One of the famous Liberty Print fabrics Last Sunday we went to one of our local ‘beauty spots’ that we go to lots. Merton Abbey Mills is a lovely permanent market near the river Wandle, based on the site of an old (now buried) ancient abbey and also the place where William Morris (founder of […] Read more...
Making mosaic suncatchers
This is a lovely toddler mosaic method we have tried out that has produced a beautiful suncatcher. Like the other mosaics in this series, it easy for little toddlers as well as slightly older children to do. You will need: a picture frame with glass (not perspex as it will flex and the nuggets may […] Read more...
Make seashell mosaics with easy clay ‘push’ method
This project involves replicating the idea of cement adhesive to push mosaic pieces (tesserae) into. Instead of using cement, we used air drying clay (‘das‘). You will need some air drying clay and ‘tesserae‘ of your choice. Isabella used shells and beads, but you can use a wide range of things – for a list […] Read more...
Passing it on
Friends kept asking me to run a workshop to teach them how to mosaic – this is something I have thought about doing and the request focused my mind and helped me turn the thought into action! Two weeks into the workshops (nice small class due to size of my workshop)and I am watching, quite […] Read more...
Creative Evenings
For the last few months, several local mums and I have met in my workshop to sit and ‘make’ together. Everyone just brings something that they want to work with – paints, paper, canvases, needlework, beads, mosaic… we have done all of these. Vicky, our neighbour and friend, has re-discovered her creative talents and has […] Read more...
Pre-schooler mosaic stars finished!
Some of you have been following the ‘Mosaics with Children’ series I started a few weeks ago. There will be more to come in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here’s a pic of the mosaic stars that I helped a bunch of toddlers make at their pre-school (which is a little Montessori […] Read more...
Face painting
There will be radio silence for the next week as off on holiday (to the British seaside, God help us! Macks, wellies and windbreak are packed!) Here’s a parting creative snapshot of the kids doing face painting – this activity absorbed them like two little cherubs for over half an hour of serious concentration. First […] Read more...
Slow progress
Back home and so happy to see the kids and Neil. Lots of hugging especially from Toby who jumped all over me! Very very wonderful. On the mosaic front, frustrating but fruitful. As I lay in bed last night I had the idea of repeating a similar swirly shape in the top right of the […] Read more...
Mosaic School Day Three
End of day three Can you see what I did today? I added a whole line of vermiculatum round two elements of my image. I am following the new rules of thumb – which includes doing one outline at a time (so tomorrow will start the third floaty leg you see!) and if I carry […] Read more...
Making mosaics with children – mosaic in a frame!
Activity Four A technique discovered by Isabella last week as she made a mosaic for her Godmother, Charlotte, to take with her back to Sri Lanka! Start with a blank picture frame. Remove the back so that you can see through the glass. Pour a thick-ish layer of PVA (white craft) glue into the frame […] Read more...