First time working with porcelain clay

and creating a back splash for the guest cottage pedestal sink.

I noticed a bit of water damage along the back edge of the pedestal sink 

in the guest cottage and decided to create a back splash to protect it.

I used a scrap of paper to draw a simple arched pattern for the shape.

 I rolled out a piece of clay and cut the basic shape

 and pulled out my seashell molds and started layering the whole piece with seashells

 then created a little lip along the bottom edge where it will set on the back of the sink.

It has been drying for days. When it is completely dry it will be fired

and then I plan on glazing it all in whites.

Here it is back from firing.

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Seashore inspired mosaic tray

I began creating various sizes of ceramic tiles to use in an old 

wooden tray that I found at a thrift store.

 I chose to paint it all white. I had primer and house paint leftover 

from work around the cottage, and it worked perfectly on the 

old brown tray.

The goal was to incorporate the varying shades of Tiffany blue hues 

that I had been using on some of my latest ceramic serving pieces 

for alfresco dining at the cottage along with the color of new

 growth in the spring a lovely green that I had used to paint all the

 shutters around my historic cottage.

 I intended to use it for serving in the charming bricked in courtyard 

full of flowering plants and vines.

I added in some beautiful glass tile samples leftover 

from a sample card, some flat marbles typically used for floral

 arranging and even a few stray pearls, and vintage buttons just 

because I could!

Pieces with raised shells and embellishments I placed in the corners

 of the tray to reserve the center to be flat for serving.

I chose liquid nail to glue the pieces in place, and when it was 

completely set I used white grout following the manufacturer's 

direction to fill in all the spaces.

There are some days when it all comes together and causes your heart to sing! 

Thrilled to have it published in Somerset home!

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