Mosaic Mom

I spent the morning unloading the car. After class last night, I kind of threw everything in a heap in the trunk. Had to sort it all out.

Then I assembled supplies for next week. Some students have requested colors I don't have. I hope they like the substitutes I can come up with. I'll be headed to Dollar Tree for some figurines to break apart, too, maybe.

Then this afternoon, I wandered out to the garden. The plants would be dead if it were not for PlantDaddy keeping up with the watering. I've been spending too much time in the studio and not paying enough time to horticulture.

The peas are awesome. We are getting more green beans. The cauliflower looks good but no signs of heading yet. Lots of tomatoes since there has been no freeze. And the eggplants are blooming!

It was really pleasant. No bugs today. Good temperature.
Later walked around to see if the fox squirrels were around but saw them yesterday but not today.

I have died and gone to Heaven. This mosaics class is the greatest group of people ever. They are so enthusiastic! I love mosaics and I love people who love mosaics!

They are FAST! Man, I was not that fast as a beginner. I was horribly slow. Oh heck, I AM Still horribly slow. They are speedy and good. No pinched fingers. No one cut on tile edges. All the mistakes I made, they aren't making. They are going for it!

It looks as if most of them will get 2 projects done. I'd better head out to Home Depot for more supplies. It's a good thing. I'll get the herbs (Oregano and Basil) to take over to DiFiore's while I'm there.

No time to snap pictures. The evening flew. It was 5:30 then it was 7:40!

I am so totally happy.Will write more about happy mosaic class tomorrow!

Car's all loaded and I'm ready to go teach mosaics class tomorrow.

Bought some tile nippers at the Home Depot today. Plant Daddy helped me put little jewels on them as name tags. Cute!

Can you believe I made this 4 years ago?!!!

A couple of folks in my writers group have said I should write more personal stories, so in the last 2 days I wrote one.

It's all about my 8th grade English class and why I never wrote fiction again after the humiliation I suffered that fateful afternoon in April 1965.

It's crap.

I mean technically it's excellent, but who buys stories about adolescent angst?
I just don't get it. Or maybe I just don't get it YET.

I'm market oriented. There! that's something personal about me. I'm practical and mercenary and I can't spell.

I get another colcoscopy tomorrow. I ain't happy about this but they got me on a short leash with the synthroid perscription. Grrr.

The phone still doesn't work. Sprint is bogus.

The mosaic bunny slipper turned out good tho.

And PlantDaddy has come up with a shopping cart for the NAHS club art kids to mosaic for the homecoming parade!What would I do without my PlantDaddy (Love Rays!!)

Do we think that Sprint actually showed up as scheduled and fixed the phone line today?
Oh Hell No!

However, the lady from the county office did sprint over here with the class roster. Looks like I have 13 wonderful new students for mosaics.Yay!

Suzy has 17 for watercolor, so 30 students in all. It'll be a crowded room, but fun.

We decided no music since we are so crowded, and she likes country western while I'm currently listening to rock alternative. WOuld you have guessed THAT!?!

If you take a magnet and the base is metal and...

If you are going to apply glass, stained glass, Bissazza, smalti, all glass and not tile or ceramic etc, then...

Instead of Mastik, use silicon adhesive for the adhesive.

Clean the base and prime with Automotive Primer...purchase at Discount Auto or Pep Boys.

You may need a color coat too. The base color comes through the glass and affects the appearance. Use automotive spray paint.

Then apply tesserae with silicon adhesive. Any brand is ok. You'll need the paint thinner to clean up, tho.

Go to Lowe's and get a tub of this stuff. Mapai Type 1 Mastic. This is your adhesive.
It will work on any ceramic or metal surface that the lamp is made out of.

Some call it Mappy,,,as in I'm a lookin at the mappy, but we still is lost-y.

Some call it Ma Pie...as in I et all my pie and I want some more.

Some call it Ma Pay ...as in I done the job now I want my pay.

Don't ask, just get this brand.

Sandpaper the surface. This will remove paint chips as shown here. Or if the base is metallic or a glazed ceramic, it will rough the surface for a better grip.

