Breathing Your Work

"I am focused on the work. I am constantly creating. I am a

 busy girl. I live and breathe my work. I love what I do. I 

believe in the message. There's no stopping. I didn't create

 the fame, the fame created me." 

— Lady Gaga

I am so blessed to be constantly creating in my work and art,  thus at the end of the work day I don't often have the energy or breath to blog.

(I say "every work day" because I create every day whether at the studio/salon or at home where I often work on my commission projects). This is my excuse for not having a blog entry for…months?

In my brain is one continuous blog entry complete with pictures, but unfortunately not with written instructions. Living with this ongoing vision board  is  exhilarating and exhausting and often leaves me a bit twitchy after a long day, especially one filled with constant client dialog. 

The point is that while I have the talent to write, I find it one of the more exhausting creative endeavors.

After many long days at a very productive studio it is easier to share bits of information and pictures on the famous social media site (which must not be named) where most of my family, friends and clients see and share my activities. 

Wow, that was the longest most drawn out excuse for not blogging you have probably ever seen.

Here is what has been keeping me too busy to blog about it…

A Work of Art Studio Christmas in Lakeview 2013

2013 Christmas in Lakeview proved another successful crafty day at A Work of Art Studio & Salon. On Saturday, December 7 there were over fifty willing crafty elves of all ages and their adults taking a turn to create a felted snowman pin. 

Most of the elves were determined “do-it-yourselfers”, some even pushing their adult’s hands away when trying to assist in gluing, mainly the two year old artists.

This particular elf was heard to say, “Oh...no it's broken mommy.”.. But the master elf told him it was only melting.

There was a bit of contention among a few elves who fondly remembered making gumdrop trees at past Studio workshops. “Noted”, said the master elf. 

Much thanks to all those who visited the workshop to create a work of art and especially to Santa’s helpers Debbie Lake and Jackie Bissonette for ordering enough snow to play with.

Pay attention to 

www.lakeviewtimes.com for future notices of upcoming kids art classes.

This is the commission mosaic I have been working on mostly nights and weekends at home (after a full day at the salon) where I can focus without client interuptus. It is based on the client's memory of a family vacation in Wyoming. She sent me several pictures of her trip which I interpreted in my drawing. This is a direct installation on boards which will be attached behind her kitchen stove.
It pays to get pictures of your work out there. This client found a picture of my last custom mosaic on Pinterest.

Which can be seen here: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/162622236516303496/

I will be loading my mosaic process in pictures (easiest way to blog) when this is complete.

Imagine my genuine surprise at two wonderful friends' interest in adding antiques to the shop atmosphere. Not really, I suggested the idea to them. It has been a bit slow but word of mouth takes time, right?


The apples were plentiful this year and I took advantage of harvesting from my own backyard tree for the first time. This sink's worth alone provided about 6 bags of chopped and 4 bags of cooked applesauce. This took up about two weekends of wrist strength (before I started my mosaic commission).

 My husband worked on two different weeks of vacation to take down our shed in the backyard (it was collapsing anyway). We now have a lovely sitting area that faces the back of our house. I noticed the brick wall was pretty bare and so designed and mostly finished this metal bottle cap sculpture of a sunflower. Mostly because the mosaic commission beckoned. Oh well, Spring is 6 months away.

 Making homemade toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda, tea tree oil and white oak bark.

And a few classes in the studio…..
Ongoing mosaic class
Jewelry making bracelet class
stained glass
Jigsawing  trees for a Costume jewelry Christmas tree class

And a two weekender: Halloween. I created my son and friend's medieval knight costumes on black t-shirts with red duct tape and cardboard painted and duct taped logo. The cool castle in the background is a border I installed in my son's bedroom years ago. It was the perfect backdrop for their costumes.


Is that enough of an excuse to not blog?
It was for me. Also been preparing for:
 Coming in April at A Work of Art Studio:
The Amazing Martin Cheek- world renown mosaic artist is coming to teach a weekend mosaic workshop. Check out his work at:
http://www.martincheek.co.uk

Peace be with you all, and happy breathing whilst you create. Molly

Busyness

"Wherever I am, the world comes after me.

It offers me its busyness. It does not believe

that I do not want it. Now I understand

why the old poets of China went so far and high

into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist."
— Mary Oliver

Where have I been, you may ask? Well...

Running the salon is my "full-time" job which takes the biggest portion of my time. Pedicures with essential oils, up do's...

My oldest daughter was a Senior in high school this year and so...

Do the math... Here we are getting ready for prom.

My great friend and neighbor, Jack Johnson, took some great prom pictures of the kids. Check it out and many of his other amazing pictures at: http://jackbjohnsonstudio.com/emily_prom2012/index.html.

The next adventure was attending my niece's wedding in Florida. The reception was at my sister's beautiful house in St. Cloud.

This is a custom mosaic I made for this niche with a mirror over the table and vase of hydrangeas. It looks great hanging over the "Mickey Mantle".

Of course, I had the pleasure of doing the wedding hair and doing a final floral decorative touch on this groomsman cake from my sister's magnolia tree in the front yard.

These are the resident Sand Hill Cranes that grace the yard. They have no qualms about taking bread from your hands.

These are some mosaics I had done for MarySue and her husband, John that they have decorating their house.

Even in May, Florida was in need of rain. Lake Toho where they live is so low, their dock is surrounded by grass. But one can still enjoy the breath taking sunsets.

Next was Senior Stuff!  Emily receiving scholarships at Senior Award's Ceremony, and wearing an awesome velcro suit before flinging herself at a velcro wall on Senior Lock-in night at the high school.

And in between our sedate life in Lakeview we attended my father-in-law's funeral in New Jersey. What a beautiful bunch of Perusse's there to honor a great man. We also visited Grandma and Auntie's mausoleum in Fort Lee.

One can't be in Fort Lee and pass up visiting the actual "Fort", which is right next to the George Washington Bridge.

Back in Michigan Emily received her cap and gown, which, unfortunately didn't come with ironing instructions. Did you know that they melt under high heat? Would have been nice to know ahead of time. Ah well, I sewed it together and none knew.

She used her beautiful voice to sing at her Baccalaureate. 

 Graduation Day!!!

So proud of my Sweetie!

In the meantime at the shop, I finished a prodded rag rug, check that out here: http://aworkofartstudio.blogspot.com/2012/06/rag-rug-to-finish.html. And I started a Sculptural Mosaic Class which will need its own post, to come later.

Next was Emily's graduation party which I held at my shop. It has great accommodations and attracted a great crowd. Thanks, everyone who came and supported us!

Amazing how quickly they get taller than Grandma.

One of my clients introduced me to this sweet Boston terrier who was lost the weekend of the party. I helped to post a lost message and picture on Facebook and her owner quickly found her:)

Back to the Hair! Here is Marchelle who needed a smart "do" for her American Idol audition. Unfortunately, she didn't make it, but I think she has a most excellent voice and has a beautiful spirit and will go far in life in whatever she chooses. Great job, Marchelle!

 Now here is my sculptural mosaic flower that I have started in the class. I have since completely covered it in plaster gauze and it is ready for a layer of cement before I start adding mosaic bits.

 It has been such a hot, humid summer here in Michigan and we had a few storms last week that took several trees down in our area. This is just one of the about 8 that went down right on our property line into this woods. I did wish for more light in my garden, guess I need to be more careful what I wish for?

Meeting Tiny Tim @Isla Morada in the Keys.

Actually, this was around 1987; just thought it was a fun add.

My next post will be about the Sculptural Mosaic Class taking place at the shop right now. So much fun and creativity, the students are surprising themselves with their genius:)