A. Much of my time is devoted to finding china as this is the medium I most often use. I am VERY picky and prefer antique roses. As a rule I am not fond of the look and feel of modern china. I specifically hunt for old roses or interesting eclectic patterns. I LOVE pretty china rims and they have become a signature of sorts of my work. I literally buy hundreds of pounds of vintage china each year thru avenues such as estate sales, flea markets, antique stores, and the web. Family and friends also scout around and contribute to my obsession.

Q: How do you "Smash" your china and keep the pretty patterns?

A. I hand cut each piece of china in accordance to the pattern and design- that is an art in it self. No hammers or violence is involved.

Q: Do you do all the mosaic work yourself?

A: Absolutely. That is why you'll only see a few new pieces each week. Mosaic art is very time consuming with designing, cutting and piecing, finishing, and then the 24-48 hour process for each adhesive, grout, and sealant curing. I do have a carpenter who works closely with me in the design of bases for my mirrors, headers/door crowns and most birdhouses. Depending on the work load, I have an assistant to help with surface preparation and the like.

Q: Can I get one of your designs such as a mirror or header in a different size or color palette?

A: Yes, Commissions are accepted depending on the project and my other commitments. Email me at Diva@SimplySmashingMosaics.com if you should have more questions or wish to commission with me. If you have found me thru Shabbyfufu.com, please email them directly.

A quicker and less expensive option to commissioned or custom pieces are my available mosaics I list each week exclusively on-line at a wonderful boutique with a grand reputation. Bookmark and visit Shabbyfufu.com. I frequently do mirrors, headers/door crowns, birdhouses and other transformed treasures. * Suggestions * are also welcomed. Please note that my mosaics do tend to go quickly and all are one of a kind; so if something new comes up and strikes your fancy, grab it while you can. All of my pieces are packed and shipped directly to you from me and my studio when purchased from Shabbyfufu.

Q. Why do you sell your mosaics on Shabbyfufu.com; can't I get them less expensive directly from you?

A: My pieces are priced the same, no matter where you purchase them.

As an artist, all avenues of selling have a cost overhead. With art shows, I have entry fees, traveling and hotel costs plus valuable time I can be doing what I love… creating mosaics.

In galleries and/or brick and mortar shops I have consignment percentages I have to pay or have a low wholesale price not to mention my time either personally delivering them or shipping.

Selling directly on the web from my own site (such as this) costs me too much time and those dreaded administrative duties. Plus, it is just not my niche. I want to be spending my time with my art. Plus, I can't ethically price lower, as it is politically incorrect in the art world for a number of reasons... one being that it makes the people who sell your art for you upset for under cutting them and makes collectors/customers upset if they find out some else bought a similar piece for less and in the long run devalues the artist and the pieces as a whole.

Fortunately, I have found an on-line boutique that is a good fit. Shabbyfufu.com handles the administrative end of selling my available mosaic pieces on line. I work very closely with them. They have been featured as a "Best Place To Shop On The Internet" in Romantic Homes Magazine and are highly hailed as the most fabulous place to find scrumptious vintage treasures in the most prestigious Diva crowds ;-) Their online ordering system is secured by SSL Encryption for the highest level of Internet Security. They also have a direct telephone number that you can place your order thru if you choose not to pay via the internet. When you purchase your mosaic piece thru them, it is shipped directly from me and my studio in Idaho.

Q: I am concerned about shipping; can you assure me my pieces will arrive safely?

A: I have shipped literally hundreds of mosaic pieces, many of them mirrors. Rarely, is there a problem. Customer satisfaction is my priority as I rely on repeat buyers and word of mouth. Contact me immediately, in the rare event there is an issue.

Q: How do I care for my mosaic art?

A: Handle as a work of art. You can clean and polish with a damp cloth. The grout has been prepared with a commercial sealant to protect it from staining.

Q: Can I use my mosaic pieces outdoors?

A: I don't recommend it, particularly if you live in a climate with temperature extremes as freezing, blazing heat or high humidity as this can cause the piece to expand thus cracking the grout and loosing tiles. However, some people have reported years of success with their pieces displayed in a protected outdoor setting, such as a covered porch.

Q. How did you come up with the idea of using antique china in the mosaic form?

A: Inspired by the elegant beauty of antique china, Pique Assiette is the technique I subscribe too. It is commonly referred to as Broken China Mosaic, Shard Art, Memory Ware, and Bits and Pieces Mosaics.

Pique Assiette comes from the French term translated as "stolen from plate." This folk art began in France and is attributed to Raymond Edouard Isidore. Born in 1900, Isidore began collecting glass and pottery shards in 1938 from the fields near his home in Chartes, France. A bit on the obsessive side, he began covering anything that would stand still with his findings and when every surface of his house, inside and out became covered with his mosaic designs, he soon became a spectacle. He was infamously referred to as "Picassiette" - plate stealer- in which the term has stuck today to describe this folk art.

Objets trouv'e is a French term used for found objects. I frequently haunt antique stores, estate sales and whatnot to discover treasures that I use. Old buttons, antique jewelry, shells, beads and the like sometimes find there way into my mosaic pieces to add texture, interest and beauty.

Indeed, mosaic art is not only beautiful but one of the oldest art forms. It has been traced back 5,000 years to the Sumerians in Mesopotamia. Semi-precious stones, shells, gold and terracotta were used to embellish furnishings, tools, weapons and dwellings. The Aztecs used the same materials between the 13th and 16th centuries A.D.

The ancient Greeks and the Romans used mosaic art with pebbles and stones. The Byzantines began the practice of creating smalti- a specialized glass made by pouring molten glass colored with metallic oxides. The making of smalti became a Venetian tradition, still popular in this present day.

Look around and you'll see that the contemporary mosaic movement is flourishing. There are many modern mosaic artists gaining recognition and Mosaic art is quite popular. All the most divine Diva's have Pique Assiette in their home, YOU should too ;-)

Q: Is your work copyrighted? Can I use your ideas or images to try and make my own mosaic for personal use or to sell?

A: Oh My, this is a hot button. I had to think long and hard before making my pieces available on the web because of this very thing. Countless times I have created a new design, only to find a poor imitation days later. Many a time I can find my specific phrases, used on other self proclaimed "artists" work. A true artist has enough respect for them selves not to be a Copycat. Please, develop your own style, techniques and wording for your OWN work.

Indeed, EVERYTHING you see or read on my artwork and web pages are copyrighted. They are my intellectual property. So, be forewarned, I do not take infringement lightly. Infringement, by definition when it is relevant to copyright, is the unlawful use, redistribution and/or exploitation of intellectual property. The basic element that can be established for copyright infringement includes part or all of the work being copied or reproduced including reworking or paraphrasing and copying the concept, feel or essence of a work. Infringement can be punished by law including but not limited to recovery of monetary losses, punitive damages and/or misdemeanor or criminal prosecution.

Thank you for your understanding and complying with this most unpleasant issue.