bodner025

When most people hear the term "pique assiette mosaic" they automatically think of a mosaic created from broken china. I'd like clarify this particular form of mosaic art. The following definition best describes this wonderful art form. Pique Assiette - a french term meaning "stolen from plate." Pieces of broken china, pottery, glass, buttons, figurines, and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface. Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied. The design is restricted only by the individual's imagination. So you see, there are no right or wrong ways when creating Pique Assiette mosaics. Following are some examples, and maybe some inspiration, for you.                     I hope I've provided you with some inspiration and encouragement to create your first Pique Assiette mosaic.   If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. I am more than happy to make your f...

  When I saw this black little vase on the shelf in the thrift store, it was screaming makeover! I thought it's curvy rim and it's three little footers were more soft and feminine and its black color spoke to a more masculine nature.       I knew instantly I wanted to make it softer, more feminine, compliment its dainty nature. Since it is made of ceramic, I examined it for any cracks for flaws. It was in perfect condition. I removed the floral foam and cleaned out the inside. Underneath was a sticker that needed to be removed. If you've ever had trouble removing the adhesive residue from stickers, try using a spritz of WD-40. Spray it over the tag or adhesive residue, wait a minute or two, then scrape it off. Once all removed, use a little rubbing alcohol to clean away any dirt and grease. It works great on even the gooey-est adhesives! I lightly sanded the surface so that the primer would have something to latch onto. Be sure to sand around every area to be primed....

Safety first is an absolute must! Since most statistic show that the majority of injuries occur in the home. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you should take the extra steps to insure your safety as well as your health. When you are nipping plates and glass tiles, painting, gluing, using adhesives, mixing grout, you are exposing yourself to potential injury, infection, or illness. Appropriate protective clothing and equipment are essential. Glass and tile shards tend to fly off in all directions. Most of that can be controlled by using a tray to nip plates over. I use a cardboard tray (found in most garden centers). This way most of the tiny shards will collect in the cardboard tray, making it easier to toss into the trash bin. Protect your eyes! The splinters and small pieces from plates and glass tiles can be extremely sharp and very painful. Protective eyewear is a must to protect your eyes, as these splinters can fly towards your face. Mouth and nose filter masks...

I got this fountain a couple of years ago. It is made of three pieces, base, bowl, and crown. Since I didn’t want an electrical cord running across the terrace, I repurposed it into a beautiful planter.   The original color was limestone. It was spray painted with faux stone paint; (not by me lol) which was made for indoor use. It didn’t fair well and was peeling badly and by this spring it looked just awful. I wanted to try to restore it to the original limestone color but that didn’t work out. So I gave it a good base using Krylon’s Indoor Outdoor primer in white and finished it with a coat of Rust-oleum spray paint in almond. I did one coat of the primer and two coats of the finish. I let them completely dry in between coats. The almond color was the closest I could find to limestone. My hope is that it will age well. I gave this adorable little girl a makeover at the same time I did the fountain I just recently got this freebie. She’s in bad shape as well. Soon ...

Generally, there are two basic methods to creating a mosaic piece: direct method and the indirect method. In working with vintage china and the varying types of bases. I have also included a brief description of my Direct Press Method . DIRECT METHOD The direct method is where the mosaic tile pieces are adhered face up, one by one, directly onto the surface you are going to mosaic (such as table tops, trays, birdhouses, etc.). This is a much faster method. The disadvantage is; if you tiles are not equal in thickness, the result will be a rough and uneven mosaic surface. If an uneven surface is a planned aspect of your design, then the direct method using china tiles with varying thickness will give you a jagged result. INDIRECT METHOD The indirect method is where the all the tiles, or sections of the design tiles, are temporarily fixed face down into a removable base (such as cement molds) or backing (such as contact paper or brown mounting paper). When using a mold, the entir...