Tesserae Tuesday

I made this mosaic, Cat Eyes, for my youngest daughter. It's 6 x 6 inches done in all stained glass. I use dark purple for the fur, metallic gold Van Gogh glass around the eyes of stained glass in blue, green, black and white.

The glass was all dark purple but different kinds of glass because a lot of it was scraps from other projects and/or gifted. It changes in the light, depending on where it's placed. I love that about mosaics.

Grouted in black.

Adding my peace sign signature to the center of this cat's forehead was a nice touch, I believe.

My daughter loves it!


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

Tesserae Tuesday

This week, I'm sharing a mosaic of a pup named Penny. Using a photo her Dad took I created a fun and playful pup in the snow.

The glass I used was gifted many years ago. Thick and probably for use in the kiln. It makes perfect fur, sandy beaches and wavy human hair when I use it.

The technique I used was drawing the design from the photo I printed using carbon paper just like the paper those of us who might needing a copy or multiples of something when we were typing on our good old manual typewriter and then eventually electric typewriters, before offices had copy machines to do it for you, between the drawing and the board.

At this point, I was ready to fill in the background, the snow.

The one thing that looks really neat for me is her under body shadow. It's subtle but it's kinda cool to see I accomplished it.

Penny is taped off and ready for brown grout.

The background was grouted in white and snow flakes here and there were added in millefiori and plastic blue flakes.

Of course, the peace sign in the corner is now my signature. I think she turned out pretty good and I've been assured her Dad think so too. Yay!


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

Tesserae Tuesday

Give the Devil His Due Skull

The phrase "give the devil his due" originated in a play written by Shakespeare. I think it fits well as the title for this mosaic.

When I was creating it, I was getting cut by the mirror. A lot. My DNA is definitely on this piece. As I was treating my fingers and wrapping them up, I said: "Damn the devil!" and immediately the title for this mosaic became clear. He has gotten my blood for this one. For sure.

I made the skull in hand cut broken mirror. His horns were done in stained glass called Van Gogh glass along with stained glass in black, grey, white and red.

Created for Lex by EarthMotherMosaics aka Cindy, December 2019

Tesserae Tuesday

Grow, Bloom, Thrive

When I started working on this mosaic, I wanted it to be similar to the one I made and sold quite a few years ago entitled "Grow, Bloom, Fly" (shown below).

For some reason, as I started drawing and designing this mosaic, a bird or two just didn't want to go in there anywhere. Instead, the sun was on the opposite side of the original and clouds with a brooch of an angel sitting on a crescent moon holding a sapphire stone, the birthstone of the person this was going to (and mine as well) wanted to be placed where birds would have gone had I chosen them.

There was a good possibility this one would come out a little differently. And that is how it should be since my art is handmade.

As I watched movies, the cutting, gluing, placing of glass, mirror and ball chain commenced.

It was clear that I was enjoying this experience very much and I've already decided I'm going to make one or two more when the muse is ready. Along with more mandalas, I think we'll be busy for a while.

Once it was ready for grout, I knew it had to have a name but wasn't sure what it should be. Grow, Bloom, Thrive. Perfect! I first stumbled upon these words through Facebook a while back while searching for something completely unrelated (isn't that always the way?!).

It is the name of a farm and children's nature center in MA. Something about it spoke to me, especially when I saw this poem on their website:

"Here we are, in this place,
Standing, breathing, finding space.
Roots below. Sky above,
All as one in light and love."

On the website ( https://www.growbloomandthrive.com/ ), it says: "it takes a village" which made me think of all of us here today. Each helping in some small or large way, contributing to one another's health and well being. Giving time, love and patience as each of us grow, bloom and thrive.

This mosaic was made using ball chain and broken necklaces, a funky ceramic tile, glass gems, glass circles, hand cut mirror, stained glass and a broken brooch. I added the words I printed, colored in with blue alcohol ink using watered down glue to adhere (similar to Mod Podge). My signature, a peace sign, was added to the bottom right.


I'd like to thank all involved with this organization at:  https://www.growbloomandthrive.com/ for giving me so much inspiration in creating this mosaic for a very special person. Those interested, click on the link and go visit.


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