In The Studio - Wednesday

Finding the right substrates to put mosaics on has never been much of a problem for me. It seems I am blessed to have people in my life throughout the US who think of me when they are cleaning out their closets or break a dish. I'm very lucky!

While looking through my stash to see what "speaks" to me, I found some really fun things. Some are new, some are old, but they are all waiting for some mosaic magic.

2 large glass vessels, one a vase with fish on it, the other a hurricane lamp

The design on this is along the outside of the plate. My hope is to follow it using some pretty colors in stained glass.

We got a new microwave recently, so I have a new glass plate to mosaic! Yay!!

I've been doing some final touches on a few things I've had sitting here for a while. I put bails on these crosses and will get hangers on them. I hope to get them photographed and listed before the end of the week.

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 - Part One

What a great week it's been so far. Lots of activity from the studio. On the weeks when I do little but rest, I remind myself of these times. The rest is important to keep up with the inspiration!

I built two snowmen!

Snow Dude (LOVE his vest!!) above will have some embellishments added once grouted. Each will get a hanger of some sort so they can go up on a wall! Aren't they awesome?!

The muse is quite content this week. I grouted crosses and finished up a custom ordered peace sign.

During the grouting process ... 

Still cleaning up and getting ready to paint the last 2 items but they will be ready by Thursday!

To keep the artist happy, I got a LOT of color in my hair. My daughter is going to school at night for cosmetology and I am happy to be one of the lucky ones to allow her to practice her craft.

I couldn't get a focused photo but liked the unfocused one enough to share it. Look at the gorgeous colors! Amethyst with pinkish purple highlights. NO MORE GRAY!! Yay!!

Not sure what I'll be doing next but I'm sure it'll be fun!

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

Happy Friday! Great news for us online sellers, Handmade at Amazon (otherwise known as H@A) has launched! My shop is now "live" and can be viewed here. I made an awesome looking banner too, quickly and easily using PicMonkey. I highly recommend it for all your photo editing needs.

Pretty cool, eh? My goal is to offer all custom made/made to order items through Handmade at Amazon. I have a few already made mosaics on the site and might possibly delete them after I get the things I really want to offer on H@A. The other sites I use offer both already made items and custom ordered ones. That will remain the same.

I've been working on a few things in the studio too, in between getting the new shops filled. I've gotten three more crosses ready for grouting. I'm almost finished with all 25 that I purchased a few years ago. If I sell these quickly, I'll purchase more. People do seem to like them.

I grouted and cleaned up the 15 inch microwave plate. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Using my favorite colors to fill it up, this is the last microwave plate I have in stock. I'm especially glad it turned out as I envisioned it!

I worked on this 6 inch silver-plated plate that I found at the thrift store a few years ago for 50 cents and added one of the goodies I got recently as a gift from my online buddy. I love this flowered tile and it looks great on this old scratched up plate.

Added to the grout pile

I have been studying the mosaic bra I want to make and I need a few supplies before I can make it. I am not positive I'll get it finished this month but meanwhile, I received a custom order for an 8 inch peace sign. So while I study the bra, I will be working on that very soon.

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

My goodness we have been getting some true winter weather here in PA this week. Freezing rain, snow, ice and all the usual suspects are visiting us before the next season begins.

The good news is, I have all I need to keep me busy inside and have been working hard on the custom order, as well as a few small projects here and there.

I've started grouting and all but one mosaic looks awesome so far. Sadly, "Expect Miracles" isn't ready for the limelight just yet. I have put it aside for a while to determine what I'll do with it to fix what I see wrong. Something good, I'm sure, to make myself a little happier with it. The wording, while looking great if I do say so myself, has blended in a little too well with the rest of the mosaic and it's hard to see.

It also has a hanging problem ... the D-ring I attached doesn't keep it centered. There are sawtooth hangers on the back on each side that are still available. I may take the D-ring off and leave those on. Let's just say, this needs some TLC before I offer it for sale.

However, the rest of what I had waiting for grout to go into Storenvy look great and have been listed.

The custom order is going really well. I've made 4 peace signs so far, as you may remember, and decided to grout and paint those before moving on to the next few. This allows me to get some fresh ideas for the mosaics part and not feel so overwhelmed at the end having to grouting them all at once.

First 10 inch peace sign

Sides and back are painted in burnt sienna

close up of details

First 8 inch peace sign

Stones give this one an earthy feel to it

Before any peace signs were grouted, I spent an afternoon taping them up to protect the areas with no mosaic on them. This allows for cleaner grout lines around the edges and keeps the grout from sticking to the bottom of the shape.

There are 2 left to grout today! The same grout color will be used for the 10 inch as that shown above, but the 8 inch will have a dark grey grout.

I'll share photos of those in addition to any new ones I've started on Friday.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

Busy week so far! Even though the infection in my ears are better, the right one is still stubbornly clogged. The weather has been very cold and there's been some rain ... it's not a great time of year to have sinus troubles. But then when is there a good time of year??

I've done some grouting and sealing on all the art pieces that needed it. I'll be sharing these on all my favorite social media sites, including the page on this blog this week, I hope. All are just about for ready. Yay!

Here's the pile before I got busy with grouting and sealing.

I've got the tray and one cross to finish up. I'll share those in their final stage on Friday.

If you see something you like, give a shout!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy