Paula held a new class this week at her home studio "Garden Ornaments". A garden ornament is kind of like a gazing ball except made of a styrofoam with a  mosaic design on it. They are a great addition to your yard or porch and can be made to be fairly weather resistant.

This was an excellent mosaic show that was held at The Somerville Museum in Somerville, MA just outside of Boston. Be sure to take the video tour.

This week Paula has been featured in the N&O by staff writer Mark Schultz for her donated violin to the Durham Symphony Orchestra.

This summer Paula and Linda Simpson combined their efforts on a class called Art Redux at Jordan Hall Arts Center in Cary, NC. The class focused on how to re-purpose materials that would otherwise be thrown away into art. The unique design of this class is that Paula's session with rising 6 to 9th graders will create the base of a project that a younger group in the afternoon session, led by artist and instructor, Linda Simpson, will embellish. The completed piece will be on display in at Bond Park in Cary.

Paula, Emily Weinstein, and Kathryn DeMarco are once again lending their talents to support a worthy cause in the triangle. This time they are embellishing violins for the Durham Sympony Orchetsra.



For the past three years, the Durham Symphony has commissioned artists to transform retired violins into breathtaking works of art. Raffle tickets are sold to supporters for each violin and the winning raffle tickets are drawn at our Annual Holiday Pops Concerts in December. So you get to choose which violin(s) you want to purchase raffle tickets for. I will have more information about the raffle tickets when it is available.

We are thrilled to announce that Saqi has been selected for exhibition in Contemporary Mosaic Art 2009 at Ciel Gallery, Charlotte, NC. The juror this year was Mosaic Maestro Giulio Menossi. The number of artists applying for this year's show was double that of last year, and the entries cover 18 US states, Canada, Ireland, Serbia, Wales, Monaco, and Italy. The show dates are September 4 through October 23.TEST

Here is a picture I have found and more links to coverage on this interesting mosaic. The cathedral's Christian mosaics were covered up in line with Muslim custom shortly after Constantinople — the former name for Istanbul — fell to the Ottomans in 1453 and the cathedral was turned into a mosque. Mosaics truly can stand the test of time.

The Independent Animal Rescue is hosting it's 7th Annual Painted Chair Auction. You won't want to miss meeting "Daisy"--this year's collaborative piece by Paula, Emily Weinstien and Kathryn DeMarco!!!

Paula's piece Trust won 2nd place in the mosaics category in Delphi's 2009 Online Art Glass Festival Show. This in an annual online show sponsored by Delphi Glass. This piece was part of the Meditation series that Paula completed last year. To see the award page click here and then select the Mosaics category for 2009.

Hello All,

In this entry I want to showcase another fine custom work by Paula. She is working on a patio table as a birthday gift. Don't worry, they already know about all of the eyes. As a matter of fact they picked out the theme of the table. As it goes this person had eye cancer at one time and beat it! So, images of eyes play a big part in this person's life. Paula has taken that them and run with it in her own creative way. Below you can see her interpretation of the theme.


She is using unglazed porcelain tiles on a metal table. Just getting the table ready is a story in itself. Thanks to a fine metalsmith and friend, Jimmy Alexander, for making the table top and the rim. The rim protects the edge pieces of the mosaic from damage.



She is applying the tiles to a mesh backing, just like she di for the kitchen project. She will then adhere the mesh to the table with thinset mortar, then grout and seal. This will provide a lasting piece that should be able to sit in a covered or open area outdoors for small gatherings and dinners. I'm sure this piece will be the talk of the party. At least I hope it will.

Until next time