Jeanne Selep's Selep Imaging Blog

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Flow Blue Mosaic Mirror

Image 1: Mosaic Mirror

I have loved china since before I picked out a china pattern as a bride many years ago. This strange love would have me window shopping the china sections of department stores for years after I was married, enjoying the many patterns that were out of my price range, and knowing I would have a hard time choosing just one anyway. My everyday tableware? The versatile and hardy "Just White" by Corelle. I used this daily, for over 20 years...

I started collecting china at rummage sales. I would see lone plates and buy them. (I guess I started collecting china for future china hutch displays and table scaping, which I hadn't yet heard of, but at the time I told myself - "Maybe I will use this plate for mosaics." It gave me an excuse to collect china I liked.) I would buy teacups and saucers, even though I don't drink tea. I would buy broken and chipped china and glued together china also, spare saucers without a cup, etc. After a while, I even went to some antique dealers and arranged to buy broken and chipped china that they wouldn't usually sell. These dealers, too, had a hard time throwing out beautiful pieces of china. I got my first pieces of flow blue china as broken plates from an antique dealer.

I made some stepping stones for outside, a couple of trivets, and then I really wanted to use my broken flow blue china, so I made the frame shown. This mosaic frame square is 10.5" wide x 10.5" high, framing a square 3.5" x 3.5" mirror. (Does anyone else recognize this as an IKEA frame?) Even the sides of the frame have mosaic china edging.

Imgae 3: Mosaic Mirror

I may never have china of this caliber to work with again, which is why this is my favorite mosaic creation to date. This mirror is a delight to my eye - eye candy for the wall.

The china pieces in this mosaic frame include:

"Astoria" Flow Blue pattern (one of my favorites)

"Kelvin" Flow blue pattern

3+ different Blue Willow sources.

A Japanese version of blue onion china.

The Astoria and Kelvin china sources were cracked, chipped or damaged to the point of not being salable by the antique dealers who are my source for great china. "Faux flow blue blue willow" patterns were also used. (I like saying that, but my husband doesn't get why that is funny. Is it funny to any of you blog readers?)

No historically important china pieces were harmed in the creation of this frame, which hangs in my bedroom. :)

This type of ceramic mosiac work (using china) is sometimes called Pique Assiette, or picassiette.

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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Click here for an Incredible Mosaic Collection!

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I am linking up to these memes:

Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (I was entry 97 of 312).

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 22 of 53).
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 96 (Entry 25 of 101)

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur 26 (Entry 3).
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 20 (Entry 4 of 75).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (Entry 76 of 234)
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #17 (Entry 41 of 95).

Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 35 of 140).
A La Carte for Finds Friday (Entry 4 of 29).
Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (Entry 14 of 30).

Roses for Show off your Cottage Mon (Entry 63 of 63).
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 104 (Entry 82 of 314+)

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 46 (Entry 62 of 131+).

House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday 35 (Entry 10 of 58+)
Today's Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On 38 (Entry 396)
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday 3 (Entry 100)
Mad in Crafts for Mad Skills 37 (Entry 147)
Sew Much Ado for We Did It Wed 18 (Entry 240)
All Things for All Things Inspired 11 (Entry 45)
All Thingz Related for Anything Related 32 (Entry 139)
Uncommon Slice for Tuesdays Treasures 18 (Entry 58)
The Thrifty Home for Penny Pinching Party 69 (Entry 125)
Someday Crafts for What Ever Goes Wed 48 (Entry 297)
Trendy Treehouse for Creative Share Blog Hop 18 (Entry 149)
Today's Creative blog for Get Your Craft On 38 (Entry 396)
My Backyard Eden for Make It Yours No. 50 (Entry 178)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Panda!

In July of 2006 my husband and I were able to take our children to see the National Zoo in Washington DC. One of the Pandas was active and visible that day, and I got some nice photos.

One of the Panda's even climbed a tree,

went out on a limb,

and slipped down under the branch.

A visitor told me we were lucky to see a panda in action, usually they are hard to see.

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Interior details of the Library of Congress Washington DC by Jeanne Selep Imaging

Panda at the National Zoo, Washington DC

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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Peacock

Washington DC

Bighorn Sheep

I am linking up to these memes:
This is my 11th entry to the meme Scenic Sunday (I was entry 66).
This is my 9th entry to the meme Mosaic Monday (I was entry 43).
This is my 30th entry to Outdoor Wednesday 105 (I was entry 106).

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Angel Window

Angel Stained Glass Window by Marion Grisa

Today I wanted to share my favorite Angel stained glass window. This blue angel window measures about 16 inches by 24 inches and was created in the early 1980's by my husband's mother, Marion Grisa.

Glass Detail

Marion Grisa (1925 - 1986), was a artist in many mediums, including fiber, stained glass, painting and sculpture. I don't actually know how many stained glass windows she made, but she made at least nine stained glass windows for Heritage Presbyterian Church in Muskego, Wisconsin, as well as at least two other smaller windows. The two small windows she gave as gifts, one to her mother and one to her cousin. These small windows have traveled on as family heirlooms, one to my husband, Carl Grisa.

This Christmas I hung the angel window in my living room window for the Christmas season. After the holidays are over, I think I will move the Angel window to somewhere more permanent, probably in the dining room. I'm pretty sure I've decided that this little angel should shine on for more then just the holidays.

(How is this a Metamorphis Monday post? This window was taken out of storage and hasn't hung in the house for years. I was worried the children might break it. I think that counts...)

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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I am linking up to these memes:

Roses for Show off your Cottage Monday (I was entry 45 of 50).
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 102 (Entry 229 of 238).

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 44 (Entry 94 of 123).

House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday 33 (Entry 33 of 44).

Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (I was entry 19 of 291).

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (I was entry 6 of 40).
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 96, (I was entry 3 of 99).

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur 26 (I was entry 3 of 37).
Common Gnd for Vintage Inspiration Fri 19 (I was entry 9 of 66).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (I was entry 9 of 229).
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #15 (I was entry 5 of 112).

Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (I was entry 7 of ?).
A Picture is Worth for 2nd Time Around (I was entry 7 of 10).

Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (I was entry 12 of 33).
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wed 146 (Entry 56).
Creative Country Mom for Christmas In The Country (Entry 56).

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Library of Congress

Image 1: Library of Congress Interior

The Library of Congress in Washington DC, USA is housed in a spectacular building.

Interior of the Library of Congress Washington DC by Jeanne Selep Imaging

Image 2: Library of Congress interior, Washington DC

Beautiful details are everywhere you look - in the mosiacs on the floors, the stained glass on the ceiling, and the wonderful pillars, carvings and paintings on the walls.

Library of Congress ceiling Angels Interior Washington DC

Image 2: Library of Congress ceiling Angels, Washington DC

I enjoy stained glass windows - below is a close-up of one of the stained glass panels from the ceiling.

Library of Congress ceiling stained glass window

Image 4: Stained glass window in the Library of Congress

Mosaic floors are so decorative - the floors here are incredible.

Mosaic floor Library of Congress Washington DC

Image 5: Mosaic floor in the Library of Congress, Washington DC

The Library of Congress is one of the great places to explore in Washington DC. There are so many great sites to see in Washington DC that this building is often missed by tourists on their first visit. If you can find the time - don't miss it.

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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