This assumes that you will be applying tile, ceramics, plates, found objects, etc.

Once upon a time there was a little nursery.

This little nursery specialized in raising tender seedlings.
The old nurseryman collected diverse and novel types of seeds. Each had its own characteristics and needs. Each had unique germination requirements and growth habits.

But the nurseryman was a kindly soul. He patiently waited for each seedling to develop for he knew that a unique and beautiful flower could be the result if he grew a new variety successfully.

One day new management took over the little seedling nursery. The new management did not know the difference between starting seeds and pruning oaks. They only focused on the bottom line.

Right from the start the new managers threw a rule book on the table and said.”All plants in this nursery must conform to the rules. This is a production nursery now. Let the pruning begin”

They began to pour on the fertilizer and prune heavily.

The little tender plantlets that might have developed could not stand up to fierce production pressures. They withered. Some died.

Plants that might have changed the world never had a chance.

The End.

There's a song that says...

Gonna put my tender
Heart in a blender
Watch it go around to a beautiful oblivion.
One more time through and
I'm through with you.


Perhaps this describes my writers group which starated out as a group of writing friends but has evolved into a classroom where we get unsolicited advice which makes me feel stupid, worthless and unwelcome.

The key word being unsolicited.

Sprint sent a man out on Wednesday who said he could not solve the problem but that he would send someone who could.
No one appeared.
I called in another repair request on Friday. Today another man appeared. He said he could not fix the problem but he would send someone who could.

Do we think anyone will ever show up and fix the phone?

That's Sprint, folks,,,SPRINT!

Please pardon the loud buzzing on the line when you call. Also the internet speed is back down in the 20's.

My registration form for Coverings Tile Trade Show arrived today in a postal body bag. Well, at least it arrived.

Suzy's watercolor class closed at maximum registration today. Now both of us can go supply shopping this weekend.

I am setting myself up for a tedious, detailed grout job...but the little carrots are CUTE!

Lake County Community Education has just phoned to say that the Mosaic class is full.Yay! We have 12 students so we are off and running....literally, I will be running to Home Depot and Lowe's and MasterTile and Goodwill...Bye! Bye! Zoom Zoom!

Sprint sent a service person out today for phone repair. Three hours after he left, the problem started again. I live on a stinking third world system with Sprint...then they had the gall to call and ask if they could be my high speed provider. Why would I hire them for more if they can't keep what they have repaired?

I spent most of the afternoon designing andemento exercises for students and writing up a shopping list for supplies.

The Mosaic Bunny Slipper Shoe is going along nicely. Had a hard time with the small carrot patch tho, but think I solved it.

It's cold again...Yay! I was just recalling one January when I was having a hot flash. The swimming pool water temperature was 58 degrees! It felt great! Hot flash hell. Telephone Hell Grrrr!

Had a nice jog on the treadmill to work things out then fixed Stroganoff meatballs for St. PlantDaddy.

For those of you who don't recognize that phrase, it was the last communication to Space Shuttle Challenger before it blew up.

I use it to indicate trouble ahead...

The Mosaics Class Made Minimum Number for registration. Class is a go with throttle up.

The Watercolor class made, too! Yay!

Must go shopping now, buy supplies...speaking of which Dollar General did not have the green thingys to turn into carrot tops, but they at least had white ones I can paint. Go with throttle up.

I have the CUTEST little carrots applied to the instep of the mosaic bunny slipper. On the outer edge I will have a large carrot. It's too cute for words.

The carrott top I want is at the Dollar Tree. I hope they still have it. I will go tomorrow and hope and pray I can find it. Maybe it will be in the sale bin...even better.

But most of tomorrow will be run the route. Taxes to the Post Office along with an Amazon.com post. A stop by the bank, and I must must must make myself start organizing the personal records for the taxes. I have hundreds of things to xerox and its a job I hate.

Will post pics soon.

Progress is slow but steady on the bunny slipper. You just haven't lived till you've tried to mosaic the inside of a shoe.

The Highwaymen painters were featured in today's leisure section of the newspaper. My 2 paintings still make me very happy.

