In The Studio

This week is going in slow motion. It seems right after a holiday, everything goes much slower. I'm okay with that feeling and enjoy the long days of grouting and mosaic making magic. No frantic "must get it done!!!" feelings at all this week ... and I like it!

We had our Thanksgiving on Saturday, gathering all the fam together. We had a great time together. I usually try to take some photos but I spent most of the day cooking so when the time came to sit, I sat! I've decided after seeing this photo, that although I kind of enjoy looking like a Happy Buddha, I don't enjoy seeing all those chins that always seem to suddenly appear when I sit a certain way on this couch. It's only on this couch. Perhaps I should learn NOT to sit on it but do what my Dad does and lean in, standing up! But part of being a Happy Buddha is accepting what I look like and becoming unattached to it. Buddha has a lot of chins and seems perfectly fine with them. Easier said than done but I am going to work on that way of thinking more often. Until that time, from this day forth, I am going to be known as the Scarf Nana. I am wearing one now! Wish I had thought of it before the photo below. Sigh.

The Super Secret Mosaics Lab is going to open again in a few days when I'll be working on a gift for the Little Dude. He likes to play the PopCap game "Plants vs Zombies", so I thought I'd have some fun making him a mosaic rendition of that. Here's the inspiration, for those who have no idea what I'm talking about.

Wish me a lot of luck. I think I'm challenging myself a little too much when I decided to do this. But it's good to keep the juices flowing.

Grouting was done a few days ago. Much cleaning needs to be done on almost all of these before they can get listed, but I'm very pleased with the results.

I did need to rest for a day or two, enjoying leftover turkey sandwiches along the way, before starting on a new project.

I had some leftover glass and mirror cut from the gazing ball and decided to make some coasters. Simple design and sparkly glass and mirror. Cool!

I re-grouted the black bowl I've named "Dizzy". After dropping it a few months ago, a piece of the grout along the top of the bowl cracked and fell off. It, too, needs a lot of cleaning before it can be relisted, but it looks good once more. Yay!

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

It's been a little bit slower in the studio this week. I'm waiting for supplies to arrive so I can work on the custom ordered vase. I've also been able to get a few vases and some other cool glass things to put glass on in the months to come. That's always exciting!

I did manage to get a few things made and added to the grout pile recently. In addition, I am waiting for grout to arrive (I order it online) so I can get everything finished up that's in that rather large pile. Yay!

The muse enjoys these slow times to gather inspiration and energy for the busy times.

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

Cindy

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

What a great week. Busy!! I love when that happens.

I finished getting all the glass on the vase and I am so happy with how it looks.

The glue will take a little bit of time to dry completely, especially in the center part of the flower but once it's dry I can grout it. I'm excited to see it completely finished. I really love it.

The center light green glass is from an old, chipped Depression glass bread plate in the Rose Cameo pattern. The petals of the flower are in 3 different shades of blue. I put ball chain around the flower to bring a little interest to it. It's surrounded by a really pretty green/blue glass with spots of deep dark purple here and there. As usual when I do a glass-on-glass mosaic vase, I'll use a dark grout to finish it nicely. When it sits in a window or near a light source, the grout color is hard to see if it is a specific color. Dark gray or black work really well.

By the way, this plate is the only green one that was saved from a box filled with Depression glass plates given to me when my Great Aunt passed away many years ago. I have a lot of pink to use and will, one day get them in mosaics. Not much is useable as it is but it still has beauty for future mosaics!

I've completely finished the custom made 8 inch peace sign. It is now sitting in the "to be grouted" pile! Around the outer edge I've put some of the awesome mirror I used in the center of the design. I'll share a photo or two when it's grouted. The customer has seen it and thinks it's beautiful! Yay!

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

This may end up being a busy week In The Studio and I like it!!

The custom 8 inch peace sign supplies arrived yesterday. They are so cool. The top row of glass is some I had but the rest was purchased specifically for this job.

I'll share the progress as I go on this one but it shouldn't take too long to do. I'm pumped to work on it because I absolutely love the colors. And it's for my daughter's instructor at beauty school so I'm quite excited to make it for her.

I'm also working on an 8 inch vase. I really love how this is turning out. Those flowers ... ugh ... such a pain to do but the results are great. I would love to make this design on a square vase soon to see if it's easier to do. Cylinder vases are hard to mosaic on, for me, anyway.

The filler colors are green/blue and dark purple. The purple is only in dots here and there because I didn't have much of it. But I like it so far and will share another photo on Friday.

I don't know if you all remember this large 15.5 inch gazing ball I made months ago, but I've grouted some of it. It's been sitting in a box by my feet at the computer and the other day the sun hit the mirror and the room just lit up!

Isn't it gorgeous?! This will be listed soon. It's heavy and has stained glass, mirror, broken china, acrylics and glitter with tempered glass and black glass gems. Everything I like to work with materials wise is on this gazing ball. It's an amazing sphere, truly fantastic. It's one of those things you think it's got to be seen in person to really be appreciated. Hopefully someone will see the value of it's beauty and want to give it a new home.

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

Cindy

Promo Blast!

Square Peace Sign - Retro Style Mosaic - FREE Shipping Within US - $95.00

A very unique shape for a very unique mosaic peace sign. Square in design using the ever popular Mid Century Modern "Atomic" dishes nipped up along with a few pieces of china from a separate design. Blended together nicely on this really groovy peace sign, we have to say it: "It's hip to be square!".

We love putting mosaics on peace signs. It is the most fun ever to take a well-known shape and create something new and unusual with it.

Measures 10 inches, has a keyhole slot on back for instant hanging.

Sides and back are painted in vermilion.

Interested in a custom order? Want your very own peace sign in some broken china you may have? We can provide it for you in a favorite color or one in a mosaic of stained glass. Or both. If you have it, we take your broken china, mugs and broken jewelry and make them into forever keepsakes in mosaic giving something old a new purpose once more. We also have a rather large collection of all tesserae and bits and bobs from gathering materials and finding treasures for 10 years. We can provide what's needed. Go to this listing for more information:

http://earthmothermosaics.storenvy.com/collections/617158-custom-made-to-order/products/13656393-mosaic-peace-sign-10-inches-custom-made-to-order

Contact me and we'll talk!

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

Studio time this week is all about final touches, photography and listings. All of the small mosaic wall art pieces I've been working on over the past 2 weeks are keeping me busy.

Some of these have been listed. One was listed today and sold a few hours later! Yay!

Mosaic Butterfly Wall Hanging - 3.5 x 4 inches

SOLD

Mosaic Abstract Wall Hanging - Earth Tones - 4 Inches

I still have quite a bit of grouting to do but the pile is slowly going down. Woo-hoo!

Chances are good I'll get back to grouting this week but only after all have been set up for listings. It's awesome to have so many small mosaics to list!

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

And the week ends on a good but exhausted note. It's time to take a few days off and regroup before grouting, photographing and listing more small mosaic wall hangings.

It takes a while to grout, clean, paint, get hangers on them and then get decent photos (at least 3) for listings. I often think the prep work before a mosaic is created and after it's complete takes longer than the actual artwork. When I consider this, I make sure to charge for my time and 10 years worth of experience. If you create something and want to sell it, please keep these things in mind as well. It's important to let your customers know you value your time and talent as much as they should.

Mosaic Fiestaware Peace Sign - 10 inches

Mosaic Flower Wall Hanging - 4.5 inches

Each day, in between helping my Grandson with some school activities this summer, I've managed to create something. Doing small things has been a lot of fun and quite satisfying!

Little Dude working on a word search geared towards the 2nd grade

All of these range in size between 4-6 inches. And I think they are all headed towards the online store. It's been a productive week!

There are no new ones to share just yet. I've been working on what's been done already and what needs grouting. The pile is getting smaller, which is a very good thing! I think more grouting will happen over the weekend or I just might really take a few days off and get back to it next week. Meanwhile I never know when the muse will want to play. I will share what I have when I can!

The weather here is getting cooler in the evenings and there is a just a hint of fall in the air already. Physically this is not good news ... I love the heat for my bones and sciatica especially but emotionally, I do love the colors that come with the fall and in September Little Dude and I have birthday's. That's always exciting!! I truly hope I can get some close ups of fall since I missed spring and most of summer being stuck in my room and on the 2nd floor. If I can get myself down the steps and outside to visit the trees and get some photos I would be really happy!

Have a great weekend!

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

Cindy