In The Studio - Wednesday

Wow has the muse been keeping me busy!! I finished getting glass on the donation piece, which I'll share more about in a separate post once it's grouted and ready to go. Number 25 of 25 crosses got some mosaic bling and I've started working on a large glass vase that has etched fish in it. This was gifted to me by someone we consider extended family. She is always thinking about how I can take what she no longer wants and turn it into a mosaic or use for my art in some way. Gotta love it!

The donation piece is an 8 inch piece of MDF. This is similar in design to "A New Horizon" a glass-on-glass mosaic I made a few years ago. "From A Distance" is ready for grout and finishing touches.

The last cross was a difficult one. I originally used dish tiles and stones on this and the grout cracked and chipped off the tiles. I thought I had a photo of the damage it did, but I can't locate it. Trust me, it wasn't pretty. I hadn't primed the cross before putting the tiles on it for some reason; had to have been when I wasn't feeling well because this is a no-brainer when it comes to mosaic substrates --- ALWAYS prime wood or MDF and even some glass pieces before putting tesserae down on the substrate. It caused water to seep through the grout into the MDF and cracked the grout. Luckily, the cross did not warp. Whew. I painstakingly chopped up the stones with a hammer, dug out all the grout and tiles and let it sit for a while before I decided to prime it and try again. As I was moving things around during the cleaning frenzy (which has stopped for the moment because the muse wanted to play with all the fun things I found while cleaning) I saw a box with tiles in it that would be perfect for cross #25.

This vase stands 10 inches high. I tried to get some photos showing the fish. As often is the case, I started with a plan which quickly faded with the sunset. The only thing I knew was the colors I wanted would be in blues, purple and greens. We'll see what happens once it's covered with glass. As usual, grout will do wonders for this one. My nipping skills are just so-so these days. I have limited mobility with my hands some days and the tools I have are old and have been lovingly used for years. But, I will still keep going because I know at some point new tools will be purchased, more space for cutting and setting up the grinder will appear when it is supposed to. Meanwhile, here is this awesome vase so far.

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

In The Studio - Wednesday

Hello there!! The organizing, sorting, purging "event" continues!

I've been having a good time rediscovering all the bits and bobs I've got in my space here. That overwhelmed feeling I had before I started has been replaced with feelings of great joy. I feel completely grateful to have so much at my disposal whenever the muse wants to play. All of these beautiful colors, now slightly more organized, show me exactly how blessed I am.

Here's some fun photos of just a small section of what I've managed to sort through so far.

I have lots of colors here to keep me happy. I noticed I've gotten quite a few jars of blue and green combos so far and I've really only touched the surface. Some pieces are quite small, using tweezers to pick them up and place in the jars became a little too tedious for me. I actually did toss some very small pieces away.

The broken china is only a small sample shown here; I have bins and boxes filled. No complaints. I'm so fortunate!! At some point, when I can organize them the way I'd like, I should be able to share what I have with others. That will be awesome!

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

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

Promo Blast!

Shopping for the holidays doesn't have to make you crazy. Buy handmade and support artisans now and throughout the year!

These are a few of my favorite things in my shop through aftcra.

Top row: Mosaic Stained Glass Pendant, Orange - Pewter - $31.80, Sun Mosaic Switch Plate Cover - Double - Stained Glass and Mirror - $37.58

Bottom row: Mosaic Stained Glass Plate - "Colors of Autumn" - Abstract - 15 inches - $200.00, Mosaic Octagon Shaped Trivet - Stained Glass on Mirror - Earth Tones - 6.5 Inches - $42.40


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

Cindy

Promo Blast!

The holidays are coming! Today I'm sharing a beautiful vase that is holiday-inspired. Glass in green and red, with a ribbon design on it, this is sure to make any occasion sparkle!

Holiday Mosaic Stained Glass Vase - Green and Red - 7 x 3 inches

This is such a pretty mosaic vase. From top to bottom this holiday-inspired mosaic is filled with hand cut pieces of stained glass in shades of green. A ribbon design in red is placed around the vase.

The colors are perfect for the holiday season but pretty enough to stay out on your table or shelves all year long. The light play from sun or candlelight is intense and truly quite beautiful. Grouted in light charcoal and sealed.

We love useful and decorative art. Perfect!! This vase is handmade with love and one of my favorite mosaic decor items to create and give.

DO NOT SUBMERGE IN WATER.

Measures 7 x 3 inches 

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

I finished up "Phases" the vase I was working on a few days ago and started on a new vase!

"Phases" waiting for glue to dry so it can be grouted.

Fun kitty-inspired vase

I mentioned last month that I was going to work on making a mosaic bra. I've put that aside for now, because I have a few supplies to purchase before I can make it the way I know it needs to be made.

Meanwhile, I was thinking about all the doodle art I have laying around here and how much I'd like to make some frames for them and get them listed for sale. Putting on the thinking cap and using only what I have available to me, without spending any additional money, can be a challenge. However, it's never stopped me from thinking about what I can do and how I can do it.

I have a LOT of cardboard boxes and pieces here in my small space. I know if I cover cardboard with plaster cast strips I can mosaic it. I've done it. BTW, I now have grout I can use to finish that little cardboard box house off with! I have a nice pile of things to grout this weekend. I think I'll add it to the pile.

Soooooo ... making frames using cardboard and plaster strips is the new project currently in the research & development phase.

I'm expecting a lot of trial and error and anticipate the first few will be "just okay". But meanwhile, trying to figure out exactly what to do and how to do it, is so much fun!

Top layer is cut out, middle layer has the doodle and glass and another layer under that will hold a hanger of some sort (still working on it but I do have an awesome idea, so fingers crossed it works!). My goal is to have all 3 layers become one piece, which means the doodle cannot be removed. The top layer will get a mosaic, the back will be finished in some way not yet sure what but it will have plaster strips on it too, so it'll have to be covered with material if not glass.

The holidays are creeping up on us fast! I have no idea yet what I'm making for the g-kids and extended family's children this year. I'd better think of something soon! Over the past few years I've had my grandson make gifts for everyone he knows (adults mostly) but this year I have an idea of my own to give my Dad and Step-Mother. In addition to something he may make them, I'm going to make something too. As soon as the vase is finished up, I'll start working on that.

I am still waiting on the customer to let me know how many switch plate covers they need so I can complete that order, but in the meantime, I have a lot to keep me busy! I just got a nice amount of 4 inch square coasters in MDF to play with. Yay!! New mosaic coasters will be created very soon!! Woohoo!!

REMINDER: If you are interested in ordering something custom made specifically for the holidays from my shop, do it now! There are only 2 more weeks to order something. I won't be accepting any orders for the holidays after November 25th.

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

Inspiration has taken hold and I've been doing some work!

I've gotten a few new supplies in and started work immediately on the custom ordered vase.

Gorgeous colors. Life is easy when there's so much beauty around me!

The vase is sitting, waiting for glue to dry. It will take approximately a week, maybe longer, before it's ready for grout.

So I went next to a square vase because I've got a few designs in my head for vases and need to get it all out!

Two sides are finished so far. This is called "Phases". I have a lot of dark blue scraps in stained glass but not enough to cover an entire vase. So my solution was to use different shades, all in blue for the section above the orange and all dark purple for the bottom section (all the same on each side). I like it so far!

I'm still waiting for information and decisions to start on the switch plate covers for a customer, which means I get to play continuously with other things until those decisions have been made! 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