Mini Hedgehog Hearts

Blue Hedgehog Heart (left) & Blue/Green Hedgehog Heart (right)

I'm currently offering two different colour versions of this 10cm mini Hedgehog Heart. The one on the left has an all pale blue background, and the one on the right has pale blue above the hedgehog and pale green below. Eventually I will decide which one will be the only colour version, but as the moment I'm seeing which one proves more popular. You can find both colour versions in my Etsy shop with full details and more photos.

New Designs

It's been very busy at JoSara HQ. A couple of new designs have been and gone from my shops already, and I've just added another.

The two that have new homes are the bees with flowers designs. One was Bees and Blossom, and the other was Bees and Blue Daisies.

Bees & Blossoms / Bees & Blue Daisies Mosaic Garden Bird Baths

The other new design I've just added to my website and Etsy shop is an abstract design that represents land and sea. The colours all match perfectly and make a lovely calm design.

Land & Sea Mosaic Garden Bird Bath 

Customer Commission Mosaic Bird Baths

Yorkshire Rose Mosaic Garden Bird Bath Sky Blues

Yorkshire Rose Mosaic Garden Bird Bath Team Colours

I've managed to complete a couple of customer commissions for mosaic bird baths recently. The first was a design that a couple of people had asked me to try, a Yorkshire Rose. I made the rose, but couldn't decide on a background. As soon as one of my customers saw the rose she knew exactly what background she wanted to match her favourite Yorkshire team. I also wanted to try a rose on a graduated sky blues background, so that was the second version.

Blue Sheep Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

The other customer commission for a mosaic bird bath was a lady in America who said she really liked the hedgehog designs that I do, particularly the blue one, and asked if I could try a blue sheep. So, I thought I'd try a sheep in the same layout style as the hedgehog, with the face and legs as one element and the rest of the body filling the base. A few attempts later and I got the design to where I wanted, and the customer was very happy with it too. Think I might try another version of the sheep soon.

Water Lily and Mini Bee Garden Mosaic Spheres

Water Lily Mosaic Garden Ball

I made my first garden sphere ever recently and straight away I had the urge to make another one in a different design, then the butterflies are joined by bees, on large and on mini balls too. It's gone sphere mad round here.

The Water Lily Pond Ball has two goldfish, two dragonflies with iridescent wings, and white water lily flowers all on a jade green background. It would look really great next to a pond. Or it would be great if you can't have a pond in your garden as a replacement.

Bees and Butterflies on Mosaic Garden Spheres

A couple of designs I have made for customers are variations of the original butterfly ball with bees added too.

Mini Bee Mosaic Garden Spheres

And these are the mini balls with a single bumblebee on which are very cute, and great as plant markers or to use in a container as decoration.

If you've seen anything you like, you can always message me on Facebook and I'll see if I can make what you're after.

Pastel Anemone and Peacock Jewel Bird Baths

Pastel Anemone Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Two new mosaic bird bath designs. Both came from making a shape from a tile while I was making other bird baths and then it sparking an idea for a new design. And I've got ideas for more designs from making these too. The first design is the Pastel Anemones. I've used this colour palette quite a lot lately because it looks great with the black grout. The flower centres are slightly glossy black so show well against the grout. Some of the flowers are iridescent to add metallic shine to your garden.

Peacock Jewel Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

The other new design is the Peacock Jewel. This bird bath has a slight feel of India about it with the colours used and the stylised peacock design. The jewel bit of the name refers to small squares of iridescent tiles which give the metallic shine to certain areas of the bird bath.

Bumblebees in Blossom Mosaic Hanging Heart

Large Bumblebees in Blossom Mosaic Hanging Heart

Mini Bumblebee in Blossom Mosaic Heart

I think spring is springing. I saw my first bumblebee of the year a few days ago and I got all inspired to make some hanging hearts using my mosaic bumblebees. Two sizes, large and mini, and both are made to commission. This is a bit different to made to order, because the made to order designs I have the materials set aside for so when the order comes in I can make straight away. With the made to commission designs, I may not have all the materials to make in stock so will order in anything I need. I'm running a Made to Commission album on Facebook, which will have all the designs in it with the sizes and use info, and the way to order anything in that album will be to message me on Facebook to let me know which on you're interested in, then I can send you a price and a making time too.

