The Pool Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

The Pool Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

A fun new mosaic bird bath design that's called The Pool and is a mini swimming pool complete with 'paved' edge for the birds to have a splash around in.

Summer Daisies Mosaic Garden Sphere

Summer Daisies Mosaic Garden Sphere Decoration

I've been meaning to make a garden ball for a while now after it was suggested that one of my rose designs would look good as one. In the end I decided to adapt another of my designs to make this Summer Daisies Mosaic Garden Sphere. It's come out really well. A perfect little ball of summer to add colour to your garden in a border, as a lawn ornament, or on a patio, you could even use it as decoration indoors. All the butterflies are iridescent to add metallic shine to the design as well as the bold red and orange colours. I think I'm going to end up making one of these for myself. And I can definitely see me trying more sphere designs. They are actually very relaxing to make, considering the shape.

Butterflies and Hearts Mosaic Water Dish

Blue Butterflies or Hearts Mosaic Garden Water Dish

This was spotted by one of my eagle eyed Facebook followers when I showed a work in progress shot of this dish. I was aiming for a neat pattern of butterflies in the base of this water dish, but she thought it was showing some upside down heart shapes. It is actually a reversible design, which is great. So you can either have Blue Butterflies, or Blue Hearts as your water dish decoration.

Copper Verdigris Wirework Daisies Bird Nest Box

Sometimes, I like to do something a bit different from mosaic. I like to create effect and textures, which is sometimes hard to do with tiles. So, I make decorative wirework bird boxes. This one had a lovely brown wood stain on it already, so I thought a light whitewash would suit it, and I really wanted to make some daisy decorations that looked like they were made from copper and had the verdigris starting to happen on them. I think it turned out quite nicely.

China Blue Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

China Blue Roses Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

I'm on a bit of a roll using the rose in a new design for this year. After the Pink Roses, this is the China Blue Roses. The idea behind this version was to have the roses in blue like they are a pattern on china, then the white background is a nod to the china being broken, as if the design is made out of pieces of blue and white china. I used grey grout on this one so it tied in the white a bit, and because it reminded me of the rough edges you get on some of the stoneware blue and white plates. Another version of this design is in progress, it's proving to be very adaptable. Keep an eye on my Facebook page for when I will be adding any of these designs to my website, or you can message me there to request any of the designs as a made to order too.

Fairground Flowers Garden Bird Nest Box

Fairground Flowers Garden Bird Nest Box

The flowers on this bird box have been handmade with wire, then hand painted with weatherproof paint in bright fairground colours of red, yellow and blues. Each flower has then been randomly attached to the bird box. This nest box is practical for the birds as it can be left in the garden all year round so can be used for nesting in the spring and for roosting out of bad weather in the winter. The bird box also makes a great garden decoration for you to look at too.

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.

Muted Garden Heart Decoration

Muted Heart Garden Hanging Decoration

I had some magenta nuggets that I wanted to use in a design, and a slate heart that I wanted to create a garden ornament out of. So I designed a soft palette of purples, browns and pastel blues and toned down the magenta by adding a dark blue mottling to them so they tied in with the design. The white tiles used have a slightly pitted surface that has taken specks of the grout to create an almost white granite effect. It's a lovely Muted Heart Garden Decoration for adding a touch of subtle colour to the home or garden.

Vintage Flowers Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Vintage Flowers Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

The lovely neutral, natural palette used for the mosaic in this Vintage Flowers bird bath give the flowery pattern a fab vintage fabric look. The neutral tones are used in a graduated style on the border of the bird bath. It's a bird bath that would suit any style of garden, contemporary to cottage.

Blossom & Butterflies Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Blossom & Butterflies Mosaic Bird Bath

Blossom & Butterflies Mosaic Bird Bath

This Blossom and Butterflies design has a random pattern made with white blossom flowers, tiny blue butterflies and jade, apple and mint green leaves. I seem to either go fabric or ceramic with my mosaic designs. This one is definitely a fabric style pattern.

Spanish Garden Mosaic Bird Bath

Spanish Garden Mosaic Bird Bath

First addition of 2014 to my website, this Spanish Garden Bird Bath has a mosaic made with deep blues and whites that you'd find in Mediterranean ceramics. Especially pots for the garden. The geometric design also reminds me of tiled floors in Spain. It's a great bird bath to add a bit of atmosphere and colour to the garden, while also being practical for the birds.

I've for loads of new ideas for designs, so keep an eye on my website for more new listings soon.

Mint Green Gingham Vintage Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Mint Green Gingham Vintage Mosaic Bird Bath

Something a bit different with this bird bath. I wanted a cottage, rustic, vintage, look. So I made a mint green gingham mosaic design, then I painted the rim and sides of the saucer and rubbed it back to give a distressed finish. The end design has a really nice soft vintage look to it.

Mosaic Garden Water Lily Pond Bird Baths

Jade & Pink Water Lily Bird Bath

Blue & White Water Lily Bird Bath

It's been a very busy July, and I've been selling out of a lot of designs without a chance to make more up. But, at the moment I'm writing this blog post, both of the water lily pond colourways - Blue & White / Jade & Pink - are both back in stock. For now. So if you've got your eye on one....... : )

Waterlily Mosaic Pond Garden Bird Bath

Waterlily Mosaic Pond Garden Bird Bath

Another new, but old, design added to stock. I've 
made a lot of fish pond bird baths. But this time I've decided to leave the goldfish out and make a waterlily pond so I've filled the gaps with a couple of extra waterlily flowers, and lily pads. I've made one of the waterlily flowers in a peach/pink colour as some waterlilies change colour as the flowers get older. I've also used a lighter blue for the background this time. I think it's worked well. The iridescent tiles in the lily pads, and the pink flower add extra interest to the design.

White Waterlily Pond Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

White Water Lily Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

White Waterlily Mosaic Garden Birdbath

I've just added this new bird bath to my website, where it will stay as an exclusive until after Christmas. I love making these mini ponds. This one has two goldfish, a white water lily, and some of the green lily pads are made with iridescent green tiles which shine with metallic blue and gold as the light catches them. The background is two shades of deep blue to give a shimmering, watery effect. This one is a smaller sized 21cm which is still perfect for smaller birds to bathe in. And it's a perfect pond size to fit into even the smallest garden. You could even put it on a balcony.

Suncatcher Christmas Tree Cards

Suncatcher Christmas Tree Cards

Suncatcher Christmas Tree Card

This is my latest listing, a set of four Christmas Tree Suncatcher Cards. The design is handpainted onto clear acetate with translucent paint so when the light shines through the card the baubles light up and become jewel  -like. I am really enjoying experimenting with these suncatcher cards. They are something a bit different from the norm, and should light up the recipient's day.

3D Suncatcher Christmas Trees

These Christmas tree decorations are expanding the Dots Suncatcher range. I have aready made some lantern suncatchers, and a bookmark/suncatcher card with this pattern. This time I've hand painted two sizes of Christmas tree and slotted them together so they can be stored flat, the arranged at right angles creating a 3D effect tree to display. The translucent paint makes these trees great for hanging in a window, or anywhere were light can shine through them making the colours brilliant. They have a fab contemporary, modern look.

Folksy Handmade - Cats

We adopted a couple of 6 month old kittens a couple of weeks ago. They are sisters, but are different in colour, and very different in personality. The grey tabby, Treacle, is very laid back. She's got extra toes on all her paws. 2 on each front paw, 1 each on each back paw. The official term is Polydactyl (meaning many fingered). It makes her look like she's got snow shoes on. Very cute. You can certainly hear her coming down the stairs. The brown tabby, Peanut (we knew she'd be a nut before we named her) is a lot more active (not that you'd know from her photo), and is, frankly, a bit mad. She is very good at mini football though. She can dribble her mini ball the length of the room, trap it under her paw, and dribble it all the way back again.

Anyway, in honour of these two turning up, this week's Folksy Friday theme is - cats.

(Shop links under the picture gallery, Pinterest board on the link below. And of course I would have included Fat Kitty, but I've already used him in a previous FF.)

*** Folksy Handmade - Cats ***

Top Row (left to right)

Strippy Cat, by windswept & interesting

Stripy Cat, by Greenpixey

Wooden Cat Sitting Brooch, by gary's crafty creations

Middle Row (left to right)

Stella and Friends Cushion, by Mypipsqueak

Glancing Grey and Ginger Cats - Set of 2 Cards, by lizalew

Ginger Cat Bookends, by Andywoodcraft

Bottom Row (left to right)

Vanity Cat - Photography Print, by nixii art

Cat Earrings, by Hettdesign

'Terry' Ceramic Fridge Magnet, by Dusty Trinkitten

Water Lily Pond Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

I have already done a Folksy Friday

on Ponds, because I love ponds. My own little one in my small garden has a tiny water lily, 2 goldfish and (a growing population of) pond snails. It's inspired me to make a Water Lily Pond themed mosaic bird bath. I decided to make it stylised using angular shapes to create the features and background. I think it gives the bird bath the feeling of movement. And it also gives a Japanese look to the design, with a slight origami feel to the shapes.

The silvery fish are made with iridised tiles so they shine with the colours of the rainbow in certain light angles, just like real fish. The background is in two shades of deep sapphire to add a flickering quality to the 'water'. It should be really effective with real water in when it's filled. Perfect for if you've always wanted a pond, but haven't got room. Or for if you just want a unique, decorative bird bath for your garden.

Folksy Handmade - Shed Chic



Mosaic Aqua Heart Slate Hanging Garden Decoration

This week we had to buy a shed due to our old garden storage finally giving up the ghost. I spent hours trying to find one in the size that would fit the space (very small), within budget (very small), and that looked like it wouldn't blow away in a light breeze. Not easy, but I have finally found a tool store that is perfect. I am really looking forward to sprucing it up, when it arrives, with a lick of paint and maybe some decoration.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to sit in it and survey my garden (there's just enough room for a set of shelves and a garden rake). But, it got me thinking about how I would dress up a full-sized summerhouse / garden room shed.

So, this week's Folksy Friday is my pick for a complete shed makeover. Quite a large selection too because there was too much to choose from. See what you think -

*** Folksy Handmade - Shed Chic ***