In The Studio - Wednesday

I'm back playing with glass and grout this week after a long absence and it feels great!!

I started off the week with some grouting. Getting the Custom Ordered Celestial Set grouted was a wonderful feeling. I have touch ups still to do on these, a little more grout here and there, a little more cleaning. But they are looking really good.

Starting with the stars, I added my fav "Starry Night" grout to each one.

It's always so much fun to completely cover the tessarae up and then slowly clean off the grout to see it shine once more.

After these were finished, it was time to tackle the sides of the sun and moon. The moon was easy but the sun ... really the opposite.

Cleaning off the tiles around the sies of the sun was very challenging. I used cotton swabs at one point to get the grout cleaned off a little bit in the small areas where my tools and fingers just wouldn't go. It was worth it, however. Just look at that shine!

I got the "M" grouted for my grandson and gifted it to him for his 9th birthday. He loves it!

I have another custom order to start next for the same customer who ordered the celestial set.

The name "Michael" is completely cut out now and I'll share the progress of how it's going on Friday. The light wasn't with me yesterday afternoon so I couldn't get a good photo.

I'll also be back at it this morning with more grouting. It might take each morning this week to get all the grouting finished of things I've got waiting in the pile, but I'm okay with that.

I'll be doing a "Super Secret Mosaics Lab" project this weekend. Can't share that until the mosaic has been gifted (within the next month) but I'll definitely share it.


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

In The Studio - Wednesday

I didn't really have much going on last week, so I just let the entire week go by without blogging.

This week, I have a good amount to share and will split these posts up into two like I used to. So it all works out, good for me and for those who like to see what's happening In The Studio.

The stained glass plate I was working on in the last post is finished and glue is slowly drying.

My goodness I love this mosaic so much. I'm really excited with how it turned out and once grouted, I will list it but won't be sad if it, like so many other mosaics I make, stay with me for a good long time.

The custom work is just about finished. I grouted the sun and moon and then after the fact, decided I wanted to put tiles on the sides. I am now waiting for those to arrive and will continue on them when they do. And the sides will get grouted after the tiles are placed on them. Double the work for me, but the end results will be awesome. Always worth it.

The stars weren't grouted when I decided to add something to the sides. These stars were given gold and silver mirror and I think they look much better. They are waiting for grout now.

I have a few more things to share but will hold off and post them on Friday.

Until then, do something fun and creative and enjoy the moments!


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

In The Studio - Wednesday

In between spending time with the family, I have managed to get some mosaic work completed too. It's a slower pace during the summer months, and having the Little Dude home every day with me is a lot of fun.

The celestial set is in the "to be grouted" pile.

I used stained glass in dark blue and various iridescent glass. I really do enjoy making celestial mosaics a lot.

I've started on a new mosaic. This is a discarded microwave plate (the last one in stock!) and carries over with the celestial theme.

I took a doodle I did last year that wasn't in very good shape (ink smeared, some of the drawings were off by a whole lot) and cut it out and taped it to the bottom underside of the plate. I can't do the specific details from my drawing because they are too small, but I can use them as a guide.

There's not a lot of planning here, just going with the flow and using the doodles as a guide. The flowers will no doubt become stars. The rays of the sun are probably going to get another color added to them.

And have no fear, once the doodle is no longer needed here for the plate, I will save it and use it for a mixed media project with paper or add it to something else at some point in the future. It's uses are endless!



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

 

In The Studio - Wednesday

Wowie, am I busy this week! The muse is in full swing and I am working on the custom celestial set. This set is fast becoming one of my favorite projects. What do you think?

This was the hardest one to cut out mostly because of my arthritic fingers.

Crescent moon and sun measure 8-9 inches.

stars

Celestial set

A treatment of grout/glue/water was added to the back and sides for added strength and aesthetics.

Same treatment on the back and sides of the stars.

The fun part!

In the sun, this beauty shines.

Late at night, lamplight, I had to get a picture of it when finished and awaiting grout.

Messy from glue, it's still gorgeous in sunlight. Now in the "to be grouted" pile.

Started this moon right after I finished the sun in the evening.

Continued into the late evening working on this. Tiny pieces of stained glass were cut to fit.

With each crescent moon that I create, if it fits in this space, I have to document it in this way. It's a tradition!

Time to start on the stars!

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

 

In The Studio - Wednesday

I'm having a fun week in the studio. It's nice to just forget my troubles for a while and do what I love to do. There's nothing much else that compares.

I wanted to share a photo of the 3 sets of coasters I made for the "how to" posts I've been writing. They are so pretty all together.

I am also glad I have them handy for the craft fair I want to do towards the end of summer. Fingers crossed it all works out ... it seems to be, so far, so that's a really good sign!

I made a sweet Minnie Mouse for a soon to be 2 year old using a discarded plate and some broken dishes, mirror and a little stained glass.

I also had made some polymer clay words that I wanted to put on the plate, but they didn't really work too well on it. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them until I found a small piece of Wediboard I had painted a design on (some flowers I think) and then covered over in paint because I wasn't happy with the results.

After toying with a few different things, I came up with this.

I put a ribbon through the hole at the top so it can be hung up on a wall. The sides are painted with pink paint and then I dabbed them in mica flakes in gold. Very effective, fast and easy project ... and CUTE!!

Now that the gifts are made, I'm starting work on a custom order. I'm struggling with depression right now so trying to focus on art has become more difficult than it should. However, although there are still a few things I'm mulling over with this one, I can start cutting out the shapes.

So far, I've only managed to get a little bit of work done on it. I'm okay with taking my time and I'm also okay with just doing a little when the emotional things I'm dealing with settle down enough to concentrate on other things.

My own design of a sun ready to be cut.

Cutting Wediboard is really easy but this design takes a little finesse.

The custom will be a sun, moon and stars to be hung on a wall. Once I figure out how I'll do the sides and get hangers, I can start the mosaic magic!

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

 

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