Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone

Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone

Mosaics are an attempt to make something beautiful out of the broken pieces of something else.  Maybe that's why I am avidly pursing mosaics at this time.  It's a metaphor.  Does anyone else out there want to create some loveliness in spite of the mess they around them?


Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Stepping Stone Close up

I made this project about a year ago as a sort of memorial to an exquisite plate I had just purchased at an antique show that was NOT destined for mosaics AT ALL.

The plate broke as I was washing it.  :( 

I SO wish I had been more careful.


Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Stepping Stone Detail

The plate was an art nouveau style plate, entirely hand painted (I think) on a white background.  The design featured stylized pink flowers, fern-like greenery, and lots of gold swirls and embellishments, and a thick gold edge on the scalloped rim.  Everything about the plate was lovely.

The plate is vaguely the circle with the white background.


Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Stepping Stone Center Detail

I tried to "preserve" the plate in this stepping stone.  But the plate was far more elegant, with the fern fronds connecting in an elegant pattern, not laid out in my frankly clumsy layout.

Clumsy layout? - There were 5 flowers evenly spaced on the plate, and I used a 6 sided hexagon stepping stone.  The stepping stone was too small to allow the plate to fit in, so I squished the five flowers in and had to get rid of portions of the original design.  Also I didn't really manage to center the white circle, and the yellow center is a strange shape. I used the hexagon because that's what I had access to, but that is an excuse - I could have waited and poured or bought a larger round. 


Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Stepping Side view

So why share this mini-disaster at all?  I'm sharing it for several reasons.  

Reason 1 - It cheers me when I look at it.  Despite it's many problems, when I see it as I'm letting the dog out, or bringing the groceries in, I see the lovely colors, the flowers and a bit of a sparkle, and even on a dreary day it looks bright. 

Reason 2 - Of the stepping stones I've made, this one is my favorite.  I don't even let it get rained on, (or stepped on!).  The stepping stone stays under the eave on my front entryway landing.

Reason 3 - The results allow me to enjoy the present as opposed to forgetting or dwelling on the past.  
Making lemons into lemonade, so to speak.

Reason 4 - I think beginners can be encouraged when they see results that are less then perfect.  Unless you look at it (or photograph it) from straight overhead you don't realize the magnitude of the clumsy layout, or that symmetry wasn't achieved.  Or perhaps, I ended up liking my own creations better because of the effort and time I spent on it.  I wouldn't buy this stepping stone had someone else created it, but I cherish my result.

Reason 5 - I am getting better at mosaics, and I enjoy documenting the progress.


Picassiette Mosaic Stepping Stone
Mosaic Stepping Stone Edge Detail

The stepping stone was the first project I used the green border on. The second project is a table (edge detail below) that I shared here.


mosaic detail
Mosaic Garden Table Edge Detail


And on to the real world - Wow.  I feel horrible for those in California and the West Coast affected by fires.  So many houses destroyed in some of the photos I've seen.  Down South has people affected by hurricanes and flooding.  The entire country is reeling from the impact of the pandemic, even if they don't know anyone who has had it.  Two of my college students have had their college experience impacted - I'm grateful they had multiple years of normal college before this.  Jobs have been affected in my family.  Family and friends have had riot experiences.  Life is not normal.  Should we even be trying to post normal life posts?  Is it ignoring the pain to post something trivial?  

I think people want to get back to jobs, colleges, schools, churches, etc. and to experience some portion of the "normal" that has been missing this year.  I know I want to.  So I am posting a possibly trivial post to focus a little less on the many negative things going on, and to carve out a tiny area of "normal" in these strange times.  But I guess I feel I have to explain that I'm aware, I care, and I'm typing this at midnight because I'm not sleeping particularly great anyway, and because I enjoy the many other posts on the more trivial but more normal experiences that I find in the blog parties and blogging world I follow.   Go fellow bloggers go!

There is something therapeutic about combining the shattered pieces available to you and seeing something lovely emerge.  Make something beautiful out of the world around you, if you can.  And if you can't at the moment, I pray that you will find yourself in better circumstances soon.  


Stay sane and healthy, 
and do what you can to help others!
I hope you and yours are healthy and well. 



Click on the images to see them enlarged.



If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

hutch display
Mosaic Collection - All Posts!



If you want to explore more, you might also enjoy...

Heart Window
Mixed Media 2
Button Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pour






















 



 

 

I am linking up to these parties:

