Week of December 21, 2015 through January 4, 2016

Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

I'm taking some time away from my blog to concentrate on more important things: spending time with my family.

I truly hope you all have a warm place to spend the cold days of winter. I also hope your heart stays warm no matter the time of year. Remember to give your life meaning and purpose. Spend time being (be present), not doing (busy work). Enjoy the silence. Treat yourself as you would treat another. Do things you love. Be a hero. Be open to new possibilities. Expect miracles. Be strong. Be brave. Be fearless. Be grateful. Always ... be grateful.

I’m grateful for ... the first sip of coffee in the morning.
I’m grateful for ... having a clear mind.
I’m grateful for ... growing older.
I’m grateful for ... having the freedom to choose the life I want to live.
I’m grateful for ... my friends who encourage me.
I'm grateful for ... my daughters and grandson.
I'm grateful for ... being able to express myself through art.
I’m grateful for ... realizing being happy is my greatest purpose.
I’m grateful for ... remembering that I am enough.
I’m grateful for ... hearing laughter in my house.
I’m grateful for ... the kindness of strangers.
I’m grateful for ... learning from my mistakes.
I’m grateful for ... every sunrise/sunset.
I’m grateful for ... exactly what I have.
I’m grateful for ... remembering that I am enough.

Namaste'


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

In The Studio - Friday

Happy Friday! It's been an interesting week and I've enjoyed most of it. Sadly, when it rains, the Camera Goddess slumbers and this week, we've had a few gloomy days to boot. But I have managed to get a few photos of work-in-progress mosaics, all crosses to get listed next year.

The first one is 9 inches but the rest are between 4 and 5 inches. The second one is grouted and just needs a hanger attached. All the rest are in the grout pile, waiting for the magic to happen.

I put cement on my grandson's frame. The front part turned out pretty well but the back part ... not so much. I'll have to redo it and pray it dries within the next week. If it doesn't, I will rethink the way to hang it using only the front part of the frame. But I will figure it out! So there!!

I have to admit I do sort of like the texture of the whole thing. As if I could use it for an art piece just as it is. I put plastic around all the cement pieces and great markings appeared like before. However, it has been so damp due to weather, it crumbled off because it was too thick, I'm sure. I add more cement to it and try to get the same cool textures from the plastic. It's all a learning process and I'm having fun!

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

In The Studio - Wednesday

You may have noticed I changed the name of these posts to "Wednesday" and the next, if I have another for the week will say "Friday". I had "Part One" and "Part Two" for a long time but rarely do I manage to do two In The Studio posts these days. Why put a part one when they might not be a part two?? Duh.

I have been busy making a zombie. I do love how this turned out and now I'm working on the frame which will get some cement added to it soon. It didn't turn out exactly as I had anticipated but considering it's only 6 inches with a lot of detail, I'm okay with it. Hopefully the Little Dude will love it!

"Plants vs. Zombies" mosaic - a PopCap game favorite 

I glued on the "vs." on the tiny tombstone from a piece of paper I used as a guide to make the mosaic.

The frame and back piece will get some cement slathered on, then it all gets glued together with hanging gear on it.

I have a small "to be grouted" pile now and I'm quite happy about that. I have slowed up making items for the shops since my focus has been on gifts for the family. This kitty wall hanging and useful trivet will be grouted next. It goes to my daughter and son-in-law in Illinois this holiday season.

The two kitties here on the mosaic represent their furbabies. Aren't they cute?!

I do have a few things in the grout pile for the shop too.

This is a hanging candle holder done in deep purple stained glass. It will be grouted white.

I'm hoping to get some LED lights to place inside. That way there's no chance of a fire should it get knocked over or hit as it's hanging. The fancy blue on top and bottom of this holder is painters tape to help guide the grout for me when it comes time. I had an experience recently where I put tape on the bottom of a vase and it was crooked. It isn't all that noticeable but I am one of those people who walks into a room and sees crooked things on the wall and cringes. I am thinking the Universe is laughing and allowed me to make this vase in this way so that I can get over that touch of OCD to look beyond the less than straight line and see the beauty just as it is. *Sigh*.

I am not sure if I shared these previously, but they are obviously an outlet and switch plate cover set. I don't know why it took me so long to offer up a set instead of individual pieces. Again I *sigh*.

This set will be grouted and listed. I'm fairly sure they will be grouted in light brown.

Remember the large gazing ball I made awhile back? No? That's okay if you don't. I almost forgot about it myself. It's been sitting in a box in a corner for the longest time and I think it's time to come out and be seen!! Flower Power at it's best!! I haven't finished grouting it yet. That will change soon and this too will be available for purchase.

This part is grouted ...

... but turned just a bit and you can see where the grout stops!

It is a beauty, isn't it?! This sphere measures 15.5 inches and has so much tessarae! Stained glass, mirror, glass gems, tempered glass (paint and glitter under it) and dish tiles too. It's really one of those mosaics you need to see in person to appreciate it. Check out this glam shot:

I'm pretty sure I'm going to add my moniker to the bottom of this and use it eventually for business cards. What do you think?

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

Cindy

Promo Blast!

It's been awhile since I've shared things from my Society6 shop. I've found some new and fun items this week, still in time for the holidays if you need some last minute gifts. They always have some kind of awesome discounts around this time of year. For example: free shipping and $5 off all mugs and tote bags plus stocking stuffer items are being offered now.

THROW BLANKETS

TRAVEL MUGS

TOTE BAGS

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

Cindy

In The Studio

This week is going in slow motion. It seems right after a holiday, everything goes much slower. I'm okay with that feeling and enjoy the long days of grouting and mosaic making magic. No frantic "must get it done!!!" feelings at all this week ... and I like it!

We had our Thanksgiving on Saturday, gathering all the fam together. We had a great time together. I usually try to take some photos but I spent most of the day cooking so when the time came to sit, I sat! I've decided after seeing this photo, that although I kind of enjoy looking like a Happy Buddha, I don't enjoy seeing all those chins that always seem to suddenly appear when I sit a certain way on this couch. It's only on this couch. Perhaps I should learn NOT to sit on it but do what my Dad does and lean in, standing up! But part of being a Happy Buddha is accepting what I look like and becoming unattached to it. Buddha has a lot of chins and seems perfectly fine with them. Easier said than done but I am going to work on that way of thinking more often. Until that time, from this day forth, I am going to be known as the Scarf Nana. I am wearing one now! Wish I had thought of it before the photo below. Sigh.

The Super Secret Mosaics Lab is going to open again in a few days when I'll be working on a gift for the Little Dude. He likes to play the PopCap game "Plants vs Zombies", so I thought I'd have some fun making him a mosaic rendition of that. Here's the inspiration, for those who have no idea what I'm talking about.

Wish me a lot of luck. I think I'm challenging myself a little too much when I decided to do this. But it's good to keep the juices flowing.

Grouting was done a few days ago. Much cleaning needs to be done on almost all of these before they can get listed, but I'm very pleased with the results.

I did need to rest for a day or two, enjoying leftover turkey sandwiches along the way, before starting on a new project.

I had some leftover glass and mirror cut from the gazing ball and decided to make some coasters. Simple design and sparkly glass and mirror. Cool!

I re-grouted the black bowl I've named "Dizzy". After dropping it a few months ago, a piece of the grout along the top of the bowl cracked and fell off. It, too, needs a lot of cleaning before it can be relisted, but it looks good once more. Yay!

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

Cindy