In The Studio - Wednesday

This week I've been wrapping up mosaics for customers who have taken advantage of the 15% discount and who have purchased mosaics to help with my fundraiser. I love the options people see, to help out in anyway they can.

Last week, I sold the mid-century modern kitties and a set of 2 coasters to a wonderful long time, online friend who wanted to help. There is no better feeling than to know this help comes from friendship. We've never met in person, but I hope to change that in the future.

These two pieces were re-grouted over the last few days and have been sold.

The top one managed to slip a bit out of my hands and hit the floor on an angle right after I sold it. Naturally. Thank the GODDESS of all things creative that the mirror didn't break. The grout along the edges, however, cracked. They are older mosaics, between 4-6 years old, so getting some freshening up was in order.

They look great. Like a new coat of paint, the grout has given them a bit of a face-lift.

I also added a piece of mirror to the bottom one in that gap that has bugged me since I took this piece off of the wall to re-grout. Now it looks better to me (more pleasing to the eye) and I can re-grout that area once I know the glue is dry.

Now that they have a new lease on life, they will last a good long time in their new home.

The other two pieces headed to the same home are shown below.

I also sold a few mosaics to a high school buddy. This makes 6 old classmates who are enjoying or about to enjoy some EarthMotherMosaics magic! Woot!

I love the support and encouragement I've been receiving about my business. It reflects well on me too, if I allow the ego to speak for a moment. However, the best thing is, how well I have chosen my tribe. Obviously I have such a great support system and it mostly comes from the online community of old friends and new. I'm amazed and delighted. My family is a comfort as well, giving emotional support as always. I'm so very grateful and so very blessed!

I LOVE MAKING MOSAICS! 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

In The Studio this week, I've been working on small projects. I finished up the last of the pendants I wanted to work on, although I do have more blanks when the spirit moves me to continue.

Switch plate covers are the new fun things right now. Paint, stained glass and broken china have all had their turn.

I love how the plate above looks so different just by turning it. Cool! I don't know how much to sell these for and I'm not sure I will. I think the ones with grout need resin and I don't have any of that here at the moment. I'm not real good with it but once I practice using it, I'm sure I'd get better. I do need to get some first, though. What price? Does $10-$15 range sound right? I truly have no clue. I did some searching and the range is $10-$40. Because I'm just now experimenting with them, using the lower range in price seems right to me.

 

I also made a quick mosaic on a piece of wood. It had a hook at the top, which is long lost now. When I can find something here in the studio to replace it with, perhaps an extra sawtooth hanger if I can find one, it should hang up nicely. Meanwhile, it looks find propped up next to me on my shelf.

And finally, I got through the last of the Christmas gifts. I did want to get this finished on time but I couldn't find a place that had the shape I wanted. When I finally did, it was very close to the holiday and shipping took a while. But, it's finished now and might even head out later today if I can remember to give it to the girls to take with them when they go back to their Mom's tonight. This is for my step-granddaughters' half sister. Confused yet?

In other news, I'm adding a few more items to my Zibbet shop now that the Earth Mother shop on Etsy is temporarily closed. The 2nd shop, CindyWhitePhotoArt is still up so far, although I had to change my policies for payments to PayPal which means I had to refund the first sale I had recently when I had Direct Checkout connected to it. I had to take that away because I pay a lab to do the printing on the items and need the sale money in order to do that. With Direct Checkout, you get the money only after you've marked the item shipped. That won't work for me and might cost me even more sales but it is what it is.

It's all good, though, because I can at least still be part of the Etsy community I love so much.

I found a new place to share my mosaics too at shophandmade.com. I have no idea how long it's been around but it's new to me! Nothing new or different has been added, but it is another venue and one I hope will generate a few sales from. Check it out: artbyemmosaics 

And here on the blog you can shop direct. Use the tabs above to see what's available. I'm adding items a few times a week to all places, depending on the day.

We had snow, lots of it, here in PA over the past 24 hours. It doesn't look like much from the window, but the schools are closed and the children are here enjoying their snow day. It is so very quiet outside. That's the best part about living where there is snow. It makes everything stop. No truck noises, no one is shoveling yet (it's very cold at the moment) and everyone is inside who can stay home. Gotta love Mother Nature!! She makes everyone stop and enjoy her handy work!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy

Promo Blast!

Yes, it's Monday again the day in which is normally set aside for my promo blasts. Today I'm doing a blast for this entire post to introduce a way to shop directly through my blog!

See the tabs above? Not all of them have been added yet, but each tab holds my mosaics and art with descriptions and pricing. Just buy clicking on the "Buy Now" button, you'll go directly to PayPal.

I am positive what you see there now will be changed a bit for the moment, it's set to go!

Although I'm needing rest and don't want to do the full blown promotional, networking, marketing thing, I know I must. My work and my shops truly are one of those "out of sight, out of mind" kinds of shops and that means I have to work harder to make sure they are not forgotten.

To explain why I'm selling here on my blog: I have wanted to do it for a while now, but finding motivation wasn't easy. It came quickly when an outstanding bill on Etsy (almost 21 days old) arrived. Now the shop will be suspended tomorrow.

As many of you know, I pay my online bills with art sales, almost all of them through Etsy. The normal way of life used to be that I'd continue to add or renew items each day and by the time the bill was due, I'd make a sale to pay it. But that didn't happen this time.

This year has started off a bit rocky, eh? My physical difficulties get better as the weather warms slightly now and then, thankfully, and I've been able to make up some pages here on the blog over the past few days.

I'm a tough old bird which means I can still sell my work in other ways to try to get the bill taken care of on Etsy. That means selling on free sites until I do. Hopefully it won't take too long to make a sale but if it does, I may lose my domain name. My moniker has been EarthMotherMosaics for so long, I'm not sure what I'd pick to start over with, but that's not something I have to worry about today. Thank goodness!

I DO have a Zibbet shop and am updating it. The love is there for this site and although I don't give the 2 shops on Zibbet as much attention as I should, this will give me time to do just that.

Because I've had a few panic-sleepless-nights-oh-no-what-will-I-do moments, I'm also sharing my photo art here as well. I might actually, once the bills are paid, close my Etsy shops completely. Time will tell. It might be time to realize it's time for some changes.

So, without any further adieu, please go to the tabs above to look at some items, try out the new "buy now" buttons for me and let me know how it goes!

Would you like to see more than one photo for some items? Feedback is welcome!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art

In The Studio

I've been in and out this month having very productive times and not so productive times. That is what recouping is about for me. Energy comes in waves, stays only a short while, and heads on out again so I can rest a little before the next wave.

I'm excited to share the news that I'm working on selling my mosaics directly through this blog. Each day I add a few to it's own dedicated page and once I am happy with how it looks, I'll share and promote/market and post often about what's new on them. I've started with new pendants I've been working on. Some are shown below.

I realized at the end of last year that I've been searching for new venues to share my work and I've missed a great opportunity to set up shop right here on my blog. When I write daily during the week, I share my blog with all my favorite social media sites. The chances are just as great to make a sale this way because someone sees the shop tabs as it is when I share new listings on Etsy.

I made my first sale in my 2nd shop yesterday. I am so excited about it!! My first customer ordered two mugs which go to a lab for printing very soon. I opened the 2nd shop in November 2013 and am so glad it didn't take a year, like the 1st shop, to make a sale!

When I've worked, I've been painting, putting mosaics on switch plate covers and pendants too. Small projects are okay to do; the muse is happy, I don't get overly exhausted and I'm creating which is the most important thing for me to do when I'm tired and/or in pain.

Here's the paintings, done on 2.5 x 3.5 inch MDF in acrylics. You can purchase them directly from me if you are interested. They aren't listed anywhere yet but are available. Each one is $25 a piece. If you're interested, want more info or have questions, shoot me an email at earthmothermosaics@yahoo.com any time! I always respond within the first 24 hours of receiving email. If you don't hear from me within 2 days, let me know through here or on Facebook. You can also send me an email at cindywhitephotos@gmail.com which is dedicated to the 2nd shop.

"Poppy"
3.5 x 2.5 inches
Acrylics

"Pansy"
3.5 x 2.5 inches
Acrylics

"Iris"
3.5 x 2.5 inches
Acrylics

Double Switch Plate Cover - Blue

Single Switch Plate Cover - Scrap Glass

These are waiting for grout
Top Row: Single Switch Plate Cover - Blue
Bottom Row: Double Switch Plate Covers (L) Scrap Glass, (R) Green

Lots of pendants are being made for people who want handmade Valentine's Day gifts.

