Mosaic Monday

 I took the week away from social media to concentrate, clean and organize the areas I love to spend time in. Now that I'm back for a few weeks before the next break, it's time to share some art!

During that week, I did some grouting. I love to grout. It just pulls everything together so nicely. Especially when using black on colors like I used on the peace sign. It's gorgeous!

 

The sun I made couldn't stand on it's own after adding glass and grout due to heaviness. I added a hanger to it and placed it on my wall. The splinter factor I mentioned in last week's post was taken care of by putting ribbon along the sides rays. Love my glue gun!!

 

The peace sign, and three 4 inch square moon phases were placed on the wall as well after grouting joining their sister. Now there are 4 phases on the wall in this size. I'm not certain the newest peace sign will stay where it is, but it's been added to the rest for now.

I love my peace and celestial walls so much.

 

Enjoy the journey.

Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

Mosaic Monday

Mosaic Art, Stained Glass and Hand Cut Dish Tiles, Sun, Moon and Stars, Celestial Design, Abstract Mosaic Art on Teak wood - 10 x 8 Inches

My Father gave me this old piece of teak wood he found in his shop a few years ago, asking if I could use it to make a mosaic with? Of course I could!! This is a solid piece of wood but has a few cracks on the back. To me, that gives it more character. By using the elements: sun, moon, stars I felt I honored what was once a large tree. I believe this piece comes from one of the branches. It is 10 x 8 inches. That's no tiny tree! In all it's glory, it must have been a beauty.

Stained glass, Van Gogh glass, silver mirror and dish tiles were all hand cut to fit. Polymer clay tile with the word "SUN" was attached. The stars around the crescent moon were pieces of jewelry once attached to a bracelet. Very small pieces of Millefiori were used to help create the sun. Lots of details in this one. Swirls around the moon and stars depicting clouds, a sun with rays of light surrounded by a nautical design in dish tiles.

Gift this to your favorite person, a special friend, or add it to the art collection you are creating in your home. Makes a great birthday present, would be appreciated as a retirement gift.

Comes with a stand.


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

 

Stay Peaceful and Let The Sun Shine In.

In The Studio - Friday

Happy weekend!

This week just flew for me ... it's been very busy. I like busy weeks!

I finally finished up the mosaic letters spelling out "Michael". Grouting the last few letters Wednesday evening was the best feeling ever!

This brought with it a huge sigh of relief! I've been working on 2 custom orders for months. I started the celestial set in June and the letters in September.

I've gotten them all packed up and ready to go! Yay!

I had a great sale this week. A newsletter subscriber and returning customer ordered 3 mosaics from my Etsy shop and in doing so, put my shop at 100 items sold since opening in 2009. That's a milestone and a personal achievement as well. I was unsure I should open my shop again after having it closed for 2 years. Obviously this is a good time of year to get sales; many are in the holiday shopping frame of mind. But it has given me the confidence I need to keep it open, even when/if there are no sales in the coming months. I'm more able to weather the storm that is online sales this time around. These 3 items below are what are going to their new home today.

I finished up the cool 3 hook rack wall hanging for my daughter's friend. I'm sharing it here hoping it doesn't get seen until it's been gifted. I'm pretty sure it is safe to share it here.

And as promised, here is the flower pot with the glue slowly drying on it. These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon.

I was going to share the vase I put stained glass on but when I grouted it yesterday pieces of glass popped off. I am not going to mention the glue I used. It is a year old and possibly the problem to not adhering the way it is said to. I've used this glue many times over the years and have often been more disappointed than pleased with it for the past few years. I do believe I'm finished using it. I'd rather use my favorite PVA (Polyvinyl acetate) glue that dries clear and allow the time it takes to dry instead of having to re-glue, re-grout the same mosaic a few times because the glue doesn't hold. I'll be working on it over the weekend and I hope I can share pictures of it next week. I am also hoping I can list it because that was the original idea when I started with it.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll be here on Monday sharing a small collection of items I've found on Etsy in my "Let's Go Shopping!" post.

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

In The Studio - Wednesday

Wowie, am I busy this week! The muse is in full swing and I am working on the custom celestial set. This set is fast becoming one of my favorite projects. What do you think?

This was the hardest one to cut out mostly because of my arthritic fingers.

Crescent moon and sun measure 8-9 inches.

stars

Celestial set

A treatment of grout/glue/water was added to the back and sides for added strength and aesthetics.

Same treatment on the back and sides of the stars.

The fun part!

In the sun, this beauty shines.

Late at night, lamplight, I had to get a picture of it when finished and awaiting grout.

Messy from glue, it's still gorgeous in sunlight. Now in the "to be grouted" pile.

Started this moon right after I finished the sun in the evening.

Continued into the late evening working on this. Tiny pieces of stained glass were cut to fit.

With each crescent moon that I create, if it fits in this space, I have to document it in this way. It's a tradition!

Time to start on the stars!

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

 

In The Studio - Part One

It's grouting time from "In The Studio". The last mosaic to go into the pile for grouting was the hot air balloon.

Now the process of grouting and cleaning begins. I'm mindful of my limitations physically and have the patience (I can't believe it, but I do!) to only grout one or two mosaics every other day. Cleaning and photographs happen in between.

Celestial Delight - Stars, Moon and Sun

This tray needs a touching up with more grout here and there. Soon to be listed.

Dream Boat Wall Art

I had fun working on the square peace sign. I definitely want to get more of those substrates some day.

Square Peace Sign - retro style mosaic

I've been busy with doodles also. I don't have any photos to share of the newest ones done but I have watercolor drawings, ink doodled Zentangles and some colored marker drawings too. But in the meantime, with much encouragement from a few wonderful online friends, I decided to make up some PDF files of a few of my drawings and sell them online as an instant downloadable coloring page. As time goes on, I'll get better with the photography which will help with the clarity of the PDF files themselves. For now, there are 4 files ready for anyone wanting to color them at an affordable price of $2 each.

Coloring Pages

Stay with me and see how these evolve as the months progress. I'm sure the Camera Goddess will decide to cooperate and allow these to be less grainy. Using the paper I do causes that as well. It's all about the journey. I'm learning constantly.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy