Art Project: The Making of a Mosaic

I have been wanting to make a mosaic for awhile now. I always envisioned myself purchasing old plates from  a second hand store, smashing them to bits, and then creating something beautiful out of them.

Last weekend on a team building excursion to Little Shop of Crafts in the Upper West Side, I passed up painting and pottery for a chance to mosaic. The process was a lot safer than my fantasy of breaking dishes and relatively easy. Little Shop of Crafts is geared towards children and parties (birthdays and bridal showers) but can be fun for all ages. While I was there I saw a few couples on dates and many adults intently working on their art pieces.

I chose to make a trivet. My design inspiration was a peacock feather. I painted the base in three layers to give it some dimension. The colors I chose were blue, silver, and green. After I was done painting, the color was sealed to give the wood a glossy sheen.

I had a variety of tile colors to choose from. The tiles provided were 1/2 inch squares. 

I used tile cutter pliers to modify the shapes of the tiles. It was important to hold the pliers firmly and shield the tile while cutting so that the tile would not fly away.

Now the design. I wanted to make a peacock feather but could not envision what a peacock feather looked like from memory. I had no print out or example from a book to look at. I tried a few different ways to come up with a configuration to represent a peacock feather but couldn't get it quite right. Abandoning the idea, I went with a circular design consisting of purple, mirror, green, and blue tiles. I also threw in a few plastic jewels to break up the pattern.

I used Elmer's Glue to secure the tiles and jewels in place. I also put painter's tape around the edges of the trivet to protect the paint job from the grout.

That was it for day one. The glue had to dry for 24 hours. I found the design and glueing to be the hardest part of making a mosaic. It was tedious and required a lot of patience. The smaller the tiles, the longer it took to glue. Also, there were a few times when the corners of the tiles cut me. 

For my trivet, I used about a cup of grout. I added water and mixed the grout powder until it became a paste. I then slathered it over the tiles and completely covered the surface, filling in all the spaces in between the tiles.

After 15 minutes, I used a damp sponged to wipe off the excess grout.

I then waited three hours for the grout to dry.

Time to peel off the painter's tape!

I cleaned off the tiles with all purpose cleaner. Something like Windex works just as well. This is the finished project. I am happy to say my mosaic is a success!

Little Shop of Crafts

711 Amsterdam Avenue
New York NY 10025

Gooby Goo & Peekers go to Gowanus

Gooby Goo & Peekers played their first East Coast show ever at Littlefield in Gowanus, an area in Brooklyn situated along the Gowanus Canal. The neighborhood is industrial and desolate. It was a peculiar choice of venue but fitting for their caliber.

Gooby Goo & Peekers came all the way from Studio City in Southern California. Brooklyn was a pit stop before making their way on to Canada.

Peekers graced the stage in a blue dress reminiscent of Alice of Alice in Wonderland. All that was missing was the white apron and white tights. Gooby Goo played backup for her as she bobbed around on stage. The two went back and forth in banter explaining how they came to be. It’s an inside joke containing polar bears and cutesy nicknames. The strength of this band is in their quirky style.


The Littlefield stage was in the back in a separate room from the front bar. For the most part it is standing room except for two tables and a few chairs along the wall. The room was pitch black and illuminated by the stage lights. Either the equipment at Littlefield is limited or there was no rehearsal for stage lighting. One of the guitarists played the whole time in the dark. The instruments were clear but the microphones made all of the vocals sound muffled. Though not perfect, the night was memorable and an important one. Here's a cheer to firsts in NYC!

Littlefield
622 Degraw St
Brooklyn, NY 11217


Gooby Goo & Peekers

City Guide: Houston in 48 Hours

I am not embarrassed to say that, up until a few years ago, my only association with Texas was reciting song lyrics I learned from Pee-wee's Big Adventure. 


On a recent trip, I was enlightened. I got to experience Houston, mostly on foot. A car was helpful, but since I was situated in the downtown area, I took advantage of the METRORail. At just $1.25/ride, it will pretty much drop you right in front of all the local attractions. Hello Houston!

Houston is home to Rice University and the Rice University Art Gallery. The Rice University Art Gallery is the only University gallery in the United States devoted to installation.


Across the street is Hermann Park. It is extremely clean. It has plenty of jogging paths, space to walk your dog, and picnic tables galore. In the center is a structure similar to the Washington Monument and at the end is a beautiful arch honoring Sam Houston. The area is popular amongst families and taking pictures for Quinceaneras.

The Pioneer Memorial Obelisk

The Houston Museum District boasts 18 acclaimed museums. I only had time for one, The Museum of Fine Arts, but the Houston Museum of Natural Science came highly recommended as well.


For shopping, Rice Village has a nice mix of big chains such as the Gap and Ann Taylor while mixed in with funky boutiques like Mint Clothing & Accessories and Wish.


All the walking and heat will get you hungry. The Breakfast Klub has chicken and waffles. Niko Niko serves classic Greek Fare. Armandos is a newly renovated Mexican bistro. For an upscale dining experience complete with waterfalls and a balcony view Trevisio Restaurant is at the top of the Texas Medical Center.


There is so much more to Texas than just an 80's movie. Next stop... Austin.