Butterfly Love Mosaic Garden Bird Baths

Butterfly Love Mosaic Garden Bird Bath (two tone hearts with hidden butterflies)

These two versions of a new design have a hidden secret. The design name, Butterfly Love, gives a clue. One way up the design is two tone rows of hearts, but turn the bird bath 180 degrees and the hearts become single colour rows of butterflies. Not everyone can see these butterflies, so if you can it's your secret. It comes in two colour palettes at the moment, the blues and greens, and the pastels.

Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration

Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration

The first new design of 2015 from me, the Pink Roses Hanging Heart Garden Decoration. I had designed the rose and used it in a bird bath a few months ago, and I fancied using it to create a fabric look on a hanging heart. I used some very delicate iridescent and plain pastel pink tiles for the roses, and used fresh greens for the leaves to give a nice bright background. It's worked really well with the black grout popping the colours out. So 2015 has started well with this design, which I like so much I am going to use it in a bird bath, and I'm going to try more colourways of it too. You can either follow me on Facebook to see these new designs take shape and find out when they get listed on my website, or you can follow this blog.

Vintage Fabric Effect Mosaic House Number

Vintage Fabric Look Mosaic House Numbers

Vintage Fabric Look Mosaic House Number

These house number mosaic plaques have been designed to look like they've got a vintage Liberty style fabric background. The mosaic is made up of small flowers, and butterflies, filled in with small leaves. The grout on the front design has then been overpainted with weatherproof paint to create a rough texture to finish the vintage fabric look.

Mirror, Mirror

Random Colour Shoal Fish Mosaic Mirror

Graduating Colour Shoal Fish Mosaic Mirror

Two fishy mirrors for you. Both have the fish circling in alternate directions to create a dynamic design. One has a random colour pattern with iridescent fish dotted around to add metallic shine. The other has graduating colour fishes. Both have the slightly raised mirror so you can see the slightly greeny mirror glass that adds to the watery feel. Both are designed to be used in any room of the home, including bathrooms.

Water Drops Mosaic Heart Hanging Decoration

Water Drops Mosaic Hanging Decoration

Inspired by the graduating colours used in the Elements Bird Bath this Water Drops mosaic heart uses water droplets shapes to create the pattern and the colours graduate across the face. There is a small circular mirror to add some interest along with the iridescent tiles used that have a metallic shine when the light angle catches them. This heart is suitable for sheltered garden use (not too much water, definitely no ice), or indoor use. A lovely, unique decoration for your home or garden.

Elements Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Elements Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Elements Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

A new design that has evolved from a design I used on a garden heart recently. I've called it Elements because there is a touch of fire and earth, and water and ice in each band of colour. The colour stripes are a mix of plain tiles, some iridescent to add metallic shine and some translucent to add depth. The background and border I have kept as a neutral stone grey to tie in with the element theme and to show off the bands of colour even more.

Deep Sea Mosaic Bird Bath

Deep Sea Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

I noticed something about my mosaic designs a while ago. I know I like colour and pattern, but I also noticed that my designs fell into two categories. They either look like fabric designs, or ceramic designs. This latest bird bath Deep Sea is definitely a ceramic style design. Each colour line of fish has an iridescent fish to add metallic shine and interest. The border in two colours adds depth too.

Sea Glass Hearts Mosaic Garden Wind Chime

Sea Glass Hearts Mosaic Garden Wind Chime

Another new design that is perfect for the summer is this Sea Glass Hearts Mosaic Garden Wind Chime. The tile colours used are sea greens and blues with some iridescent and some translucent tiles too. The amber and aqua glass hearts sit proud of the mosaic so will let the light shine through them. The mosaic panel has a similar design with two hearts on each side and the edges are all tiled to so the wind chime can be viewed from all angles when it's hanging. The chimes are handcut and have a lovely soft sound.

Dragonfly Dance Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Dragonfly Dance Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

After making the Tiffany Toadstools I liked the colours so much I've used them in a bird bath design that I've made before. The three dragonflies have got iridescent blue wings that shine with metallic electric blue. The background is made using soft shades of blues and green giving the design a slightly stained glass effect. It's a lovely design that would make a great gift for anyone that loves their garden, or wildlife, or art glass designs.

Mosaic Bee Coaster

Mosaic Bee Coaster

The mosaic bees have flown onto this fab selection of coasters. These can be used indoors out outside in the garden as all materials are weatherproof. The bees have iridescent wings that shine with metallic magenta and blue. They are great decorative items that are practical too. Find them on my website - JoSara.co.uk

Aqua & Apple Heart Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Aqua & Apple Heart Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

A new design added to my website today. This Aqua & Apple Green Heart is a lovely, simple design, which uses quite muted colours, but it has a clean contemporary look that is very effective, and would suit any style garden. If you love your garden birds, this could be the bird bath for you.

Mosaic Plant Pot Garden Hanging Decorations

Aqua Glass Heart Pot Decoration

These mosaic garden plant pot shaped decorations are designed to hang flush against a fence, or on a shed, or wall. They both have a translucent glass heart sitting proud of the mosaic so the light can shine through it. The hearts are both surrounded by complimenting iridescent tiles that have a metallic finish.

Green Glass Heart Pot Decoration

The green pot has a pea green rim, and bands of apple and mint greens on the pot. The aqua pot has a dark sea rim, with bands of light sea and turquoise on the pot. Both pots are tiled on all sides, but the reverse of each pot has been left unfinished, as it's designed not to be seen.

Folksy Handmade - Beads

A Folksy Friday full of handmade beads today. I love a good root around the supplies section for a Folksy Friday theme. What could be better to make that really special piece of jewellery out of unique beads? All the colours of the rainbow are here, and you could make all sorts of styles of jewellery out of them. What's not to love?

For more details and pictures, click on the pic -

Essentially Beads

Beadelicious Lampwork

Lampwork Beads By Jo

Kilo Lemur Lampwork

Jewlls4U

MidgetGemBeads

Floraeme

Dragonhoard Finds

Jules Bijoux

Larksong Studio

Lala Lampwork Beads

Pixel Pyro Lampwork

Mosaic Garden Wind Chime

Mosaic Hearts Garden Contemporary Wind Chime

Mosaic Hearts Garden Contemporary Wind Chime

I've been creating another new product to add to my website. I have made these mosaic plaques in the past, but usually in smaller sizes as hanging decorations for the garden. This time, though, I decided to adapt one to become a wind chime. I really enjoy this creative process for a new design. First, some online research to see if it's being done already. Nope. Great. Then, sourcing the materials for the job. Next, researching how to create what I want from them, although there actually isn't that much to find online on this subject, so I've had to be engineer again and work it out myself. Finally, designing the mosaic to give the effect I wanted, which was for a contemporary, modern look wind chime. 

Mosaic Hearts Contemporary Garden Wind Chime

I have hand cut the tube chimes to various lengths to create a really lovely, harmonious sound, the drilled them and hand tied them to the plaque. The plaque tile colours work really well with the glass hearts. One compliments the colours and one stands out as an accent. And the hearts sit proud of the mosaic meaning the light can shine through them, lighting the colours up. The plaque hanging hole is reinforced to take it's weight. The chimes are galvanised and anodised to prevent corrosion. All the mosaic materials are weather, and frost resistant. It's a fab garden worthy item.

It would look and sound great in a garden, but it could be used indoors too. As it's tiled on all surfaces it can be hung so it's viewed from all angles, like on a tree branch, or hanging basket bracket. Or put it in a hallway to greet you as you open the door.