In The Studio - Wednesday

It's been a semi-lazy week so far. I have bursts of energy but they quickly leave. I am assuming that is due to the changes in our PA weather. The cooler temps are rolling in slowly. The afternoons are still toasty and I will admit to putting the a/c on some days. But only for an hour or two. Way different than a month ago!

Meanwhile, I thought I'd share this awesome artists painter box my Dad gave me recently. I'm not sure where it came from; it might have been a garage sale find of his. He asked me some time ago if I could use some brushes and maybe, if the paint was still good, would I be interested in it as well. I'm always looking for both and with no real budget, free supplies are always welcome!

Imagine my surprise when I saw this beautiful box. It's weathered and worn. Definitely well-loved. And it might get a bit of a face-lift if I feel the urge to mosaic it. Nothing is safe around a mosaic artist! Isn't it something?

I surprised myself and decided to grout late in the afternoon yesterday. I had done a lot of social media stuff in the morning and thought I'd just chill. However, the muse leaned in and whispered in my ear to get going on that giftie that will be needed this weekend. And so I did that, a coaster my daughter made many years ago when I was still teaching basic mosaic classes and a cute Halloween themed mosaic ornament.

I won't yet share the gift which is shown at the bottom in the photo above. But here is the coaster and the ornament after grouting.

I think my daughter did a great job on her coaster. I'm sorry it took me so long to grout it but it got shoved in a box in storage and just resurfaced again. Isn't that little house funny? It makes me smile each time I see it. Ghost House, I guess should be what it's called. This was going to get an orange paint/water wash on it but I like it just as it is right now. I might paint the back orange, and it will get a hanger.

Recently my daughter helped a friend move. In turn we got a lot of unopened boxes of pasta and tomato sauce plus a few odds and ends she wasn't sure she wanted anymore. She gave me some dishes to smash and my daughter thought it would be nice to use them on a coat rack to give her friend. Sweet idea and I really love making gifts like this for my family and their friends.

After all the grouting is finished (I still have the mosaic letters to grout) I will get right on this cool project for my daughter.

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

Promo Blast!

It's a Promo Blast! kinda day and it's coming from my newly re-opened shop on Etsy.

I'm thinking you'll be seeing some of my favorite shops not just on Etsy now that I'm back but also from the other shops I share my items online with. I like sharing! I'm looking forward to finding some new things to share, but you can be sure I'll also be sharing some old favs!

I learned that the Etsy Treasury is going to retire in October. While I'm very sad about that, I understand their thinking and am fine with making up my own, perhaps smaller versions, for this post. Meanwhile, I made a treasury when I opened my shop on my birthday last week and want to share it here.

Birthday Wishes

Today I picked one of my mosaics that is fairly new. It has a lot of mirror and stained glass, in fall inspired colors.

Flower Trivet Stained Glass Mosaic

$85.00 plus shipping

What a beautiful mosaic this is. Stained glass in hues of red, orange, light brown and yellow were hand cut into a flower. A small pewter cabochon flower in the center and silver mirror are placed in this too.

Bright and beautiful. Cadmium orange acrylic was painted on the bottom and sides.

Round feet on the bottom.

Measures 12.5 inches

This would make a great gift for anyone in your tribe. Treat yourself and give the gift of handmade mosaic art!

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

In The Studio - Friday

Happy weekend!

After working on the "Super Secret Mosaics Lab" gift, I decided to do a little grouting! I was surprised that my "to be grouted" pile is kind of overflowing. It's a good feeling, though, because that means I've been busy creating!

I grouted a small pendant and a wooden trivet first. Grout color is called "fawn". I love it.

After grouting this wooden trivet, I noticed some cracks in the side of the wood. It might have been something I did, but these pieces are about as old as I am (I'm now officially 62!) so chances are I just didn't notice the crack until now. If I list this, it will be reduced due to the crack. Oh well, my loss is a customer's gain!

I finally got that big old frying pan grouted because I had a little left over from what I did above. I love this thing but this sucker is HEAVY!

