In The Studio - Part One

There's always something going on, In The Studio. This week I'm doing small things waiting for some grout I ordered online to arrive to finish up the custom order.

Here's the small pile that's quickly turning into a large pile of mosaics ready to be grouted.

Two were pulled from this pile to grout and are shared below. I discovered two others to add to it, however! No pictures of these at the moment, but the cardboard house mosaic I made a while ago and the very large flower power sphere both need some grout.

I love this star wall art! Made with stained glass and mirror, swirls in nano ceramic tiles. 

An old PS2 has been turned into art that will probably always be a family treasure.

I put tiles along the outer edge of the custom ordered peace sign. Now it waits for grout to arrive.

Every day this week we have thunderstorms or rain. No wonder I no longer sleep. It's been a very painful week between arthritis, sciatica and a muscle spasm.

One of my recent drawings in ink and marker. Waiting for the perfect frame.

Waiting for grout: 3 inch star, 6 inches each moon and sun wall art - will be sold as a set

Also waiting for grout: 6 inch rocket ship.

#20 cross of 25 crosses. I started this challenge over 2 years ago. Interested tidbit of info - the biggest seller in crosses is the scrap glass ones. I guess I'll make a few more of those with the last 5 I've left to mosaic.

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

It's been a rough week here so far for me physically. That usually means nothing much gets accomplished.

No grouting is getting done yet this week. I have 5 things to do plus the 10 small gifts yet to grout. This week is mostly about pain management.

There is good news on the horizon, however. I have worked on a Christmas in July Event or CIJ for my shop and customers. Those who signed up with the newsletter will know all about it by now as you all got the news before anyone else. Stay tuned because in a few weeks everyone will know all about it! Woo-hoo!

I made a mosaic for a family member and it's under wraps at the moment in the "Super Secret Mosaics Lab". Shhhhhh. I can't share it just yet but will as soon as I can.

I was recently approached by a high school friend and his wife about making a custom ordered peace sign for them. This is exciting!! You will see more info on that when the materials arrive and I get to work on it. Remember these can be ordered in 8, 10, 12 and 18 inches. Contact me for pricing and more information. Here's some of the last peace signs I did in 8 and 10 inches.

I'm getting better doodling and drawing things that can be adapted into mosaics. Check some of these out! The butterfly, for sure, is headed to the "to be a mosaic one day" pile.

I'd love to see some of these framed and then listed. That goal has been added to the list!

Meanwhile, the auction came and went for my Ink and Watercolor Pendants and not ONE pendant was bid on or sold. These things rarely work the way they do for others but I thought I'd give it a try. Maybe it was because I never had done it before, or kept it within the US due to shipping fees OR they just don't have the appeal like pendants used to. I always say I like my jewelry way more than anyone else!! The bidding started at $15 so maybe that was too high?? In any case, I'm going to list these for $25 each (all except the fern on on the bottom row - that's being held for a friend) on Storenvy soon! What do you think? Is $25 too low of a price or about right? Charging on time involved, amount of experience, I think it's exactly the right amount but my daughter says I should charge double that amount because of the talent involved. She could be right and if that's the case, I'll consider it for a few months. Meanwhile, consider these listed at half price!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

There's not much activity mosaic wise today but there are some fresh doodles and a few other fun things to share.

Here are the doodles I shared a few days ago, featured on pillows. These are available through Storenvy. Aren't they awesome?!

I get so excited when I see a piece of art that was in my head right in front of me. Any art, doodles or mosaics, when I see these things on paper or a cool shape, I am so happy. Art gives me great joy. The excitement builds when I can do something like this with decor items and share my mosaics and Doodle Dots with so many customers.

Here are the latest doodles that may end up as pillows and a few other items very soon.

When the doodles don't make the cut, I cut them up and will use them as gift tags and put some under glass for mosaic magic!

Here's the test piece to see if a doodle under glass looks good. Of course, it does.

The weather has been hard on me this year, especially this month. I'm having a lot of trouble managing my pain and since I can't get to a doctor any time soon, I have to do the best I can to keep myself as comfortable as possible. I have found, much to my dismay, there are days when I can't do much mosaic work. Some days it's hard to hold the tools, hard to handle the small pieces of glass to place them on the substrate, etc.

The culprit:

April storms and low pressure systems are not my friends

I do still have a lot to accomplish with my mosaic art, so once the pain subsides, I know it won't be long after that, that you will see a slew of photos sharing mosaics in all sizes and shapes once more.

Inspiration always come from my window

I also see the beauty in the changing of seasons, in spite of the pain the cold and rain causes me. It brings happy buds to my inspiration tree and I love that. I focus on how strong this tree is and how it comes to life each spring against all the nasty weather. If it can do it, so can I.

Meanwhile, switching gears a little bit, I found some leather conditioner on Etsy (although I no longer have an Etsy store, I still shop there!) recently in a shop called Choice Cuts Industries who handcraft leather goods. Who better to get a conditioner from? I decided to try it on the straps of the cutting boards my Dad made in the 1950's and donated to me to mosaic. I like the results. Here they are before and after the conditioner.

These straps have been sitting in a basement and untreated for a long time. I am going to put a few more layers of conditioner on them. I do love these shapes and am anxious to get them done as soon as I can. The wood isn't in great shape so covering it with mosaic tiles is the best way to bring new life into them like the one I have on my wall.

I'm hoping once this set of storms moves on out, I'll start to feel better enough to continue in the Super Secret Mosaics Lab and work a little more on the gifts I'm making for 10 lucky people who are fans of the EMM Facebook page.

Enjoy the moments.

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

While the weather has been giving my physical body some challenges these days I am happy to say my creative muse and I are still getting along famously!

I would love to share what I've done so far on the 10 mosaics I'm gifting through Facebook but I'm afraid someone who is getting one will see this post. I really want them all to be a surprise, but I can at least give a sneak peek of the first one I did over the weekend.

Mosaics done on artist blocks, 4 x 4 inches, covering the flat surface and sides with awesome mosaic magic has been a lot of fun. I am keeping the designs on the flat surface fairly simple but they are looking fantastic so far. Grouting will be done once they are completely finished, doing 2 or 3 at a sitting until they are all finished. So far I've gotten 3 made. That leaves 7 more to go!

Once gifted and received, I'll definitely share them here as I often do, pre-grout and grouted. Keep an eye out for that!

Meanwhile I can share my doodle making which has been more or less daily. I noticed on Friday that my painted doodle showed the pain I was in so well. I didn't really see it as I was painting it, but once finished, it really is evident. You can see I hurt!

Can you see the pain I am feeling from this painting like I can?

Wouldn't one or all of these look great as a tote bag or tee shirt?? I'm going to try to get a better photo of the last one shown here and get it on Society6.

late night doodling

Finished!

The cat clock is grouted and looking good. Unfortunately the clock mechanism doesn't fit the slot cut in the back at all (the mechanism is too big) so I'll be doing some investing in different sizes to see if I can find a kit that fits. If I can't, I'll have to glue the hands in place and call it finished. Either way, I do love the flower power this cool cat is wearing with style.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy