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

In The Studio - Part One

Life as I know it has changed drastically since I've had to deal with this muscle spasm, possible ruptured disk and sciatica. This is my own diagnosis and at some point in the future, I will get myself looked at by a doctor but today, right now, that's not possible. My entire life has changed literally overnight. I'm limited in what I can do, where I can go and how I get there. There was no warning, no time to make adjustments or preparations. So far, I'm able to get up out of bed for a bit and walk around with the help from a cane and I'm grateful for that.

This is what the pain I am experiencing constantly looks like.

Photo credit taken from spineuniverse.com and the article "6 Leading Causes of Sciatica" Written by Jean-Jacques Abitbol, MD; Reviewed by Brian R. Subach, MD

This is why I'm sleeping on average about 4 hours a night (not all at the same time) and taking pain relievers.

I'm also in the most creative cycle I've ever been in; slower, most definitely, but creative just the same. The best part about being awake so long and having very little energy or strength to move much is my art. The worst part is not being able to go down the steps and outside to be part of the changing seasons.

Spring from my window

Meanwhile, here are some doodles and other fun things I've been finishing up and working on. I'm STILL waiting for the pens I ordered over a month ago. This will be the 3rd attempt at getting them to me --- I really hope they arrive soon.

I picked up a mosaic to do this week too. I'm a little sad that I'm not yet strong enough to grout, it takes a lot of physical energy and strength to clean a mosaic free from grout. Repetition and movement are essential. It's more than a little likely that I will get the kids around me to help me do grouting. I think they will get bored quickly and not want to do it after the first few times but I will be able to share my mosaic magic with them once more and get the much needed help too. Win/win.

This mosaic is on a piece of teak wood, I believe, which is about as old as I am. It's been sitting in my substrate box for years. I've drawn and painted over a number of designs on it but when I saw the stars in my stash of found objects, I knew it would work for this. Along came the piece of glass precut into a crescent moon shape and the polymer clay word charm I made a few years ago "sun". The rest is easy! All of these things have been sitting here with me for quite some time but not until I saw them altogether like this did I realize it was time to do a new sun and moon mosaic! Yay!

The back is impressive as well - beautifully treated wood slice that was quite popular in the 1950's. I'm fairly sure at one point there was something attached to the part I am putting a mosaic on. When I got it (gifted by my Dad) it was just this great piece of wood. I'll be sure to share it too when the mosaic is completed.

Look for this in the shop within the next month.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy