Abstract Steel and Mosaic Tabletop Sculptures

May 24, 2024 by Johannah Willsey in Collaborations, Sculpture, Mosaic

And the collaborations continue to evolve…

A big difference created by the move to our new studios is the ability to work more closely together. In the past, one of us worked at the studio while the other stayed at home with our two kids. Time to put our heads together over a project required planning and coordinating schedules.

Now that our studios are on the same property as our home, we can pop over to the studio for a brainstorm session or just a quick check-in for an opinion from the other person. It’s a much more efficient way to collaborate!

These three tabletop sculptures are the first products of this new way of working together.

First Kyle forged three different shapes based on loose sketches. From there, Johannah chose colors and designs based on the shapes of the sculptures. Lots of fine-tuning conversations took place before, between, and after each step.

The flaring shape of the first piece brought a candle flame to mind. The teardrop look of the second piece made us think of water. These sculptures are two-sided with the same mosaic colors and designs on both sides.

Steel and red glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (3).JPG

Steel and red glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (4).JPG

Steel and turquoise glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (3).JPG

Steel and turquoise glass abstract sculpture PH2023 (4).JPG

For the last piece in this first group of sculptures, Kyle created a shape inspired by sunrise over a beach that has a special place in our lives. Johannah created a sunrise mosaic on the first side. Unlike the first two sculptures that are the same on both sides, we decided the opposite side of this piece called for something different. Johannah made a moonrise mosaic for the second side. We call this finished sculpture “Shoreline.”

This piece and the blue one have sold, but the candle flame-inspired sculpture is available with free shipping!

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Steel and mosaic sunrise sculpture detail

Steel and mosaic moonrise sculpture detail

Two-sided steel and mosaic sunrise and moonrise sculpture

Custom Steel and Mosaic Creations

May 10, 2024 by Johannah Willsey in Collaborations, Furniture, Mosaic, Railing

The more we put our forged steel and mosaic work together, the more new ideas occur to us and our clients for ways to collaborate. It’s such an exciting and satisfying journey!

We created this first table to show off the client’s collection of glaze sample ceramic tiles handmade by her mother.

Forged table base work in progress

Handmade ceramic tiles

Test fit for ceramic tile tabletop

The tiles came in a variety of colors and thicknesses. The fun challenge was to create a pleasing pattern of color AND as smooth a surface as possible. We were impressed in the end that Johannah was able to create a relatively even surface.

This client is local and was able to visit our studios to see examples of other tables Kyle has created. This helps a lot in visualizing the final product. Together, Kyle and the client designed a base that fit their taste as well as the space the client had in mind for the table.

This next one is a collaborative piece we designed and made for ourselves!

We needed a single step from the gallery floor up to the door to the next room. Kyle forged a small railing with circular shapes for Johannah to fill in with mosaic. For the pure fun of it, she decided to go with dark pink and gold with a green flat marble at the center. Kyle also made the wooden step in hickory to coordinate with the flooring in the gallery.

We created this last table for a couple celebrating an important wedding anniversary.

Kyle and the client designed the table to fit their entryway hall. The colors in the mosaic were inspired by other nearby artwork. Our friend Christina Boy made the walnut top.

Custom table base in progress

Mosaic inlay in progress

Greek Key Firepace Screens and Tools

April 26, 2024 by Johannah Willsey in Fireplace Accessories

One of the fun things about running a business in the age of the internet is that folks find us from all over. Kyle created this set of fireplace screens and tools for a couple that reached out to us from the other side of the country in Washington state.

This couple was in the process of building a new home with both an indoor and an outdoor fireplace. They wanted a coordinating fire screen and set of fire tools with a Greek key design for each.

Here you can see the detailed process required to fabricate each Greek key. Between the two fire screens and eight tools, Kyle created 20 of these altogether!

Here’s a quick video tour showing some of the fire screen details & the closing mechanism.

The two fireplace screens in Kyle’s workshop before he applied the finish to them. The interior screen has a wax finish to show off the look and color of the forged steel. The screen for the exterior fireplace gets a high heat enamel finish to protect the steel from the elements.

Interior Greek key fireplace screen

Interior Greek key fireplace screen corner detail

Exterior Greek key fireplace screen

Exterior Greek key fireplace screen corner detail

Here are the finished fireplace screens hanging out in our gallery before we shipped them off to Washington. Below are the two sets of fireplace tools. We make tools for exterior fireplaces a bit longer as they’re usually larger and therefore hotter than an indoor fireplace.

You can see more fireplace screens and tools Kyle has created in a variety of styles in the Fireplace Accessories section of our portfolio.

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