Contemporary Mosaic Artists Meet in So Cal

I was fortunate enough to meet with a group of mosaic artists today for lunch. The meet up was organized by the founder of the web site for mosaic artists, CMA, Contemporary Mosaic Artists. I’ve mentioned the site on this blog before and think if you’re a dedicated mosaic artist this is a site for you to join. Pam Givens put all of this together, both the web site and the lunch today, and she does an amazing job of bringing together like minded people that share a passion for mosaic.

Todays group included a couple of the ladies that work for Piece by Piece, an organization that I have mentioned here quite a few times, Luz and Dawn. There was one of my favorite friends and glass goddesses around, Leigh Adams, who also works with Piece by Piece. There was a lovely couple, Azia and Louise, whose house in Santa Monica is a mosaic piece of art (that’s a whole other post!). The group was rounded out by Brian, Carole, Sue, Mary, who has a mosaic gallery right in my neighborhood, and Ginny, and of course, Pam. Everyone here will get a profile of their own…and I think a good time was had by all!!

As if Diwali weren’t colorful and fun enough, The Festival of Lights: A Lift-the-flap Diwali Celebration by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Darshika Varm, makes it even more fun to read about with flaps and things to lift and pull to see more information or details in the illustrations.

The book is a story about a family getting ready for Diwali and what happens on the different days of the five-day celebration. There’s cleaning, shopping, crafting, food preparation and getting the home altar ready for the big day.

It covers decorating the outside of the house with rangoli, diyas and lanterns, buying sweets to share with family and friends, the sights and scents of the mandir (home temple), getting dressed up in new fancy clothes, the story of Diwali and celebrations with relatives.

Flaps (there are more than 140 in all) give you vocabulary words for different foods and definitions, as well as fun things like what’s inside the shopping basket or where the cat is hanging out. They also help illuminate the story of Diwali, which is the triumph of good over evil as Lord Ram defeated the demon Ravana to save his wife, Sita.

This pretty and colorful book helps kids understand what Diwali is and how it is celebrated, regardless of whether they practice it at home. This would be a nice book to keep in a classroom (it’s rated for kids ages 3-7) or to have at home to teach kids about Diwali even if it’s not something you celebrate. Where I live there are a lot of people from India so we are probably exposed to Diwali more than some other regions of America, but it’s a nice holiday to know about wherever you live.

Combine with the book Diwali and check out some fun lantern crafts and printables for kids to round out your experience.

About the book: 24 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by Wide Eyed Editions. Suggested retail prices $22.99.

Have you read?