Losing My Religion

And one that is totally unrelated!

Ringing in the New

After finishing some more "funny Valentines", I whipped up a few mosaics this week. I did this frame for a friend who is starting out on some new adventures in 2010. I was itchin' to use my busted up chalk figurine I dug up from the basement and this was just the place.

And a couple more Valentine magnets . . .


The mantra below are words to live by.

I have been torn lately about the look of things. I used to lacquer all of my mosaic pieces, but have been transforming into a look that works better old and matte than all glitter and shine.

But I wasn't sure about this heart; it seemed to be missing some spark.

Not literally -- I found this old lighter at an estate sale about a year ago. Sometimes it takes awhile for me to find just the right spot.

Below, with the lacquer, the heart came to life a little. Not too much; I don't like shiny grout. Just enough to make the words pop. I've decided I don't need to box myself in. Some pieces will need to shine and others will not.

I got some great news this week that Barb at Sisters Garden and Bloom near Iowa City is interested in giving my mosaics a go at her shop! My friend Dawn and I visited Sisters back in November on our Iowa road trip and it was love at first sight for me. All that is gorgeously rusty, tarnished, bent, and chippy. In other words, nirvana. Ahhhh . . . I have high hopes that my mosaics will be a nice fit and maybe some garden flowers, too, will find their way up to Iowa.

First Mosaics of 2010

Well, my first mosaics of 2010 are hot off the press and already on their way up to Iowa awaiting their grand entrance into The Junk Asylum. Mosaic heart magnets are fun to do this time of year and I stayed pretty PC, unlike last year.

"Love You Forever" is more endearing than "Spank Me", right?

And I did some round magnets. There are a lot of us who have had snow who can't wait to "Garden".

I thought "The Queen" fit well on this magnet with the funky earring I got a long time ago at the Mission Road Antique Mall.

Much of my work is tongue-in-cheek, of course, and I love the plastic babies.

Sharon at Sweet Repose is going to find a good piece of rusty tin at The Asylum for the magnets. They are going to look awesome mixed in with her wonderful things.


These great, tiny plastic utensils are from the stash from Becky up in Wisconsin. Thanks for the great junk, Becky!

And I did one of these last year and it will be a tradition to do at least one every year. Since this one is going up north, I will do one for Stuff as well, complete with cockroaches.

I've been dying to use these plastic farm folk, another great find from Becky.

They remind me of something from the Sound of Music.

Maybe it's the sheep and the staff.

Keys don't have to be ultra old to look cool.

I'm already thinking about my next batch and need to get started on my Valentine garden stakes, but it was like 10 degrees here today and it's hard to work in the garage when it's that cold. Maybe tomorrow!

Trail of Broken Hearts

Well, I delivered this batch of mosaics to Stuff recently in anticipation of Valentine's Day and the promotional event I wrote about on the last post.

Sure, most of these might not be fit for your grandma, but I can make one that is!

The "kiss the cook" heart features some of those great little chef beads I love from Smudgie Bear on Etsy. Just a touch of red glitter gives that heart some zing. And the big flower in the "you are my sunshine" heart is from a great stash of junk my Etsy friend, Becky, brought down from Wisconsin a few months ago.

The "sexy" heart is packed full of those great plastic beads Jason got me for my birthday. I just ordered another round off of Etsy. I am really enjoying the plastic fan and feathers. I don't sew, but I love wooden spools and the color blue.

Just a little pink glitter was added to the "princess" heart. In the yellow heart, I finally found a good place to use the asprin tin. If you shake it, it's still full of asprin.

Another shot of "sexy".

I'll have to find more ways to use the chef beads I love so much.

Porcelain flowers broken off of something from the Becky stash.

And another set of magnets. I glued a lamp tonight in all whites, silver, and gold. I'll grout and post that one soon. I'm also working on lots of new single switch plates, chalk boards, and frames. I want to build that inventory up before the 31st so I can have lots to show Stuff patrons when I'm there all day from 10 - 6. I'm going to an antique show with mom Saturday and am planning on stocking up on some mosaic-worthy stuff!!!

Broken Hearts Club

Very soon, the owners of Stuff in Brookside will annunce a special Valentine's Day promotion!


I'll be in the store from 10 - 6 on Saturday, January 31st taking orders for custom mosaic Valentine's hearts.

Bring in that dish of your grandmother's you broke but won't throw away, a keepsake that only you and your best friend understand, the pocket watch you love but that no longer keeps time, and I will repurpose your pieces into a custom made, one-of-a-kind mosaic Valentine for that special someone (or yourself!!)!

Maybe you're not the standard red or pink heart-type. Maybe you want a black, orange, or turquoise heart. Maybe you want a message that's sweet, provacative, racy or raunchy. As the wife of comic book writer Jason Aaron, rest assured I am NOT easily offended!!

Two sizes will be available. The ones pictured above are about 6.5" tall. The larger size, not pictured, is 12" tall and will be available in a standard heart or folk art (skinny) shape without the beveled edge.

I am really looking forward to talking with customers face-to-face about what they want. When I get a call about a custom order from Stuff, I always have about ten more questions I'd like to ask the customer so I can get the order just right. Do you like buttons? Vintage jewelry? The color orange? Dinosaurs? Headless baby dolls? You get the idea.

Maybe someone has the key to your heart . . .

or you want someone to know you'll love 'em forever . . .

you can say it with a custom made mosaic heart designed especially for the one you love (or hate, remember, I can include any message!) . . .

If you live outside of the Kansas City area, the staff at Stuff will gladly take phone orders, so give them a call at 816-361-8222!