Inspiring Eminent Blogger: Chris Emmert

Meet wonderful mosaic artist Chris Emmert today. I truly love and admire her art work. Read on to know more about Chris and her exquisite art work.

Welcome Chris, I am happy to have you here on Design Decor & Disha. Please introduce yourself.

I am a self-taught artist and have been creating many forms of arts and crafts for most of my life, but mixed-media mosaics are my passion! I enjoy using found objects and intriguing bits in creating a visually appealing piece of art……and ROCKS!~!!!

Upcycled Planter made by Chris

When and how you realized your passion about Mosaic Art.

I had a coffee shop that I sold in 2007 so I could focus on my art. I started listing on Etsy in September of  2010. Sales were slow to start but have steadily increased since.

Tell us when your artwork started getting recognized and you stepped into this business.

I do mostly garden stones and pet memorials that are very unique. By 2013 my name is becoming recognized and I get requests for custom rocks.

Garden Rock  done by Chris

What are the tools and materials you use for mosaic art and please share some tips for beginners.

In 98’ when I was making all the tables for my coffee shop, I did one in mosaic with broken up coffee cups. I used a hammer not knowing that there were special tools that make it easy to cut up pottery and glass. When I got my first pair of wheeled nippers I was in heaven.

Mosaic art on wine glass

How many mediums you have worked on. Which one is easy to work with.

Mosaics can be done on any surface. Around my house nothing is sacred. I just finished the guest

bathroom where I covered the sink in pebbles.

Mosaic art done by Chris in her Guest Bathroom

Which one is your favorite art piece and why.

My piece “Durango” is my all time favorite, mainly because of all the recycled materials I used in it.

Here is Durango

What other than mosaic art excites you.

I give rocks workshops and it’s so much fun to see my students get excited!!!!

Mosaic Mirror

Please share the links where we can find your Art work and where my blog readers can get connected with you.

http://ChrisEmmert.com
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisEmmertMosaic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisemmert
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChrisEmmertMosaic
http://www.etsy.com/shop/AllAboutTheParty

Which blogs or web sites inspire you and you love to visit them regularly.

This is SAMA The Society of American Mosaic Artists, and I was able to attend the conference for the first time this year in Tacoma WA . It was so awesome meeting fellow artists and taking a few classes.

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Thanks a lot Chris for taking some time out to share about you and your art and being with us virtually.
I found Mosaic art such a beautiful art form and Chris has inspired me enough to create one art piece by my own, though I didn't have all the supplies available but I tried my best to give it a mosaic like look.

Have a wonderful weekend friends, have creative one!!

Check out other interviews under Inspiring Eminent Bloggers here.

Online Store: Nirvana Retail

Introducing to you an online retail store- Nirvana Retails

An exclusive site for exquisite, hand-picked clothing items especially sarees, suits and bedspreads.

Meet a lady who owns this exquisite store- Rekha. Over to Rekha now:

I'm from Kerala but based in Chennai. I'm presently a stay-at-home mom with spare time in hand -  hence the thought of doing something worthwhile from home. I make frequent trips to Kancheepuram and love the cottons/ silk cottons that the weavers produce.

Here is a treat for your eyes. sharing some of images from their vast collection of kancheepuram, chettinad pure cotton and cotton sarees for summers. Have a look:

Chettinad cotton sarees:  These are light cottons with very light starch, hence will not puff out like the heavily starched ones. They have a gloss to it which make it look rich.

They have  Kanchipuram silks in a wide range of colour combinations,designs and patterns.

Block printed Kancheepuram sarees are what I liked most. Color combination is stylish and elegant.

 They have exclusive summer collection of cotton sarees.

Browse through Nirvana Retails for more information, make your choice and place order. Don't forget to show your love by liking their FB page :)

Giveaway Reminder: Two ladies have already won surprise gifts, one more big surprise is there.... to know more click here

Have a very happy weekend!!

Mother's Day Party & A Giveaway!!

First I would like to wish all the beautiful, lovely, hard working, devoted, caring and loving mommies all around the world a very happy Mother's Day!!!

Now I would like to wish a very beautiful women inside and out, who is my truest friend, who teaches me how to behave, who keeps pushing me to be better, who always motivates me, who teaches me to be true to myself, who is really a big part of me, who is everything to me, my love for her is inexplicable-

My MOTHER

Happy Mother's Day My Dearest Mom

Image: Mine

Now I have a great news I am hosting a 'Mother's Day Party and a Giveaway'. I want all the mommies and children out there to speak their heart out. Lets share your sweet/bitter memories and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. I have a big big surprise for one whose story will touch lot of hearts.

Mother's Day Party & Giveaway

Rules: 

1. Anyone blogger or non-blogger can participate in this giveaway.

2. Write about any sweet, bitter, funny, embarrassing moment or anything that brings back memories of time spent with your mother/kid, can be a picture or poem or just a sentence to express feelings will be considered as a valid entry. 

