Friday, October 21, 2016

In The Studio - Friday

What a great week I've had in the studio. It's been so long since I've worked on anything new, other than grouting! I missed it!!

I finished the 3 hook wall rack and it is now in the "to be grouted" pile. I'll happily get to grouting this weekend. Doing a few things in between is definitely better for my state-of-mind.


My daughter thinks it turned out pretty well which makes me happy. White grout will get added soon!

Next up was the vase I started cutting glass for a few days ago. Believe it or not, I'm still nipping away! These colors are just fantastic. So, so pretty.





The vase I'm putting them on is rather large, so I wanted to make sure I had enough of all the colors I want to use to fill it up. I'm almost finished nipping. I'm looking forward to getting started on the mosaic part!

And great news for the Etsy shop. Another sale! Woo-hoo!!


This flower power snow dude is headed to it's new home as I write this. Happy me! His mate, "Peace Snow Dude", is still available and waiting for someone to take him home. Isn't he cute in his flower power hat and fringed vest?!



Want to see what new things are in the shops? I've added some new mosaics to Etsy and Aftcra so hop on over and take a look any time!

Monday's post, Let's Go Shopping! will be a nice collection of items I found through Etsy. Just because the Treasury Feature on Etsy is no longer available (sad, but true) doesn't mean I can't make my own! :)

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

 

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

In The Studio - Wednesday

As the weeks gets closer to the crazy holiday season, I keep telling myself it's time to figure out what I'm going to make. Those I gift each year with a handmade item often don't receive their gift before Christmas. Honestly, each year it becomes harder and harder to figure out. Once I do, it's close to the time to actually give the gift.

As I push things around and look at what I have available In The Studio each day, I am not coming any closer to many decisions yet. I will keep updating the blog about this subject once I get it figured out. IF I do! Wish me luck!

The gift I mentioned last week was finally given over the weekend, so I can share it here. It's Mickey and Minnie! It's functional and wall art, always a bonus when it can be useful. I used mirror in silver and a few colors to make it look like confetti, stained glass and dish tiles too. The sides were covered in blue glass tiles. It measures 5 x 6 inches.


If you look closely you can see I added a hook in the center for a backpack, lightweight jacket, etc. Both Mom and child loved it. That makes me very happy!

I'm back to work in the studio, thank goodness, after a long rest. I'm making a gift for my daughter's friend. She recently moved and gave me some dishes she no longer needed. We're going to give one of them back, in the form of a mosaic.


A 3 hook wall rail is getting some pretty blue flowered dish pieces placed on it. My daughter's friend loves shabby chic, so we'll probably go with white grout to finish it off.

I have a vase I've been staring at for quite some time and started nipping up the glass for it. Lots to be cut yet, so I do a little at a time while watching a show on Netflix or one of the many DVD's I have.

Purple, pink, white with green streaks, light green and burgundy glass are the colors I've chosen. Aren't they a pretty combination? If all goes well with this, I'll probably list it.

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

 

Monday, October 17, 2016

Let's Go Shopping!

I'm changing my Monday posts title, if you hadn't noticed, from Promo Blast! to Let's Go Shopping!

So ... let's go!

Last week I made a sweet collection gathering items from Storenvy but quickly learned many of the shops don't use social media as I do, and therefore, it wasn't easy to share what I found with all the shops nor let them know they've been chosen. Those I found, through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, were shared happily! Not finding them all on these sites hasn't stopped me, however, from sharing where I can. Whether they know it or not, I love these items!

Here is the collection and the links to the stores. Enjoy!!!


Witchy Crescent Moon Choker in Brass sold by NecrologyShop

Galvanized Tin Jack-O-Lantern Luminary sold by Suwannee River Merchantile

Candy Heart Shades sold by MILK CLUB SHOP

Pink/White Lolita Bowknot Wedges sold by Moooh!!

Aura Crystal Necklace // Rainbow Titanium Crystal sold by TOCCA JEWELRY

DUFFLE BAG - NATURAL sold by BLACK HOUSE PROJECT


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

 







Wednesday, October 12, 2016

In The Studio - Wednesday

I don't really have much to share this week as it's still been a bit slow here In The Studio.

I grouted 2 letters of the custom order. Cleaning these are really time-consuming.



I am very pleased with the results so far. There are a few spots that will need grout touch-ups. That's the hard part with using tesserae in different thicknesses. It's always a bit challenging. But I really do love the results.

And in other news ... I was the winner of a $25 gift certificate contest for September through Gemini Moon Designs by Jeanine Molnar recently. I picked out this awesome incense burner and some incense which arrived in record time.



I've been a big fan of her work and of the person behind the business for many, many years. She is very inspirational and one of the first mosaic artists I found so many years ago that "spoke" to me through her art. She rocks!!


I've written a blog post about her in the past when I used to feature shops. There is a possibility I will do that kind of post again next year. But in the meantime, check out her shop on Etsy for some serious drooling.

