I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Thursday, July 4, 2013

I decided to mix quilting with another element that I have been working with..................

cement!
If you look...........you can see the patch work squares and border?
Can't you?
I started working with cement a few weeks ago and have completely fallen in love with it. There are so many wonderful things I have been able to create.
from mosaic garden paths.............

assorted containers for plants...................
 

and now this. It all started when I accidentally broke one of my  favorite Homer Laughlin dishes.
I could not bear to throw the pieces away............so along with other broken china, I placed it away in a box.
And the idea of making it look like a square piece of calico fabric , in cement, came to my imagination!

This was one of my favorite cups, given to me by a friend. I was able to incorporate the words
"love makes a house a home" from it!
(click on photo for a better view) 

I  also used assorted tiles and quarters of slate I have found in hardware stores. I tried to make a prairie point edge.............and if you quilters are looking.......you can see I did not get my points to match up..........it's even harder in cement...............sigh.
So it worked out to be a pretty stepping stone for my garden..........
and I can enjoy my china outside!
How about you?
I know how terrible it feels to break a cherished dish.............
what do you do with the pieces?
I would love to hear!
 

6 comments:

Preeti said...

That's a very good idea and looks great too !!:)

Karen said...

You have an amazing imagination, Kathleen! These creations are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, I love your quilt tile design. A great idea for treasured broken dishes. I'm still waiting to make border border around a painted frame with mine. Perhaps put a mirror in it. Still a 'one of these days' dream...col...

May you have a wonderful day,

Marianne xo

Gina E. said...

I work one day a week in an opshop (thrift shop to you!) and we get people buying beautiful plates and cups, just to break up for mosaics!
I always feel sad that a lovely piece of china is going to be smashed, and I wish I could see the end results of their 'recycling'.

janice15 said...

O my That's a piece of Homer Laughlin fluffy Rose, which I had just purchased four lovely dinner plates and I didn't have them a week and my daughter broke one my heart is broken I got all four for 11.00 and I was so excited the man gave me a deal..now I can get one for less than 15. but it's sitting in the garden waiting for mosaic as well. I love what you did it so pretty.. they look really cute... Great job and idea thank you for sharing it..with love Janice

A Colorful World said...

Fabulous, Kathleen! I recently purchased cement and some "do-dads" to use and the grandson and I are planning to make flower pots and stepping stones also. Yours turned out great! Wish us luck! :-) I have created items from clay and glazed them for firing, but have never worked in cement before. It should be fun and challenging.