Until Friday I was against TV in cars. What a distraction, I thought. Then I took a little trip from my house to Yalaha. It should have taken about a half hour. It took an hour and a half. I left at 12:30 got there at 2PM. If you are very stupid and flunk out of school, you get hired by the highway department to direct traffic at construction zones! Grrr. There was a sheriff there. Was he directing traffic? Oh hell no. He was just keeping us all from hurling obsenities at these imbecels leaning on the stop poles. Double Grrr!

Anyway, I wish I had had a TV in the car. I could have watched the entire episode of As the World Turns...or something!

Happy Martin Luther King Day tomorrow.

After 2 visits to the doctor this week, I feel as if I should finish up mosaicing my funeral box (on right) and crawl inside.

Of course, if my Mom finds out I chopped up the Wedgewood Peter Rabbit cup to make the mosaic bunny slipper (left), SHE will stuff me into the funeral box.

The article about the mosaic classes ran in today's paper.
1. They spelled my name wrong.
2. My make-up looked pretty decent (I rarely wear it therefore have little skill applying it)
3. You can't even tell I had a huge mint candy in my mouth. I was afraid my lips were going to look wonky. I didn't have time to swallow it before she snapped the photo.

Anyway, here's hoping for some registrations!

I'm sitting in the doctor's office, feeling lousy, waiting to be seen, reading a magazine. I flip the page and this ad pops up. BUY ARTISTIC TILES!!! They SOOOOOO understand this medium!

Got the e mail version of the Quest today. Here's the official class info...


Beginning to Intermediate Watercolor
Begin an art adventure which offers a lifetime of creative challenges and pleasures. We will explore color mixing, brush techniques and special effects with watercolor, as well as develop some basic drawing skills. We will paint a new painting each week.
6 Mondays January 30 - March 13 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
No class Monday, Feb. 20th.
Tavares High School - Bldg. 2, Rm. 112 Fee: $64
603 N. New Hampshire, Tavares 32778
Note: Material fee of $15.00 to be paid to the instructor.

Mosaics
From Ancient Roman walls to modern glass tile sculpture, study the basic patterns of mosaic design, then compose your own masterpiece. Create a portrait panel, mirror, globe sculpture or terracotta pot.
6 Mondays January 30 - March 13 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
No class Monday, Feb. 20th.
Tavares High School - Bldg. 2, Rm. 112 Fee: $64
603 N. New Hampshire, Tavares 32778
Note: Material fee of $5.00 to be paid to the instructor.


LAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Student Registration Form


Date _______________________________


Name Last First M.I.
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone Work Phone ___________________________________

Check #_____________ Payee’s Driver’s Lic. #___________________________________________
Are you on our mailing list? Yes No If not, would you like to be? Yes No____

Would you like us to e-mail you our class schedule? Yes___No___ Email________________________


Course Number Course Title Dates Location Fee
$
$
$
Total $

Make checks payable to LAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

Community Education
525 N. Georgia Ave.
Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737
(352) 253-6780

I got up. Called doctor's office. Told them I feel worse. They said to come in.

Before I left the house,I called Florida Cable. I can't get on the internet. They said the problem was on our phone line. I think the tech boy is shining me on, but I'm actually too weak to fight.

I mail Amazon.com orders and go see Doctor. He puts slide under microscope and mutters Abrakadabra. I get different drugs.

I go to Publix get new drugs.
Come home. eat lunch. Take drugs.

I try to sign on to internet. Can't.
Decide to check box on side of the house where phone lines are.

FIND A FROG LIVING IN THE PHONE BOX!!!


Chase frog away. Come inside. Get on Internet immediately!

I guess the techie boy got it right!

My friend Beckyjoie did her spring cleaning. That got me inspired to do mine. So I cleaned out the wet saw pan.

I, your faithful Mosaic Mom, had to go to the doctor today. I hate going to doctors.

Some people like going to doctors. Not me.

I think once doctors start messing with you, they keep finding more and more to mess with. So I avoid them unless I really am forced into an appointment. Grrrr!

The only thing that gets me in to a doctor’s office is pain. Either my nose is plugged up and I have sinus pain, or my “nose” is plugged up and I have other pain. I got another UTI.

