In The Studio - Part One

It's midweek and the last week in April already. The newsletter was sent out yesterday and I am so happy I decided to send it because it generated a pretty good sale on Storenvy. Horray! I've changed the format both in the way it looks and how often it is being sent out. This one was for April/May because I don't think there's enough going on right now to share info each month. However, if you want to get some discounts and be part of a free giveaway in the future, please consider signing up for the EMM Newsletter. The form is on the right. ->

I'm still doing doodle dots and now working on a paper and paint piece.

Sun Doodle Dot for 04.27.2015

Paper and Paint Doodle

Really cool close-up!

And the project in the Super Secret Mosaics Lab is still going strong. Putting a little work in a few days a week, then stopping for a while is allowing my body to heal from the horrible month I've had physically.

Six are finished, four more to go before we can grout!

My deadline for myself on these is to get them completely finished and out before August. So far, I'm going at a good pace to get that goal accomplished.

I have a few things to look forward to right now and will share them as they are happening. Thank goodness I love to be busy!!

There's still time to shop for Mother's Day! Head on over to Storenvy and find some mosaics just for those special Mom's in your life or shop early for Father's Day! For example, look at this really cool mosaic bowl.

Black and White Mosaic Bowl

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

Focusing on freshening up our homes and apartments is our theme this week. Newlyweds, baby showers, moving into a new place or even moving to a new state are all things that happen no matter the season.

Available through Storenvy

Ranging in price, these mosaics and home decor items will help liven up any room in your home. They make great gifts!

Head on over to my shop now and see what else is available. Each item is slightly different and as always, eclectic.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

There's not much activity mosaic wise today but there are some fresh doodles and a few other fun things to share.

Here are the doodles I shared a few days ago, featured on pillows. These are available through Storenvy. Aren't they awesome?!

I get so excited when I see a piece of art that was in my head right in front of me. Any art, doodles or mosaics, when I see these things on paper or a cool shape, I am so happy. Art gives me great joy. The excitement builds when I can do something like this with decor items and share my mosaics and Doodle Dots with so many customers.

Here are the latest doodles that may end up as pillows and a few other items very soon.

When the doodles don't make the cut, I cut them up and will use them as gift tags and put some under glass for mosaic magic!

Here's the test piece to see if a doodle under glass looks good. Of course, it does.

The weather has been hard on me this year, especially this month. I'm having a lot of trouble managing my pain and since I can't get to a doctor any time soon, I have to do the best I can to keep myself as comfortable as possible. I have found, much to my dismay, there are days when I can't do much mosaic work. Some days it's hard to hold the tools, hard to handle the small pieces of glass to place them on the substrate, etc.

The culprit:

April storms and low pressure systems are not my friends

I do still have a lot to accomplish with my mosaic art, so once the pain subsides, I know it won't be long after that, that you will see a slew of photos sharing mosaics in all sizes and shapes once more.

Inspiration always come from my window

I also see the beauty in the changing of seasons, in spite of the pain the cold and rain causes me. It brings happy buds to my inspiration tree and I love that. I focus on how strong this tree is and how it comes to life each spring against all the nasty weather. If it can do it, so can I.

Meanwhile, switching gears a little bit, I found some leather conditioner on Etsy (although I no longer have an Etsy store, I still shop there!) recently in a shop called Choice Cuts Industries who handcraft leather goods. Who better to get a conditioner from? I decided to try it on the straps of the cutting boards my Dad made in the 1950's and donated to me to mosaic. I like the results. Here they are before and after the conditioner.

These straps have been sitting in a basement and untreated for a long time. I am going to put a few more layers of conditioner on them. I do love these shapes and am anxious to get them done as soon as I can. The wood isn't in great shape so covering it with mosaic tiles is the best way to bring new life into them like the one I have on my wall.

I'm hoping once this set of storms moves on out, I'll start to feel better enough to continue in the Super Secret Mosaics Lab and work a little more on the gifts I'm making for 10 lucky people who are fans of the EMM Facebook page.

Enjoy the moments.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

It's been busy In The Studio but very secretive, so I can't share mosaics I'm working on. But Little Dude and I worked on his birthday gift to give his Mom this week.

6x6 inch wall art made by my grandson

He loves making mosaics and we like spending time together. He's requested we collaborate on a big mosaic and I think that's a great idea. Over the summer I think since we both have time, we will do some creating.

Not so long ago I mentioned getting new drawing supplies and I've been sharing doodles here, there and everywhere I go. I have to admit my attention is directed towards doodling because it helps me forget about the pain my body is feeling for a little while. This is a good thing!

One of my favorite drawings done on April 18th

I got some gelly roll pens and black artist tile paper this week using money from a recent mosaic sale through Clairporium and have found I really like using black paper a lot. It reminds me of the dot painted bottles and shapes I've done on a much smaller scale (6 inches).

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

I've been working on getting my photography on new home decor items and would like to share a few really cool pillows now available through Storenvy in the Home Decor section of my shop.

Pillows available on Storenvy - 16 inches - $45.00 plus s/h

Made of a high quality Simplex Knit fabric, this 100% Polyester pillow is soft and wrinkle free. The heavy weight stretch material provides great color definition.

Photo print on one side, complimentary rich colors on the other.

The perfect complement to your couch, my custom pillows will make you the envy of the neighborhood!

-Dimensions: 16" x 16" (square).
-Hidden zipper enclosure; synthetic-filled insert included.
-Simplex Knit Fabric; 100% Polyester; Wrinkle Free.
-Made in the USA.
-Machine washable.

Processing is completed by a very talented and professional lab of experts and takes approximately 1 week. It is then shipped to me for inspection and I send it on to the customer. Please keep this in mind when ordering. Thank you!

Look for more to be added such as serving trays, night lights, light switch covers and more.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

While the weather has been giving my physical body some challenges these days I am happy to say my creative muse and I are still getting along famously!

I would love to share what I've done so far on the 10 mosaics I'm gifting through Facebook but I'm afraid someone who is getting one will see this post. I really want them all to be a surprise, but I can at least give a sneak peek of the first one I did over the weekend.

Mosaics done on artist blocks, 4 x 4 inches, covering the flat surface and sides with awesome mosaic magic has been a lot of fun. I am keeping the designs on the flat surface fairly simple but they are looking fantastic so far. Grouting will be done once they are completely finished, doing 2 or 3 at a sitting until they are all finished. So far I've gotten 3 made. That leaves 7 more to go!

Once gifted and received, I'll definitely share them here as I often do, pre-grout and grouted. Keep an eye out for that!

Meanwhile I can share my doodle making which has been more or less daily. I noticed on Friday that my painted doodle showed the pain I was in so well. I didn't really see it as I was painting it, but once finished, it really is evident. You can see I hurt!

Can you see the pain I am feeling from this painting like I can?

Wouldn't one or all of these look great as a tote bag or tee shirt?? I'm going to try to get a better photo of the last one shown here and get it on Society6.

late night doodling

Finished!

The cat clock is grouted and looking good. Unfortunately the clock mechanism doesn't fit the slot cut in the back at all (the mechanism is too big) so I'll be doing some investing in different sizes to see if I can find a kit that fits. If I can't, I'll have to glue the hands in place and call it finished. Either way, I do love the flower power this cool cat is wearing with style.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

I may have shared this recently but I have to share it again. Right now it will make some healing I need to do a little easier and I think it is necessary to share the love of all things sunny and bright often! It makes me smile!!!

Sun Flower Mosaic Stained Glass Trivet or Candle Holder - Orange, Iridescent Amber, Yellow - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $37.65


Gorgeous stained glass mosaic sun flower plate done in orange, iridescent amber and yellow. Wonderful to look at through a sunny window. Can be used as a suncatcher, trivet or candle holder. Has been sealed to protect grout from stains but is not waterproof.

We call this design a "sun flower" because the center looks like a sun and the rays could be petals from a flower. It truly doesn't matter because we love it!

Measures 6 inches round

Makes a great housewarming gift, perfect for a special friend or co-worker, add to your den or guest bedroom/bathroom, college bound students love them for their dorms.

This plate is meant to be shown in sunlight. I used to call these plates suncatchers, but traditionally suncatchers are hung in the window to grab the light. My plates are heavy and hanging is not recommended nor do I craft them for that purpose. They look fantastic sitting in the window in a display dish holder.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

I love stained glass. I love color. I love combining them together to make an abstract mosaic like this one. It is truly a unique piece of mosaic wall art and has so many interesting features in it.

Available through my shop on Storevy. One of my most favorite mosaics, this has a history behind it. The wood on the frame, although primed before the mosaic was placed on had warped after the mosaic was completely finished. I put it in the oven which was a suggestion by an online friend (at a very low temperature, of course) and it straightened the wood. The results were a few fused pieces permanently on the wood and changed the way the grout looked. I loved it!

Stained Glass Mosaic Wall Art - Jewel Tones - FREE SHIPPING Within US - SALE - Item Price has been reduced - $120.65

I love the message to this Stained Glass Mosaic Wall Hanging. Peace, Patience and Happiness word charms have been placed lovingly on this mosaic.

Broken jewelry, an enamel copper circular 'button' in blue with a yellow dot (circa 1960), wonderfully rich looking stained glass, some vintage, in jewel tones of amber, peach, green and blue, brown, red and a few other surprises all blend really well together and grouted. The center holds a mirror that I covered in clear rippled stained glass. My mosaic was made on wood and has a hook for hanging.

Signed and sealed. Measures 10 inches.

Favorited by many, has been shared locally through displays during the years and enjoyed often. Gallery quality mosaic work made affordable here for those who enjoy mosaics. Bright and bold. A definite statement piece of art.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

I've packed up the peace signs and waved buh-bye. They are leaving the building today, I hope, and heading on to their new home in North Dakota.

The kidlets are home from school for Spring break until next week. I don't have to do a lot of wrangling now that the oldest can babysit her siblings but I'm here when they need me while Mom and Dad are working.

Yesterday the weather warmed up enough for them to head on out into the courtyard of our apartment complex and play. It was great to see them running around from my window.

I'm taking a small break between projects waiting on supplies for more doodling and mosaic work. It's good to rest and allow the muse to get ready for the next wave of creativity.

The next project for the crafts table is the free mosaic gifts I'll be making for 10 people who responded to the call on Facebook. I'll be doing another giveaway again soon, I'm fairly sure, because I like doing them. I don't donate much work any longer and leaving art abandoned is hard to do now that I'm no longer driving, so this is the perfect solution for me. At least I know those that receive these free mosaics will either gift it or keep it and enjoy it.

If you want to get in on the next giveaway let me know (US residents only at this time, sorry about that) either here or through one of the many other social media spots I frequent which can be found on the right. --->

And don't forget to sign up for the EMM Monthly Newsletter!! Subscribers get some awesome perks!

I hope you have a great weekend and Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. Enjoy the moments!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy