Sunday, June 21, 2020

Blue and White Mosaic Ball

I hope this bowling ball bowls you over!

Picassiette Mosaic Bowling Ball
Mosaic Bowling Ball View 1
I have repurposed several bowling balls over the years, using mosaic techniques to decorate them with broken pieces of vintage china.

Mosaic Bowling Ball View 2
Mosaic Bowling Ball View 2
My blue and white bowling ball was my first attempt.  Every summer for over five years it has decorated my lawn.

Garden Art Bowling Ball
Garden Art Bowling Ball
Time is taking it's toll, and it is now falling apart, so I am sharing these photos as I motivate myself to repair it.

Picassiette Mosaic Bowling Ball
Mosaic Bowling Ball View 3

Mosaic-ing a 3d sphere takes a lot more time then you think it should.  The surface area of a sphere is basically 4 times the area of a circle with the same diameter.  So a flat stepping stone with the same diameter as a sphere uses only 1/4 the amount of material, and dramatically less time.  

Picassiette Mosaic Bowling Ball
Mosaic Bowling Ball details
But the ball is worth repairing, to me.  I had some badly damaged flow blue china pieces, and I don't get that kind of material often.  (I didn't use good flow blue china - I collect and cherish those!) (Actually - I even cherish broken bits of china...)


Mosaic notes: I "roughed up" the bowling ball with sandpaper before I started gluing the china to it. On this bowling ball project I used mastic to glue the china pieces to the bowling ball, which is one of the reasons it is falling apart now. I now know that mastic doesn't hold up outside. I now use clear silicon caulk to glue the china pieces down, and then I grout with sanded grout over the china - Sanded grout is better for outside mosaics. And I seal the grout of any project that is going to be outside with grout sealer after the project is done. I bring the bowling balls inside once there will be frost or snow outside, but I have other projects (a bird bath, and a table) that stay outside year round. 

 

Mosaic bird pair by Jeanne Selep
The birds are named!  Fortune and Cookie were made from China (in the US)

In a previous post on my mosaic birds, I asked for suggestions on naming my birds.  From reader input, Fortune and Cookie are what I named the two birds. They are made from china... 

Once again, stay sane and healthy, 
and do what you can to help others!
I hope you and yours are all healthy and well. 



Click on the images to see them enlarged.




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I am linking up to these parties:

*Franca: Keep Calm and Carry On (h Entry 18 of 37.)
Life+Linda: Dishing Digging it 50 Sun 3p (l Entry 60 of 121.)
3 little buttons: Dream Team Sun 6am (h Entry 15 of 20.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 26 of 161.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Mon 440 (m Entry 46 of 183.)
My Random: Anything Goes 242 (Entry 6 of 52.)
Good Random Fun: Random Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 28 of 32.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry x of 48x)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry 53 of 89.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 3p (l Entry 27 of 113.)
Loulougirls: Fab Party 325 Mon 7p (l Entry 22 of 121.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 43 of 52.)
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 108 Tue (l Entry 10x of 32x.)
Mersad photography: Through my Lens (Entry 14 of 34.)
Our World Tues: Our World (Entry 42 of 68.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 39)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry )
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made Tue 8a (Entry 20 of 38)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 23)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 3)
Jesh studio: All Seasons Sun (Entry 19)
Thistlekeylane: Tue Turn About 54 5p (s Entry 1 of 153.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tue Turn About (s Entry 1 of 153.)
Lindas lunacy: Make-home 170 Tue (m Entry 7 of 38)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed (m Entry 17r of 185)
Stonecottage: Tuesday w a Twist 374 (l Entry 25 of 37)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch Tue 4p (m Entry )
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 460 Tue 7p (Entry x)
Girlish Whims: Whims 465 Tues 8:50p (Entry 15)
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs 314 (Entry 19)
Faeries+Fauna: Waste not Wed 211 (l Entry 16x)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 390 Wed (l Entry x)
Chas creations: Gmas house 189 Wed 4p (m Entry 64)
French Ethereal: Share Style 261 Wed 6p (Entry 16 of 42)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 298 Th 7a (Entry 19)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 56)
Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 17)
Also Eclectic Barn: Th Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 17)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 17)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 229 Th 4p (Entry 84)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 227 Th 8p (L Entry 13)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 6 of 45)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 200 (Entry 83)
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Friday 160 (L Entry 9)
Firemanswife: Fri at the fire station 172 (m Entry 23)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Friday Feature Party (s Entry skip)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of joe (L Entry 42)
Shabby art boutique: Create-bake-grow-gather 425 (L Entry 24x)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 86 (m Entry 52)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Th 8a (L Entry skip)
Our mini family: Our mini party 284 (s Entry x)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged 533 Fri (Entry 17 of 27.)      I was featured here!
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle 341 Sat 5pm (m Entry 81)
Pams Party: Dare to share 423 Sat (m Entry 27)
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (s Entry x?)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies 365 Sun 6a (m Entry 45)



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30 comments:

Claire Justine said...

Love this, it is so creative :)

Hannah and the Twiglets said...

This is so pretty - what a clever idea! :) #KCACOLS

Karen said...

How creative! I love it.

Powell River Books said...

My parents were so artistic. I took a class with my mother where we did mosaics with broken auto windshield safety glass if I remember correctly. It was painted different colours and the pieces made a fun lamp shade. - Margy

Shelley (Wander & Luxe) said...

This is such a great idea - I've never seen anything like it. I'm sure my parents would love one in their garden. #DreamTeamLinky

Boma said...

The creations are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Many blessings to you!

Peabea Scribbles said...

What a lovely, unique idea. Yes, it did bowl me over. :) Beautiful

Michele Morin said...

This is so clever!

Veronica Lee said...

How pretty! Yes, I am bowled over!

betty-NZ said...

That is something I would never, in a million years, ever think to do! How creative and lovely. Now get those repairs rolling :)

I'm glad you are a part of 'My Corner of the World' this week! Thanks for linking up.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

how fun!

NCSue said...

Very cool!
Thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/06/bath-time.html

MyDIY said...

Cool garden art!
like it.
many greetings

Tanza Erlambang said...

excellent idea...love it

Jo (So Nostalgic) said...

What a brilliant project. Love the colours of the china used. #KCACOLS

Allyson said...

This is a wonderful idea for garden art! I wouldn't have thought about using a bowling ball. I'll have to keep that in mind if I see any balls at a thrift store!

The Invisible Insomniac said...

wow so unique and pretty!

emma me and b said...

Wow this is so pretty and impressive. We've made mosaics but only ever from paper!

Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time!

the 4 M's said...

This is really beautiful: I have never seen anything like it!
www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

Lydia C. Lee said...

THat's gorgeous! #KCACOLS

Chas' Crazy Creations said...

I have done some mosaic flower pots and your bowling ball is amazing! Great job and thank you for sharing.

Shelbee on the Edge said...

This is absolutely stunning and so creative! I never would have thought to repurpose a bowling bowl but this is absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing your beautiful work and creativity and linking up with me.

Shelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com

Linda said...

What a gorgeous mosaic bowling ball. I just got my gazing ball out today. Love all your other mosaics.

Ann said...

Blue is my favorite color and your bowling ball caught my eye! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's, you are being featured on my blog Tuesday evening.

Melynda@Scratch Made Food! said...

Lovely! Mosaic Garden Art is one of my featured posts on this week's Encouraging Hearts and Home Link up and Blog Hop. Stop by and say hello! Pinned.

French Ethereal said...

Love, love, LOVE your upcycled bowling balls!!! What a fun project... I have a TON of broken china saved and I did use some back about 8-10 years ago when I had surgery on my foot (bad plantar fasciitis) to make roofs/rooves for little birdhouses. They turned out great and I made them custom for each of my friends in the tea group I was in. I think we sold my old bowling ball... But, if not!!! :D

Happy 4th to you! Happy to feature your post at Share Your Style #262 this week,
Hugs,
Barb :)

emma me and b said...

Wow this is so pretty and impressive. We've made mosaics but only ever from paper!

Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time!

Rachel Day (ChildrenofWanderlust) said...

Really pretty. Great creative skills

A Moment With Franca said...

Wow, these are gorgeous! You are very creative! I haven't seen anything like that before! Thanks for sharing your post with us at #kcacols.
PS: Thank you for your comments within the linkup but I have noticed you have missed the hashtag. Would it be possible to add it next time you join us, please? TIA x

Donna via Funky Junk Interiors said...

Fine china on a bowling ball... now that's one epic juxtaposition! This is really gorgeous and such a cool way to hold onto something special that may have broken along the way...

Thanks for bringing this to DIY Salvaged Junk Projects... featured it in 534 this weekend!