The Strathewen Mosaic Letter Boxes and The Beautiful Memorial Tree
Strathewen Mosaic Letter Box
The Strathewen Mosaic Letter Box Project was launched in August 2010 and began three months after the Feb 7 2009 fires which decimated the township of Strathewen. Victoria experienced severe fire weather that day which resulted in a firestorm in which 173 people died. Two of the Major fires were experienced in the Kinglake region and in the Marysville region. Strathewen is near the Kinglake National Park, on Feb 7 2009 23 residents died (from a population of 200) and 80 houses were destroyed.
Marion Oakley, a mosaic artist from Strathewen, provided a space for the people of Strathewen to come together, grieve, talk and construct new mosaic letterboxes. It was important to her that they put some colour back into the blackened landscape. Over time others joined the project from outside the community to also help make mosaic letterboxes and contribute in rebuilding the Strathewen community.
Strathewen is an apple and pear producing area which also hosts some small wineries. It’s not really the kind of place you would pass through to get anywhere and the people who lived there liked that about the place.
The typical letterboxes in the area looked not unlike these ones that I photographed on my way into Strathewen.
I inadvertently disturbed this fella when I stopped to photograph the letterboxes!
Having seen the Mosaic Letterboxes when they were on display after the completion of the project. I was interested to visit Strathewen and see the letterboxes around the community.
Strathewen is still in the process of rebuilding, even though it has been over five years since the fires.
I found these three beauties outside the newly rebuilt Strathewen Primary School
This one was perched up higher on the hill
The devastation of the fires is still apparent in the landscape
And it felt very appropriate to be paying my respects to this area on Anzac Day.
The Peter Avoca Memorial Pavillion at the Strathewen Recreational Reserve was also the site chose for the
Blacksmiths Tree.
The Blacksmiths Tree is an extraordinary piece of community art which was developed as a gift to all of the communities who were impacted by the Feb 7 2009 fires.
The Blacksmiths Tree was erected on February 14, 2014 and was five years in the making. Hundreds of blacksmiths from across 20 countries around the world forged leaves for the tree.
The Blacksmiths Tree is 10 metres high and is made from stainless steal and copper. It looks like a dead, fire affected gum tree and it is very beautiful. It fits perfectly into the landscape which surrounds it.
There is also a memorial park to commemorate the 23 lives lost in Strathewen on Feb 7 2009.
Lest We Forget.
How to Add a Unique Belt Buckle to Your Look
Belt Buckles are a great way to add some personality to your outfit.
Just as jewellery or a scarf can add a finishing touch to an outfit so too can an interesting Belt Buckle.
Elle Macpherson knows how to rock her street style with a belt buckle.
And the same belt buckle can look different on different outfits.
Now I know we don’t all have the same body type as Elle Macpherson but an interesting buckle can add interest to your outfit in a variety of ways. The key is to position your belt buckle so that it is most flattering to your figure.
A belt can be worn low on the hips if you are short waisted, this gives the effect of a longer torso.
If you have an hourglass figure then you should wear your belt at the narrowest part of your waist. 
You could also try putting a belt buckle over a jumper, jacket or coat
If you have a longer Torso you should position your belt buckle so that it sits higher up on your waist and go for a monochromatic look to match what you are wearing (black on black etc.) This will also help to elongate your legs.
If you are petite the Monochromatic look will work for you as well
Whatever your shape you CAN wear a belt buckle.
You just need to know where to position it on your figure to show if off the best.
And don’t think you can’t wear one if you are curvy.
It actually helps to emphasise your amazing curves.
You don’t have to be a cowgirl either (though Sofia Vergara does looks pretty amazing)
A unique buckle can add street cred to your style.
or your man’s..
.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and see how a belt buckle could work for you.
Here are a few I prepared earlier…
My unique, handmade Australian mosaic belt buckles
are available via my website at
www.brokenplatemosaicbeltbuckles.com.au
or brokenplatemosaics.bigcartel.com
Isn’t it time you updated your look?
My Unique, One of a Kind, Handmade, Mosaic Belt Buckles
So.. apart from remaking my mosaic table (see earlier post)
visiting mosaics around the place
Mosaic Steps in Rio, Brazil
and enjoying photographing other peoples mosaics.
I also make mosaic belt buckles out of Antique Bone China plates.
Antique Plate but soon to become a Mosaic Belt Buckle
I hunt around in Antique markets and usually find a plate which has lost its cup and is looking for a new home and a new life. It’s like a ‘make over’ for Antique China Plates
Mosaic Belt Buckle Romanesque 299
So many old plates have been sitting in the back of a cupboard collecting dust so I turn them into a little piece of wearable art.
Old Country Roses Plate
The ‘Old Country Roses’ plate is one of my favourites. I actually have a set at home.. but it does make the most wonderful Mosaic Belt Buckle!
Mosaic Belt Buckle Romanesque 301
This is it’s cousin ‘Moonlight Roses’
Moonlight Roses
It makes a great buckle too.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Statuesque 178
The advantage with using the Bone China to make my Mosaic Belt Buckles is that it has such a beautiful lustre. Quality China makes quality pieces. It’s as simple as that.
Mosaic Belt Buckle
When we were living in Canada I found an Antique Store which had heaps of plates from the Estate of an Old Lady who had covered her walls in them. Friends would bring her plates to hang if they had broken the cup. They said if you’d stacked them on top of each other they would’ve been as tall as the Calgary Tower, which is 191 metres (626 feet) tall! That’s a lot of plates! For me it was like walking into Disneyland…
Art Deco Plate soon to become a Mosaic Belt Buckle
There were some funky Art Deco plates which made some amazing Mosaic Belt Buckles.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Romanesque 300
I might make one or two buckles from a plate depending where the pattern is on the plate and how useable it is. Interestingly the most beautiful plate doesn’t always make the most beautiful buckle and conversely a ‘less beautiful’ plate can make an amazing buckle.
These buckles were all made from the same plate.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Romanesque 164. This one is Sold.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Arabesque 169
Mosaic Belt Buckle Statuesque 131. This one is Sold.
I just used different parts of the plate to create three completely different mosaic belt buckles.
I love making my One-of-a-kind mosaic belt buckles. I also really enjoy the relationship I have with the people who buy my mosaic belt buckles. They often come back to visit, wearing their buckle and tell me the places they have been to with their buckle.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Statuesque 166
I get to create my buckles and then send them out into the world. They have been bought and sent to Canada, the U.S, England and Australia so far.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Arabesque 271
There are four types of mosaic belt buckles..
Burlesque .. is big and bold
Mosaic Belt Buckle Burlesque 41
Arabesque .. is smaller and more refined
Mosaic Belt Buckle Arabesque 336
Statuesque … has a squarer edge and is often fairly contemporary
Mosaic Belt Buckle Statuesque 140
and Romanesque .. is my favourite. She is modern and not afraid to be noticed.
Mosaic Belt Buckle Romanesque 265
If you have one of my buckles. Let me know. I’d love to know where it’s been.
If you are interested in buying one of my mosaic belt buckles they are available at brokenplatemosaics.bigcartel.com or check out my website at
Escadaria Selaron
Having missed the amazing mosaic steps when I was in San Francisco… I was not planning on making the same mistake on my recent trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Escadaria Selaron (Steps Selaron) are the work of a Chilean born artist, Jorge Selaron, who, in 1990, began renovating the dilapidated steps that ran along the front of his house. He initially used pieces of blue, green and yellow tiles because these are the colours of the Brazilian flag..
Initially he used whatever materials he could find from construction sites and piles of urban waste from the streets of Rio – tiles, mirror etc.. Gradually he began to add his own original pieces (depicting a pregnant African woman) and the colour red because, he claimed, “there are certain colours, particularly red, that bring joy wherever they are.”
People began to hear about his steps and to bring tiles for him to use from different parts of the world…
Slowly the steps transformed into a whimsical mosaic cascade. No sooner was one section finished that he would begin work on another section, constantly changing it so that it was an ever evolving piece of art.
There are 250 steps and they are now covered by over 2000 tiles from over 60 countries around the world. The steps have now been featured in a number of ads, magazines and video clips (Snoop Dog and U2). Sadly Selaron was found dead on the steps earlier this year. It’s unknown as to whether he was murdered or if it was suicide. His tribute to the Brazilian people lives on, however, and he will not be forgotten.
Scones and Champagne anyone?
I love Antique bone china. I know that some people might think that I don’t, because I like to make my buckles out of it, but I really do. I love the colours, I love the patterns and I love the delicate shapes.
Usually, if I am at someone’s house, I will admire their china from a distance. I wouldn’t want them to think that I had deliberately dropped Great Aunt Flo’s china teacup just so that I could make a great buckle or necklace out of it (though ‘old country roses’ does make a great buckle)
The other thing I like about beautiful bone china is the high tea experience. When we lived in Canada I would find any excuse to take visitors out to Lake Louise to have high tea over looking the lake.
I especially like it when a high tea begins with a glass of champagne before moving on to petite sandwiches, tiny pastries and delicious scones and cakes all served on beautiful bone china plates. There is really nothing that I don’t like about the high tea experience.
So when I discovered two enterprising girls who love to collect beautiful pieces of china and not turn them into wearable art I was intrigued. They are actually happy to rent out their beautiful china for anyone to use for a high tea, or a wedding or any event where a little added style and sophistication might be needed. Understandably I got quite excited!
A Vintage Affair have a wonderful range of pieces for hire for all sorts of occasions. They have been featured in a number of magazines.
Charming Vintage Tea also have a lovely range of pieces and they will deliver and set up the pieces as well as pick up and wash them afterwards. Sounds like a great idea to me.
Perhaps we should have an afternoon tea with matching buckles and tea cups!
Do you see any you might recognise?
