Heartbroken

16 years ago

It got up to 92 degrees in my neck of the woods today. That may not seem like a lot for you Southern folks, but for Wisconsin that's a record. Average high this time of the year is the high 50's. We also had 60 mph wind gusts.

One of my garden orbs (better known as bowling balls) was literally blown off it's stand, hit a concrete in-ground bird bath and then rolled a good 10-15 feet onto my patio . . shedding tesserae and grout with every revolution. The orb is no more.

So I'm sitting on my front porch just around dusk lamenting the loss of this orb and mindlessly staring at another garden orb (this one a stained glass arrow ball finished about a month ago).

"What's wrong with that grout line?" my inner mind asks . . . "you're grout lines aren't ragged like that . . . . ."

I look at it closer in the failing light and see the grout is falling off. I grabbed it and ran into the studio that has MUCH better light . . . and low and behold I see that the bowling ball CRACKED underneath all my glass and grout. Must have been the heat. The crack extends almost three quarters of the way around the ball . . . .

I just shut off the lights and closed the door of the studio and am now doing my best Scarlett O'Hara impression . . .

I'll think about it tomorrow.

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Comments (28)

very_vintage
16 years ago
I feel your loss! It's like a death in the family when you loose a treasured master piece you have put your heart and soul into!
My deepest sympathy!

Renee xxx
nicethyme
16 years ago
Oh Wench! double whammy... I'm so sorry. that so totally sucks.. ugh...

sorry
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chickeemama
16 years ago
I am sooo sorry about what your going through with all that!!!! Have a good cry...I know I would!!!!
Calamity_J
16 years ago
My gog mirror is screwed up, AND My bird bath tile, and some feet step stones, are disintregating!!! grrr
joyy
16 years ago
ugghh that's awful. :(
hrsg
16 years ago
Wow! That is aweful, and I've never heard of a bb cracking.
texaswild
16 years ago
OHGOODGRIEF!!! So sorry. Whatcha wanna bet that you can repair them. No fun, though, doing repairs - Sneaky Snake still looks like Sassy Serpent slapped him so hard his jaw is raw.
d3bbi
16 years ago
Wench, I am so sorry. I know this is heart breaking.

This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I've recently been mosaicing watering cans for sale (I haven't posted pics due to the challenge) and I've thought, 'this is a lot of work and time for something that will probably rust in a year or two'. Yes, I've made money and maybe people don't expect things to last very long anymore. But I've thought about limiting my mosaicing to sturdy structures - concrete, wood, terra cotta. I don't know, anyone else have thoughts along this line? Maybe nothing is permanent but if we go to all this trouble we certainly want it to last a good while.
bamasusanna
16 years ago
I know how heart breaking it can be too! I've had a few items that didn't hold up well, and I felt like crying! I guess there's something to be learned from some instances, but others are still a mystery.
Have a good cry and get back to work ;0
lascatx
16 years ago
Oh, so sorry that happened!

Has anyone else had a BB crack? I have to ask because I'm in TX and have 98 degree days every summer (not in May, thank goodness). I've been wanting to do a BB or two, but if they will crack here, I'd better find another way to satisfy that need.
seaglassic
16 years ago
guess that's a lesson for all of us to think about...
when the weather gets either too cold or too hot, then you gotta grab your balls and come inside...to protect them!
d3bbi
16 years ago
Seaglassic, I am rolling with laughter. In all your innocence

"...then you gotta grab your balls and come inside..."

Whew!
shrty411
16 years ago
ROFL seaglassic!!

Sorry wench!! In the 90s! The first one was looking for some shade ;) and the second was so shocked at 90s in May it just broke up!

Didn't get that hot here, but my maze stepping stone cracked. Nothing but a 40 lb dog had been on it. I sure make em sturdy (rolling eyes). I can't even blame the weather. I think I can fix mine.

It's awful to put all that work into something and have it destroyed.

Maria
texaswild
16 years ago
Uh - er - ahem - I don't think there was ANY innocence involved in SEAGLASSIC's comment!!!!! I think it was a very clever pun.
mosaicwench1
Original Author
16 years ago
Yesterday it was 92 degrees and sunny and today it's 58 degrees and rainy . . . . life in Wisconsin is never dull!

(I haven't stepped foot in the studio today [avoidance]. I'm getting ready to have a rummage sale on Friday and Saturday and today was the perfect day to do that in the garage!)

Thanks for the encouragement.
foxglove44
16 years ago
Hey... I my Dh and I are heading to Wwisconin in a weak. He has a job interviw!
Betsy
lilym
16 years ago
I put one of my old bowling balls out last year, didn't mosaic it or anything and it has cracked nearly in half.
mosaicwench1
Original Author
16 years ago
foxglove - where in WI and a job with whom?

If you'd rather take it to private email, send it to mosaicwench@yahoo.com
lascatx
16 years ago
Sounds like BBs are not good projects for Texas. : (

Boo hoo.
nicethyme
16 years ago
Lmao! good one Seaglassic! heee heeeeee
toomuchglass
16 years ago
I'm Still LMAO from Seaglassic !

But I have to admit - I never thought bowling balls would crack. My DH takes them to shooting ranges as targets. I Asked him what's inside and he said mostly cork ( he thinks ) Some had some kind of resin stuff - he said some even had what looked like cement inside ! I dunno .
All I know - if I ever make some - as soon as my balls get cold - they're comin' in !
lyndalu
16 years ago
I've also had a bowling ball crack - I guess from our extreme heat (SW Florida). I had 3 of them in my flower beds for several years - had NOT done mosaic on them...they were just pretty colors as is....all 3 had the same amount of sun/heat - and only 1 of them cracked.
mosaicwench1
Original Author
16 years ago
I have had several balls out in winter and summer and they never cracked or anything.

It got up to 102 degrees last summer and not even a tiny crack.

Must be something about this particular ball that had a flaw or something . . .

And toomuch? The innards are either cork or ceramic (don't know for sure about the resin part). For bowling ball fountains it's a better to get one with cork in the middle. Much easier to drill (but I don't know how to tell just by looking at them either . . . . ).
ladyronnie
16 years ago
Sorry about you having cracked balls! Ouch!
So start a new thang, ya know? Mosaicked HALF bowling balls! Then you can drop Scarlet and do Rhett!
"Frankly, my dear, I prefer them that way..."
;)

Hey, I just saw a cool TURTLE in your future...!
seaglassic
16 years ago
busted!!...lol
texaswild
16 years ago
Now THERE is lemonade from lemons, LADYRONNIE! Love that idea.
nicethyme
16 years ago
Wench, How are ya doing? feeling any better?

I hate to think this has shut down your creative muse...
tiffy_z5_6_can
16 years ago
Just got back from a little trip and am so sorry to hear that the orb is no more. :O( Hope your spirits pick-up and you create another one soon.

For the cracked one, maybe you could try wedging it into a couple of pieces and make something like a turtle or ladybug? Just an idea... I have one which I bought that was split. Seriously thinking ladybug.

Heartbroken

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