Sunday, December 16, 2007

MEET MOSAIC ARTIST: PENNY CARLSON

Judging from your comments, many of you are already fans of Penny Carlson. I am, too. Her ceramic mosaic designs, which she sells online at Lavender Hill Studio, are truly special.
One of the reasons I am attracted to Penny’s work is the way she incorporates plates into her mosaics. As you scroll down, notice the different ways she uses dishes in her designs.

Whether it’s a shabby chic coat rack or an English tea caddy, a teacup chandelier or a vintage vase, entire plates, saucers, even tiny butter pats, play a prominent part in her designs.
Penny and her four sisters were born and grew up in Michigan.

“My father was an architect. My mother stitched gorgeous quilts. I grew up around very creative people,” says Penny.
Peek into Penny’s studio and you will see shelves filled with vintage dishes, teacups, sugar bowls, old buttons, vintage jewelry and many different colors of stained glass.
“When I start a project I love going through my collection of plates and working out the design in my head. I never lay out or draw a design on paper. I don’t measure anything out - it is all freestyle design,” she says.

“I love working on commissioned pieces. China can be passed down from generation to generation, and over the years some pieces can be damaged, with chips and cracks, and are no longer usable. Often, the damaged ones end up forgotten in a bottom drawer of a hutch,” Penny notes.

“When I transform that broken china into mosaic wall art, a mirror, birdhouse or tray, instead of being stored away, it can take a place of honor in the house.”

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***
Penny’s favorite blogs are Dear Daisy Cottage and My Romantic Home.

32 comments:

kari and kijsa said...

Ooh- we just Penny and her work- her site is always overflowing with fabulous photos and projects! Thanks so much for sharing more!

blessings,
kari & kjsa

The Feathered Nest said...

Dear Barbara, not only is Penny so amazingly talented as a mosaic artist, she has an incredibly sweet and kind spirit as well. She never fails to lift you up and encourage you in your life and in all you create as well. She is such an amazing artist, I am so very glad that you spotlighted her!!
xxoo, Dawn

Alison Gibbs said...

So wonderful to show everyone Penny's fabulous work. I always enjoy visiting her blog.
Alison

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Thank you Barbara, for this lovely showcase! I am honored to be one of the mosaic artists you are featuring!
Penny

Angela @ Cottage Magpie said...

Love all the pictures of Penny's amazing work! That chandelier is one of my favorite peices of hers. Yay!
~Angela :-)

Natasha Burns said...

I just love Penny's work, but not only that, her blog is wonderful, she's such a warm and kind soul, so giving.
Thanks for highlighting her work!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the blog. Penny is great and has a heart of gold. I feel that it is her heart that comes out in each piece she does.

Vintage Rose Collection said...

Dearest Barbara,
I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope your apple pie turned out yummy!
I just adore Penny's mosaic work. A truly gifted artist!
Thank you for sharing with us..

Love to you, Jo
xo

bj said...

Thank you so much for giving Penny the spotlight on your blog. She is such a talented and sweet person.
bj

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbara, thank you so much for popping by our blog. We agree, Penny is an amazing artist and a lovely lady too, a delight to know her. Is that a gorgoeus Westie we see on your sidebar in Maine, such a handsome Westie, we have two of them! Jenn and Jacqui

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Penny is an amazing artist and such a sweet, sweet lady! Did you see the mosaic heart she made me? It's so beautiful! I'm so glad you spotlighted her!

Manuela

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Hello Barbara
Many thanks for visiting my blog today.
I love mosaic with china and Penn's work looks wonderful..
Have you heard of a British mosaicist called Cleo Mussi...? I am a huge fan of her work.. she has quite a following now and exhibits across the U.K.
To see her work visit my post 'Angels' where I have written about her work and there is a link.
I'll drink my next Guinness for you.
Michele

Kathleen Grace said...

Penny is not only a fabulous artist, she is a wonderful hunam being. Her blog is a constant source of inspiration and beauty!

Mary said...

Hi Barbara, thanks for showcasing Penny's work -- she is an amazing artist, and a wonderful person!
xoxo,
Mary

NEEREANDEAR said...

Barbara, You are correct.. Penny has quite a large fan base.. not only is she talented and does beautiful work but is a very sweet person also... We all love her..

JO

Gail McCormack said...

You're so right Barbara, Penny has a very special gift, her blog is one I always look forward to visiting and her comments left for others never fail to encourage and give you that little bit of inspiration which we all need at times. Thanks Barbara for a wonderful post

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Barbara,
You have showcase Penny and her work so beautifully! Well done! And as Dawn said above, Penny is not only a talented artist but a wonderful woman.
Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Yes, I've already found Penny too!What a talented lady, love her artistic designs.

RHoda

Kissing of the Frogs said...

Yes, I love Penny's work, she's amazing!!!
Rose

Anonymous said...

you picked the best mosaic artist possible. Penny's style is beautiful and unique and ,like you, she is one of a kind.
xoxoxo
fifi

Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva said...

oh penny is such a remarkable woman and artist...she has inspired my to mosaic my kitchen table...thank you for featuring her...she deserves the nod...blessings, rebecca

Donna said...

What a nice feature you did on Penny! She is truly an amazing artist, her work is gorgeous! Thanks!
Donna :)

CIELO said...

Hi, thanks for stopping by my "house in the roses" today. I am glad to hear that my post about candles has been of inspiration to you for your next wonderful creation.

I can't wait to see what you will come up with.

Enjoy the Season

Cielo

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful feature Barbara!
And isn't that the sweetest picture of Penny?! Thank you for sharing that with us!

She IS an amazing artist AND lady.

xo,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post and wonderful artist~Thank You~
Blessings:)
Carol
http://raisedincotton.typepad.com

Naturegirl said...

I do know Penny's work and drool at each piece! She certainly is gifted!
BRAVO Penny!! :)NG

Cindy said...

I love Penny's work too and I'm so happy to see her showcased on your blog. If like me you've ever tried to do a mosaic you really appreciate her work even more. It's so much harder than it looks! She is also one of the sweetest people I've met in blogland!

I'm so honored to be listed as one of her favorite blogs along with Daisy Cottage!

Shabby in Pink Boutique said...

I love to do mosaic work myself. My imagination takes over me when I do a peice. Penny's work is simply beautiful!

Kathryn Bechen said...

Penny's work is just beautiful and she a dear heart too! I love the Daisy Cottage birdhouse she custom designed for Kim McCole.

:) Kathryn

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Penny is the best! I love her.

Susie Q said...

I adore Penny. She is a very special lady and I am so glad to see her here.
She always has an uplifting word and the sweetest spirit. Her work is amazing. Thank you dear Barbara for sharing this.

Hugs,
Sue

Chany said...

Sra. Bárbara es usted mi inspiración, hace usted que cosas más bellas, yo recién abro un blog de plásticos reciclados, pero me encanta visitar su página, un gran abrazo Que Dios la bendiga ricamente, con cariño Chany desde Argentina.