MIssed Me?

I am sorry life took over and i had to take a break from all the pressure and stress of being on the web . I am back now and doing much, much better.

It has been a long and wonderful summer without pressure of work or stress of making mosaic tiles and mosaic art.

Just relaxing summer days, swimming in the pool, sunbathing and working in my flower beds and garden. Visits with my folks and playing scrabble once a week with my mom has made me realize how fast my life is passing by.

But back to the daily grind of work lol, slowly getting back into my studio and making mosaic tiles, but i purchased a used Singer Serger machine and have been getting back into my sewing, i did not realize how much i had missed it until i finally purchased one. So will be taking breaks from tile making and doing some sewing for my mom and myself.

Hope all my friends and readers have enjoyed my writings or postings.

Enjoy the rest of the summer fall is coming in with a roar.

Some photos of our summer bounty and my gardens.

2nd Annual Yart Sale June 10th-June 14th, 2009

The “2nd Annual Yart Sale” will be held from Wednesday June 10th-Sunday June 14th, 2009. This year the “2nd Annual Yart Sale” will be sponsored by the Etsy Supply Street Team (Team ESST). Although not an official Etsy event, it is Etsy supported as evidenced by the Storque article.A “Yart Sale” is an artistic spin on the traditional Yard Sale: Art + Yard Sale = “Yart Sale”. There are many art museums, artists, and groups that have Yart sales annually to raise cash. All Etsy shops are invited to participate. Choose to participate in your Handmade Store, your Supply Store, or your Vintage Store. If you have more than one shop you can participate in all of them. To join the sale, simply post the following Yart Sale Announcement in the Shop Announcement section of your Etsy Shop and please include a short description of how you will be participating in the sale:“I am participating in the Yart Sale on Etsy sponsored by Team ESST”.Team ESST invites you to come, post, chat and shop on the “Official Yart Sale” thread in the Promotions Section of the Etsy forums. A new thread will be posted daily at 7:00 AM EDT beginning on Wednesday June 10th by the Etsy Supply Street Team with the forum title:“SECOND ANNUAL YART SALE sponsored by Team ESST – June 10th, 2009”Participating in the daily forum thread is a way that shoppers can find your shop. Simply post what you are offering. You could also encourage visitors to search “Yart” in handmade, supplies, or vintage. Even if you are simply offering a discount, it would be to your advantage to place Yart somewhere in at least a few of your titles or tags in your shop to draw those searching for items to your shop.If you are interested in changing your avatar to reflect the Yart Sale you can create your own, or use one of the following. This year fellow Team ESST member Misosoup has created two which are available for your use:We look forward to your participation in the Yart Sale. It is a fun event with much enthusiasm, energy and creativity! So get ready and we will see you there! If you have any questions please feel free to contact Team ESST!

Gardening in Flower Pots Hits the Spot!

Our yard is so small not quite 1 acre, we don't have much room to garden , and with so many shade trees it is hard for me to plant and grow anything that loves full sun. So i have decided to grown my vegetables in flower pots this year. I did that the last couple years and it has been so much fun I have decided to go even bigger this year. So i made a trip up to the locals Lowe's and purchased 6 tomato plant's called Better Boy, a sure fire growing tomato that my folks and grandparents grew. Bottom photo shows them off to a great start. Later you can see how much they have grown. Some reaching pass the 5 ft bamboo stakes i have added to the pots to tie the tomatoes to as they grew. Today as i write this they are taller than i am and i will soon need to look around and find some taller stakes to add to the pots. I am 5 ft 8 1/2" tall . All 5 tomato plants are thriving and growing really well. I lost one of them when it just out of the blue started to wilt. I finally pulled it out and dumped the soil to check to see what type of bug or vermin was killing off that tomato. I found 1/4" small white bugs growning in clumps in the potting soil. Sprayed them and killed them. So now i only have 5 plants. Two other pots have Bell Pepper plants growing in them. I feed with miracle grown and water regularly. All 5 plants are thriving and lots lots of tomatoes on them from dime size to golf ball size. Bacon , lettuce and tomato sandwiches here i come.

Will have a new photo to post tomorrow.

Highlights

OK i have been busy i know, but life is always that way. I found this bird making a nest in my hanging basket filled with a spider plant. The little wren has laid 5 eggs and i have been checking them each day, being careful to not disturb the nest or the eggs, taking photos as the eggs hatch. Last time i checked there were 3 naked little birdies in the nest with big bug eyes and just bald without a single feather. Next day mom bird sat on the nest and it was a few more days before she finally left and I got to take a peek into the nest again , all 5 eggs hatched! 5 pretty pink birds are sleeping. Here's a photo of first hatched birds. Is this cute or what?