All pendants are $21.50 now through the end of February.

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art

Nope ...

Good day to you all!

I've changed my plans regarding coming back full swing this morning. I'm not ready.

I can use the break, not much is going on right now. My energy is sleeping.

The muse is still awake! I have still been busy creating. I have a lot of items to grout (shown below) and photos to share but as far as the rest with my shops, blog, etc I'm waiting until February 6th to start with listings and promotions again.

I shared an ATC on Facebook that I dot painted the night before and sold it within a half hour! I've NEVER done that before. It was an encouraging start to the new year!

Bohemian Plasma ATC 2.5 x 3.5 inches - SOLD -
this shows how turning it in 4 directions makes the painting look

Soooo, that means you'll see things now and than as you have for the past few weeks and please feel free to comment, visit my shops, go crazy and purchase something using the coupon code JAN10 on EarthMotherMosaics to receive 10% off of any mosaic in the shop. I'll continue to check in daily to see what's happening in each shop.

Enjoy your week!

Peace Sign Coasters - ready for grout

Upcycled Ceramic Bowl - ready for grout

Upcycled Ceramic Bowl - ready for grout

Upcycled Glass Dish - ready for grout

Dream Boat - ready for grout

Single Switch Plate Cover - ready for grout

An old CD - both sides covered in a mosaic - ready for grout

Double Switch Plate Cover - ready for grout

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art

Happy New Year!

It's been a wonderful year filled with mosaic and crafty joy for my business. For me personally I've had a few bumps but steadily moving towards my own goals has made me aware of how blessed I truly am to have a craft I believe in and enjoy so very much.

Work-in-progress - upcycled mosaic bowl waiting for grout

Thank you all for helping me through the highs and lows this year. I'm looking forward to a wonderfully exciting year in 2014.

As a special thank you, starting now: I'm offering new coupon codes each month for my shop on Etsy, EarthMotherMosaics. Use JAN10 to get 10% off any order for the entire month of January.

Happy New Year from EarthMotherMosaics!!

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art

Picture Day

Highlighted today is a mosaic peace sign.

This is being donated to a Silent Auction for Aiden's Army.

The 1st Silent Auction to help promote the awareness of DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) and to aid families affected by this disease will be hosted on January 25, 2014.

Aidan’s Army was created in support of Aidan Dunion, a three year old boy from Douglassville, PA, who is in the battle for his life. DIPG affects the pons portion of the brainstem, rendering nervous system function impossible.

For all its difficulties, it presents an opportunity for all forms of cancer. It is one of the most resistant of all cancers to chemotherapy treatments; it affects primarily children (whose treatment has historically led to innovations in many other forms of cancer), and with a "dismal" prognosis, alternatives are few. Put together, these obstacles offer researchers a chance to revolutionize cancer research and prevention. It is even suggested that a cure to DIPG might result in a cure for almost every other type of cancer.

For this reason, the cure starts now.

I'm honored to be included in the auction for this wonderful cause.

An online fundraiser is also available if you'd like to contribute.

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/aidan-s-army/96915

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

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art

Happy Holidays!

I wanted to reach out and wish everyone who sticks with me throughout the good and bad here on the blog the very Happiest of Holidays!

Also I'd like to remind those who shop with me to know that December 15th (today) is the cutoff for purchasing holiday items before Christmas.

I'm going to be busy with continued gift making and holiday preparations and wanted to give you all a "heads up" that I will be stepping back from the heavy promotion and daily blog posts for a few weeks.

I'll continue with "In The Studio" posts on Wednesday, just to share any new mosaics or other creative things going on at the crafts table.

The shops will be open and I'll continue to monitor any activity so if you do purchase something it will get attended to but perhaps a bit slower than normal.

Officially I'll be on holiday from December 16th-January 6th.

Wishing you much love for all your support and continued dedication,

Cindy

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters this holiday season and all year long. Thank you!

Stay peaceful,

Cindy of Earth Mother Mosaics and
Cindy White Photo Art