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Wow, you are all so talented; love the fish Barrell and the butterflies and the garden pieces. I have done a lot of reading and completed a couple of very simple projects to get the hang of it. This piece is my first as a way to experiment with cutting techniques, colors, grout, etc. It has a flower pot with flowers, grasses, a butterfly, frog. The photo is my rough design and color concept. I tend to like clean, modern looks and cannot figure out the type of tile and color for the background. I want to use some colorful glass for the flowers and butterfly, stones for the 'base' and have the background simple. Can I use the venetian tiles in a simple color pallete with the glass? Some tiles seem too shiny and others quite grainey. Do some work better than others when mixing with glass? Any other help would be much appreciated; you are all such great inspirations!
The best thing about mosaics is its all up to you. You get to make desicions and changes right up untill the last piece is laid. I havent touched a soldering iron since I took up mosaics three years ago. I felt there was no art to soldered glass once you cut the first piece you were just a machine following the patern. Experiment with different materials. Come upwith new ideas that nobody else has tried. Have fun.
I've only made a couple of mosaic projects, and used chopsticks, beads, rocks, slices of a deer antler, etc.. all in the same project. It is almost done. here is the link if you would like to see it.. also, you can buy the sheets of all the same color of glass tiles to do your background and they are already cut.
Your pattern is lovely by the way what are you using your mosaic on (table?_)).
if you scroll thru this link you will see step by step and I still have one more planter to make from an identical table.
Gourd, your work is gorgeous; the stained glass and mosaics! You have a good eye for design. I have not thought about how to use this piece :); just wanted something to experiment on. Probably just a wall panel on our patio. I do tend to plan too much and maybe should just try something; but the tile looks a bit odd against the glass pieces. Has anyone mixed the two and could you tell me how it came out? Where did you find all ready cut sheets of glass? I am learning how to buy and cut glass as well as I love the look of glass.
this place sells the small sheets of glass, and I believe they were on sale on the web specials section last month, don't know if they still are, but keep an eye open for them. I ordered 10 sheets and there are several on each sheet. I'll check to see how many there are. They only had the gray glass sheets on sale last time, and look out for their free shipping also.. they periodically have free shipping, and on the glass special, no boxing charges, so here is where I order glass from also.
scroll to the bottom of this page and you will see the glass tiles 225 small tiles per sheet, click on the item or color you want to see, and it will tell you the size 13"x13" sheets have 225 tiles on each one at 5.00 per sheet, not bad on sale, they also have other colors in their site somewhere. I got the 10 sheets of gray mix to do my backsplash in the kitchen, but don't know if I got enough..
oooh be still my heart... you can't beat that price there on that link barrell gave us.. I love those colors.. I have to check out the shipping costs..
Wow, thanks so much you guys! I am totally into sales, but I do find you have to really check the shipping costs. I actually created a speadsheet to keep track of who has what kinds of tiles at the best price (including shipping!) Yeah, I can be a bit compulsive (he he!). http://www.Tile Shack.com has a big closeout sale right now on tiles, btw. It is surprising that when you check back often some sites have random sales (even though I get on mailing lists). I am practicing cutting glass today (it has been snowing forever so I am stuck indoors). Some of the pieces do not seem to cut as easily as others and I ended up with random shards when I tried to 'run the score'! Are some brands of glass easier than others? I know that on my first cuts, I don't think I was pressing hard enough with the scorer toolie-thing; surprised at how hard you have to press. My boyfriend just introduced me to his dremel tool and I am trying that out to polish edges until my newly ordered grinder comes in!
Yes each glass has its own personality. Some you can cut long curves in and the break right on the line and other dont even want to cut straight and go breaking on a tangent. Ive found the solid color opaques and catherederals are the easiest to cut. The multi colors made up of many different layers can be frustrating.
Thank you barrell! Duh, of course, I started on a multi color layered brown because I liked the texture! Switched my practice to a basic opaque and I am now getting the hang of it; found that I have to hold the tool in my fist and it works better. It is probably personal preference, but how do the pistol grips with oil work? I thought the oil would make the glass too messy? BTW, MosaicTileMania.com has a 25% off web sale right now; awesome. I am trying some of the large glass pieces an cutting them as I read somewhere this is a much cheaper way to go. I am thinking ahead to the grout color and will likely post something on my thoughts as all of you are sooooo helpful! Thank you, thank you!
