.com to register.

Mosaic Ornaments:   Create mosaic ornaments on wood or glass base using stained glass, mirror and vitreous glass.  Saturday, November 3 & 10– 1 pm to 3pm. www.galleryonhigh.com to register.

MOSAIC A WEEK Project:

Starting August 1, I will be initiating the “Mosaic A Week” project where I will be creating and posing a new mosaic every week for 9 months, culminating in an Open House at my home studio in April 2013.  When I first started Piece of Mind Mosaics, I made it a goal to create a mosaic a week for a year.  I did that and it helped me hone my craft and build a good inventory.  This time I am choosing to do it for nine months as a metaphorical Re-Birth.  I am looking forward to seeing where the project will take me and am anticipating new avenues of creativity.  The mosaics will be posted every week on FaceBook and here on my Blog.

September addition to "Out and About"

Piece of Mind Mosaics will also be at the adult student open house at Gallery On High in Pottstown on Saturday, September 8 from 12-2pm.  Amy will be doing a mosaic demo.

Out and About - Late Summer 2012

Piece of Mind Mosaics will be out and about at the following events:

Take Your Mind Off - Art Through Relaxation. Saturday, July 28, 1pm to ? Mosaic Demo at the Coatesville Area Arts Alliance, 120 Reservoir Road, Coatesville, PA !9320. www.cthreea.org.

Lititz Craft Fair. Saturday, August 11, 8am to 4pm. Lititz Springs Park, Main Street and Broad Street in Lititz PA 17543 (Lancaster County Pennsylvania.).

Chester County Has Talent.  Sunday, August 12, 11am to 4 pm. Waterloo Gardens. A celebration of local arts with artist, food vendors and musicians. 200 N. Whitford Rd, Exton, PA 19341.  http://www.waterloogardens.com/event?id=160

Chester County Restaurant Festival.  Sunday, September 16, 12pm to 5:30 pm; Rain Date September 23.  Downtown West Chester, PA.  http://www.west-chester.com/regionalcal.php?z=2&c=&d=2012-09-16&t=d&f=l&p=1&time=1343082473.

Coming up - Fall class schedule and introducing the MOSAIC A WEEK initiative!  Stay tuned!

 

 

**NEW**Class added for August

 

Phoenix Village Art Center, Phoenixville, PA
Spirit Animal Mosaic with Amy Bruckner

Choose a spirit animal and prepare a design approx. 8 x 10. Using an indirect method

(layout entire design on contact paper then transfer to final surface that is spread with

thinset mortar) mosaic pieces of vitreous glass, stained glass and mirror.

$10 material fee

3 Mondays Aug. 6th 6:00 to 9:00 $80.00 non-members $72members

Aug. 13th 6:00 to 9:00

Aug. 20th 6:00 to 8:00 (grouting night)

www.http://phoenixvillageartcenter.org/

July & August Classes

I am offering two new class ideas in July & August at my home studio in Lyndell (5 miles from Downingtown):


**NEW** - Mosaics and Coffee for those who don't have much time! Vitreous glass mosaic class using the indirect method at my home studio. We'll have coffee, cappuccino, latte and make coasters (or house numbers) at the same time! Saturday mornings, 9 am to noon. July 14, 21, and 28. All other materials will be supplied. Class sizes are limited to 3 people, cost is $90.00 per person.

**NEW** - Memory Box Mosaics.  Have you been saving your broken knicknacks and dishes? Have you collected coins, buttons, shells, rocks and keys but do not know why? Memoryware is a folk art tradition with roots in African-American and Victorian craft where lost and broken pieces come together to create a unique and beautiful work of personalized art. Students can create sentimental work or deeply personal objects using their collected relics. Students should bring their own personal collection of broken bits and pieces but will also have access to my collection of tile to supplement their designs.  Saturday, August 18 -  9am to 3pm & Saturday, August 25 - 9am to noon.  All other materials will be supplied. Class sizes are limited to 3 people, cost is $90.00 per person. 

There is some flexibility on the dates, hours of theses classes.  Let me know if you are interested but can't make those dates and we will try to work out a schedule that works.


If you or someone you know is interested in a class, please let me know.  I will also do one-on-one classes on a mutually agreeable schedule.  Please feel free to contact me with questions!  info@piece-of-mind-mosaics.com or (610)942-4856.

Happenings!

May Day Festival of the Arts, Women In Business at Eagle Chiropractic, Occupy Earth....it;s been a busy month!  Yesterday I installed a mosaic for Amy Guskin of Fjordstone Inc. Graphic & Website Design and worked on a garden bench mosaic at Occupy Earth, a happening hosted by Coatesville Area Art Alliance.

Here's a photo of the mosaic for Amy - the sun was behind it so it's not the best shot, here is a shot of it before installation, too.

MAY DAY FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS  -  SATURDAY MAY 6  -  11AM TO 4PM

Come on out to Everhart Park in West Chester (at the west end of Miner Street). 
The weather will be beautiful! 
Piece of Mind Mosaics will be there with some exciting new work. 
Stop by and say hello!  Love to see you!

Daily Local News!

Daily Local News article and video!
From yesterday's Daily Local News:

http://www.dailylocal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=%2Fmisc%2Fvideos%2Flife.pbs

Violin #2 completed; Upcoming show

Appalachian Fall Violin just completed...winter and summer next once I find some more violins!