Rice University
6100 Main
Houston, Texas 77005


Hermann Park
Hermann Dr
Houston, TX 77004


Museum of Fine Arts
1001 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77005


The Breakfast Klub
3711 Travis St
Houston, TX 7700


Niko Niko
2520 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006


Armando's
2630 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77098


Trevisio Restaurant
6550 Bertner St
Houston, TX 77030

Fake Grass and Plastic Leaves

Did someone say park? While the snow continued to fall and sun filled days at Sheep Meadow in Central Park seemed so far away, New Yorkers took advantage of a little pop up park at OpenHouse Gallery in Nolita. American Foliage transformed the space into a Summer wonderland complete with a giant tree, leaves, and a votive lit pond. The result was a little like being on a movie set. It made sense. American Foliage provides props and designs for television, motion pictures and special events.

Park Here was a great success and at times got very crowded. Those who arrived early were rewarded with picnic tables, benches, Fatboy beanbags, and space to claim as their own. Everyone came prepared with board games, knitting needles, cards, take out from Balthazar, and my personal favorite a makeshift picnic consisting of a blanket, salad in a bag, canned peas, canned tuna, a can opener, and Two Buck Chuck. On-site vendors included Luke's Lobster and Intoxicating Creations. Let's just say that there was no shortage of food or fun at this park.

Three rooms of indoor warmth made for a day of rest and relaxation. Rox and Judi w/ an i indulged in chitter chatter, cupcakes, cartwheels, a nap, people-watching, and photography ops.

Photography Credits: Judi w/ an i, Rox

OpenHouse Gallery
201 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10012

American Foliage

Vampire Weekend: Too Cool For School

Sometimes you just have to be standing in the front with two hundred other crazy fans bouncing up and down while dodging plastic cups filled with beer. The experience sure beats... sitting down.

Terminal 5, which was once the location of the famed club Exit popular in the late 90's for being a maze of themes and pumping bubbles on to the main dance floor, is now home to hosting a variety of popular musical acts. From M.I.A. and Massive Attack to She & Him and Smashing Pumpkins, shows at Terminal 5 are bound to be sold out. It is a standing room venue with multiple floors. The second and third floors form a perimeter on top of the main floor. If you hang out there, it will be like watching a concert from a balcony. The height is vast yet still intimate in proximity to the stage. One thing that stays the same at the transformed space is that it still feels like a crowded club.

The activity at Terminal 5 was the perfect setting for college band Vampire Weekend. Their youth soared and the stage was tight enough to display their unity without taking anything away from their sheer musical talents. They even had room for a miniature orchestra.

Fast forward two years later. The band celebrated their second album Contra with another tour. This time, at larger and fancier venues. Radio City Music Hall gave them a sense of elevated success with three shows in one week. Sadly, the setting was too large for them.

The fans were slightly subdued sitting down in the comfortable chairs. There was a smattering of empty seats and the stage was too big for Vampire Weekend's presence. They played almost stationary and covered Bruce Springsteen's I'm Going Down which prompted booing from the crowd. Perhaps this is what happens when kids try to grow up too fast?

Vampire Weekend has a long way to go before they are ready to play in the real world. Hopefully, they learned a few things during their Fall semester abroad. In the mean time, why rush?

Terminal 5
610 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019

Radio City Music Hall
1260 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Vampire Weekend

Multipurpose Furniture Meets Urbanite Needs

Real estate comes and goes in the ever-changing SOMA section of San Francisco. The location once belonging to the urban furnishing giant EQ3 is now the discount store 9th Street Designer Clearance. Fortunately, for space challenged apartment and homeowners, EQ3 still stands in Emeryville.

Josh and Caroline Quick, who brought EQ3 to the Bay Area, added to a market not yet fully tapped. EQ3 fits the niche for quasi-adults who are transitioning into "grown-up" furniture and those who have somewhat "made it" able to splurge on items quite trendy and cool looking, less than traditional but very functional. Not quite part of the Thomasville or Crate & Barrel crowd, EQ3 is a step above IKEA and in the ranks of CB3.

EQ3 has a wide selection of couches, dining room and bedroom furniture, patterned linens, sleek accessories, and punchy throw pillows. Prices start at around $85.

The number one selling point of EQ3 is that their furniture is modern and multifunctional, which is popular among urbanites. The former SF Assistant Manager Dolph told me, "Particularly in San Francisco, houses are smaller and income is less disposable." Dual function furniture becomes a must have and want for many city dwellers. For example, one of the bed sets sold at EQ3 can easily be turned into a couch simply by moving the headboard. That bed is only one example of the versatility the furniture sold at EQ3 has to offer. "If your needs change later on, a nightstand can become an end table," Dolph added.

Magnolia Night Stand $249

Quick, who owns EQ3 with her husband, said, "One of the biggest benefits is that a lot of people in cities are renters. As you move, multifunctional furniture can move with you." Lofts and tight quarters are examples of spaces where versatile pieces can be useful. "Sometimes people want to use their bedroom for entertaining. Rather than it looking just like a bedroom, multifunctional furniture gives you an option to define the space," explained Quick.

EQ3 is a reliable resource for those living the city lifestyle, those who want to get twice the usage out of their furniture and anyone who has a space they want to transform. The budget friendly prices, stylish options, and functionality of EQ3 make it a big contender in the furnishing world.


EQ3
5603 Bay Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
T 510-601-0400
eq3.com

I Heart New York

I've come a long way from Chevron gas stations.

This is what I see from my windows now. I don't need to romanticize New York anymore because I am living it.

a close - up version

How many New York landmarks do you recognize?