Create with Joy: Inspire me 455 Sun a (m Entry 28 of 187.)
My Random: Anything Goes 256 (Entry 48 of 79.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 17 of 32.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 44x of 61x.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry 38 of 127.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 3p (l Entry 11 of 127.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 340 Mon 7p (l Entry 28 of 117.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 32 of 40.)
Poinsettiadr: Classy Flamingos 123 Tu 6p (l Entry 14x of 35x.)
A Moment with Franca: #KCACOLS (Entry 22 of 28.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 65 of 83.)
Keepingitrreal: Really crafty 235 (Entry 50 of 70.)
Love my cottage: Little Cottage 71 (l Entry x of 102x.)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 133 Tue 8a (Entry 14 of 55.)
Thistlekeylane: Tue Turn About 69 5p (s Entry 7 of 158.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tue Turn About (s Entry 7 of 158.)
Creatively Beth: Creative Crafts 12 Wed 9a (s Entry 4)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 185 Tue 8a (m Entry 11 of 41.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed 38 (m Entry 40 of 201.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tue wi a twist 389 9a (l Entry 13 of 52.)
Lets Add Sprinkles: Keep in Touch 172 Tue 4p (m Entry 8)
Gingersnap crafts:Wow me 475 Tue 7p (Entry 14x of 112x.)
Girlish Whims: Whims 479 Tue 8:50p (Entry 20 of 108.)
Applestreetcottage: Party-in-your-pjs 329 (Entry 20 of 112.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 405 Wed (l Entry x of 134x.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry Wed)
Imparting grace: Grace at home 397 (Entry 11 of 155.)
Artsy mama: Artsy party 312 Th 7a (Entry 36 of 137.)
Slices Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 36 of 128.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Fav Things Th 7a (Entry 47
of 229.)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 47
of 229.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 47 of 229.)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty Th 4p (Entry 66 of 95.)
Kathleen: Bloggers Pit Stop 241 Th 8p (L Entry 7 of 94.)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 212 (Entry 75 of 83.)
The Painted Hinge: Farmhouse Friday 174 (L Entry 23 of  61.)
Firemanswife: Fri at the Fire Station 186 (m Entry 9 of 54.)
Ohmyheartsiegirl: Wonderful Wed 227 Party (s Entry 101 of 202.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry 19 of 84.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Th 8a (L Entry 52 of  115.)
Shabby art boutique: Create-gather 439 (L Entry 9x of 117x.)
Busy Being Jennifer: Fri Favorites 73 (m Entry 22 of 76.)
Our mini family: Our mini party 298 (s Entry x of 79x.)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged 547 Fri (Entry 4 of 20.)
** Eye Love Knots: Snicker Doodle 355 Sat 4pm (m Entry 2 of 146.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 437 Sat 9a (m Entry 3 of 90.)
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (s Entry x?)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies 379 Sun 6a (m Entry 52 of 117.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry sun)
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky Sun 6am (Entry 7 of 18.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 54 of 172.)
Faeries and Fauna: Waste not Wed 198 (l Entry x)
Two Chicks: Funtastic Thur 300 8p (i Entry 7 of 25.)
Also Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 7 of 25.)
Franca: Keep Calm and Carry On (Entry 22 of 28.) 
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 342 Mon 7p (l Entry 50 of 127.)


406851

24 comments:

Isabel para ALROMASAR said...

That broken plate was a wonderful start for this beautiful mosaic!
It's a spectacular work of art, Jeanne.
You have all my admiration.🤗
Hugs from Spain

Michele Morin said...

The beautiful from the broken! Certainly this is the pattern of our lives...

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanne, I love the beautiful mosaic stepping stone!

Joanne said...

This is so beautiful! What a great use of a broken plate. Pinned.

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

How pretty!

Leanne said...

I think it looks lovely - almost too pretty to walk on!

Pam said...

It is absolutely beautiful, and I love your reasons for sharing it. Have you shared this at the Thursday Favorite Things link party? If not, I hope you will! (It's open for links through Saturday at my blog.) I have always wanted to try doing a mosaic, but I've been a little scared to. You have inspired me.

Pam said...

I just saw that you have already shared it at the TFT party - I should have checked first! I'm so glad you did, it's beautiful.

Reidland Family said...

It didn't look clumsy to me. It looks very nice.

Beth Watson said...

Gorgeous upcycle!! I'd love for you to share over at our weekly Wednesday Creative Crafts Linky Party
https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-9-join-in-the-fun/
Have a great week!
Creatively, Beth

Linda said...

Beautiful, I just love mosaics.

Shelbee on the Edge said...

This is an absolutely stunning piece of artwork. What a bummer that your new plate broke, but what a beautiful way to preserve it after the fact. Creating mosaic from broken bits reminds me of the Japanese art of kintsugi where cracked pottery is repaired with gold. The philosophy is that the more cracks and the more gold filling, the more beautiful the pieces become. It is a philosophy that I apply to life as well. And I think it works for mosaics, too. We should all treasure the beauty in our broken bits! Thanks for linking with me!

Shelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com

Annette, 3 Little Buttons said...

I think it's beautiful!! It's wonderful to be able to create something from another thing that has broken. The combination of the colours are just my cup of tea and I could just picture a series of these leading up to an afternoon tea table in the garden. Thank you for joining us for the #DreamTeamLinky

Lauren S said...

So what if it's not perfect; it's perfectly lovely! I've been wanting to try my hand at doing mosaics.

Veronica Lee said...

WOW! I absolutely love the beautiful mosaic stepping stone!

Happy Thursday!

Pallavi Ashish said...

beautiful work

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

I'm sure the plate was very beautiful, but I have to tell you, I adore that mosaic stepping stone. The mix of colours and designs is just beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring your beautiful mosaic stepping stone at tomorrow's party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne

NCSue said...

Very pretty - this would be a nice addition to ANY garden!
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2020/10/snow-in-september.html

loopyloulaura said...

I think this mosaic is so beautiful and I would not have spotted any mistakes. A lovely way to make something wonderful from broken pieces, a great metaphor for life! Thanks for linking up with #dreamteamlinky

Create With Joy said...

What a beautiful mosaic and a beautiful post about your creative process!
Thanks for sharing it at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy.
I'm thrilled to feature you this week! :-)

Helen Copson said...

This is so pretty. You must have so much patience! #KCACOLS

Karren Haller said...

Oh my goodness, the stones are amazing, I love the colors and the designs.
Thank you for sharing on omhgww, be sure to stop by this week to share again.
Have a great week!
Karren

Sensational Learning with Penguin said...

I think it's really lovely that you've preserved the plate like this, rather than throwing the broken pieces away, and it looks great! I also love the metaphorical concept. Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS! I hope you come back again next time x

Rachel Day (ChildrenofWanderlust) said...

What a great idea. So creative. #kcacols