Come on out on Sunday May 6 to the May Day Festival in West Chester.  I'll be there with my booth.  Everhart Park - 100 South Brandywine Street, West Chester PA 19382.  11am to 4pm.

New Violin in Progress & Classes!

I don't usually post photos of works in progress, but this one may be shown in the Daily Local newspaper this week.  There will be an article coming out Thursday, April 5 about my violins and the Painted Violin project for the Community Music School with photos of me with this violin and the one at the Kimmel Center.  This is the second in a series of Four Seasons on Violins.  Winter and Summer are coming next but I am still in need of another violin or two.  Please contact me if you have an old violin you would like to donate to the cause!  This violin will be on display at Beam's Music in Frazer later this month.

Upcoming Classes:

Flex Class - Found object mosaics using the direct method.  Saturday, April 14 9am - 5pm and Sunday, April 15 9 am - noon or Saturday, April 21 9 am - noon at my home studio near Downingtown.  Bring Found objects you would like to use or if you have an object you would like to use as a base, bring that for the Found Object Mosaic classes. I have an assortment of ceramic tiles and mirrors as well. All other materials will be supplied. Class sizes are limited to 3 people, cost is $125.00 per person. 

**NEW** - Mosaics and Coffee for those who don't have much time!  Vitreous glass mosaic class using the indirect method at my home studio.  We'll have coffee, cappuccino, latte and make coasters (or house numbers) at the same time!  Saturday mornings, 9 am to noon.  July 14, 21, and 28.  All other materials will be supplied. Class sizes are limited to 3 people, cost is $100.00 per person. 

If you or someone you know is interested in a class, please let me know. I will also do one-on-one classes on a mutally agreeable schedule.  Please feel free to contact me with questions!  info@piece-of-mind-mosaics.com or (610) 942-4856.

Gallery School of Pottstown: 

SPIRIT ANIMAL MOSAIC (ages 13-17) with Amy Bruckner

Native American beliefs embrace the idea of animal guides with one totem animal that acts as the main guardian spirit. With this one animal a connection is shared, either through interest in the animal, characteristics, dreams, or other interaction. This animal guide offers power and wisdom to the individual when he or she conveys their respect and trust and are open to learning its lessons. This class will help students identify their spirit animal guide through a series of questions, and then design and create a mosaic with vitreous glass that honors their spirit animal. No previous mosaic experience necessary. There is a $10 material fee per student, payable to the instructor at the first class. SUMMER SESSION begins July 10. Class runs Fridays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm for 4 weeks. $130 (member), $140 (non-member). Visit www.galleryonhigh.orgfor more information and to register.

ADULT SUMMER MOSAICS with Amy Bruckner

Learn the indirect method of creating beautiful mosaics with vitreous glass. Make a 6 inch by 8 inch house number or a set of 4 coasters. Suitable for beginners and for those with some experience as well.There is a $10 materials fee, payable to your instructor at the first class. SUMMER SESSION begins July 24. Class runs Tuesdays for 4 weeks from 10am-1pm. $110 (member), $120 (non-member). Visit www.galleryonhigh.org for more information and to register.

Finally got to visit the violin! The case is tucked back in the corner to the left of the main entrance. The staff there were great and very helpful - they didn't really know much about the violins but they are all on board now!

Visit the Violin at the Kimmel Center!

My mosaic violin made it's way to the main lobby of the Kimmel Center!  Oh happy day!

 

Classes and Pet Memorials!

I just finished this piece - a memorial for the dog that kept me company when I installed my first backsplash!  Higgins was a quiet presence, never a bother.  He was very supportive when I was almost in tears when a million pieces fell off one of the panels as I installed it.  But we got through it together and I learned how not to install a backsplash! 

I've since learned how to install panels so they don't look pieced together and so that pieces don't fall off during the installation - experience, experience, experience!

I love to teach people what I've learned so they don't have to learn the hard way!  

That said, I recently taught a class in my home studio and one of the participants blogged about the class experience.  See her blog on January 30 at www.pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com.

I think it's fair to say a good time was had by all.

I am now offering a series of flex classes that will be 1 and 1/2 days in duration and there will be an option to complete the class in a weekend or on two consecutive Saturdays. Everyone would attend the first Saturday and then could choose to complete the project the next day or the next Saturday. I know it is hard to schedule an entire weekend so hopefully, this will be a good alternative.  Classes will be offered the following dates:

• Series 1 – Found object mosaics using the direct method: Saturday, March 3 - 9am to 5pm AND Sunday, March 4 - 9am to 12 noon OR Saturday, March 10 - 9am to 12 noon.

• Series 2 – Vitreous glass mosaics using the indirect method: Saturday, March 24 - 9am to 5pm AND Sunday, March 25 - 9am to 12 noon OR Saturday, March 31 - 9am to 12 noon.

• Series 3 – Found object mosaics using the direct method: Saturday, April 14 - 9am to 5pm AND Sunday, April 15 - 9am to 12 noon OR Saturday, April 21 - 9am to 12 noon.

Bring Found objects you would like to use or if you have an object you would like to use as a base, bring that for the Found Object Mosaic classes. I have an assortment of ceramic tiles and mirrors as well. All other materials will be supplied.  Class sizes are limited to 3 people, cost is $125.00 per person.  If you or someone you know is interested in a class, please let me know. Please feel free to contact me with questions!

Amy Bruckner

Piece Of Mind Mosaics

info@piece-of-mind-mosaics.com

www.piece-of-mind-mosaics.com

(610) 942-4856