Speak the Language of the Flowers

"Once I spoke the language of the flowers, 

                                                             Once I understood each word the caterpillar said, 

Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings, 

And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed.

 Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets,

 And joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow,

 Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . . How did it go? How did it go?" 

                                                           — Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends)

I've been working on mosaic flowers this weekend; trying to speak their language.

I'd like to think I am succeeding, once they are all completed I will work out

the background color (which is tickling my imagination as I glance at these pix).

I will finish all the flowers before I even contemplate too much on the background.

You'll just have to wait and see, just like me;)

I am toying with the idea of arranging to install this myself, this would really put  me more at ease, even though the trip will be to upstate New York. I will work more on this idea (and on my husband who will drive me) when I am closer to finishing. Stay tuned for more updates...

In the meantime, don't forget to stop and admire the flowers, even if they are mosaic, and have a safe and happy Labor Day. I will be laboring over a mosaic with happiness.  Peace.

Strange Flora & Fauna

Sorry I have been out of the blog country for a while, busy working on this commission and generally working full time at the salon, etc. And looking up quotes too;) 

"There is at the back of every artist’s mind something like a pattern and a type of architecture. The original quality in any man of imagination is imagery. It is a thing like the landscape of his dreams; the sort of world he would like to make or in which he would like to wander, the strange flora and fauna, his own secret planet, the sort of thing he likes to think about. This general atmosphere, and pattern or a structure of growth, governs all his creations, however varied." 

— G.K. Chesterton

Or.... you could just appreciate the little critters and want to copy them somehow.

I do love me some flora and fauna.

Here is the start of the fauna in my commission mosaic:

                           This is the panel behind the client's stove. Must have male and female cardinal. I have a chickadee in this panel and the second little buddy is in the center panel; I have never seen just one chickadee, dee, dee, always two together.

 This is the start of the far left panel behind the client's sink. A luna moth and a hummingbird for starters.

This weekend I will be choosing the flora colors and background glass for the rest. These individual pieces are taking quite some time because they are each so, uh, individual. I have decided the rest will go more quickly since it is all pretty much related in pattern and color.

Thanks for sharing this journey with me.  And have a nice day. Don't forget to smell the flora and appreciate the fauna.