3. Bloggers can write post and publish it in their blog and link it by clicking on the link button at the end of the post. Non-bloggers can directly mail me their stories on designdecoranddisha@gmail.com and I will submit their post on behalf of them.

4. Party starts on 12th May 2013 and will end on 31st May 2013 announcement of winners will take place  on 2nd June.

5. First two entries have a change to win an assured gift. Yes you heard it right!! Post that will get highest number of votes will be a winner and the prize is a big surprise (will disclose little later)!!
6. Following this blog isn't mandatory but if you love reading this blog then following it will ensure that you will not miss any update.

Go get your lovely stories and share them here, party has begun :)

Interiors: Moroccan

Today I'm gonna show you some Moroccan eye candies. In recent days Moroccan style decorating has become so popular. This style of decorating is exotic yet elegant. Located between Europe and Africa Morocco has European, African and Persian influences. Moroccan decor is a perfect blend of styles from France, Spain, Portugal, Africa, Persia and has Mediterranean and Islamic influences. 

Morocco is a warm and dry country so Moroccans love to bring outdoors in and their houses are pots of exotic plants. Main elements that play key role in Moroccan interiors are vibrant colors, intricate work on wooden furniture, mosaic products, carpets, pottery and lamps.

Here is how you can achieve Moroccan look for your home:

Furniture: In this Moroccan style of decorating furniture is mostly made of wood. Seating is usually set low to the ground. Choose furniture that has intricate design on it. Wooden furniture have designs of mosaic tiles on them. On center table put brass or copper trays to serve food and other items.

Image Source: Click Here

Furnishings: Use fabric that is luxurious and rich in colors and to add texture use it everywhere, drape it on furniture, windows and even on ceiling. Four or five cushions wouldn't do much use them in abundance and choose cushions and throw pillows that are vibrant and with intricate designs and patterns.

Image Source: Click Here

Walls: Color is the main element if you want to achieve the look. Choose vibrant colors for wall like fuchsia, red, orange, blue, green, shimmering gold or silver. Walls in textured terracotta is the important element of Moroccan style decor.
This blue room conjures the images of Atlantic and Mediterranean sea.

Image Source: Click Here

Walls of this orange room is evoking the image of sunset in Africa.

Image Source: Click Here

Floors: Floors should be wooden, ceramic or terracotta one. If you are opting for wooden floor then it should be hard and dark in color to achieve Moroccan look. Use plush Persian or Asian carpets and rugs in abundance and stack floor cushions to create perfect Moroccan ambiance.

Image Source: Click Here

Lighting: Morocco is known for its dim, soft lights and variety of handmade lamps. Use lamps and pendants that have carved wood, colored glasses and metal frames. Put aroma candles in them to achieve romantic ambiance.

Image Source: Click Here

Accessories: Accessories give a complete look to any style of decor. Use mirrors to reflect light and to adorn walls. Bring in exotic flora in large and colorful pots or baskets. Use ceramic pots in rich colors on dining table and center table or even on a wall. Keep lamps with intricate designs here and there

                               Eclectic Living Room by Los Angeles Home Staging Madison Modern Home

Try using these simple tips to achieve that perfect Moroccan look you were looking for.  Leaving you with all these Moroccan eye candies :)
To know about different style of decorating read my earlier posts on Interiors here.

Vastu Gyan: Kitchen Vastu

Kitchen is the most important entity in the house. It is referred to as the treasure of the house in some Chinese scriptures.
This is the only prominent place where fire element plays a key role. In vastu shashtra the principle direction of natural energy field of fire is Southeast. Hence the ideal location for kitchen is southeast. A visible advantage of having the kitchen in the southeast is that it is open to the positive effects of morning sun rays and also gets fresh air most of the time.

Cooking gas should always be placed in southeast direction of the kitchen. As this direction is also referred as having the place of the Goddess of food. One should face east while cooking food.
Windows in the kitchen should be in east and ideal location for door is northeast, east or north to allow the natural light and fresh air through out the day.

Color of the kitchen walls can be green, soft pink, orange, brown or yellow. As these colors are considered as appetite stimulator.
All the equipment like microwave, electric oven , toaster etc should be placed in south or southeast direction. refrigerator should be placed either in northwest or southwest direction. Empty gas cylinders should be placed in southwest.  Exhaust fan should be in east direction as all the cooking is done in this direction. Grain pulses and spices must be stored in the west or in the south direction.
The ideal location for sink and drinking water storage is northeast corner as this direction gets maximum morning UV rays that kill the germs.
There should not be a common wall between toilet and kitchen. Kitchen should not be constructed in front of a bathroom, bedroom or worship room.

One need not panic if it is not possible to follow some or even none of the guidelines provided in the Vastu Shashtra as vastu principles and effects are only secondary to one's inner strength and endeavor toward soul growth.

Read my other posts on Vastu here.