In The Studio - Friday

It's been a few months since I've written a post and boy, have I been busy!

I have sold just about all the candle holders I've made for the holidays, much to my delight. Some through Etsy, a few through Facebook before getting them listed. That's always fun! I've also sold a switch plate cover and another large glass plate! They are really selling right now, I only have 2 left! Wow! Below are the items that have sold within the past few months. Happy me!

I have one more candle holder to grout. One more ornament to grout, one more to finish getting glass and mirror on. Hopefully I'll get it all done and listed before it's too late but I'm not really rushing at this point.

I had a nasty cold which kept me from working for about 10 days. I'm back at it and the muse wanted to work on the "Let It Snow" panel I started last year. I go where the muse leads me and I'm never sorry! Check it out!!

Chances are good I'll be back at this panel later this afternoon.

Meanwhile, in case I don't write again for another two months ... I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from Earth Mother Mosaics

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



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

 

In The Studio - Wednesday

My mosaic muse is waking up just in time. The table is filled with projects to get completed for my Etsy shop. I'm looking forward to seeing all of these pretty 3 inch candle holders ready for their close-ups!

It took me about 2 hours to do the designs on these 6 glass vessels. The fun continues now as I'm filling in around the designs with stained glass.

Once these 6 are finished, I'll start in on the round ball ornaments. I'm really enjoying the burst of creativity arriving at a steady steam each morning! The muse has been asleep long enough.

More photos later on in the week when I've gotten at least one more covered in glass. The goal is to do them all within 2 weeks. Then they get to sit for a few days and get grouted.

Enjoy your week!


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



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

In The Studio - Wednesday

I've been having fun creating this week. It's been such a long time since I've had a dedicated flat surface to work on. I used TV trays and a wonky side table for years and had managed to create many wonderful mosaics on them. I proved to myself that I didn't need a large studio with all the bells and whistles (although who doesn't want one of those?!???) to make art. I'm proud of all I've accomplished over the years. Here are a few things I created on a small TV tray and a wonky side table just to show you what can be done if you've got a mind to do it!

Today, I have been making small candle holders. I need to get back into the groove of 3-D glass-on-glass mosaics. The first one I just finished is now in the "to be grouted" pile. It isn't the best job I've ever done ... dealing with arthritis in my left hand and not having done these for a while took a little bit of a learning curve to figure out. But I did it!

I used blue and purple stained glass in lots of different hues for this candle holder.

This is now sitting in the "to be grouted" pile.

Waiting for the glue to dry was probably the hardest part. Luckily now that I have slightly more space in my room I was able to put it aside and start in on the next one right away. What a great feeling that is!

Purple, yellow and orange candle holder being gifted when it's finished.

Although I see tons of flaws, the fact that grout will fix most of them makes me relax and enjoy the process of gluing glass on glass. Thank goodness for grout!!

I have some new projects coming up but I am going to continue making candle holders as often as I can. All, if not gifted or donated, will be listed on Etsy as they are completed.

Hope you have a great week!

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



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

In The Studio - Friday

It's been so long since I've worked on a glass-on-glass project! I like to do a few to "warm up" the old muse's muscles a bit before making the few I really want to make. I have learned over the years that the first time I go back to something I haven't done in a while, I hardly ever like the result. Now instead of ripping off all the glass and starting again, a bit more frustrated than when I started, I make sure to have extra of whatever I am working on when I can. In that way I can play a little bit, get my hands used to cutting glass again, and also allowing myself the chance to really just go without much thought.

Blue scrap stained glass.

This week I am working on candle holders. Two, I will be gifting. One is going to a silent auction charity. I will mention more about it and share what I've made as the time gets closer in a few months. The other is going to a family member and I'd like to surprise them with it but chances are they will see it before it's gifted because I share so often on social media.

The first candle holder I'm working on is just a warm up. It might get listed on Etsy if I deem it worthy, although it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm doing it just for me and will gladly display it with the other candle holders once it's completed. I am enjoying slapping down glue and glass and just going for it. Always the most fun for me.

Purples and blues are being used for this one.

Perfectly imperfect!

I am having fun!

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



Stay peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

In The Studio

I've been behaving myself and staying clear of the big, heavy window that's been yelling at me to finish putting glass on it until my neck, shoulders and back feel a whole lot better.

In the meantime, I've got a new custom order to work on and I'm kinda excited that this customer is so excited about it. It really feels so good to be appreciated and in unexpected ways at that!

Last week I made a treasury, part of my almost daily routine in making one treasury for each team I participate in on Etsy. I belong to 60 teams, yep, count 'em ... 60 ... and I'm some where in the middle of the alphabet in getting the treasuries made. But last week, I made one for a team and that lead to a new customer and my first sale on Etsy in close to 6 months!

Now I know people believe that sharing your items through favorites and in treasuries is the way to make sales, that's not so with me. More often than not, someone finds me doing a search on Google (thank goodness for all those SEO tips!) and actually joins Etsy so they can purchase an item from my shop or ask me about doing a custom order for them. Rarely does it happen the way it happened this time. And I'm thrilled!

My new and actually best customer to date, is also an Etsy shop owner. This shop is Clairporium Where Heart, Soul and Spirit Connect. I LOVE her shop and she apparently LOVES mine. I was thrilled when she contacted me on Facebook and let me know she wanted to purchase some switch plate covers she saw on my page as well as a few other items. I hadn't put the switch plate covers on Etsy but I let her know I'd make a reserved listing for her and within minutes of getting it listed, they were paid for. What an amazing feeling to have made a sale after so many stagnant months! I was seriously in shock for a few days.

This was what she purchased and her reviews on all the items are so awesome. I'm tickled beyond words! Take a few minutes to go read the reviews if you'd like. It's so nice to be appreciated and get a review after not having one in such a long time. They really are nice to get. Even a bad one would at least be better than nothing. If you shop on Etsy, take the few minutes it takes to leave a review. And if you really love what you've purchased and have a blog or other favorite social media spot, share what you purchased and let others know why you love what you received. Trust me, it means the world to those who make handmade items.

She let me know she was interested in having custom made switch plate covers made and I set to work getting an invoice set up for her right away. One of the best things an artist can hear besides kudos about their work is being given carte blanche when doing a custom order. I'm making 4 switch plate covers for her. Here's 2 that I've now gotten primed and ready for mosaic goodness! The other two are on their way to me. By the time I have these finished or close to it, the other 2 will arrive. YAY!

plate covers are sanded and primed with a glue/water mixture

I'm not going overboard with listings on Etsy any longer; learned my lesson the hard way about all of that. But I will keep what I can listed for a while and those that I feel I can let go, I will keep on the other shops that allow free listings.

I did list the mosaic pitcher on Etsy yesterday and added it to the other 3 shops as well. I really do love how this turned out and wanted it to be shared where ever I could share it.

Mosaic Pitcher

I have some plans for a few other cookie jars, one exactly like the one above, and I'm kind of excited to see them from start to finish. Also, the lids that go with these, are going on separate mosaics some time in the future. It's funny how my creative juices flow more when Spring arrives! The rebirth of the muse each and every Spring. That's awesome!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy