Building Bridges: Tell us a little bit about you, your family,
and what you like to do for fun!
Cindy White: I'm
almost 60 and have done something creative every day since I was a pre-teen. I
live with my oldest daughter and her family taking care of my grandson who is
in kindergarten while Mom & Dad work.
Building Bridges: What other hobbies do you have?
Cindy White: I
like to mosaic, paint, paper art and most recently have been searching online
for good gluten-free recipes.
Building Bridges: Why did you choose the name of your business? Is there a
special meaning behind it?
Cindy White: Right
around Christmas time, in 2008, a co-worker called me "Elf Mother"
(my height is under 5 feet) and that quickly changed to "Earth
Mother". Adding "mosaics" on the end of that seemed like a
natural thing to do.
Cindy White: Many
friends and family encourage me to keep going with my art. After selling some
trivets and vases I did mosaics on, I decided to open an online shop. I've had
my Etsy shop since 2009 but didn't become active with it until 2010.
Building Bridges: Do you remember your first product that sold,
what was it?
Cindy White: On
Etsy, I sold an art pendant to a family friend. I did some selling of items
before I had the Etsy shop, though, the very first ever mosaic that I made and
sold was a stained glass vase.
Building Bridges: Do you take custom orders?
Cindy White: Yes,
for some items I do. I am open to doing most anything if I feel comfortable in
doing something. I prefer to do crescent moons, suns and gazing balls.
Sometimes when someone contacts me asking if I'll do certain mosaics I'm not
qualified to do, I try to send them to another shop or artist.
Building Bridges: Why Make handmade products?
Cindy White: There's
nothing quite like getting a handmade gift or item especially made for you. I
love to make them and I love to receive them. It's the best!
Building Bridges: What do you love or hate about selling?
Cindy White: Right
now I have a frustrating situation in that I'm not selling enough to pay for
renewing listings. Sometimes I make 2 sales a month, other times I wait 5
months or more in between. I use the sale money to buy supplies to make more
mosaics and to pay the Etsy bills since I don't have another income. It can be
discouraging to try to find ways to promote my shop in new venues. Lots of
folks think it's easy to run an online shop. I have 6 of them (2 on Etsy) and
it's not easy. Networking/marketing/promoting is a big part of getting noticed.
It's hard to find the balance to create and promote.
Building Bridges: What is your favorite part about owning your own business?
Cindy White: I
love to make mosaics. The fact that others seem to like them too is my favorite
part about it. I will always make them whether I sell them or not!
Building Bridges: Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over
others?
Cindy White: I like to make hippie designs that I've become
sort of noted for. I love to mosaic suns and moons, stars and peace signs.
Building Bridges: Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?
Cindy White: Follow
your heart.
Building Bridges: Did you always see yourself becoming an
entrepreneur?
Cindy White: I never saw myself as an
entrepreneur but that IS what I am according to online sources such as
Wikipedia. I always knew I'd be creating art, but not specifically what kind.
Building Bridges: Do you use your own products?
Cindy White: Yes, I wear my jewelry, light candles in the candle holders,
put flowers in the vases, put cold cans on the coasters, etc. I love to line up
the trivets in all sizes on the windowsill and allow the sun to shine through
them. There's nothing quite like that light show!
Building Bridges: What is your most popular product on the
market right now?
Cindy White: I don't have one. I make a lot of different things; my style is
eclectic in nature. What sells are the small items, jewelry, candle holders,
trivets with an occasional custom order here and there for a crescent moon or
gazing ball.
Building Bridges: What is the favorite item you make and why
Cindy White: I
honestly love everything I make. Whatever I'm working on, be it a mosaic or a
dot painting, paper art, etc, I love it all.
Building Bridges: Thank you Cindy for sharing your shop EarthMotherMosaics
with us! Readers you can buy, follow, and adore on Facebook,
Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Website, & Blog. Thanks for reading on another fabulous Etsy shop, we hope you enjoyed this peak into the wonderful world of a mosaic crafter. Have an amazing week everyone! Peace!
Building Bridges:
