In The Studio - Wednesday

I've been working on the business end of my business this week; doing a lot of reading, online courses, worksheets, etc. My goals are becoming clearer each day. I am going to start posting on Thursday's, sharing what I'm doing, what my dreams are, what my goals are and how I am navigating my way through it. If you are a creative like me, you know it's extremely difficult to focus on the business side. I am not fond of spreadsheets unless they are to rip up and make some art out of them.

I have been doing short bursts of mosaics throughout the afternoons and sometimes into the evenings because I need my "zen" time. Working on small projects is best right now.

I put a cool white crescent moon on this 7 inch plate. Using millefiori stars, blue and white dishes in three different designs and blue stained glass shows old, scratched up plates can have a new purpose.

This plate starts a new "to be grouted" pile. I love the colors I used on this plate.

Next, I picked up a 10 inch plate and started working on it. Once the mirror was added, I knew for sure I'd be using green and lilac. As you can see, the muse had different ideas.

This has a definite Southwest feel to it. Really not at all what I had planned but what evolved. And there's no green or lilac in it!

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

In The Studio - Friday

Grouting has been accomplished this week and I'm so very pleased with the results.

Look at my cool "sun" glasses. I just LOVE them!

This photo might just be my new icon for social media sites. What do you think?

The plates are all grouted. They will all get listed in my online shops very soon.

Purple Peace

Flower

Mr. Owl

Moon on a flat surface

Moon with the sun shining through it

Close up of the moon in the sunlight

I still have 5 plates in different sizes to put mosaic magic on. And many more plates waiting. Make sure you are a fan of my Facebook page because I share new listings on it as I get them in the shop. I love what I do!

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

In The Studio - Friday

The studio is a little less busy now that the donated mosaic is on it's way toward the silent auction in in a few weeks. It was picked up by the very sweet chairperson who asked if she could give me a hug for donating. I never say no to a hug!

I managed to get a few new mosaics listed on both Storenvy and Aftcra. Aftcra has a few items added to it each week that are already in Storenvy plus new things too. Eventually both shops will have the same items. This may seem redundant to most, but sharing on different online shops means different online customers. That's never a bad thing.

This week I was approached by possibly a new customer and a new large custom order who found me through Storenvy. Just like when I had an Etsy shop, people are finding me for their custom order needs. I love that it's starting to happen now that Storenvy has been open for a few years. More on that commission as it develops, if it does. Fingers crossed! The time-frame for it will be closer to late in the summer, so keep checking back to see what's new!

While I was resting yesterday, I did a few odds and ends. It's not uncommon for me to do small touch-ups or finishing touches on days when the muse needs to rest.

These are 2 of the newest small crosses. They are 4 inches and too big to call ornaments but the right size to call them small wall art. Now grouted and have unusual hooks on the back. All I need to do is add a string for hanging.

I used interesting bails on the back; they are from clothes pins. When Little Dude and I made snowflakes by taking apart clothes pins, painting them white and sprinkling them with glitter for holiday gifts 2 years ago, I was left with all the spring-like mechanisms from the pins.

 

 

I never throw much away that might be used for some art project in the future and these were no exception. Each pin has a spring in order for the pin to open and close. I ended up with 20+ of these springs and no clue what to do with them but knew I couldn't throw them away. I can always recycle, re-purpose, reuse!

Here, I've used them as a bail gluing them down with resin to make sure they stay put and I'll add a nice piece of twine to each one for hanging.

Being uninspired to start new mosaics isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes I just need to wait for the ideas to come flowing through but that requires patience and lots of down time. However, this plate was sitting next to me and I decided last night I had to finish it up and put it in the "to be grouted" pile of plates I've done so far.

NOW I can rest over the weekend!

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

In The Studio - Part One

Things have quieted down quite a bit In The Studio this week.

I zipped through the rest of the 15" sphere. It's gorgeous and has been placed in the "to be grouted" pile.

I started right in on a sign after this.

I was more than surprised at the fact that I used mauve and yellow on this piece. They aren't "my" colors and I kept thinking I'd use purple and blue.

But I was drawn to the top right color the most. That is what the muse wanted and I'm smart enough to get out of her way and allow her to lead most times. She wasn't wrong. Using it and yellow made this piece very soothing to look at.

Now I've been studying the projects around me, trying to land on something to do next. Mostly I'm resting up for the next wave. In a few weeks I'll be working on a large custom order. I'm really excited about that!! I'll share more once I get going on it.

Meanwhile, I could be working on some small mosaics, maybe the ornaments I cut out a while back for just this purpose. Maybe not ... whatever I decide between now and Friday, I'll definitely share here with you all.

I'm starting to think about my newsletter and what I want it to be. This blog is a great way to share all things I do and I'm grateful to have some people follow along with me here. I'm hoping the newsletter will entice those who aren't reading this blog to do so. My main purpose for starting a newsletter is to share new items I've added to the shops online with links. Once I become more established with it, I hope to make my monthly newsletter something folks look forward to receiving in their email boxes. It should be available during the last week in February.

Have a great week and join me on Friday to see what I've been doing In The Studio - Part Two.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio

Happy Wednesday!

It's the 3rd day into the new format here and I'm loving it. I am more focused and centered on what needs to be done both in the studio and with marketing/networking/social media.

Let's get right to the fun things happening in the studio this week. I've made some peace sign coasters that will get grouted this weekend. I think they turned out really groovy. Here's what they looked like earlier this week.

I finished them up yesterday. I love them!

And I love making useful art!

I'm doing 'double duty' today starting on two new Flower Power projects. One is round and needs time for glue to dry before turning it to continue working on it. In order to keep the momentum going, I've got a nice flat substrate to work on too.

Depending on how quickly these go, I may be working on the next project after this before the week is through. This is an old cutting board my Dad made in a kidney design shape quite popular when I was growing up and again popular now as Retro. And a favorite of mine in design choices.

One it has the mosaic magic on it, it will be Retro wall art. Yay!

The other night I had an idea for a small mosaic for a nursery that will be done on wood. I drew out the templates but may not even use them. However, here is what I've got on the 'drawing board'.

I took a few photos of my tree this morning. It is the time of year when I am watching it, taking photos of it often and sharing its transition preparing for winter. I haven't edited them all yet, but I found one I like so much and thought of the song, Morning Has Broken sung by Cat Stevens. http://youtu.be/e0TInLOJuUM

Stay peaceful,

Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics