In The Studio - Part One

My muses and I have been resting quite a bit these days but I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. Yay!

All of the people who took part in the Facebook giveaway have gotten their packages. I'm pleased to say all of them are keeping them. Here's what all 10 look like before placed in the hand decorated boxes I shared last week:

And here's a few of the cutest kids ever modeling the mosaics in their new homes. LOVE these!!

"We love it. It's so beautiful! Thank you sooo much"

"Love, love, love my gift from Cindy! What amazing talent and workmanship! Thank you so much for including me!!

Some of the comments were so nice. "Just opened my package from Earth Mother Mosaics and I LOVE it ..." All-in-all I'd say it was a success and something I will do again in the future. Keep an eye out for it because you could be a lucky recipient of a future mosaic by me one day soon, for FREE!

I've mostly just begun to get going again with fun mosaic projects. Lots to grout still but am taking that very slowly to make sure I don't hurt myself. And sometimes the muse just wants to play with glass!

Sometimes I want to draw.

Sometimes I want to take a few photos.

But mostly, I want to add glass, mirror and bits and pieces and get this crazy scrap glass mosaic butterfly wall art.

I'm working on a small piece of MDF right now getting a mosaic flower design on it. I want to work on bigger projects but don't really have the substrates at the moment to accomplish that. So, working small is good.

Working is good. Life is good! I'm feeling very grateful and more than a little blessed to still be able to do what I love to do, when I want to do it no matter the obstacles!

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

Cindy

Promo Blast!

Mosaic Umbrella Wall Hanging - 5 x 6 inches - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $50.00

Isn't this mosaic umbrella cool?

I used a fantastic technique for the umbrella itself using paper and clear glass. The paper under the glass is from a doodle gone wrong. But I never toss things out if I think I can use them for something artistic in some way. I cut the doodle up into pieces and glued it onto the shape of the umbrella, painted the background around it in blue using acrylics and added a handle with ceramic pieces in brass. A piece of a glass rod nipped into a small circle added to the top. Then all areas were covered in clear stained glass and then grouted.

This has a wonderful look to it --- really unusual and unique. It would look great in a mudroom or hall. Hang it by your laundry room or the door to remind the fam to take their umbrellas if there's a chance of rain.

Measures 5 x 6 inches

The hanger is a pop top cap added by the person who cut these boards. This adds a bit of whimsy to the piece. We love it! And we hope you will too.

Sides and back are painted in black. It's been signed and dated.

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

Cindy

In the Studio - Part One

I've been working for such a long time without much sleep or much of a pause that I've given myself the week off! It feels great to just do nothing sometimes and rest. Plus the muse is happy for the ebb so more creativity can flow soon.

Meanwhile, I managed to get the giveaway mosaics all packed up and will be getting postage added to the boxes later this week! Woo-hoo!

I added some cool doodles to a few sides of the boxes. As soon as all mosaics have been received, I'll share them here.

Have a peaceful week.

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

Cindy

Promo Blast!

Mosaic Stained Glass Plate - "A New Horizon", Abstract - Mixed Media - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $135.00

The title of this is "A New Horizon". I imagine standing towards the edge of a cliff where I see grass, hills, water, sand and rocks. It's a new beginning, a fresh start and an inspiration in one 12 inch mosaic stained glass plate.

When this is turned it completely changes perspective but no matter how it's placed, it is quite beautiful.

Stained glass colors used are green/yellow, amber, white/light blue and aquamarine.

I love making mosaics on discarded items; transforming them into something beautiful and unusual. Such is the case for this mosaic. Very small hand cut pieces of stained glass are placed on a discarded 12 inch microwave plate and grouted.

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 (not included).

 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

The grouting sessions have begun for the small 4 x 4 inch artist blocks I put mosaics on. These 10 blocks are going to different parts of the US in August from PA, KY, FL, TX and PR just to name a few. I'm thrilled to see them coming to life.

Each design is different in the center and I'd like the recipients to be surprised by what they see when these arrive. I will share a photo of what each center design looks like once I know the recipient received their block. The sides are all done in scrap glass for all 10. After I took this photo I got out the cleaning and scraping tools and went to work getting rid of the grout shown here in places (like the orange and white millefiori circle, for example).

I'll be grouting and cleaning for the entire month of July. Each day is different for me due to pain management. On days when I think I can grout and clean, I will do as much as I can. Then I rest for a few days. It's amazing how much mobility and strength I've lost over the winter and spring months.

I've finished and sent out the custom ordered peace sign!

after grouting - what a beauty!

the sides were covered in tiles and grout too

after painting sides and back and adding the D-ring

It was a complete joy to make this mosaic and I was a bit surprised by my sadness once I packed it up and shipping it out yesterday. I'm sad to see it go but happy it's headed to its forever home. Mourning the mosaics I make is not unusual but it doesn't happen often. And always takes me by surprise.

I worked on a scrap glass mosaic peace sign last week. Once grouted, it will be added to the online store.

10 inch scrap glass mosaic peace sign

I grouted the mosaic I made of the umbrella using cut up bits of doodle paper under glass. It came out really great. I like it!

This will eventually get added to Storenvy as well. Woo-hoo!

I also have 2 extra 4 x 4 inch artist blocks and I pulled one out to work on the other day. I grouted that and got it painted. I need a good camera day so I can list this one. Hopefully that will happen when the sun comes out again.

Flash photography isn't my favorite but it does show the different blue and white dish tiles I used in this. I used the chintz design and blue willow design along with orange stained glass. The design has a Japanese Maple leaf look to it, although I had no plans for that when I started. I LOVE when that happens!!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

3 Inch Round Ball Ornament - Custom Made - One Initial - Made To Order Item - Christmas In July - $40.00 each

Custom Made To Order Item - 3 Inch Round Ornament - Initial on one side Dancing Star or Holiday Tree on the other. Your choice in colors.

These spheres with a tree or dancing star on one side and an initial on the other make a great one-of-a-kind gift for everyone on your holiday list this year. How about that new baby in the family? Traditionally, these ornaments should last a very long time. Order a few and get a jumpstart on your holiday gift giving.

The glass/dishes color for filling in around the design can be any you'd like. Just let me know!

They have a ribbon for hanging and some cool details like ball chain around the ribbon. They may be covered in broken china or stained glass.

These are custom made to order. The price includes prep work and materials on one styrofoam ball for mosaic use, glass and the talent to make the magic!

The photos shown are the ones I made last year to give as an example as to how these will look when finished.

Last year in early December, I made some mosaic ornaments with an alpha initial shown in the photos here for each of the grandchildren and some extended family members' children for Christmas. They were such a big hit with the fam and I thought they turned out fairly well. Many customers asked if any were available for sale but the time necessary to make them can be up to 3 weeks if materials/supplies have to be ordered. And I couldn't offer them.

This year, I'm taking custom orders NOW for ornaments you'll want for Christmas, as part of the Christmas in July event happening in many online shops.

These ornaments will look slightly different from the photos shown here as all of my mosaics are not easily duplicated but the basics will be the same.

The only thing I will probably change in the design of these wonderfully unique ornaments is the bead attached to the hanger. I will work on a better system for hanging this year and probably won't use the bead but a small hook for the ribbon instead. Everything else should be the same!

Aren't they cool?!

Plan now to get handmade gifts for the holidays. These OOAK mosaics take time to create. Need more than one? No problem. Discounts available on multiple orders. Contact me for more details.

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

There's always something going on, In The Studio. This week I'm doing small things waiting for some grout I ordered online to arrive to finish up the custom order.

Here's the small pile that's quickly turning into a large pile of mosaics ready to be grouted.

Two were pulled from this pile to grout and are shared below. I discovered two others to add to it, however! No pictures of these at the moment, but the cardboard house mosaic I made a while ago and the very large flower power sphere both need some grout.

I love this star wall art! Made with stained glass and mirror, swirls in nano ceramic tiles. 

An old PS2 has been turned into art that will probably always be a family treasure.

I put tiles along the outer edge of the custom ordered peace sign. Now it waits for grout to arrive.

Every day this week we have thunderstorms or rain. No wonder I no longer sleep. It's been a very painful week between arthritis, sciatica and a muscle spasm.

One of my recent drawings in ink and marker. Waiting for the perfect frame.

Waiting for grout: 3 inch star, 6 inches each moon and sun wall art - will be sold as a set

Also waiting for grout: 6 inch rocket ship.

#20 cross of 25 crosses. I started this challenge over 2 years ago. Interested tidbit of info - the biggest seller in crosses is the scrap glass ones. I guess I'll make a few more of those with the last 5 I've left to mosaic.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy