Mosaic Project

Once I had some spare time and thought that making a mosaic tile back splash for our bathroom would be a fun and useful way to pass the time..

Step 1; Simply roll out some clay and start cutting, rather than drawing out the pattern you wish to see in tile on your wall.

Trim crumbly bits off.
Step 2: Select colors and paint 3 layers of underglaze on each piece.

Be careful not to mix up pieces, not to forget to do 3 layers on each piece and to be sure that it is the same 3 colors on each piece;

step 4; Transfer all those pieces to the kiln and do a bisque firing.

Step 5; Remove from kiln and put 3 coats of gloss glaze on each tiles. The concerns are the same as in step 2, also be careful not to get gloss glaze on the backs of the tiles. They may stick to the kiln shelf if you do.


Step 6; Transfer mosaic tiles to installation location and glue in place.
Step 7; Grout mosaic.
Now wasn't that easy!

Roof Tops

Nestled between Norway and Iceland, one finds The Faroe Islands,



harboring fishing and rowing boats of distinctive style.


Particular as well are the turf roofs, which hold the "tops"on when the wind howls!

There is harmony in the housing elements and how they settle into the hilly landscape


Spotted, A modern twist on the turf roof!


Visit geodesic dome, and take a side trip for yourself!


Happy travels!

Velkomin Til Islands!

A Vikings tale...
They came from over seas...
We arrived by ferry, making a 2 day journey from Bergen, Norway and spending a day in the Faroe Islands.

My first impression of Iceland was intriguing.

The roofs were BLUE!

The lands contoured and mysterious;
Steaming,

and frozen.

Alluring in an unexplicable way!
A perfect environment for Trolls!


Where land can swallow itself up

or spray paint itself in brilliant colors!

Dare to brave the 28 kilometers of unpaved road to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe and you will be rewarded!

This place is in the middle of a desert!!


Some of the people were whalers in the past,

leaving safe havens, like Husavik, in small boats.

Today, "modern"Vikings take to the seas in even smaller vessels, kayaks, originally from Greenland, partaking in festivals of a sort which are called "symposiums."

(Faroese row boat on the beach too!)

They can be a great place to learn, and to meet folks with similar interests. We were invited to attend the Eric The Red Symposium in Neskaupssadur by Steini Sigurlaugsson, from Eglisstadir.
(Steini, Ari and Nigel)
Ari's Parents hosted us in Neskaupssadur.

At this event, I took part in a helicopter rescue.
Though slightly apprehensive, I reminded myself that, "these are professionals."
The view from above was unbeatable!

It is very windy underneath one of these things and actually, it can be easier to perform a rescue in windy conditions when the helicopter can counter forces against the wind.

There were classes for people of all ages and abilities, which could have gone on all night.

The sun is out for 24 hours a day at this time of year!
And we took advantage of as many of them as possible!

We really had a splendid time in Iceland

KNIT!

All knitters should be so lucky!

I spotted this painting in an art gallery in Torshavn, capitol of the Faroe Islands.