I was in agony at 3:00AM…Why the heck wasn’t the office open at 3:00AM????

Anyway, I went, and they gave me drugs and I should be less agitated shortly.

One drug says I cannot operate heavy machinery…as if I would go bounce around on the tractor when my “nose” hurts so bad.

The other drug says it can cause my blood sugar to plummet and I could faint. Hmmm…does this mean I should eat a Twinkie just in case?

I ran into Pammie at the doctor’s. She had laryngitis. She proudly showed me a brand new, pink, teeny tiny cell phone she had just got for Christmas. Might there be a connection? Anyway, I was glad to have her new address and catch up on all the news.

Sometimes the Insanity takes over...and this is the result...

I was ever so happy that my photograph was NOT in this morning's newspaper. Who wants to look at THAT monstrosity over coffee? Now you know why Plant Daddy will make sainthood fer sher. Anyway the article will run some time this month, but at least not today. Yay!

The paper did have the schedule for classes at MDCA, but mosaics was not on the list. I know they are offering it because I got the mailing here at the house. Well, again, who knows how they decide anything. Just where's my coupons!?!

I didn't read the Dilbert cartoon today, but I did read the Dilbert Blog. It's about strange words. But he didn't include my favorite, "lugubrious". Go read Dilbert and chime in with your favorite. He'll be impressed if he starts a neme.

I hate to show my hand but...does anyone have a GROCERY CART they would like to give me? It doesn't have to have 4 wheels; I'm going to change those out anyway. You see, I had the strangest dream this morning....about the Tavares High School Homecoming Parade next fall...and as you can see, Surfboard's already been done!! Marie Honercamp! Wow! Beautiful work!

Here is my little Self portrait statue....my favorite piece ever!
And both shoes.

Hey, go visit my friend John at SVYNEZ. He just started his blog today, but he''s a writer smurf, so look for some good stuff to read here as he gets it up and running.

Orlando Sentinel sent a photographer out to the art room at Tavares High School to cover mosaics and Suzy's Watercolors. I think the article is running in the paper on Monday.

As you know, this year I am tracking my coupons. I had my first score today.

I went to Waldenbooks. I purchased Carolina Isle by Jude Deveraux and The MacGregors by Nora Roberts. (I also bought a Linders chocolate mint but we're not going to talk about that)

My total came to $27.08. But wait!!!

I had $25.00 in coupons ...bringing my total to $2.08!

Go me.

From Ancient Roman walls to modern glass tile sculpture, study the basic patterns of mosaic design, then compose your own masterpiece. Complete a portrait panel, mirror, globe structure or terracotta pot.

6 Mondays
January 30 to March 13
No Class Mon Feb 20th
5:30 to 7:30PM
Tavares High School- Bldg 2 Rm 112
603 N New Hampshire

Fee $64
Material fee $5.00

Call 352-253-6780 fof registration information

Oops is not exactly what I said. But something like gosh darn...in 7 years I have never before had a mosaic piece roll off the workbench and break. Grrr!
And it was going so well. Anyway, I salvaged the seashells and will start over.

Last year, my resolutions were
1) To collect cans/ recycle aluminum and
2) To play the Lotto faithfully

Collecting cans only brought in $27 and exposed me to dangerous traffic. There must be a dozen cans sitting in front of my house right now and I don’t care. I’m over it.

As for Lotto, I could never remember to go buy a ticket on Saturdays. Or when I did remember, I’d find myself in a long line behind grisley people buying beer suitcases.
I won nothing…zero…zip…nada…not even $5 for 3 numbers right. Loser! So I’m over that, too.


Here is my resolution for 2006:

I am going to track all my coupon purchases.

Back in the 1980’s (dang, did I just say that?) coupon shopping was a big media hype deal. Everybody was in on it. Coupon clubs, coupon newsletters, rebates, etc. My friend Bunny got me started. She quit a long time ago, but I’m still addicted.

I still coupon about 4 to 8 percent off my bill every time I grocery shop.
But what does that really add up to?

I propose to add it up this year and find out.

That is all I have in mind for this year. It’s all my little mosaic brain can handle.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!