Monday, July 28, 2014

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

I've started out my week wondering a few things and decided to make up a survey. I'd really appreciate it if you all would take a few minutes and fill out the really quick survey.

As you all may know, I've been working on my Etsy shops, trying to get them a little more streamlined with items I sell the most and seem to be the most popular.

Would you take this super quick survey to help me decide what items you, my loyal customers and followers, think should there be more of in my EarthMotherMosaics Etsy shop?

Thank you!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LPYPNX2

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!

Stay peaceful,
Cindy

Friday, July 25, 2014

In The Studio

I've been grouting some switch plate covers. I think they look pretty good. What do you think?









3 more are left to grout. A proper cleanup needs to be done on each one and they will be sealed.

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!

Stay peaceful,
Cindy

Friday, July 18, 2014

In The Studio

I'm taking a few days off this week, including the weekend I usually earmark for grouting. I am worn out and ended up a tad ill on Thursday; perhaps not used to the pace of consistent mosaic work (no complaints!) but more than likely due to the allergy/sinus troubles I've been having lately.

In any case, before I decided to stop working, I did manage to get some vases covered in glass. The first, scrap art, is my favorite way to mosaic because it's so freeing.


As soon as the adhesive is completely dry, this too shall be added to the grouting pile with the switch plate covers!

I had an experience with the next vase that I hadn't had in quite a while. But first, I must share my awesome cutting skills. These petals were done by using hand held glass cutting tools. I'm really thrilled that I've reached the point in my life where I can do cuts like these.


Using a marker and marking out the shapes on the glass, I cut them first with the scoring tool and nipped them to get the shape. I wasn't sure I wanted to do the sun when I started but after my success with the petals, I decided to give it a try.


Getting the design on the 8 inch vase was the next challenge. Flat mosaics are fairly easy to add these kinds of designs on. Circular ones ... not so much.


I stopped when I got the entire section shown here covered and part of the sides of this design was done. The problem I mentioned above was that my fingers kept getting snagged on glass pieces and slowing me down a bit. Each time a piece hurt me to the point of bleeding, I put the glass in a glass jar with some water and soap, popped the lid on and shook the jar for a few minutes. This takes the sharp edges away and the longer you shake it, the smoother they get.


It's hard to see here in these photos, but the petal motif is on each side in orange. Blue is around the orange petal and filled in with yellow. Once I return to this vase next week when my fingers and the muse and I are ready to get back to it, the rest will be filled in with yellow.

I have to admit I am really enjoying my month filled with mosaic making. The customer saw this vase and thinks it's gorgeous, so I know I'm on the right track.

Enjoy your weekend!

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!

Stay peaceful,
Cindy

Friday, July 11, 2014

In The Studio

How's the summer going for everyone? I hope you had a great July 4th!

It's been busy here in the studio. Last night I finished up the 11th mosaic switch plate cover. Woo-hoo!

Here they are, from 1 to 11 all waiting for the next fun part, grout!












Whew. I hope the customer likes them.

Next up in the custom order are the vases. I was going to stop the plates in the middle and start on a vase but my OCD wouldn't allow it. I had to finish getting glass on all of them before I could start in on the next thing. I thought breaking it up a bit would give me the artistic freedom I needed to come up with some fresh ideas for each mosaic. However, I stared blankly at a vase shortly after I finished the 5th switch plate cover and knew I had to keep going until they were completed.

I did work on the doll during the last week of June and got the back of the body worked on a little bit.


I'm not sure when I'll pick her up again. But she'll wait for me. Mosaics are quite patient.

I grouted the candle holder/vases and the crescent moons plus got them listed on Etsy. That's it for me with listings on Etsy now until I make another sale.



My Celestial Wall Gallery is looking really groovy right now!
I've also been adding 3 pendants a day to my shop on Storenvy. It pains me not to list them on Etsy too but it's just not in the budget right now.


All the links to all my shops and other social media sites I visit daily are shared here to the right. --->

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!

Stay peaceful,
Cindy