I had the honor and pleasure of taking a workshop last weekend with the Mosaicon Goddess, Laurie Mika. I’m so glad that it was a 2-day workshop because it was chock full of learning and creating. Using polymer clay, paints, powders, beads and various ephemera, we each created a mosaicon on a piece of wood. There were 12 of us in the class and everyone created a piece both wonderful and unique.
Laurie has a great informal right brain way of teaching which I warmed up to immediately. She’s patient and sharing and was a great help to me as I tried to manifest what was in my head into a mosaic piece of art. It was a fabulous group of ladies who were encouraging and quick to share stories and art materials.
The first day we concentrated on making our center piece and various sizes of tiles that reflected our chosen theme. The second day we created painted tiles and then put it all together.
I love how each piece draws you in with its story.
The powders and paints lend a very rich look to the polymer clay.
I didn’t get a chance to finish my mosaicon in class. My idea was to create a temple called “The Way of Tea”. As I laid the tiles out, it just didn’t look finished to me. Then Laurie came up with the great idea to give my temple “wings”, turning it into a pagoda. Here’s the almost finished piece.
I still have some small areas to fill in with beads (oh joy!) and skinny tiles. If you don’t already have it, I highly recommend Laurie’s book, Mixed Media Mosaics.
I’m already happily planning my next piece!
Art and Tea 
I love your piece! It looks like a fantastic workshop.
Thanks Libby, it was so much fun!
wow, it looks like you all had a blast. Sounds like a wonderful class to take.
Kathi
Hi Kathi, Oh yes, it was such a blast and I enjoyed it very much. If you can, take a class with Laurie. She’s a great teacher.
Wow, Karen, those mosaicons are fabulous ! Laurie is a great artist, and it
looks like all of you learned a lot from her….Can’t wait to see your finished one (and Judy’s) !
Karen.. it’s fabulous!! I love how it came out… I so enjoyed taking this workshop with you and Amy.
Karen, your icon looks great! My piece is still “in process.” Laurie is a great teacher. The whole weekend was wonderful for us Art Dolls.
Thanks for sharing.
-Amy
I had the pleasure of getting to know Laurie at the Synergy Conference and would love nothing more than to take a class with her! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
Thank Dora! Oh yes, we learned so much fabulous stuff from Laurie.
Thanks Judy and Amy! I so enjoyed spending the weekend with you Art Dolls!
You’re welcome Barbara and thanks for visiting!
Great photos of a great time! You can check my blog, too. http://www.mrsblossom.com — it was a very fun weekend. Ginny
Dear Karen, et al.,
Barbara sent me the link to your blog. Thanks for all of the sweet comments on the workshop. You guys were such a nice group…everyone was so easy to get along with and so creative. The icons created were just beautiful. It is always so amazing to see all of the different spins on an idea. Karen, your pagoda is fantastic …i love it! My husband wants to order white tea from you!!!
Take care…and all my best to you all….and hope to see you again.
Hugs,
Laurie
Oops…one more thing…..I wrote to Kate and asked her to please sign “The Class of 08” on the mosaic on the wall….I was totally remiss in not having you all sign your names since you all contributed to it…..so next time you go to the store, atleast you know you were part of the class of 08!!!! xoxo, Laurie
Wow!!! I would LOVE to take that class. I will just have to live vicariously through your photos and description. Thanks!
Wow! Karen, beautiful work. Being a tea fanatic myself, I’ve enjoyed your blog! And that Laurie, Amazing art, beautiful spirit, infectious laugh!
Terrific temple to the tea leaf! I love the idea, and images, and I love the way you’ve spilled out beyond the boundaries of the board – very cool! It’s clear you find much joy and play in your work. 🙂
-Melanie
I like your pagoda 🙂 Thanks for sharing – I think it’s neat how everyone’s finished product reflects their own style and color preferences. It’s always fun to see how different people interpret the same theme!
Hi Ginny! Thanks for the link to your blog. Great photos! I really enjoyed meeting you and being your tablemate at the workshop.
Hi Laurie! Yay, I’m so glad you found my blog and visited! I was poised to send you an e-mail. Thank you soooooo much for all of your inspiration and such a fantastic workshop. You’re the best! Hugs back!
Thanks Lynn, if you get the opportunity, take a class with Laurie. You’ll love it!
Hi Judy! Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yay,a fellow tea lover! Maybe we can have tea together someday. 🙂
Hi Melanie! Thank you, thank you for your kind words. I do love to play!
-Karen
Thank Lisa! I agree. I so enjoyed watching how everyone’s piece evolved with their own personal story and voice. It’s like 10 people taking a photograph of the same thing. You end up with 10 completely different interpretations, all uniquely beautiful.
Karen, I love your piece, the colors, the way you expressed the idea, were great. Please post the finished piece so we can see it in all it’s glory.
You are right that each piece has a story that draws you in. For a few, I was literally getting in as close as I could to the screen to try and see better!! Thanks for sharing. You have inspired me to get out my copy of Laurie’s Book. I can see some wonderful gifts from this idea.
Thanks Judy! I plan on posting closeups of my piece very soon so you can see what fun I had finishing my piece with seed beads. I would love to create some boxes, too. Oh, the possibilities….. Enjoy, enjoy!
oh, great work!! i love the tile with the teapot especially!!
Thanks Leah! A lot of folks have commented on that, too. When I was searching for items to bring to the workshop, I found it in my junk drawer! It’s a terra cotta cookie mold. It’s great the treasures we can find around the house. 😉
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