Starting with an old shelf or piece of a cabinet, Metchosin artist Jennifer Kivari readies herself to create a work of art.

Always on her mind is recycling items by adding them into her creations. KivariB次元官网网址檚 medium is mosaic and she spends much of her time gathering materials and odds and ends that some day will be glued onto one of her masterpieces.

From old toilet seats to stale macaroni noodles, Kivari finds inspiration everywhere and in everything. B次元官网网址淚 start with a (wood) base and inspiration,B次元官网网址� Kivari says.

As Kivari stands in her studio, a gutted and remodelled hay loft in her barn, she is surrounded by her mosaics.

B次元官网网址淢y art is definitely my journey. They are my voice,B次元官网网址� she says, explaining that each piece reminds her of her life and looking back on past work is similar to reading old journals.

While Kivari is the primary artist in the home, she gets help from her family along the way. Her two teenagers often help gather materials and spend hours grouting pieces.

Kivari first dabbled in mosaic art using pottery clay tiles in 2005. B次元官网网址淚 found I was very limited (just using tiles),B次元官网网址� she says.

It was then Kivari began introducing other items into her work, such as automotive glass and old lamps and feathers.

B次元官网网址淚f I have to buy items, I try to get them from second hand stores that put money back into the community.B次元官网网址�

After all the items are gathered, Kivari lays them out on her wood base until she finds an arrangement she likes.

To seal in the items and fill in any empty spaces and cracks, Kivari covers her art with grout. Working quickly, Kivari cleans the grout off the glass and other items on the pieces before it dries.

B次元官网网址淚 use a magnifying glass to see if I have missed any,B次元官网网址� she said.

Over the years Kivari has gotten creative with materials and how she creates images. One piece has pennies flattened on railroad tracks, and arranged in the shape of a mermaid's tail.

KivariB次元官网网址檚 studio is a part of this summerB次元官网网址檚 Stinking Fish Studio Tour, July 23 to August 1.

There are 19 studios participating in the tour from East Sooke and Metchosin. The studios are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

On the tourB次元官网网址檚 launch date on July 23, Kivari and her family are hosting a B次元官网网址淐elebration of GratitudeB次元官网网址� from 11:30 to 4 p.m. with live music, dancing and lemonade.

KivariB次元官网网址檚 studio is located at 941 Arden Rd. in Metchosin. For more information on the Stinking Fish Studio Tour go to www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com