Mosaic Bowling Balls
Gazing Balls
That Will Stay Put!
Mosaic bowling balls were the project that ignited our passion for mosaic. We were at a friend's glass fusing studio and saw that she had a collection of bowling balls. When we asked what she was going to do with them, she replied, "Mosaic them, of course!" Well the light flashed in our eyes, and the rest, as they say, is history. Here are our first projects:
Doug's Bling
"Doug's Bling" was done as a memorial to Jane's husband Doug who recently died. The process of transforming his bowling ball into a work of art was definitely art therapy for Jane. "Doug's Bling" is not for sale. It sits inside during the winter and in summer it nestles itself among plants on Jane's front porch. It's a dreamy mix of a variety of blues and copper tesserae, mirror tiles and glass gems, with charcoal grout.
Sticky Fingers
Sticky Fingers is Jean's first foray into the enchanting world of mosaic and her fingers got plenty sticky! The ball is a mix of lavender, blue, green and copper vitreous and iridescent tiles. Multiple series of white glass gems lead the eye to explore the various combinations of color and texture. The grout is a lovely shade of pale mauve. See how it looks on the back deck, cozied up to her early summer plants.
Benefits of
Mosaic Bowling Balls
as Gazing Balls
Placing a round glass globe or gazing ball in the garden has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. It's a throwback to Victorian times when chaperones used gazing balls to keep an eye on their charges without being so obvious as to just stand right in front of them to ensure that no hanky panky was going on.Now gardeners simply enjoy the pop of color that a gazing ball adds to the garden. A mosaic gazing ball takes color and design to a whole other level. We like to call our creations gazing balls with attitude! Gardens, patios, decks, and entryways are perfect locations for these pieces of art. They also work beautifully indoors. Check out these benefits: - Mosaic bowling balls are heavy enough to stay where you put them. Glass gazing balls can get blown by the wind. In contrast, bowling balls covered with glass and/or tile are sturdy (not the sensible brown shoe kind of sturdy, more like connected to the earth sturdy.) They don't move unless you pick them up and place them somewhere else.
- Each ball is a unique, one-of-a-kind handmade piece of art.
- Mosaic gazing balls are wonderful conversation starters.
- A person can gaze at the intricate jeweled patterns in a kind of meditation, and while away a wonderful summer afternoon. In our busy lives, this may be the best reason of all to have a mosaic gazing ball in your yard.
Want to see more mosaic bowling balls? We call ours "Rock 'n Rollers."
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