Learn to mosaic.  You can use alot of different materials to create a mosaic of your very own. This was created in a number of steps over several days. Approx. 2 hours lay-out.  One hour prep of table surface and table base. Two more hours to pick-up the pieces, to apply the adhesive and then to replace all of the pieces. The adhesive then has to cure or dry.  You can then grout  (build up the area which surrounds the tiles and mosaic pieces) to give the top an even surface. This can take about two more hours to get a nice finish and to uncover the areas you want exposed. The grout must be allowed to cure  then you can seal the grout surface. The glass edges were also ground to be sure no one would cut themselves. The base of the table was painted cobalt blue and the sea shells were given a light coat of water based urethane to enhance the natural color.  This tabletop was created using a combination of square tiles, six sides tiles, broken glass and sea shells. The table is shown before the grout was applied. The finished table is for sale at my shop $ 200. I will be taking reservations for a class wheich will be held in April. Start looking for a piece of furniture which you may wish to create a mosaic for. You may also begin with a picture frame, a serving tray, a wood box. The piece you select should have a recess in the top or have a surface to which a trim piece can be added (this will hold everything in and allow the surface to be leveled). Call me if you wish to attend the class, I will be announcing the date in the next two weeks.

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

SIGN-UP NOW AS CLASS SPACE IS LIMITED (908)399-0247 TO REGISTER OR E-MAIL grousestudios@gmail.com.

MARCH 27  – SECRETS TO SENSATIONAL SOUPS  – A GREAT DAY OUT . INVITE YOUR FRIEND, YOUR MOM OR DAD, OR SISTER OR BROTHER TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER, GET SOME SOUP INSIGHT AND ENJOY A NICE LUNCH IN THE PROCESS. PRESENTED BY PROFESSIONAL COOK AND KITCHEN GARDENER, CHERYL KARCHER. LEARN TO  CONSTRUCT NOT GOOD, NOT GREAT, BUT SENSATIONAL SOUP !!  1-3 PM,  FEE: $25.00/PERSON, VERY REASONABLE FOR TIME WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, A LESSON AND SENSATIONAL SOUP !!

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

DRAWING COURSE -MARCH (START DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY ENROLLMENT) THIS INTRODUCTION TO DRAWING WILL EXAMINE LIGHT, LINE, VOLUME. THIS COURSE WILL BE USED TO EVAULUATE SKILL LEVEL AND DETERMINE SUBJECT MATTER FOR FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTION. INSTRUCTOR: GREG NAPOLITAN, LOCAL ARTIST/CHAINSAW SCULPTOR. COURSE WILL CONSIST OF 3, TWO HOUR SESSIONS HELD ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS FRI, SAT & SUN 10AM-NOON.

PLEASE REGISTER BY CALLING (908)399-0247 OR E-MAIL GROUSESTUDIOS@GMAIL.COM

I have developed a line of greeting and note cards which will feature my photography. I will also make custom cards for anyone  who would like me to shoot specific material to be converted to cards for resale or for gift giving. I  also have Frenchtown cards which will feature the landmarks, landscapes and characters of Frenchtown. Please come by and check them out.  They will be sold as individual cards and gift packs. You can choose a theme.

WOW !!! I have been taking an advanced jewelry class, with “the master” of art and my friend Bob Jiorle,  this consists of cutting and polishing stones. This is SO VERY INTERESTING and VERY EXCITING !!! I will give you some technical information shortly. I have been making sterling silver jewelry for a number of years, but have always purchased my stones. I am now making my own.

It is so gratifying to take an ordinary stone (yes, I have picking ordinary rocks from rock piles all over town), to cut it, shape it, refine it and then to polish it to a beautiful lustre…….behold, a stone worthy of a great sterling setting is born. I made it myself, I have given birth to a baby rock, or “a chip off the old block”.  Really and truely, this is a small piece of what is an ordinary stone. Look at the photos ans tell me that you are not amazed. See my next posting “How a Baby Rock is Born” for the technical information I promised. This is better than Rocket Science !!!!

I will tell you briefly the steps: 1) Select your stone, how do you know it is a good parent ? Check it’s qualities first before you invest too much time and love. Quickly grind a small spot on the rock flat with the grinding stone, quickly sand the spot, then polish the spot, if you like what you see, then it is a good candidate for parenthood and you may invest in your parent stone. 2) Fire up the wet saw equipped with the diamond blade, and slowly and methodicly cut a nice size slab of stone from the parent, this could take a few passes until you get the desired thickness and a nice composition within the slab (always keep your finished artwork piece in mind when selecting stones to use).  3) Grind the slab to the desired size and rough shape using a wet grinding stone with water running on the stone at all times to keep the heat from burning you and the baby. 4) Apply the stone to a Dop stick to further shape the stone, but putting it on the stick helps to protect your hands and fingers from the gringing/sanding. 5)Grind further, this time using a finer wet grinding stone, stone to a dome shape, flat top or faceted shape and refine and rough spots. 6) Sand the stone using a wet sand paper wheel with a rough grit of 320, then continue to sand with a finer wet sand paper witha grit of 400 or 600 making sure to remove any lines, scratches dimples or imperfections.  7) Apply tin oxide to a wet leather disk and polish the stone until you can see your reflection in the glossy finish. Your Baby is born, wash the baby rock, remove from the dop stick and admire with a foolish grin. Dry your baby rock, brag about your youngster, compare it’s size and shape to the others in the room and take lots of pictures. 9) Now wrap your baby in a secure, snuggly, protected  place and take your baby home. You will now need to decide how the baby will spend the rest of it’s life.  It is time to design an environment which will enhance your baby and allow your baby to shine. You are the parent now, be proud of you accomplishment.

There is some very technical information which you can check out on the Inland Lapidary website . Look under “How to Cab”

Grouse Studios will be open on Saturday July 11 and Sunday July 12, stop by Frenchtown to check out my store. On Saturday stay long enough to get the essence of Frenchtown Bastille Day, a celebration of the French origins of the town and celebration honoring those who founded  our quaint river community. There is fun activity for the entire family, food, music, the “fun bus”, puppets, mimes, clowns and games of chance. The shops will feature special “french” themed items and serve french goodies as part of the celebration. Please stop by Grouse Studios and say hello to artist, Margie Milne on Saturday, she will be shop sitting while I am out of town. My shop features a number of Margie’ original works of art which are varied in style and subject matter. Then cross the Delaware River and proceed South to Tinicum township for a great indoor/outdoor art festival complete with food, fun, music and tons of art in all mediums. I will be exibiting one of my handmade pottery sinks in a hand painted cabinet as well as a number of photographs. ”Bumps on a Log” is for sale at the Tinicum Festival of the Arts. I have thousands of photos for sale, call or e-mail me with theme or color scheme, I have a photo for you. Enjoy !!!

Hummingbird Stained Glass Suncathcher. This is adorable, colbalt blue and white hummingbird sipping nectar from a red hibiscus flower. This is genuine leaded stained glass, not that fake stuff. $ 20.00 (does not include shipping)

Antique pastel landscape in an intricately carved antique goldtone frame. The pastel depicts a tranquil countryside scene. This piece of art could find a home in nearly any decor, but deserves the spotlight wherever it is placed. The original wavy glass adds to the charm and authenticity of the piece. $ 250.00 does not include shipping.