VIRGENE TYRRELL
Mosaics by Virgene

I am not formally trained in art. I worked 32 years as first the communications teacher and then the Director of Outreach at the Kansas School for the Blind. Through all my years of schooling and years of attending workshops, I was constantly doodling. My notes would be covered with abstract designs.

I am not formally trained in art; however, I have always been involved in creating things and took great satisfaction in discovering people liked the things that I created. At eight years old, I made and sold loom potholders in Chicago, (one for .15, two for a quarter) and hired other children who got a cut of the profit. In high school and college I made braided cord purses and belts?it was the hippie era. As a young teacher, I made beaded name bracelets and supplemented my salary and my young family at craft fairs. I sewed my own clothes and learned to knit intricate sweaters.

Then I discovered glass. Twenty-five years ago I gave my husband (and myself) a stained glass class in Kansas City. I worked with stained glass for a few years, but I was’nt satisfied with the unforgiving nature of the process. But we had all that glass! Many small pieces. Thus began my addiction/passion for mosaics.

First there were pots…many pots. I made mosaic black and white pots for each table at my son’s wedding. I started collecting more glass and learned that if I tumbled the pieces that I cut, the glass would be easier to work with. I added sand to the tumblers, and ta-da!…sea glass. I built up my collection of glass and started on larger projects.

I am inspired by everything around me…nature, design, art, color. I love to take photographs of nature and wildlife and then transform the images to mosaics. My mosaics continue to be more detailed. Now it seems that in everything I look at, I see mosaics. I like to upcycle items. I found a dusty old dingy free standing elephant in a thrift store and brought him back to life with paint and mosaic.   I find old frames and sand and stain them, although my husband also makes many of my frames.

I’m not formally trained in art, but art has become by passion. 

You can find me as Mosaicsbyvirgene on most social media platforms.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MosaicsbyVirgene?ref=search_shop_redirect

IG: Mosaicsbyvirgene

http://redbudartisanmarket.com

FB:  Mosaicsbyvirgene

http://mosaicsbyvirgene

YouTube channel:  Yarn and Glass