Meanwhile, I'm hoping to pick up a little steam soon and continue grouting. I have some new mosaics I want to make. I have a few ideas for some more serious art pieces, not just home decor items. I believe these will take months to work on, from start to finish. Once I get going on them, I'll share what I'm doing.

And the secret giftie I mentioned last week hasn't yet been gifted which means I can't yet share a photo. I'm going nuts, I have to say, because I LOVE to share!

Come back again to see all the latest updates.

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

 

Monday, October 10, 2016

Promo Blast!

This isn't a typical Blast this week, but more a "shout out" to the many peace signs I've made over the years. Shockingly, this is only a small portion of what I've made.


Kind of amazing, isn't it?


Custom orders are very welcome. Now that I've re-opened the Etsy shop, I've cut the prices of all items, including customs. They are surprisingly affordable at $95 for a 10 inch peace sign.

Now is the time to get a peace sign to gift that awesome hippie you know and love. Start your collection of peace sign wall art, like a customer did a few years ago, with a Earth Mother Mosaics original made especially for you.

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

 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

In The Studio - Wednesday

How is everyone's week going so far? Mine?? Well ... it's been all about the fam. The g-kids have had Monday and Tuesday off this week, so this old lady has had very little time to actually do mosaic work or any artwork at all yet this week. We also adopted another kitty and although I'd love to share a photo of her, I can't yet get her to pose for me. She's very unsure about her new home but she's met everyone but me a few times before she arrived, so she's doing pretty well. We still have an old lady cat who isn't at all concerned with the new kid, but will give her heck if she doesn't stop growling at her after a few minutes. They will figure out the dynamics and eventually it will get all settled.

But, because I dedicate this post to studio news, I thought I'd share a few photos I've taken of new things I've found or have been given to use for mosaics.

First up are a few really cool old perfume and liquor bottles along with a large vase. One person says it's recycling or even garbage, this person says: how cool would that look with stained glass or other neat-o things glued to it?!


My daughter gave me an old cake pan and I promised myself I'd figure out what to do with it. After some thinking on it, I decided to add rays which resulted from cutting out some shapes recently using Wedi board.


The rays will be challenging to work on. Not so much the flat bits but the sides (in blue) which is harder to cover with glass, tiles, etc. I might cover both sides with glass and paint the exposed sides (once more, in blue) instead of trying to tile/grout them. This is going to be fun to work on!

I finished up the "Ghost House" getting a hanger on it. I have to say every darned time I look at it, I smile. I think it's so cute. Will NOT be listing this, but if somebody wants to purchase it, let me know. It's one of those whimsical pieces I made thinking I would list it but I sort of fell in love with the goofy face I made on it!


The white spots, other than the grout, are actually white glass. It's got purple, orange and black dish shards and shiny orange ceramics from an old flower pot on it too. Fun!!

And last, a personal struggle for me. To try to turn a family foot stool into something fun and awesome. I didn't get a good shot of them, but the bottom part of the "feet" are in pretty bad shape; splintered and pieces of wood are broken off. This was made by a family member in shop class. In pencil on the underside is written "1961" but I'm not sure if that's when it was made or when it was initially repaired. My Dad, who works with antiques and restores furniture, worked on it a little bit. He gave it to me when my kids were little for them to use, keeping it with me from apartment to apartment over the years.


 I really believe I could make it happy once more although the wood looks really awesome on top. Well-weathered and what many work hard to recreate when working with reproductions in wood. However, for me, a nice flat piece of "real" wood with legs means I need to cover it with a design in glass and dishes. Well, not really, I do know some things are better left alone, really I do. But this belongs to me and although I'm fairly sure no one will care, I want to make sure I do a decent job with it, make it awesome/cool/terrific. My grandson said I should make a tree on it but then said putting two glass feet on it would be cool too. I like the way he thinks! So stay turned, because I'm not sure when the muse will decide it's time to work on these many little things here, but I do know once she's ready, I'll share photos as we go!

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

 

Monday, October 3, 2016

Promo Blast! - An Aftcra Collection

I promised myself that I'd spend some time promoting shops and items I've found in all the online sites where I sell my mosaics. I really do enjoy making up small collections and sharing them. It is fun to pick a theme or a color and see what I can find.

This week, it's all about what I found on aftcra, baby! Aren't these items below really cool?! As usual, I will share this on my social media favorites: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr and Twitter.

Aftcra: Crafted By American Hands. One of the sites I sell my mosaics on, and one of the sites I truly am proud to be part of is featured today, along with 9 of their shops. I hope you enjoy it.

All of these items were lovingly chosen for their unique style and because I just plain love them. If you see something you love too, please click on the link below the photo. It will take you directly to the shop.


Top Row - From Left to Right:
Pallet Clock from Monte Sano Farms
Wood Earrings from OnceAgainSam
Countdown To Christmas from St. Croix Routing Design


Middle Row - From Left to Right:
Pumpkin Sign from The Rustic Mermade


Bottom Row - From Left to Right:

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

 

Coming to the Ending of the Retrograde

I think I am fairly aware of the planetary activity and try to keep even more aware during the retrogrades when they occur. This time, howev...