Sophie Robins Mosaics
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It's been a while!

8/3/2017

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I won't focus on how slack I've been updating my blog! My preferred form of social media seems to have become Instagram, sophie_robins_mosaics. I love its instancy (is that a word?). However, I LOVE looking at other peoples blogs and gain loads from them so I will continue to update this one...and there is a lot to tell!
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Back in October 2016, the City Council asked if I would install the work of ceramic artist Eric Foxley on the wall of Priory Park , Lenton , Nottingham.

Being someone

 who likes a challenge and loves an opportunity to learn something new, I accepted.

A couple of workman from the council turned up on the morning and attached some cement board -bought conveniently from the tile shop over the road! This was an on the job decision as we were told the wall was OK to have the tiles directly on them...no way!

All in all there were 96 tiles over 2 plaques. 

Wha
t a pleasure it was unwrapping such beautiful hand made tiles!

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 As I was revealing each carefully packaged tile, I became fascinated by the artist and what inspired him for this work.

Eric Foxley has lived in the area for 50 years.
He entitled the artwork "Local Life".

Each tile had been inspired by some aspect of local nature and industry or community interest.

The natural objects, like leaves or fruit he collected from walks in the local parks. Hard objects included pills representing QMC or Boots (head office is nearby) and tennis raquet strings from the Tennis Centre, (I was wondering what they were!).

Thank you Eric for this addition to Lenton, I had many compliments to your work as i installed it. 

As luck would have it, I had just been on an adhesive and grouting course run by BAL in Stoke on Trent so I knew exactly whhich materials to use for the job and was able to practice my new found tiling skills!
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"My Paisley World"

10/3/2016

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"Appreciating the world of art, design, and handmade craft -plus all things creative, lovely and inspiring! Sharing my travels, my experiences, my fancies ... My Paisley World!" (LuAnn Poli)

A huge thank you to LuAnn Pol, a blogger from the States who recently featured my work on her blog. If you are interested in following her or looking at the feature please use this link...
http://mypaisleyworld.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-wonderful-mosaics-of-sophie-robins.html

BLOG~ http://www.MyPaisleyWorld.blogspot.com
ETSY~ http://www.PaisleyBeading.etsy.com                                
FACEBOOK~ https://www.facebook.com/PaisleyBeading
PINTEREST~ http://www.pinterest.com/paisleybeading/
TUMBLR~ http://sutton15445.tumblr.com/                                
TWITTER~ https://twitter.com/LuAnnPoli
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For the past few weeks I've been busy working on a fire place hearth with an insect theme. It has been fun to work on and I've been able to combine lots of materials in the piece as seems to be my trade mark. I've used Opus Classicum in the background which proved fiddly, (but lets face it...mosaic is fiddly!) but I believe when grouted, the shape of the insects will be enhanced because of it. For more information on different styles of Andamento, go to: http://www.mosaicmakers.co.uk/mosaicstyle.html

I'll be installing and grouting it next week so I'll update with pics...
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The 10th Sherwood Craft Fair

18/11/2015

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 This Saturday saw another fantastic Christmas Craft and Food Fair at The Place. 
The building was heaving from 10am, I pitied those who decided to come early to avoid the crowds, in fact, there wasn't a quiet moment all day.

Personally, I just LOVE it! Its a chance to see absolutely everyone who lives in Sherwood and beyond, to whizz round and buy a few pressies and of course ... as a stall holder to sell sell sell!

This year my jewellery proved popular, especially the new smaller rings and earrings which were both sold out as well as my cards. New for this fair were vintage crockery mirrors, new prints and several mosaic pieces.

Please contact me via email for price enquiries as I am already working on new stock.

Thanks for everyone who came for your support.

sophie.robins@yahoo.co.uk


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"Poppy Heads and Pussy Willow"  prints available, mounted only or mounted and framed. 
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Vintage plate mirrors.                                                                                           Earrings, oval rings and pendants.
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Summer Activities...

9/9/2015

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 After a lovely summer (though sadly little sun), I am finding myself gradually, very gradually getting my head together for a new term. Not to say I haven't been productive, or even creative over the past few weeks, just not of the mosaic type.

My newly decorated front room, complete with log burner, and new log store in the front garden is ready for the coming season. Crocheted blanket is on going. 

One highlight included a trip to London to see the Sonya Delaunay exhibition at the Tate,  (http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/ey-exhibition-sonia-delaunay) followed by a shopping trip with my 14 year old, her first taste of Oxford Street.
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Poppies!

21/7/2015

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These 50cm, vibrant poppies are the finished result of a workshop at Hillside Primary and Nursery School, Hucknall.
The brief was to enable representatives from every class in the school a chance to contribute in the making of the mosaic. In advance of the day, I had prepared the design, clearly marking the zones to fill and encouraged the children to use the mosaic technique of Andamento - " the visual flow and direction within a mosaic produced by the placement of rows of tesserae"  
http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/glossary/andamento.shtml

This Poppy mosaic project was in honour of the retiring Headteacher and The D.S. represent her initials. There will be six more next term!


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Mission Complete!

13/7/2015

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At last, the PTA funded project at Bluecoat Acadamy is finished! I'm struggling to remember when we started it but it was well over a year ago. Small groups of pupils from year 7 and 8 helped out at lunch times or after school until eventually the last group got mucky grouting it. Hopefully it will soon be hanging on the wall somewhere in the reception area at the Aspley Lane site.
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Bluecoat Academy Mosaic

5/2/2015

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I last posted an image of the Bluecoat Mosaic back in October. Progress is slow but progress non the less!
Can't wait to see it finished.


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Instragram and Fresh Inspiration...Geometrics

4/2/2015

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I've recently become a massive fan of Instagram and have been following some truly inspirational artists, designers and photographers. (Follow me and see who I'm talking about!) What amazes me is how they seem to produce work of both quality AND quantity! Thankfully, rather than daunting me this has fired me up and spurred me on...

Today I have been writing blurb and photographing my work with the intention of  very soon opening an Etsy shop selling my mosaic jewellery, there we go, its out there, I have to do it now!


 However in the meantime if anyone sees anything they like, don't hesitate to email me. Pendants are £22 (sold with 16 or 18" silver plated snake chain)  and rings, £16, (silver plated, adjustable) plus postage. 

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Following the said influences from fellow Instagrammers, I have (unusually for me) been drawn to geometric designs, I'm now looking forward to creating a range as sketches and ideas are coming together. For this first design named "99", as it contains 99 isosceles triangles, I got so excited pulling together the colours taken from a mid-century modern colour palette. I found great satisfaction from working on a larger scale again. 
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Happy New Year!

9/1/2015

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With good intentions to crack on with my mosaic jewellery as soon as the girls went back to school my plans were scuppered due to a delay in the delivery of my pendant bases from the States. Finally they arrived with a massive customs charge and handling fee! Innocent little me, not realising charges are incurred over £15, I must have got away with it many times before! Oh well you live and learn.

So, little mosaic activity as yet but other creations have emerged...
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I've taught myself to crochet with a little help form a YouTube tutorial and now I'm up and running! Quite addictive.
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Ring Ring....is anybody there?

5/11/2014

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I've been making jewellery for a while now but this will be the first time at the Sherwood Craft Fair, so it will be interesting to hear feedback and ultimately see how it sells, lets face it!

This is a new collection made especially for the event. The range includes rings, pendants and cuff links incorporating floral china, intense stained glass and Italian Millefiori. Prices start at £16.

The other new addition this year is some prints of my mosaics. Watch this space for a sneak preview as I am meeting the printer today to see how they look!
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