This might get listed soon. I'm still cleaning off the grout from the dish pieces. I used different thicknesses so some are almost hidden from the grout at the moment. But I do love this and really would love to work on more aluminum items. I'm going to have to take a trip to the local thrift store some how soon to see what I can find. I don't drive, so finding someone to not only take me but be excited to go with me is probably the biggest challenge.

Enjoy your weekend and remember to keep it creative!

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

In The Studio - Wednesday

Because I'm working on something in the "Super Secret Mosaics Lab" this week, there are no photos I can share of the process of what I'm making.

I thought about just skipping the post today but instead I've decided I'd use this post as a way to show some things I've done in the past. And to remind those who read this regularly that my Etsy shop will be re-opening tomorrow September 22nd (my 62nd birthday!). I'm happy about that. I have missed the people there, the teams and the treasuries. Hopefully I'll be able to get back into everything full swing without much trouble after being away for over a year. A sale or two would be cool as well. ;)

So here's an example of what a custom order looks like. Over the years, I've listed suns, moons, gazing balls, peace signs and ball ornaments as available custom orders. I've stuck to that combination mostly but do a lot more custom work that isn't shown in any online shops. If you can think of something you'd like to see added to that list, let me know. For example, doing the mosaic letters spelling out a name isn't something I list as a custom order, but when asked, I'll do them. So, if you'd like to order something that isn't listed, just ask! Included in these photos are just a small sample of what I've done in the past few years as custom orders.

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

Promo Blast!

It's been a while since I've done a Promo Blast! post.

Today I share one of my online shops that is still a work-in-progress.

Cindy White Photos - This shop is filled with my photography printed on decor items and gifts. Framed art prints, mugs, pillows, tote bags, phone cases, blank note cards. Printed at a fancy lab and sent to me for inspection before I send it on to you.

Aren't these pillows cool? Getting some new pillows for your home is an easy way to spruce up your decor. Give some zest to any room, gift them, get more than one!

I try to add new items a few times a month, so bookmark the site and come back often.


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

In The Studio - Friday

I've been working on the custom order for the past few days.

I cut up all the letters and discovered my hand was hurting really badly once I was finished. I had a repetitive thing going but didn't slow down or stop for any of the letters until they were completely cut out by hand. Once I get into the zone, it is so hard to stop.

I cut up some stained glass and added it around the edges of each letter while waiting for my hand to heal a bit.

I have been enjoying the patchwork design I've given these letters.

Working late until the sun sets is not unusual when I get into the zone. Like I said, it's hard to stop! These letters are getting some mosaic magic in record time.

 

"H", "E", "M" and "A" are all sitting in the to be grouted pile.

"C", "I" and "L" are just about finished!

Just in time to start work on the gift I'm keeping under wraps until it's been given. And who knows, maybe some grouting will get done before the end of the weekend. It could happen!

Enjoy the moments!

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

In The Studio - Wednesday

I'm back playing with glass and grout this week after a long absence and it feels great!!

I started off the week with some grouting. Getting the Custom Ordered Celestial Set grouted was a wonderful feeling. I have touch ups still to do on these, a little more grout here and there, a little more cleaning. But they are looking really good.

Starting with the stars, I added my fav "Starry Night" grout to each one.

It's always so much fun to completely cover the tessarae up and then slowly clean off the grout to see it shine once more.

After these were finished, it was time to tackle the sides of the sun and moon. The moon was easy but the sun ... really the opposite.

Cleaning off the tiles around the sies of the sun was very challenging. I used cotton swabs at one point to get the grout cleaned off a little bit in the small areas where my tools and fingers just wouldn't go. It was worth it, however. Just look at that shine!

I got the "M" grouted for my grandson and gifted it to him for his 9th birthday. He loves it!

I have another custom order to start next for the same customer who ordered the celestial set.

The name "Michael" is completely cut out now and I'll share the progress of how it's going on Friday. The light wasn't with me yesterday afternoon so I couldn't get a good photo.

I'll also be back at it this morning with more grouting. It might take each morning this week to get all the grouting finished of things I've got waiting in the pile, but I'm okay with that.

I'll be doing a "Super Secret Mosaics Lab" project this weekend. Can't share that until the mosaic has been gifted (within the next month) but I'll definitely share it.


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