bodner025

Now that you have adhered your tiles to your mosaic base, it is time to grout your piece. Before you begin I'd like to offer some helpful hints that will make your grouting experience as well as the clean up a more satisifying experience. One important factor to consider ~ once you start the grouting, you must see it though the finish . Grout is much more difficult to remove the more it cures. No matter how careful you are, grouting is messy. Weather permitting, I grout out on the patio. It is best to gather all the supplies you will need before you begin. Otherwise, you may be tracking wet grout throughout your home. YOU WILL NEED Grout ~ sanded or unsanded (I prefer sanded) I use Laticrete. Lowes carries it. Weldbond Adhesive ~ you can find this on ebay, more expensive smaller bottles are available at hardware or hobby stores. I add Weldbond to reinforce and strengthen the grout. Small container with a lid ~ used for mixing grout. I save 24oz Sour Cream containers. You may store...

When I first started creating broken china mosaics, a.k.a. Pique Assiette, there was very little information available. I had many questions and very few answers or helpful hints to reference. I've created this How To to share some helpful hints and instructions that I learned through trial and error. I am more than aware that art is a very subjective word. I just want to clarify my distinctions. My form is smooth, level, surfaces. I use professional grade grout and adhesives, I nip my own china and create my own focals. It is my intention to create pieces that will last through generations. If you want to create heirloom pieces, here are a few key things to keep in mind: FIRST: DO NOT SMASH YOUR PLATES WITH HAMMERS!! Leave the hammer to the nails. SECOND: QUALITY MOSAICS REQUIRE TIME. Do not expect to finish a quality piece in a day or even a weekend. Mosaic is similar to knitting, it takes a bit of time for it to come out the way you want. Like knitting, it is possible to put the...

In my first Tablescape Thursday post, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch , I received loads of compliments and inquiries on how I did my centerpiece. This is very simple and has a great impact. Truth be told, I threw this together in 5 minutes. It is very easy and you can use whatever you have available. Here are a couple of photos of the original that I used in my tablescape...   First, you need to gather the items you will need. Any bowl, pot, or container will do, as long as the base of the pedestal fits and sit well in it. You can also use a platter, tray, or plate. A glass covered dessert pedestal (the base need not be glass)     The vintage Adderley Rose Posy (you can put anything under the glass as long as it will fit and doesn't look smushed!) For this project, I'm using faux roses.   I almost forgot, I use tissue to give the dessert pedestal a level surface. It's easy to adjust. You can also use styrofoam if you need to raise the pedestal a bit. ...