Sparkly Cross Ornaments

I've wanted to share cross ornaments with a few of our close friends for a long time, and right before Christmas (nothing like waiting 'till the last minute!), a bag of sparkly tiles caught my eye in my studio. The tiles were an "extra", tucked into an order from a mosaic supplier. I quickly sat them aside, thinking I would never us them. I'm so glad I picked them up and played around with them because I also had the perfect cross ornaments bases to set the tiles in. I love it when things unintentionally fall into place! So fun!

Sparkly Cross Ornaments
4.5"h x 3.5"w

Here's a close up so you can see the sparkles:

Ooooooooooh . . . sparkles.

The crosses were all very well received, but I think our friends are probably a little biased. ;) I'd love to hear what *you* think. Like 'em? Love 'em? Think they're gawdy? Tell me what you think in the comments. Thanks!

In Him,
Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

Check out my Facebook Fan Page ~ www.facebook.com/MarymakingDesigns

Molly's First Communion Cross

Molly's First Communion Cross
Size: Medium Cross Base; 9" x 13"

Materials: Transparent art glass, True blue stained glass, Sapphire crystal beads, Flat glass beads in various colors, White and blue grout, Wood base painted with blue metallic and copper paint.

This beautiful cross has been a long time in the making. Molly's mom, a former client, contacted me several months ago about making a special cross for Molly's First Communion. Two years ago, I made a First Communion cross for Molly's sister, Grace (click here to see Grace's cross), so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create another special cross for their family.

My client wanted the design to be bright and fun. She also wanted the cross to be similar to - but not matching - Grace's and have stars in the background. I think we accomplished that! I found some awesome flat beads, and the design came together quickly. I painted the base of the cross metallic blue and scattered hand-painted copper stars throughout the background. I used clear glass so the stars would show through the glass.

I have such a love / hate relationship with clear glass. I love that it gives me flexibility: I can paint the base of the cross and whatever I paint shows through. Amazing possibilities. (Two other examples of this technique are my Everlasting Covenant (see it here) and Calm My Anxious Heart (see it here) crosses.) But clear glass also requires absolute perfection in cutting. Glass tends to fracture when not cut perfectly. These fractures are hidden in the glass in non-transparent glass but, with clear glass, any fractures in the glass are obvious when placed on the base. Therefore, my cuts have to be exact; using my nippers to help "fudge" a cut is not an option. The good news is that results are always more than worth it.

The cross is grouted in two different colors ~ blue in the heart and white in the background. I’m out of practice on two color grouting and was a bit concerned about how it would go. The process is tricky and, if it’s not done just right, you can end up with a huge mess instead of a beautiful cross. All of the beads complicated things even further. Luckily, the grouting process went smoothly, and I’m so glad I went for it. Here’s a closeup that shows the different grout colors:

Molly's Cross ~ Close up

To my client, thanks for giving the opportunity to create this mosaic cross for Molly, and thanks for your patience. I wish Molly so much happiness and joy!

In Him,

Mary
Marymaking Designs

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Anniversary Cross

I'm excited to share my newest mosaic cross:


The technicalities: This mosaic cross was made on my small cross base (roughly 7.5" x 10"). I used aqua iridescent and deep red stained glass as well as beautiful, sapphire blue glass beads. The cross was finished with bright, white grout.

The juicy details: This mosaic cross is chock-full of great symbolism. My client ordered the cross as an anniversary gift for her husband . . . so the heart symbolizes their love. The "C" is the first initial of their last name. Even the color scheme has meaning as their wedding colors were aqua, sapphire blue and deep red. I just love it when a cross takes on so much special meaning!

The tricky part: For some reason, I have the masochistic tendency to design a cross before I fully figure out how to execute the design. This cross is no exception. I thought a line of beads around the outside of the heart as well as a beaded initial inside the heart would be lovely. (And it is!) I suggested these design elements to my client, and she agreed. What I did not fully think through was how I was going to grout the cross without getting grout in the small and curving bead lines.

The process: I have used similar beaded design elements in my mosaic crosses many times, so I've created a quasi-process for grouting in this situation. At the risk of boring y'all, here are some pictures and a quick explanation of the process:

1. Ready to be grouted.

2. I masked off the beads with painter's tape to try to keep the grout away from the beads.


3. Then grouted inside the heart . . .


4. Cleaned the grout with the tape still on but forgot to take a picture! I did take one once I removed the tape. Sorry for the blurry pic. My camera didn't want to focus!


5. Grouted the rest of the cross. I covered the outside beads with tape again . . . although this picture shows the beads after this tape was removed.


6. This is where things get dicey. Inevitably, no matter how careful I am, grout gets in the bead lines. It's a bit hard to make out in the picture above but the biggest problem area was in the lower left part of the heart. Even after I cleaned everything, there was too much grout left in the bead line. Obviously, my masking method is far from foolproof!

I ended up pulling up about 6 of the beads, cleaning the area under and around the beads, repainting this area and then carefully, relaying the beads. This picture was taken right after I removed the beads:


7. It's definitely an exercise in patience! But the results are always worth it. Or at least I like to think so. The final product:


Thanks so much to L and her husband for their patience and trust. I hope you enjoy your beautiful cross for years to come!

In Him,
Mary
www.maryharrell.com

Back at it

So . . . it's been almost 6 months since I last posted. Let's just say that the Stone Yoga plaque (see post below) sucked my will to mosaic on many levels. After finishing the plaque, I threw my cutters, nippers and Weldbond into the studio and didn't touch them until this past weekend. In the meantime, I've been busy playing lawyer and being the Mom Taxi. I'm blessed that way.

Anyway ~ about my latest mosaics. I made my first Junior League ornament in 2003. Since then, my client has ordered JL ornaments several times. She told me today that she gives them to officers of the organization, and the 2008 batch will go to the executive officers. I incorporated the Junior League logo into the ornaments' design and handcut each piece of glass. Yep, even those teeny tiny, vertical pieces. I have the gash on my finger to prove it.

The ornaments are approximately 4 inches tall, are made of red and white stained glass and grouted in white. Here they are:


And a close up:


I am so glad I picked up my glass cutters and started mosaicing again. Guess what I learned? I really enjoy mosaicing (well ~ maybe not the slicing my finger with a piece of glass part of mosaicing). Go figure. I'm looking forward to finishing a few other long-standing orders over the next few weeks. If I'm still working on something for you, get ready: your lucky day just might be drawing nigh. Ha!

Be sure to check back. I'll try to post a little more often.

In Him,

Mary
www.maryharrell.com

Stone Yoga Plaque

I'll be back to share more about my latest piece of artwork . . . but here's the pic.


In Him ~

Mary
www.maryharrell.com

O Girl!

My last entry was about boy crosses so it's only fitting that this entry is about a baby girl cross. . . a pink beaded daisy cross to be exact! It was ordered by a new client who actually found me through this blog. See! Proof that I'm not just talking to myself. Ha!

I really love my beaded daisy crosses (I think I say this about each of my mosaic crosses, don't I?! But it's really true!) They just make me smile.

The process to make a beaded daisy cross is more complicated than a "regular" cross but it's so much fun to watch it all come together. The beads add the perfect, unique touch and iridescence of the beads really makes the daisy stand out. I'm pretty sure I've posted pictures of previous beaded daisy crosses but here's the one I just finished. No two are ever alike anyway!

I'll add my typical "this picture is horrible" disclaimer. Really, I need to invest in a new camera. The 3.2 megapixel Sony Cybershot has seen better days and I'd really be able to give y'all a better idea of how gorgeous my mosaic crosses truly are. Maybe soon . . .

I hope your weekend is full of things that make you smile. : )

In Him,
Mary

O Boy! O Boy! O Boy!

My latest custom order ~ 3 crosses for baby boys.


These mosaic crosses were created on my 4" x 6" cross base. They each have a navy blue border, a heart tile and a light blue background. I love that, even though they are similar, each cross is unique.

I pray that these crosses will be a blessing to the sweet little boys for years and years to come.

