It's Magical Monday

 Throughout the year I often find times when the magic of mosaic making is exhausting. There are so many projects rolling around in my head that I have to write things down, put what I see together in some way to work on or often just gather enough of the supplies in one place to remember what I wanted to create.

This month was busy in that way but not much was yielded from it. I found I needed a few supplies I didn't have, even with all I do have, one thing was missing. Pushing that one aside to start on a new something or other was what I ended up doing.

By the end of a few crazy weeks of doing that, I have to now organize the aftermath.

Sometimes, tossing everything I've used into one bin and sorting it all is the only way I can do it. Right now, this is where I am. I have a lot of small pieces to sort through. It should take about a week to get through it all but I'll get there.

Meanwhile, I have some wood slices waiting for grout, a microwave plate waiting for some new glass so it can be made and there's a few switch plate covers, also small MDF wall hangings to make as well as a framed glass-on-plexiglass hanging.

 

I can't guarantee any of it will look like what you see here but I can say for certain it will all get made. Sometimes I use photos as guides, other times I draw a design to guide me and then there are times when the muse guides me and I just go for it.

Meanwhile, there's still time, but just enough, to order something from my shop on GoImagine. I've noticed a decline in delivery times as the year gets busier through the post office especially and I'm going to suggest, if you want something, to send me a message any place you've seen this announcement and we'll see if it can get to you before the holidays in December. My preferred shipping service is UPS but they too are a bit overwhelmed. It happens ...

Stay tuned! I'll share as I go, any and all progress.

Enjoy the journey.

 Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

 

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

In The Studio - Friday

It's been a few months since I've written a post and boy, have I been busy!

I have sold just about all the candle holders I've made for the holidays, much to my delight. Some through Etsy, a few through Facebook before getting them listed. That's always fun! I've also sold a switch plate cover and another large glass plate! They are really selling right now, I only have 2 left! Wow! Below are the items that have sold within the past few months. Happy me!

I have one more candle holder to grout. One more ornament to grout, one more to finish getting glass and mirror on. Hopefully I'll get it all done and listed before it's too late but I'm not really rushing at this point.

I had a nasty cold which kept me from working for about 10 days. I'm back at it and the muse wanted to work on the "Let It Snow" panel I started last year. I go where the muse leads me and I'm never sorry! Check it out!!

Chances are good I'll be back at this panel later this afternoon.

Meanwhile, in case I don't write again for another two months ... I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays from Earth Mother Mosaics

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



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

 

Promo Blast!

I'm back to posting a few times a week, starting this week. Yay!!

Today's Promo Blast! is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. The newest mosaic set of switch plate/outlet covers are featured here today.

Neutral Colored Stained Glass Mosaic Set, Single Toggle Switchplate and Outlet Cover, Mixed Media, Glass and Mirror - $48.50 + shipping

Add a bit of excitement to a small space in your home with these pieces of mosaic art on a switch plate and outlet cover. We love making mosaics in all sizes and shapes!

Done in neutrals in gold mirror and Van Gogh and light tan stained glass with ball chain. Grouted and sealed.

These awesome mosaics will definitely brighten up any room in your home. Give any room a splash of color with this small piece of useful art. Who knew switch plate covers and outlet covers could be one-of-a-kind pieces of art?

Can be flipped either way and still looks great. Sealed. Screws are included.

Custom orders available. All sizes and switch types (toggle, rocker, outlet, single, double, triple, etc.). Great for a new baby's room, your bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedroom, dining room. Any room in your home will be brighter with an EMM switchplate or outlet cover. Please contact me with the color and size. Prices vary depending on sizes/amounts ordered.

I am so grateful for your visit. Thanks for stopping by. Remember custom orders are always welcome. We'd love it if you'd share what you like with others. Visit again soon and share the love!

Come visit and say hello:
aftcra: https://www.aftcra.com/EarthMotherMosaics
Blog: http://artbyearthmothermosaics.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthMotherMosaics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMMosaics
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/earthmothermos/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114891430568238927351/

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

Promo Blast!

Blending colors together is something I really love to do.

These products above, all available in Storenvy look great all by themselves. However blending them together placing them throughout a room brings your eye from spot to spot. And look fabulous!!

The mosaics are handmade using stained glass, mirror, millefiori and broken china nipped up to fit. The pillow design is taken from an original drawing "inspire." and is sent to a lab for processing at the time of purchase.

Top left to right: Polyester Throw Pillow - 16" x 16" - Inspire - $45.00, Mosaic Fiesta Owl - Stained Glass and Mirror - 7 x 6 Inches - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $42.65

Bottom left to right: Green, Orange and Black Mosaic Switch Plate Cover - Single - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $23.95, Large Mosaic Pitcher, Pique Assiette Vase - FREE SHIPPING Within US - $80.50

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

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

My goodness we have been getting some true winter weather here in PA this week. Freezing rain, snow, ice and all the usual suspects are visiting us before the next season begins.

The good news is, I have all I need to keep me busy inside and have been working hard on the custom order, as well as a few small projects here and there.

I've started grouting and all but one mosaic looks awesome so far. Sadly, "Expect Miracles" isn't ready for the limelight just yet. I have put it aside for a while to determine what I'll do with it to fix what I see wrong. Something good, I'm sure, to make myself a little happier with it. The wording, while looking great if I do say so myself, has blended in a little too well with the rest of the mosaic and it's hard to see.

It also has a hanging problem ... the D-ring I attached doesn't keep it centered. There are sawtooth hangers on the back on each side that are still available. I may take the D-ring off and leave those on. Let's just say, this needs some TLC before I offer it for sale.

However, the rest of what I had waiting for grout to go into Storenvy look great and have been listed.

The custom order is going really well. I've made 4 peace signs so far, as you may remember, and decided to grout and paint those before moving on to the next few. This allows me to get some fresh ideas for the mosaics part and not feel so overwhelmed at the end having to grouting them all at once.

First 10 inch peace sign

Sides and back are painted in burnt sienna

close up of details

First 8 inch peace sign

Stones give this one an earthy feel to it

Before any peace signs were grouted, I spent an afternoon taping them up to protect the areas with no mosaic on them. This allows for cleaner grout lines around the edges and keeps the grout from sticking to the bottom of the shape.

There are 2 left to grout today! The same grout color will be used for the 10 inch as that shown above, but the 8 inch will have a dark grey grout.

I'll share photos of those in addition to any new ones I've started on Friday.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

I've finished up "Expect Miracles" and placed it in the ever growing "to be grouted" pile. I love it!

While waiting for supplies to arrive for the custom order, I worked on a cross and a switchplate cover. These too get added to the pile for grouting.

Now the peace signs and all the supplies for them have arrived! All the signs have been primed and are ready for mosaic magic! Yay!!

In this photo: 8 inch peace signs are primed, 10 inch wrapped up at the bottom waiting their turn.

1st peace sign (10 inch) - work-in-progress (ready for grout)

2nd peace sign (8 inch) - work-in-progress (love the stones I'm adding on this one!)

Now as the weeks progress, all you'll see mostly, is peace signs. But we all love them, right?!

The first EMM Monthly Newsletter went out on Monday and I'd love to have some feedback on it from those who have signed up for it. And for those interested, you can find the signup form here on the right.

It's time to also share the horrible "ouchie" I received from a worn out piece of equipment. When I started making the 1st peace sign, I grabbed an old nipping tool specifically for ceramic tile that looks like this:

Mine (now tossed away in the dumpster) wouldn't hold the spring --- something I wasn't aware was a big deal when I first started making mosaics in 2005-2006 when these were purchased. I tried to keep the spring in place but it just wouldn't stay. This has nothing to do with the fine manufacturers of this tool. I got a defective pair, which happens, and should have returned them had I known at the time. In any case, I tried to cut a piece of china with these a few days ago and the spring popped out at the exact time I beared down to nip the piece of china. The china popped away as well so what was left, in a mere instant, was my skin.

ow

As you can see, I had a good blood blister. Ouch. It is much better after caring for it for 24 hours. I was able to work again with very little adjustment in using my hand (I'm left handed) and all is right in my world once more. Almost.

muuuuuch better

Here's the lesson I learned that I've had to reteach myself, sadly. Listen to your gut when it comes to everything! I heard the voice tell me not to use the tool when I picked it up and I ignored it. After all, I only needed it for one piece of china, what could possibly happen?! I'm used to getting hurt a lot worse, actually, from glass and mirror, but never the hand tools. I will try to use patience with myself when it comes to really hearing my inner voice. I know it takes time to really listen to it. It's never wrong, is it?

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part One

Over the weekend, I finished up all the grouting of items I wanted to list on Storenvy. I love the blue grout a lot! It's called "Starry Night" and has a grey/blue hue to it. I'm always happy when I decide something would look good with it.

Isn't this grout color awesome?!

I've gotten all the mosaics I wanted to list on Storenvy over the past week. You can find the newest items: small peace sign ornament, the scrap glass cross, the sun switch plate cover and these below.

Evening Moon

Blue Glitter Mosaic Star Wall Hanging

I also finished up the celestial design I was working on.

And to think ... this was once a discarded kitchen cabinet I found leaning up against the dumpster.

Isn't it gorgeous?! I'm thrilled with it and am happy to have it completed and hanging on my wall.

Now that the muse is resting, I'm looking at the things I have here ready for mosaic magic. I am honing in on an 15 inch gazing ball I made a few years ago that has been prepped and ready for something fun. I'm thinking maybe it needs some Flower Power! Kitty thinks it's boring as it is now ... boring enough to nap through my taking this photo.

It takes a lot of time and tess to do these guys but it's always worth it. We love gazing balls!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

In The Studio - Part Two

Working feverishly on my celestial design has made me so very happy! I'll be collapsing in a heap very soon but it will be worth it. I've done a tremendous amount of work on it, in a very short amount of time (approximately 6 days, 15 hours so far).

I love this so far, really, truly I do!!

I have a small pile of mosaics now sitting here in the "to be grouted" pile. I decided to grout a few of the things I want to add to the online shop next week.

Sun 2 toggle switch plate cover

3 inch peace sign ornament

9 inch scrap glass cross

The scrap glass crosses often sell quickly. I imagine I'll make another one soon. I've got tons of scraps!

I've started my campaign to get subscribers for my new monthly newsletter. Those who receive my blog posts and/or have "liked" my Facebook Pages probably get all the info needed through those. However, if you'd like to join, please feel free to do so!

Subscribing is easy. There is a form on the right here on my blog for you to fill out. You will get an alert through your email letting you know the form was submitted. And you will get a newsletter monthly starting in February from ArtByEarthMotherMosaics@gmail.com so look for the announcement that it's being sent first here.

I've gotten a few replies from friendly netizens through Facebook and a few Etsy customers too. I'm thrilled that some folks want to go on this new adventure with me as I learn to navigate my way through a new online venue with my mosaics. But it will also be a chance to share the photography items as well. I'm excited to see what 2015 will bring!

Have a wonderful weekend. There's possibly more snow predicted here and the gkids are excited. They would love to see piles and piles of it to play in. I enjoy seeing life through their eyes.

SNOW!!!!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy