A finished mosaic back splash is a perfect touch to a custom home, Corrales, New Mexico style. Incorporating handmade tiles of barrel cactus, flowering Yucca, flowering agave, and flowering aloe, along with a Jack Rabbit, butterflies, purple cactus, a family of quail,gecko, hummingbirds, and the sun peaking through the clouds. The project took two days to install. The owners were so gracious to me as well as their 6 well behaved cats. Since I never got around to Go Pro-ing the installation, here are some still shots of the process. My travels…
Category: handmade
My New Mexico Trip
My trip to Corrales, New Mexico is fast approaching. I have been hired to install a tile mural in a residence. The tile is pretty much completed…fired and laid out. Even though it’s a fairly small size mural, only 48″ x 24″ tall, the challenge is getting it to fit in an intermittent concave niche, sight unseen. That means allowing for slight design changes. I am positive it will all work out beautifully. This is the basic tile layout with an aloe garden and hummers, flowering fence post cactus and blooming yuccas and blackbirds. This is all handmade tile, glazed…
Lead by the Spirit
Many things inspire me, all day long. Here are a few Shadow Box sculptures that were inspired by gardening, bird watching and nature with a bit of whimsy. Hummer with Wild Flower Ceramic Shadow Box
June is Wedding Month. Give something unique.
June is the month for weddings. Do you know anyone who is getting married this summer? I do. My nephew is getting married. I am excited for him and his future wife. His mom and dad are so proud. And I know what I am going to give them. One of my botanical pottery pieces. I have recently designed some fun, whimsical serving dishes, spoon rests, dipping bowls, candle holders, change catchers. I also have keepsakes for weddings and anniversaries. It’s a tradition to give a pomegranate to a Jewish wedding couple. Why…
Planning Your Summer Staycations
Another couple weeks and school will be let out for the summer. The weather is heating up (in Tucson) and ya’ll are preparing to make a list of places you want to go and things you want to do for fun. Yes, fun! It’s supposed to be fun in the summer. May I make a suggestion? How about take an art class. Get the family together and have a family art reunion, where everyone gets to make something. If you have never done such a thing, you could call it the 1st Annual Family Art Reunion! Do you have…
Springtime in Tucson
These days are gorgeous with our spring season upon us. Here is a quick update to let you know the new items I just restocked the local galleries with. Right now is the perfect time to walk, skip, or ride bike over to Tohono Chul Park. I was just there today and the wild flowers are amazing. It’s so inspiring. Here are a few pieces at Tohono Chul Park: http://tohonochulpark.org/ And there are some fun ornaments or souvenirs for Easter gifts and winter visitors. By the way, I do custom work. If you see anything here that speaks to you…
February Fabs
I am loving this time of year….Spring! And this week we are having the best weather in the country! I have been playing around with functional wares the past several weeks. Experimenting with styles and glazes. My latest designs are influenced by East Indian textiles and designs. I love the vibrant colors and stamped designs they have in thier saris and bed coverings. The exotic images of tassles, slipppers and billowy folds of drapery, piles of satan pillows. Those are the images I love of the Indian culture. I thought I would let you see the beginnings of design. I…
3D Workshop at Santa Theresa Tile Works
I feel honored to be invited to teach a workshop at Santa Theresa Tile Works in the month of February! A 2 day workshop on Thursdays, February 20 & 27. 3 hours each. It will be a 3 dimensional clay class on how to build a flower shadow box. My ceramic shadow boxes look like this; As you can see, some are more complicate than others but I will be teaching beginning and intermediate levels so not to worry. I take you step by step and you will come away learning a new technique and a piece that will beautify…
November is full of Art Shows and Awesomeness!
November is full of Art Shows and Awesomeness!.
Being Busy, Fall Fun and Show Schedule
I have been really focused. Pushing myself to get inventory built up, marketing, writing a business plan (or I keep thinking about that one, haven’t quite got to it yet), relearning how to follow a budget, while juggling small jobs here and there until the holiday buying season kicks in. But I have managed to mix business with pleasure and took a jaunt to Sedona a couple weeks ago with a friend. I just love it up there. It’s so inspiring. The rocks, the sunsets, the art! I am so grateful to be able to take it all in….
Robin Chlad Designs 