OzMosaics site down for a while due to server upgrade by VodaHost

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking time out to read my diary/blog! The ozmosaics website is currently being upgraded to a new server by VodaHost (upgrade) and is unavailable for a short time. Please keep trying and I will put a note here when it's all converted over.

I have been very happy with VodaHost over the years and apparently the new upgrade will make the sites faster and more reliable. Thanks VodaHost!

So, I apologise for any incovenience during the transfer over. Please email OzMosaics or phone (dave@ozmosaics.com) or 07 38474873 if you need products or wish to book a mosaic workshop or class or need any mosaic information. Thank you!

Cheers

Dave & Sandy Robertson

& Shaq

www.ozmosaics.com

mosaic madness DownUnder

Mosaic Diva DownUnder

make mosaics! - it's fun and very good therapy too.

Thursday at Karalee State Primary School - mosaic chair

Dave helping to sweep and tidy up.








In the raw - petals and leaves under "thinset" - to be scrubbed and grouted next week.



The snake back is winding around.....









Mum and Maureen.









Coming together.




Had a wonderful day today at Karalee. Maureen, Shirley, Dave and Sandy headed off early and it was a beautiful clear day again.







Mum and Maureen started scrubbing the back of the snake as soon as we arrived to remove the plastic sheeting and sticky tape and excess thinset. Dave kept going applying the gridded back of the snake and Sandy started to organise the layout of the big flowers and leaves, aided by Maureen.

We managed to get the kangaroo, koala and owl (one large petal so far) embedded in thinset and they look great. Weather turned cool and we had been using Rapid thinset in the morning and standard in the afternoon; this caused hassles as the weather changed and the Standard would not set up fast enough for Sandy's liking.

Anyway, we left the big petals covered in thinset (good hard scrub on Monday, next week) but this is better in case it rains over next 3 days and it is likely. We did not want water getting under the mosaic yet.

We worked very hard today and here are some pics in progress - very messy but you can see the progress.

It's fantastic hearing the students rave and remember making the sections in 2005, 2007 and some this year. The favourite question "are you doing the whole floor?"

The students love looking for their art in the chair. Soon they will be able to use the chair for storytelling, relaxation, school work and for the fun of it all.

So with happy hearts, tired hands, backs and feet we headed back to Brisbane. A busy day tomorrow setting up for weekend beginner mosaic workshop, housework, some paperwork and a sleep in on Sunday (hopefully) then back to Karalee on Monday.

I would like to thank Mum and Maureen so much for their help and support as always and especially my husband David. Cheryl, the DP - encourages us the whole time and we could not have a better working relationship - Karalee State Primary School is a happy school in a lovely environment. Thank you Cheryl and all the teachers, parents and students who have taken part in this huge mosaic extravaganza!

cheers
Sandy Robertson\
Mosaic Artist
Brisbane Queensland Australia
www.ozmosaics.com
mosaic workshops, commissions, projects, supplies and fun.
mosaic shop, studio and mayhem!

Wed Report - Karalee mosaic chair progress

Wednesday update: Dave and Sandy at school!

Started off with a cold morning - good drive to the school, traffic in good flow. Much easier without the trailer of mosaics being towed.

Beautiful Queensland winter day; working in brilliant sunshine, we were warm as we worked hard. Added more to the snake back, started to join it all up, river now starting to run down to the floor to the drain. Beautiful colours. Sore hands and finger tips but Savlon and Band Aids are helping.

Tomorrow, Popette is back on the scene and mosaicking mum is coming to lend her artistic hand.

Here are a few work in progress pictures; the school students love the chair and are very excited.

I have a beginner's workshop on Saturday so will be busy back at the studio on Friday to prepare for it. Polly is coming over and mum to help set it up and catch up on things. If you would like to learn the art of mosaics, come to one of my beginner mosaic classes. You would be able to do any of the cutting and mosaics on this chair. I will teach you the mosaic on fibreglass mesh method, the direct method and a touch of 3-D, mixed media. I am really looking forward to this weekend Saturday class.

So much to do! Have a good and happy mosaic day where-ever you are and if you are reading my blog/diary, thank you and please feel free to post a comment!

I found a very interesting new mesh method on this chair - I call it "deep pockets" and I will really utilize it in the Stever Irwin Mosaic Tribute mural for Australia Zoo, which will start as soon as this seating arena is complete.

I also found kneeling on polystrene sheets protects your work under foot and under "knee" and is very comfortable. A pull along trolley, flat board on wheels if a major accessory. Tomorrow we are doing the big petals and hopefully connect the whole dreamtime snake. So exciting.

The spin the bottle Sandy Style article will be out soon in a magazine and some exciting news about MAANZ.

The Beginner dvd will be finally ready by end June; held up by me continually adding new contect to it. I am also putting out a dvd on how to maintain mosaics on projects such as this chair for my clients.

State of Origin is on at the moment so I am back to cheer on Queensland! Go the maroons!

The shop will be open on Friday by appointment for clients and students if you needs tiles, smalti, adhesive, grout or a cuppa!

Darn, we lost the first round of State of Origin 2008, but Blues, you better watch out at Suncorp Stadium!

Cheers and happy nipping

Sandy Robertson

Mosaic Artist and Mosaic Teacher

Brisbane Queensland Australia

http://www.ozmosaics.com/

"everything you need to make mosaics"

Mosaic workshops, classes, commissions and fun.

Tuesday on the mosaic chair........

Lots of work ahead - 3 weeks till opening of the Community Hall and seating arena.

Part of snake body. The river changes shape and I will backfill and reshape on Wednesday directly to the chair and the floor. Will look good when it's patched, filled and grouted. I am looking forward to doing this - tune in tomorrow night for update.

Sore fingers, sore knees but feel good - it was great to be in the fresh air today.

cheers

Sandy Robertson

Mosaic Artist Australia

Studio OzMosaics

www.ozmosaics.com

workshops, classes, shop, supplies - DownUnder Diva!

The chair continues OzMosaics Chair Karalee mosaic project

It was a cold Monday morning and a bit of a drive after loading up the 4WD again with all the mosaic "stuff" but we did it.
Maureen, Dave and Sandy took off on another mosaic marathon adventure and managed to install part of the inner mosaic chair back....the snake head and the river of fish were on the go.






Sandy looked her typical mess in old mosaic garb, jeans and red hat...nothing unusual.

Popette (aka Maureen( looked great and as usual was covered in thinset in the first hour). Dave painted the waterproof membrane (green goo) for starters. The black goo pattern for the mosaic petals shows through the green goo - a bonus!



Maureen sits next to the Rainbow serpent snake head, made up of lots of pieces of the students mosaic art, from two years ago leading up to this year. The eyes look great and we have to patch and grout, seal and polish yet and connect to his body tomorrow.

Sandy takes a rest - that's what seats are for???