Winner of On Fire - Highlight Challenge

Winner of On Fire - Highlight Challenge

Highlight Challenge Winner

My European Touch

The winner of our first On Fire Highlight Challenge is Monika of My European Touch! Her Entry came in with 425 views! You can see her winning challenge on the On Fire for Handmade site HERE

Meet Monika:

Have been crafting ever since I was a little girl! Monika Joined HAF on Dec 3. 2010.
I have been an artist all my life and worked with a lot of different mediums; been a mosaic artist for 10 years now. I specialize in doing mosaics using a style referred to as “Pique Assiette or Tesserae” This process involves transforming vintage china/porcelain plates into artistic designs that are always one of a kind and my own. About me, the Artist: Growing up in Germany shortly after WWII; watching my parents re-use, re-cycle, re-invent – my involvement in the arts developed very early at about 5 years of age. Trying to make new candles from candle stumps – melting them on my little doll cooking stove, using simple yarn for candle wicks; (almost burned the house down) clothing my dolls by sewing, crocheting, knitting and cross stitch. Creating clay vases, paint and draw in my family’s home in Germany to now creating/working in my home in Florida.
My interests and talents have evolved over time. Any type of art has been a constant presence in my life. After all this experimenting with my very diverse talents I have grown into and have a very addictive desire to create MOSAIC, done from precise cut/nipped vintage fine bone china/porcelain plates, paired with stained glass mosaic, vintage jewelry and other tidbits and baubles. My tools are Glass Nippers, Wheeled Cutters, Glue, Grout and Sealer; sometimes paint. I create from my thoughts, feelings and inspirations around me. I reclaim/re-invent unwanted items from various sources and breathe new life/usefulness in them, create functional, fabulous, or whimsy Mosaic Art. Never having attended a class/course for mosaic I can be called self taught. Every new piece I create is a discovery and revelation for me. I have sold many pieces of my mosaic art since I started 10 years ago. On commissioned Mosaic Art I always work with the client and involve them in “Their” Art Piece. I invite you to have a closer look, please, as I do use precise cut, nipped bone china porcelain plates that otherwise would have been dispersed off and give it a new life in form of a mosaic art piece. I have sold and shipped all over the world, Hong Kong, Australia, Bahrain, Great Britain to name a few. And of course all over the United States.

I have seen mosaic work before but never really thought about all that goes into it until I met Monika, the talent and powerhouse behind My European Touch. Looking at her work is like walking through a romantic candy store.

Written by Oaklie’s Fashions