Plate Thief Umbrella Stand

I love a good yard sale, especially if I can find some beautiful pottery. If it has a few chips or cracks, all the better. If it has no flaws I add it to my crazy array of dishes in my kitchen cupboard. Dinner at my house can be served on a beautiful rose festooned antique porcelain plate or you might get lucky and eat your Jambalaya on top of a New Hampshire ski resort platter.

If it makes it into my studio, one of these finds can be used to create mosaics using the French art of Pique Assiette, which is a term that refers to the mosaic technique that uses recycled or "scrounged" materials. The term literally translates to "plate thief" and is one of my favorite mosaic techniques.

I created this umbrella stand using shades of blue and green pottery that I collected over several years. Using a dark blue grout as a backdrop, the shards shimmer and bring an artistic vibe whether it is holding a dripping wet umbrella or a blooming cherry branch.