My father, Richard, has been coming to Piece by Piece's Creative Forces Mosaic Classes since the moment he saw the flyer up at the VA last year. He has raved about it since the first class and it was all he wanted to talk about.

To kick off the new year, instructor Ellen Dinerman led a workshop on making clay reliefs, experimenting in particular with texture and glazes. “Participants really enjoyed the clay relief project. The studio was so quiet with everyone working away; learning to carve clay and making various textures,” said instructor Ellen.

Using patterns based on traditional quilts, Piece by Piece, participants selected two to three colors, allowing them to focus on cutting techniques and placement styles. In addition to using basic nippers, artists were also able to try the more traditional hammer and hardie for cutting the pieces. 

Instructor Ellen Dinerman led workshops in November focusing on tool use. Participants learned the value of knowing the right tool for the job, be it glass cutting, ceramic nipping, or even clay sculpting. They created unique pieces this month using...

At the end of every year, all participants, staff, instructors, and volunteers gather to envision the new year, choosing the skills artists want to hone and projects they want to create. Mosaic shoes was one of the most requested workshops.