Okay, so I've just been unofficially fired from the job of naming the sea monster.  By myself.

Here you can see my latest loop-de-loos, and other assorted eye candies...

I'm near done!  See ya down there tomorrow!

Glass guru, and local superstar, Rick Satava, came out yesterday with some "samples" he had "laying around".  We all gathered around with are jaws dropped, ducking and leaning to see them from every angle.  The feeling was unanimous that these would be absolutely perfect for Smelly Nelly, the sea beast.  Wait, we can't call her that!  That was just one of many suggestions made while we dehydrated in the Chico heat, a variation of Nessie of Loch Ness.  We need some ice water people!  We're dying here!

here's another angle on that purty purty mosaic sea-serpent.  Some call it a dragon, some call it the sea-monster.   They're going to be pouring some rubbery blue matting all over the ground there in swirly shapes to simulate water.  It's supposed to raise the ground level there 4".  My mosaic is starting to take on a slightly (or not so slightly) arabesque flavor.  I've been calling it my Pakistani taxicab.  Someone mentioned that there was a woman who was very upset that they were calling the boat next to it  a "pirate ship" so I can't imagine what they'll say about my muslim style imagery.  Anyhow, if it's a dragon, his feet must be under the 'water' out of sight.

They're painting the serpent red, so I just had to take a photo mid-way of the red paint dripping down the serpents mouth.  It really looked like a scene from "Jaws"...

So theres this really cool kids park, in Chico, California called Caper Acres.  It's always been one of the more unique parks, so it only seems fitting that this one of a kind concrete serpent should land here for kids to crawl over and through.  They had a huge crane lower it into place while I giddily danced around getting all my mosaic supplies in order.  I've been laying out an arsenal of hand-made tile in my studio for the last couple of months, but nothing could prepare me for the excitement of the real, tangible beast!  This is one of seven large pieces that wrap in a circular fashion around a 'pirate' boat play structure.