In Him,

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

Big House Cross ~ Part 1

I want to share an exciting new cross that I'm about to start working on. In two weeks, my church (www.christ-umc.org) is getting ready to open its brand new sanctuary. Once the services are moved to the new sanctuary, the entire old sanctuary building will be used for children's ministries. There are lots of exciting things planned for the kids . . . but probably the most exciting is Big House.

Big House is the name of the new Children's Worship service for Kindergarteners - 6th graders. The service will be structured similar to the basic adult service . . . except be geared toward kids. So . . . more upbeat . . . more singing . . . more visual interaction . . . but still in a respectful, worship-oriented setting. How cool is that? I think it's exceptionally cool and I know the kids (including my own little monkeys) are going to LOVE it.

I'm really excited and feel very blessed to have been asked to design a special cross for Big House. The cross will sit on the altar and be an ever present visual reminder of God's love and grace for the kids. I'm still working on the design so I can't share exactly what the cross is going to look like. But I can tell you that it's going to be BIG (probably about 2.5' tall) and vertical (sit in a stand). It predominantly will be jewel tones and I'm thinking of using a lot of mirror glass. As of right now, the design will be more free-flow than a true, structured design . . . but all of that could change as God hasn't really told me what He wants yet. Or maybe I just haven't listened. I have that problem sometimes. HA!

Either way, it's clearly a work in progress and I plan to share the progress with you. The first thing I need to do is have my dad build the base for the cross. I hope to have this by mid-March. In the meantime, I'm going to work on the design and find the perfect glass to use. Stay tuned for the updates . . .

In Him,
Mary

New Crosses

Just a quick post to share two new crosses. The crosses are gorgeous but the really cool thing about them is that they were ordered by somebody who received one of my crosses as a gift. I always love the opportunity to hear what people think about their cross . . . and I *especially* love the opportunity to create crosses for them to give as gifts. It's such a blessing to me!

Without further ado, here they are. The design is the same for both ~ red pieced hearts with a caramel background on my smallest (4" x 6") cross base. They are grouted in Bone.


Be sure to stay tuned for my next post about the exciting, BIG cross I'm designing and making for Big House!

In Him
Mary

Electric Heart ~ Revisited

I have no idea how I forgot to say this in my last post about Electric Heart. I think I'm losing my mind.

The cross was donated to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. It was auctioned off at their Cattle Baron's Ball last night and the winning bid was $100. Not too shabby.

I'm blessed to be able to be a part of wonderful fundraising events.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

Electric Heart

Here it is ~ the mosaic cross that I mentioned in my last entry.

As I mentioned, it's quite a departure from my previous crosses. I hesitate to say that though because it's also very true to my style and the direction of my artwork. For instance, it incorporates beads and intricately cut transparent glass like several of my previous mosaic crosses.

But it is also more dramatic than most of my other artwork. I have also never made a larger mosaic cross that is predominantly black. I'd love to hear what you think. Please feel free to leave a comment.

A little bit about the design process. The inspiration for the design is the beautiful fused glass, asymmetrical heart featured in the center of the cross. The heart was created by artist Jean West. I painted the base of the cross black to showcase the heart. The black background really sets off the beautiful iridescent features throughout the heart. Not that you can tell any of this from the picture . . . I worked so hard to try to get a good picture and this was the best I could do. You'll just have to take my word that the actual piece is much more "electrifying" (get it?!) than the picture above. Here's a detail shot that gives you a little better feel for the real thing:


Ribbons of iridescent glass are interwoven throughout the heart and I carried these "glass ribbons" onto the cross base with beads. I also placed gold leaf in random places on the background. I then pieced the background in transparent glass so the black and gold leaf would be seen. I grouted in black.

A technical note. The adhesive I use (Weldbond) dries clear but is white when you first apply it. It can take days (I've heard even weeks or months?) to turn clear and the Texas humidity doesn't help the process! The moral is that, if you have a deadline to meet, make sure you finish piecing the background in time for the adhesive to turn clear. Or at least, that's what a little birdie told me. ;)

Thanks for reading.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

Latest Mosaics

Just a quick "fly-by" post to share my latest mosaics. I'll include a brief description with each picture.

A Dove Cross. This mosaic was given by my client to a special friend for her birthday. The blue/green transparent and textured background really makes the iridescent white dove "pop." This is the first time I've used the background glass and I am so happy with the result. It's such a calm, peaceful color. The transparency and texture give it a water-like feel. It's very soothing. The cross is on my Small (7.5" x 10") cross base.

An interesting tidbit ~ the dove is my most requested cross design. I'll write more about the symbolism and significance of the dove in the future.

Pink Handpainted Daisy Heart Cross. A First Communion gift. The background is light, pastel pink. I have the hardest time photographing it. It's softer in person.



Letter "A" with Butterfly. This mosaic will be a baby gift. The colors and butterfly were chosen to match the baby's nursery. My Mosaic Letters are approximately 4" tall.



Flared Heart Cross with Brown Border & Iridescent Background. A wedding gift. The cross is made on my Smallest (4" x 6") cross base.


Apple Cross. This mosaic was commissioned as a graduation gift for my client's friend. I bet you can't guess what profession the friend is entering?! The order also includes custom designed notecards featuring this cross image. The cross is made on my Smallest (4" x 6") cross base.

I have also recently finished 2 larger crosses. I'll share 1 of them in my next entry. It's quite a departure from my "norm." I'm anxious to hear what y'all think! Check back soon.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

Website Updates ~ Cross Page & Galleries

A quick note to let y'all know I have updated the Cross page and Cross Galleries pages on my website. My hope is that the pages are cleaner, easier to navigate and easier to understand. The pictures have also been recropped and the lighting adjusted so you can see better images of each mosaic cross. I would love to hear your comments on the layout and design of the pages.

I still plan to add an individual page for each cross to give you more information, the "story behind the cross" and detail images. I will try to add a few each week so be sure to check the site often.

Thanks for checking out the site and I look forward to hearing from you!

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

From Guatemala With Love

It just occurred to me that I haven't posted any new art lately. I haven't been creating as much lately because I've been busy with my art marketing classes and recovering from recent surgery. But I thought y'all might enjoy seeing some of my older mosaic crosses and learning their "stories."

This series of 3 identical crosses is titled, "From Guatemala With Love."

I was asked by my client to create a unique Christmas gift for her children's grandparents. The client has adopted 3 beautiful little girls from Guatemala. She wanted the crosses to reflect the girls' Guatemalan heritage as well as the incredible amount of love the girls have brought into their family. Thus we chose the blue, white and bright yellow color scheme to reflect the colors in the Guatemalan flag. The 3 hearts on each cross symbolize the 3 girls. The ceramic hearts were hand made and painted a bright yellow by one of my wonderful vendors. The client was thrilled with the results and word has it that the grandparents love their unique crosses and their symbolism.

These mosaic crosses were completed Fall 2006. They are on flared, small (7.5" x 10") bases.

I hope to have new mosaic artwork to share next week.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I've been working on updating the Cross Galleries on my website to make the pictures sharper and the pages cleaner and easier to navigate. It's a lot (that's for you Lori!) of work given that there are over 100 mosaic cross images displayed on my site.

But it's also like visiting with old friends in a comfortable, familiar place. Maybe that sounds odd. Let me explain.

I often say, "My crosses are my passion." Clearly, I love everything about creating my crosses (and other artwork too!). I love the symbolism of the cross. I love working with God and my client to create the perfect, unique cross for each client. I love choosing the materials. I love placing the beads, cutting the glass, piecing the design. I even love grouting. And finally, I love the awesome feeling of seeing the design come to fruition.

But it's more than that. Long after they have been sent to the client, each cross remains in my soul. I fondly recall each client I worked with, the give and take that goes with creating each unique design, the story behind each cross, what was happening in my life at the time, the completed cross . . . there are so many happy memories and associations with each mosaic cross I am blessed to create.

My crosses are an amazing, integral part of me. They are my passion. They bring me joy and awe no matter how many times I revisit their pictures. Not in a conceited way . . . but in a way that I know this is what God wants me to do.

May your life be filled with the same kind of passion.

In Him,

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

P.S. The new Cross Galleries on my website should be complete in the next few days. I'll be sure to post and let you know when to check them out!

A New Mosaic Cross

Here are the pictures:


And the detail shot:


The cross is a Grandmother gift ~ a special gift honoring the birth of the recipient's granddaughter. It is on my smallest cross base ~ 4" x 6" ~ and the background is pieced with matte iridescent white glass (it doesn't show up as much in the pictures but it's beautiful!).

The flowered cross in the middle was created by a fellow artist Jean West. She specializes in fused glass and incorporates her creations into beautiful jewelry. I was fortunate to meet Jean last Fall at a show in Houston and I spent a few hours in her studio a few weeks ago. Talk about inspiration! She's an amazing person and her artwork is fabulous. You can check out her site at www.jwestbeads.com You will definitely be seeing more of her pieces appearing in my artwork.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

The Angels are here to stay!

My mosaic angel ornaments have been so popular at Christmas time and I've had several requests to offer them all year . . . so I am! There's a new Angels page on my website where you can get more info and details on how to place your order. Here are a few more pictures that didn't fit onto the website:

Three Classic Angels





Three Classic Angels With Designs



A few Personalized Angels:


And ~ of course ~ the Charity Angels (proceeds go to the applicable charity):



I so enjoy creating these angels and watching their little personalities come to life as I add their hair, face, wings and robe. They are so sweet and fun. I'm sure you have several people in your life who need their very own guardian angel. : )

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

New Mosaic Cross ~ Rachael's Cross

Can you believe it?! Two blog entries in two days. If you don't watch out, I might actually meet my New Years' Resolution of posting 3x week. Scary.

Anyway ~ here's a picture of my latest mosaic cross. The specs: 9"x13" (medium cross base); lavender stained glass, deep purple glass beads and a transparent glass cross bevel. Oh ~ and white grout. Didn't it turn out beautiful?!


And the detail shot:


The cross is for my clients' nanny. They settled on this design after seeing this mosaic cross on my website (visit the site at www.marymakingdesigns.com):

Title: Calm My Anxious Heart
Size: 7" x 11.5"
Materials: Transparent glass, Delica seed beads, transparent bevel, crystal beads and dichroic heart

I addressed the issue of recreating one of my original mosaic designs in a previous entry and Rachael's cross is a perfect example of what I said in that entry:

. . . when I'm inevitably asked to recreate my previous designs, I tweak them to suit each individual client. I change the colors, the glass I use, the number of bluebirds, the shape of the cross . . . I add new elements, new symbolism. I truly try to change something so both clients ~ the original client as well as the new client ~ have a unique creation.

I enjoyed the opportunity to work with this design again and love how Rachael's Cross is similar to yet different than Calm My Anxious Heart. In fact, I'm already thinking of how to tweak the design again. LOL!

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

A New Mosaic Plaque . . . & Random Thoughts on "Random" Art

I finished a new mosaic plaque this week. It's called ~ Rock Series #1. Creative, I know.

The specs ~ 4" x 4", rocks and marble on wood. No grout.

The picture ~


The story ~ I made this piece as an experiment. I wanted to work with some rocks I had in the studio and a bit with marble. This piece is the result. It's what I affectionately call "random art" . . . it's art that I create on my own . . . not for a client. I always have so many ideas swimming around in my head but not nearly enough time to actually sit down and create them. When I get the opportunity to just experiment, I learn so much (and have alot of fun!). It's very gratifying, inspiring, motivating . . . and alot of other -ing words. : )

I hope you've found time to pursue the desires of your heart. It's good for the soul.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com

A New Mosaic Cross ~ Faith & Love

Here is my latest commissioned mosaic cross:


It was commissioned by my client for her sister and brother-in-law. Their marriage has been through some rocky times but they have recently renewed their vows as well as their commitment to God.

Detail of the ichthus, symbolizing the couple's fresh commitment to God:


Details of the double wedding bands, symbolizing the couple's new commitment to their marriage:


This mosaic cross is a perfect example of why I feel so blessed to create my artwork. How awesome to be a part of such a wonderful story . . . and to create a piece of artwork for them that will hopefully become a physical sign of their faith and love for the rest of their lives. I am truly blessed.

In Him ~

Mary
www.marymakingdesigns.com