Miss Royale

Allow me to introduce 'Miss Royale'. She is made of china, seafoam green tiles and white jade beads. After creating 'Miss Soleil' this summer (blue and white china with yellow tile), I have been interested in working with more contrasting colors. While this seafoam green is not a splashy color, it is not white or ivory!

The china has little dainty flowers in pink, yellow and blue with green leaves. The edge of the china is an ivory and the inside is pure white. 'Miss Royale' is currently available from

E.S. Lawrence Gallery in Aspen, CO.

Miss Victoria 2

Introducing 'Miss Victoria 2'. Miss Victoria is 22 inches tall and 12 inches wide at the bottom of her skirt. She is created out of Syracuse China pattern Victoria. You may recall that 'Miss Avalon' was also created out of Syracuse China. I really, really like their china. I did some research this past summer to find out about purchasing their china direct from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, Syracuse China was sold a few years ago and the patterns are no longer in production. When we vacation in Upstate NY, I do often times come across Syracuse China. Now I feel a little more guilty breaking this china, knowing that it is no longer being made!

The shape of this china is Federal, meaning that it has sort of a fluted edge with a gold rim. I hesitated to call her 'Miss Victoria 2' as I have already done a 'Miss Victoria', but since it was the name of the china pattern and it is also in pinks, as in the original 'Miss Victoria', it seemed appropriate.

I love the rose detail on this piece, it is a beautiful, rich, deep pink. 'Miss Victoria 2' is heading over to E.S. Lawrence Gallery in Aspen later this week.

And then there were 5.....

Several months ago, a client contacted me about using her mother's china in a sculpture for herself and her sister-in-law.  I completed two sculptures using the china.  Fortunately, when these two pieces were complete, there was still enough china to create 3 more smaller sculptures!  I have just now finished these and they are with the shipper off to their new homes.  These will be gifted to my client's daughter and her 2 nieces.  What a wonderful way to remember someone special.





Kodak Theater Stairway in Smalti.....

On a recent trip to Los Angeles, we had the opportunity to visit Hollywood.  We were complete tourists and did all the things tourists do.  The kids put their hands in the hand prints at Grahmen's Chinese Theater, we took photos of the famous Hollywood sign and we visited the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards are handed out.  How appropriate that the stairs leading to the theater are created in red smalti- just like the red carpet!  Mixed in with the red smalti are gold pieces, as in Oscar's favorite color.  What a wonderful way to commemorate the highest honor in acting with the best tile in the world!  So beautiful.... 

Commission Completed 2

This piece is the second commission sculpture I completed for a client using her mother's china.  You can scroll down inside this blog to see photographs of the first piece.  I love how the two are completely different, yet, using the same materials.  In this piece I used 2 rows of glass beads at the neckline, I have never done this before.  I like the effect and will likely use this idea again.   Let me know what you think about the two pieces and how I used the china.......

Commission Completed

I was so excited to be contacted in June by a client to create two sculptures using her mother's china.  The china had been passed down to my client and she wanted to commemorate her mother by creating a sculpture.  She generously also commissioned a second sculpture for her sister-in-law.  The challenge for me was to create two unique pieces using the same materials.  The china was mostly white with 2-3 pink roses per plate.  The stems of the roses are in a gray/black.  We agreed from the beginning that I would use pink or white beads at the neckline, however, when I was working with the china, I suggested we consider using black faceted glass beads.  The client agreed and now you see the result.  I am thrilled- there are so many things that I like about this piece.  I am delighted with how it turned out and hope that the piece will serve as a beautiful reminder to the client of her mother.

Mosaics Restoration in Italy

A wonderful website and daily email has been introduced to me by my dear friend and ardent supporter, Peggy Corrao.  When you sign up for the daily email, a treat arrives in your 'in' box each morning with something wonderful from Italy.  Today's email is a short article about an incredible mosaic restoration project currently taking place at a Villa in Sicily.  Click on the link below for the article and more pictures. 

Link to Italian Notebook Website