ETSY EXTRAVANGA SALE STARTS May 7th

May First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza
The SALE officially kicks off today and there will be over 100 shops participating May 7th thru May 10th. You will be sure to find some GREAT DEALS on everything that you need.

come in and check out the sales and shop on etsy this weekend.

check out my shophttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75852
The Etsy Supply Street Team - ESST - is proud to announce the "May - First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza".The May event will run from Thursday, May 7th - Sunday, May 10th, 2009. ALL ETSY SHOPS - HANDMADE, SUPPLIES AND VINTAGE - are invited to participate by placing an announcement in your shop and joining in with promoting on the "Official" Promotional thread in the Etsy Forums.This will be a “Shopping Event” similar to a Public Marketplace. There will not be a "Overall theme" since Etsy is a Global Marketplace hence, the seasons, cultures, holidays, etc. can vary quite a bit. Although not required, we do strongly encourage shops to have a feature, theme or sale as this can pique interest and help you to draw people to your shop.You do not have to participate for the whole weekend simply join in when you can on the Promo thread in the Etsy Forums. You can search for the official thread - “MAY FIRST WEEKEND SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA MAY 7TH-MAY 10TH”.The only requirement is that you have a shop on Etsy and help promote by joining in and bumping the thread throughout the weekend. Talk about your shop and what you have to offer our shoppers.

VOTE for my "Summer Roses" PieceMakers Mosaic Artists Challenge

http://piecemakersmosaics.blogspot.com/2009/05/summer-challenge-time-to-vote.html

This is my piece for the "Summer" theme challenge ,
I used a 8 " Terra cotta flower pot, glazed it and fired it in my kiln, it is no longer porous. Easy watering . Made all the tiles you see on the flower pot. All are made from moist clay and kiln fired, all tile expect for the border rose tiles are hand painted by me. I wanted to do a rose garden , since i love pink roses, so made them a little thicker than i normally make my sculptured roses.

I have 27 hand sculptured roses and rosebuds on this piece , 3 bluebirds, 13 small 3D flowers, and 46 3D leaves not including the flat ones.

We start voting May 1st. Link will be added later.

Please check out all of our pieces.

Thank you
Carol aka CMKSculptures2

http://piecemakersmosaics.blogspot.com/2009/05/summer-challenge-time-to-vote.html

Shop for Craft Mixed Media and other Supplies with TEAM ESST on etsy

WE have 100 members in this group,
this list is not complets

Shop here at our TEAM ESST members shops for all your Mosaic Supply needs.

http://judysnow.etsy.com/
http://cmksculptures2.etsy.com/
http://cocomo.etsy.com/
http://artfulmosaicsupplies.etsy.com/
http://mosaictiledesigns.etsy.com/
http://artsyhandpaints.etsy.com/
http://doodlesmosaictiles.etsy.com/
http://glassshack.etsy.com/


Shop with these TEAM ESST members on etsy for Buttons!

http://gramsvintagebuttons.etsy.com/
http://rosesbuttons.etsy.com/
http://craftily.etsy.com/
http://tinyark.etsy.com/
http://buttonjars.etsy.com/
http://thebuttonshop.etsy.com/

Shop with even more TEAM ESST members on etsy for Jewelry/Beads/findings

http://cardoncreativedesign.etsy.com/
http://gerrysjewelbox.etsy.com/
http://artisticjewels.etsy.com/
http://beads4you.etsy.com/
http://plurfection.etsy.com/
http://kiwii.etsy.com/
http://viragocreations.etsy.com/
http://mountainshadowdesign.etsy.com/
http://mermaidstones.etsy.com/
http://thedestash.etsy.com/
http://windspirit.etsy.com/
http://leslietsy.etsy.com/
http://matursuksema.etsy.com/
http://busybeading.etsy.com/
http://mrsmagooty.etsy.com/
http://originalfindings.etsy.com/
http://alycnwonderland.etsy.com/
http://thebeadeasy.etsy.com/

Shop with these TEAM ESST members on etsy.com for Fabrics, Sewing Notions
http://beesquarefabrics.etsy.com/
http://tliss.etsy.com/
http://ellahound.etsy.com/
http://fabricsamples.etsy.com/
http://fabricsbythesea.etsy.com/
http://woolenmore.etsy.com/
http://livinonthefringe.etsy.com/
http://lcscottage.etsy.com/
http://iloveyoyo.etsy.com/
http://nakpunar.etsy.com/
http://greendepot.etsy.com/
http://theheydayshop.etsy.com/
http://northernwarmthings.etsy.com/
http://spiceberrycottage.etsy.com/

Victorian Hankie Mosaic Cover

I finished this piece a few weeks ago, started out using a wood tissue cover, I first primed it with a great wood primer, base coated that 2 times. and Started gluing on my hearts, and vintage china rims. I added hearts into each corner of the top . and one on each end of the cover, added some sways on each long side in the middle. filled it all in with stained glass in a jadeite color. Once the glue dried, I grouted in a white, let that dry and sealed it really well with a grout sealer, the finish touch was the pearls I glued on around the edge and the cut out center. Done.

Need any help to start your first masterpiece?, post a comment here and your email address and I will reply.

PIECE MAKERS MOSAIC ARTISTS ARTIST OF THE WEEK

I am honored to be picked for the ARTIST of the week thru the etsy group called Piece Makers Mosaic Artists.
A great group of mosic artists. check out my link to my etsy shop.

Esst Etsy Supply Street Team Shopping EXtravaganaza

Welcome to the 2nd
April First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza
Beginning on Thursday at 12:00 AM EST, the Etsy Supply Street Team is hosting another"First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza." This months event will run from Thursday, April 2nd - Sunday, April 5th, 2009. ALL ETSY SHOPS - HANDMADE, SUPPLIES AND VINTAGE .

My shop has handmade kiln fired tiles, and I am giving free shipping with a $25 purchase (not including shipping) total must be $25 in tiles , shipping cost will be refunded back into your paypal account after payment. USA free shipping only. Free shipping only includes the handmade tiles. cmksculpturs2http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75852

Still Raining in Florida after 3 days!

The rain and thunderstorms are still going strong here in Fl this evening. the whole yard is underwater, it is slowly being soaked up by the ground. Our grass, fruit trees and flowers will benefit from all the rain we have gotten. Hubby texted me from work yesterday " got enough rain yet?" told him it did not bother me, but it is finally starting to get on my nerves, I want out of the house. You can not get out of the house without a good pair of waders, and I don't own any.

View of the front yard from the side of the porch, with potted Verbena in a hanging flower pot. View from the deck looking out towards the front yard.

Etsy Sale PIECE MAKERS group

Check out the sale on Etsy , Mosaic Artists in This group are having a Sale!
Ends March 22nd.

Check out my shop on etsy, I am having a FREE SHIPPING sale on a $50 purchase of mosaic tiles (no art pieces) do not include shipping price. Must be a purchse of $50 in mosaic tiles...ONLY and shipping free in the USA ONLY. Carol's shophttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=75852

Darling pendant from Ibreak4glass giveaway

I received this sweet pendant from New York today, won it in a blog give away from Michelle Anderson aka ibreak4glass. It is a beautiful mosaic pendant. Here is some more of her items. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=15684 check out her Artfire studio.

this one is listed in her artfire shop too!

TEAM ESST SHOPPING ON etsy.com

Shop for supplies with TEAM ESST on etsy.com
Looking for some great supplies for your crafting creative juices? Shop with the members of TEAM ESST on etsy.com.Do a search with TEAM ESST on etsy.com to find all the members of this group.This is a group of members that bring you everything you need to make anything from charm bracelets, to handmade glass beads, finished mosaic art, handmade papers, supplies for handmade ornaments. To making your own clothes, crocheting supplies, wired bead wrapping. Check out these shops. Don't have time to craft? Than check out these finished pieces also from our members sister shops.We have over 70 members shops on etsy.com.For Mosaic supplies and finished Mosaic Art shop with http://cmksculptures2.etsy.com/for great fabrics try this linkhttp://FabricsbytheSea.etsy.com , for patterns to make clothing try this shop http://gremlygirl.etsy.com and if you need scraping supplies shop here http://MadeofStars.etsy.com for beading supplies try this shop for goodies http://ViragoCreations.etsy.com for more mosaic supplies try this one http://artsyhandpaints.etsy.com she also sells finished Mosaic Art.for yarn try http://BPyarns.etsy.combuttons here http://GramsVintageButtons.etsy.commore mixed media shopping here at http://lllangel.etsy.comeven more mixed media here http://MLouIsPink.etsy.comfor jewelry supplies try this shop http://gypsywoman.etsy.comfor more mosaic supplies check out this shop http://doodlesmosaictiles.etsy.comvisit all the shops and see how easy it is to shop for all your crafting needs from your armchair.All comments are welcomed!

