The Ledge may be the perfect piece to display your treasures, but this level-up turns it into a work of art all by itself!

If you’re a long-time lover of Mustard then you’ll know how much we love little details. From the custom keyrings hanging from our locker doors, to the subtle embossed medallion stamped on every Ledge, so much thought and care goes into the smallest of elements. Someone who shares our passion for the little things? Meet mosaic artist Briony Machin.

Patterned pastel paradise

Step into Briony’s Lancashire studio and you’ll be greeted by a pastel paradise, featuring pops of some of our favorite shades like Sage and Blush. With delicate florals and intricate patterns holding court, this space is a craft-lover’s cozy dream. “I have been self employed for almost 10 years now and I absolutely love my job,” Briony tells us. “Little Briony never would have believed it was possible!” While she’s most known for her beautiful floral mosaics – she even sells DIY kits as well as creating bespoke mosaics from scratch – Briony has also created her own wallpapers, fabrics and more.

It’s not just a love of color and pattern that inspires Briony’s work. “As someone who has struggled with their own mental health,” she says, “I have personally seen the benefits of craft and creativity. It has helped me so much over the years, and so I really wanted to start a business which would help other people by providing a safe and inspiring space to come, be creative, and be able to switch off from the outside world.” With the peaceful countryside just outside, Briony has created an idyllic crafty retreat to do just that.

Piecing it together

Growing up with an artist mother, creativity has been in Briony’s life from the very beginning. “When we were little she would take us into the school where she taught art and let us play with clay,” Briony remembers. “That is probably where my love for ceramics and all things creative came from.” And although turning her passion into a business may not have been a conscious plan, Briony found it happened organically – though not without some serious determination! “A year after I created my first mosaic, I decided to run an evening workshop. I was so, so nervous but I absolutely loved it, and my guests did too. It was only supposed to be a one off, but nine years later I am running more workshops than ever and have probably taught thousands of people how to mosaic. When lockdown happened, I had to pivot my business so I could stay afloat, and that is when I started to create the DIY mosaic kits which are now a huge part of my business.”

A touch of Mustard

Briony has created bespoke mosaic pieces for all kinds of projects, from a kitchen splashback to three enormous panels on the outside of a church. When Mustard asked her to run a workshop for some of our lucky UK trade partners, we decided to turn our hands to The Ledge – our beautiful floating shelf. “Working on The Ledge was so fun and so different to anything I have done before,” Briony says. “I wanted to bring both my signature style and Mustard’s together, so lots of florals, checkerboards, scallop edges and of course - pastel colors!” It’s a match made in heaven, if you ask us.

A Glass act

For Briony, inspiration is everywhere. “I am a bit obsessed with block print patterns at the moment, so much so I have planned to visit India next year.” She also recently celebrated her wedding, which of course meant crafting a personalized floral pattern print which she used on stationery, clothing, accessories, and even a selfie mirror – clever!

When it comes to storage for all the special bits and pieces she collects, Briony is a locker lover from way back. “I honestly love them all, but I recently added a Collector in Sage to my studio and it is perfect for storing my workshop materials. I love being able to see the colorful tiles, pens and pencils through the glass, but the fluted glass means that if it is a bit messy, you can’t really tell!”

Your turn to tile

Feeling inspired? If you want to decorate your own Ledge, Briony recommends getting some tiles (and tile cutters if you want to be able to create different shapes), a universal glue which would work with metal, and some grout - that’s all!

“My advice for first-time mosaic makers is ‘Go for it’,” says Briony. “And don’t put too much pressure on those first pieces, they don’t need to be perfect. Just enjoy the process and see where it goes. If you are struggling to get started, I would suggest joining a workshop, as that will help you get going and you’ll also be inspired by your fellow creatives.”