That's going to be so cute! Frustrating that you're re-doing/basically starting over with last year's project, but your vision of the tabletop is wonderful! LOVE the brass chain outlines and how you've got them overlapping at various angles....This'll be great to watch in progress....as are all your projects!

Pat

Ooohh... this is gonna be gorgeous!

Oh WOW Nice! Here you go again! the Queen of tables!!! Love the chain and border so far! So you are cutting out hand shapes?!!!

Unbelieveable.........how unique.......going to be another hum dinger!!!! You are really GOOD!

That's just way cool!

Jane, no I don't have any glass for that (the parents paid for glass for this project once already) so all I have to work with was all the fill that I cut up for them last year.

Also, one of the problems before was that the table top is warped and caused several of the hands to break at the knuckles (had hollow spaces)

And to be completely honest I couldn't bare the thought of cutting out all those d*mn hands again! LOL

This must be very frustrating, NT. I can't imagine those kind of repairs - starting from scratch on a piece AFTER having to take it apart. You're a better one than I. And the EXPENSE!!! Great idea to put the names all around in clay. LOVE the chain outline. This w/really be one I'll be watching w/interest.

Believe me, I was so disappointed. I had dreamt of a mirror using pics of the kids faces and asking them what they wanted to be, then "dressing" them in clay made into the uniform or clothing of their careers. (this was right after my mermaid mirror, so I was really inspired) Then to get this table dumped on me was a real bummer.

There were 16 kids last year, one of which has left, 3 more have joined the class. So here's this tiny table with 16 hands crammed on the top and everyone says, oh it will be easy just change one of the name tags on top (and fake the fact that hand print isn't really from that kid) then put the last 2 on the the lower shelf (like afterthoughts...)

I just couldn't do it! I didn't even want to be associated with it... When i decided to see if I could get the hands off and reuse them I discovered that some had portions were not in contact with the table top and that explained why some were broken - that synched it for me that it had to be started over...

I don't have much time to get it done now so i think it's all glass from here on out... The clay was the special touch and only possible because of a gift! But this in the middle of trying to get the house (and gardens) ready to sell... ARGH

Nicethyme,

Do you have a pix of your mermaid mirror??? I guess you can't tell that I love mermaids, can you???? Thanks

no problem Mermaid4life, i have a friend who loves them too - goes to a mermaid parade every year.

it's called "Of Faeries, Mermaids and Muses"

I am completely in awe of this piece. What an incredibly original and heart inspiring mosaic. I'll be watching this one closely.

Looking forward to seeing those hands filled in!
Nice to see "Of Faeries, Mermaids and Muses" again.
It really is magical!

I do love that mirror Nice!!Will be watching evry minute of this project too.

OH that is going to be so awesome. I can't wait to see more. And i love the other. MMMMMMMMMM

Oh.... I know this has all been a frustration to you, NT, but good grief... you're turning it into an AWESOME project! The ball chain is perfect for outlining the hands! Actually... you've given me the inspiration to ask my daughter to try to outline my granddaughter's hand and maybe foot... so that I can make something from it! (Did you notice I said..."try to"? :) She's a very wiggly almost 1 year old now. :)
I am so anxious to watch your project grow!!!
Katie

Okay, the pressure is on and time is short...
maybe a few more nights and I can wrap this up (not good timing while we're also trying to prep the house for sale)

Looking good! And house prepping too, oh my! I just love those chains and the border, it really takes it up a level!!! Lovely already!

ohhhhh finally, I am finished! I like it, and i don't but in Gypsy's famous word - it is what it is!

all glued down

last night I grouted in black and it looked okay cept the white hands looks like skeleton hands. So today i painted all the hands with matching paint and then dusted them with gold mica... it definately brightened it up. Then I added a special touch to the sides (lol)

OH NT, I just found this message again so THANKS for sending that beautific mirror. What an inspiration. I will look at it very closelyl and see what i can do. What fun!! A mermaid parade. Wonder where that is held?? I would LOVE to go.

Now for this new Hands piece.All I can say is WOW and DOUBLE WOW WOW!! It's fantastic, The dangles(are they shells) really complete the piece!!!

Do I see the names of the kids around the perimeter??? What are they made of?/ questions questions sorry, it is just so cool a real INSPIRATION even if it wasn't the right timing..

That's really jazzy!!! I don't think the white hands look like skeletons. Those colors(add green) are in my house.

Oh Nice, this is so wonderful! You def made lemonade out of what you thought was lemons!!! Nice job on the grout, it is spectacular!

Beautiful,like I say we'll see thousands again I bet!I love how clever this is.

Like I said b/f - w/every one of your projects, you get better. I think this is my favorite of all your pieces. Now tell me one thing. From someone who NEVER turns out a piece the way I first envision it, is this what you thought it would look like when you got the inspiration? This is truly a fabulous work of art. It is so professionally done. Congratulations on another unique work of art.

LOL thank you all - you guys make my day.

Slow, I don't think I ever have a real vision lol - That's what drives me - the curiousity to see what something will end up looking like. Keeps me from being dissappointed! LOL

Mermaid, I'm sorry I forgot your questions.

I'm fairly sure my friend goes to that parade in NYC every year

The name tiles and stamped border are done with polymer clay. the danglys are just strung plastic beads - but I take great pleasure in using those.

They were passed to me by an employee at The Inn at Little Washington, its a 5 star, 5 diamond Relais Chateau (and the reason why we moved here - I was hired to be the head gardener) But the thing is, the owner would totally seeth over these being reused - they insist that anything removed from the place be thrown away... including spent rose petals from the floral dept... nothing is allowed to be reused (they worry that will cause people to throw out valuable things, just so they can have it) They are total kooks about this, wouldn't it kill them to know I have their old plates too.
It gets better, several of my items are on consignment in their gift shops right now, maybe i should whip up something with those plates and send it down for sale! LOL

Mermaid it's at coney island look..............

http://mustseenewyorkvideos.magnify.net/item/LSZ7S7WMBJ8DBL2B

What a hoot Annie!! Not quite my idea of mermaids, but.. sure was unique. LOL

NT Thanks for the info on the particulars on your hand table. It is really FAB!! and hope it goes for tons of money at auction!!!

This table sold at auction tonight for...

four thousand five hundred dollars ! (YEAH BABY!) lol

Dig out the champagne!
Want to congratulate you again, you really deserve the validation of all your hard work!
Maybe they'll name a playground or something after you!

Well I'll be danged. I was wondering last night, during the endless hours when I couldn't sleep, when the sale was. Little girl - you must be one happy lady. I'm thinking you should be making things for sale for yourself as well as for auctions. You have a reputation now, for sure, and you can take advantage of it. Congratulations. That's some kind of wonderful thing you have done twice, and you do need to be honored w/something BIG at the school.

awe shucks you guys! I am sooo thrilled this did as well as it did. Thank you Slow and Cindiloo.

NT!!!! I'm tipping my glass to you. LOL.

That is so awesome!!! Did you sign your work?? Hope so,, I have a feeling you are going to be a busy lady, might have to give up your gardening job..

That is so fantastic and a real tribute to your work!!!! I hope you're making a project book of all your completed works. Or at least online...

WOW WOW WOW!! I'm jumping up and down for you!! So cool.. that and your mermaid mirror!!! You are on a roll. Keep them coming and let us see them for inspiration!!!!!

Way to go!!!!!!! Standing ovation!!!

YOU GO GIRL!!!!! WOW!!! How FANTASTIC!!!!! Yup, STANDING OVATION!!!!!