Marrakech

Marrakech was inspired after I saw a picture of colorful furnishings inside a Moroccan home. I couldn't help but fall in love with the luscious orange, blue, and silver hues.

The base for Marrakech is a recycled handmade cedar wood cigar cask. I divided the cask into three horizontal rows and seven vertical columns. I gave each section its own geometrical design. Even the lid contains seven different patterns.

Marrakech - Detail

Glass tile, iridescent tile, millefiori, pieces of mirror, flat back marbles, ball chain, and silver Tibetan beads give the cask its multi-textural Moroccan flair.

8 x 6 x 6 inches

Cuernavaca

I decided to mosaic just the top of this lovely black lacquered jewelry box for a woman from Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Her favorite colors are blue and black. All of the glass tesserae used in this mosaic also come from Cuernavaca.

Cuernavaca - Detail

A blue monochrome palette with a black accent is the underlying theme of this mosaic.

Mexican murano, iridescent, pearlized, and opalescent smalti glass tile, plus flat glass pebbles.

8.75 x 6 inches

396

Based on the spiritual experience of the box recipient, the black bottom represents the undifferentiated primordial world. The colorful middle section is the world as we know it with all its materialism, conceptions, and temptations. Some call it Maya, illusion. The sparkling iridescent center top represents the pure self.

396 - Detail

Murano-style and crystal black glass tesserae surround the box bottom. The multi-colored section is comprised of silver and gold metal beads, a variety of glass tile, Swarovski cabochons, gem stones, millefiori, letter beads, vintage jewelry. Lid center features mirror circles, sterling silver rhinestones and litchi seed.

The box is a recycled handmade cedar wood cigar box. The interior is completely lined with black felt.

11 x 9 x 6 inches

Michael

Michael was made for an 11 year-old boy who loves to play baseball and American football. The lid depicts a baseball bat, glove and ball. The left side features a football, while the right side a goal post, see below.

The box front has the letter "M", for Michael, shaped from miniature pine baseball bats, stained and varnished.

Michael - Detail

The back has lettered wood tiles spelling out the words “Touchdown” and “Home Run”. The box is a recycled cigar box covered with a variety of glass tesserae. The interior is completely lined with black felt.

5.25 x 8.25 x 6.25 inches

Indian Nights

Ochre, indigo, and yellow are the essence of India with its ochre curry spices, indigo-painted houses, yellow saris. Several rooms in my home are painted with these colors.

Glass tile, Tibetan beads, brass ball chain and knob, felt, recycled cedar cigar box.

9 x 6.5 x 3.25 inches

Mickey Loves Blue

Keepsake box for Mickey. His favorite color is blue. The glass squiggles are shaped into an "M".

This is a pine box with crystal and iridescent glass tesserae and pebbles. Interior of box is lined with black felt.

8 x 8.5 x 1.75 inches