Oh TMG, Here in eastern Canada I still struggle with people not knowing what mosaics is/are. I was explaining it to a lady at work the other day and she responded by saying, "So you actually buy dishes and then take them home and smash them with a hammer and then put them back together?!?!" I had to walk away since the expression on her face was belittling me.

I showed up the next day with my latest BB. When she saw my co-workers admiring the BB, she pulled a 180 real quick!

Can you lend me the spotlight?? :O)

YIPPEE is right! While I was in PV, the son of a neighbor stopped by to ask my DH about my birdbath out front. He wanted a similar one for his wife's birthday in April because she had been admiring mine every time she was in the neighborhood. I called him today and said I couldn't remember how much the pots cost me but quoted him a price. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be hearing from him again! Not giving them away honey!

Well, that's good news! So we are on the cutting edge! : )

Mosaics have a way of coming/going like the tides - ebbing and flowing, and the tide is in right now. Congrats on the request, ROSIE, but it's like Riana said - no one wants to pay the price. When she prices a piece comparable to the one she made for Sam at four or five thousand, people back off. She said she doesn't take many comissions for that reason. People want something for cheap.

"IN' can be bad...it often means that cheap reproductions made by underpaid laborers will flood the market.

Yesterday, I saw mosaic mirrored tiled (half inch tiles) gazing balls, a little smaller then a bowling ball, at Big Lots. Under $10.00.

I know there's a BIG difference in beautiful mosaics and mass produced items, but I'm afraid that the more common things become the more the 'real' thing loses it's specialness....

I agree with Maddie, this is one of those arts that too easily turns into a craft in people's minds. Instead of seeing the talent in a piece, they see the mechanics of it. Thinking... "oh I could do that" without thought of color and composition, time and effort, artistry... and yes we are being inundated with chinese mass production everywhere from Target to Dollar Tree. When certain folks read this is the "in" thing for decorating, they will be the type to think "OH a DEAL" and buy that chit instead of art. It only serves to make the proper value of true art look worse to buyers. Yep, teaching and supplying will be the money earners. Those lucky enough to find the right demographic to target - good on them but I doubt it will be at craft fairs.

I've seen "fake mosaics" around here for a while now. I'm not up to the point of trying to sell any of mine yet.

Anyway, I figure those with money will appreciate the art and want the real thing.Also, with a handmade art piece, there is the one of a kind factor. Us broke people ( yeah, me) can't afford it anyway.

Besides, those $tree ones look so chintzy

Maria

i've noticed cheaply made mosaics around here in the stores, too. mostly things like candle holders and some garden sorts of things, but they look messy to me. i guess some people would buy them, but i think there will always be people who would prefer to buy something that obviously took some time and care to make.

If you want to see real quality mosaics - all hand made, stone by stone... get into Eilon Mosaics site - they export as well and do great work

Here is a link that might be useful: Eilon Mosaics

I think mosaics are not any different than any other art. There are cheap versions and then there is the real thing. People that have money and appreciate art will pay for it. As many of you have shown, your art work is not something replicable; it is unique and one of a kind. I raise my glass to toast you all. : )

Thanks for the site Piccasso! I'm thinking of doing something like those,,,,somewhere,,,,sometime...project # 782??!!!!