Fresh from the kiln

My Mosaiced Coffee table

I wanted to show off my first ever coffee table that I have mosaiced in my favorite roses and embossed leaf tiles. I made and kiln fired all the tiles you see on the table top. I hope to have a glass top cut to fit it one day. It is painted in white and shabbied to look older.

New Rose Tiles in My eBay shop

With spring just around the corner I decided to show off some of my New Pink rose mosaic tiles. These come in a assortment of sizes and are hand cut from rolled out moist clay, dried, kiln fired, glazed, kiln fired again, decal applied and a final firing to finish them off. Check out my eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/Mosaic-Tiles-and-Sculptures-By-CMK

Feb weekend Shopping Event on Etsy

Join Artfire with me!

Artfire wants you!
Join now the memberships are going down. $7 for life or free for life if you get 10 referrals to join with you.Register on ArtFire.com

Shop for supplies with TEAM ESST on etsy.com

Looking for some great supplies for your crafting creative juices? Shop with the members of TEAM ESST on etsy.com.
Do a search with TEAM ESST on etsy.com to find all the members of this group.
This is a group of members that bring you everything you need to make anything from charm bracelets, to handmade glass beads, finished mosaic art, handmade papers, supplies for handmade ornaments. To making your own clothes, crocheting supplies, wired bead wrapping. Check out these shops. Don't have time to craft? Than check out these finished pieces also from our members sister shops.
We have over 70 members shops on etsy.com.
For Mosaic supplies and finished Mosaic Art shop with http://cmksculptures2.etsy.com/
for great fabrics try this linkhttp://FabricsbytheSea.etsy.com ,
for patterns to make clothing try this shop http://gremlygirl.etsy.com
and if you need scraping supplies shop here http://MadeofStars.etsy.com
for beading supplies try this shop for goodies http://ViragoCreations.etsy.com
for more mosaic supplies try this one http://artsyhandpaints.etsy.com she also sells finished Mosaic Art.
for yarn try http://BPyarns.etsy.com
buttons here http://GramsVintageButtons.etsy.com
more mixed media shopping here at http://lllangel.etsy.com
even more mixed media here http://MLouIsPink.etsy.com
for jewelry supplies try this shop http://gypsywoman.etsy.com
for more mosaic supplies check out this shop http://doodlesmosaictiles.etsy.com
visit all the shops and see how easy it is to shop for all your crafting needs from your armchair.
All comments are welcomed!

Call for Artists to join ART FIRE

Come shop with me at my Art Fire Stuio http://CMKSculptures.artfire.com




Register on ArtFire.com

Late Santa Gift Arrives Jan 2

We had a secret Santa gift exchange in a eBay group this year. My secret Santa gift was made and shipped out on Dec 14, thinking it would arrive by Christmas day, not worried I went about my days waiting to here from Kit, the lady that was receiving the gift from me. Days went by no word from her. I finally checked the delivery confirmation. numbers, nothing. Finally heard from them Jan 2, yes, Jan 2ND. The mailman tried to delivery the package that day. I guess the snow and the weather held the package up. This is it. I used all handmade tiles and glued them onto my base grouted and sealed and added the high heel shoes and added a string of pearls for some pop. the frame holds a 4x6 photo.

Christmas was wonderful .

We had a wonderful Christmas this year , make sandwiches out of a ham I cooked in the oven for several hours. Picked up some chips and dip, coke's and after wrapping the presents for all the kiddies headed over to my folks house for some Christmas Cheer. Each year we head over to my folks for our annual Christmas Eve party! Oh the food on that table , yummy handmade crab balls, with crackers, chocolate covered cherries, Ham sandwiches, little smokies slow cooked in grape jelly, divinity, hummingbird cake, the list goes on and on. I think I just gained 5 lbs.
It is a wonderful time of the year when family comes in from far and wide to spend this time with family members. Unfortunately two of my sisters and their family were not able to make it again this year.

We enjoyed the time spent with each other. Opened the gifts later that evening , not many presents under the tree, we are all feeling the bite of shortage of $ but we did not seem to mind. We were together, that was really all that mattered.

Christmas day we Randy and I went to hubby's folks for Christmas dinner. We had a wonderful time there also. Folks came and left, presents were unwrapped, kids played on the living room floor among the wrappings. Feeling really blessed right now. Thank you Lord for another wonderful Christmas with family and friends.
I decorated the folks tree again this year and added some pink silk roses, some of my handmade painted rose ornaments for the perfect touch I also purchased some pink lights this year. Mama was so thrilled~ it was so much fun decorating the tree with her helping me untangle the hangers. I enjoy the time spend with my mother.