Archive for April, 2009

Our approach to easy crafts and crafting projects is a bit unique – but for the crafter, very simple and approaches what we call instant gratification crafting. My method of mosaic instruction outlines each step of the process in designing a simple mosaic craft project, one you can complete easily on a weekend or in just a few hours. I includes all the information you need, where to look for inspiration for your craft designs and how to use different media effectively. I will tell you where to find the materials for your craft project at little or no cost. You will be amazed at the transformation of a plain item into a colorful design of glass that will wow your family and friends. "YOU MADE THAT?!"

I am a prolific mosaicist, not a professional one and I make a lot of crafts that are fun crafts and beat scrapbooking all to heck! These craft projects include candle shelters, candle holders, planters, garden pots, tissue boxes, vases and chimneas, furniture and unique knick-knacks that were once ordinary. Practical Mosaics is a fast and easy way to get you started with mosaic crafting. I do this because I enjoy it and it really relaxes me. I get my craft ideas for craft projects just by going to the nearest garage sale. The stresses of my day job just seem to melt away after just a few minutes spent working on a craft project.

The media (in mosaic it's called tesserae) I apply to glass or ceramic objects can be just about anything with a flat surface; marbles,  rocks, pennies, beads, milefiori, smalti, beach glass, stained glass, ceramic – you name it and I have crafted it!

At the risk of my own ego I have presented a variety of craft projects within this site - ones that hopefully will interest anyone in arts crafts to those would-be crafters who have never even thought of doing something like this themselves. I love to dress things up in bright colors and textures for my garden, family room or patio with practical and useful mosaic pieces that will provide years of pleasure. Talk about conversation pieces!

My focus is on using bits and pieces of mixed media and colors to create interesting, attractive and useful craft mosaic designs. I love to take a clay pot and make a mosaic planter for my garden or take a plain glass candle shelter and turn it into a colorful accent for the fireplace mantle. I am of the want-it-now generation of crafters and I like to have several projects going at once so that when I finish one I can move on to the next craft project.

I find potential craft projects at craft stores, thrift shops, garage sales, swap meets and my own attic, anywhere I can pick up something economically (ok, cheap) and make it over by adding colorful mosaic tile or glass. Hopefully you will agree that the everyday items that I started with ended up looking like something you might spend your hard-earned money on at a craft gallery. If you are a do it yourself crafter, you won't need to spend much. Abe Lincoln once said "Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice." He was so right! 

My finished projects are usually not made to sell. Although you will find few items like this one on Ebay. The time that you invest in even the simplest craft projects will deter you from selling them, especially if it turns out really unique. So, when I complete an item it either goes in the garden, on the patio, or is given away to a family member or friend.

What I really hope to accomplish is to "inspire the desire" in do-it-yourself crafters - people who are not afraid to think outside the box and get their hands dirty. I hope that you decide to find out for yourself how rewarding and fun this craft can be.  As I have said, the method I have adopted for my style of mosaic is what I call; Practical Mosaic. Most of what you will see on these pages are things that were made with readily available and very inexpensive materials but what really appeals to me is that they don't take a lot of time to do and require few tools. 

It is my hope that by showing you the items I have made over the years that I can demonstrate that crafting mosaic pieces doesn't have to be complicated. You certainly can make it that way if you attempt a really ambitious project like this mosaic croc for example, but this way those new to the mosaic craft will find it easy to get started. There is an almost universal misconception that mosaic is difficult to do and only practiced by accomplished artists, and it's no wonder, check out what's on the web and most of what you find are mosaicists who seem to prefer trying to recreate great works of art. Ambitious undertakings that can be breathtaking, when finished, however, I for one, do not have the patience required to spend months or years on a single design.

Sometimes I really don't have a plan before launching myself into a craft project unless I find something unique that is begging to be covered in broken tile, glass marbles, smalti, etc. A lot of times I just go to Michaels, the arts and crafts retail store chain to see what new items are available. They very reasonably priced glass vases in many shapes and lots of fun colored glass marbles. 

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I consider myself somewhat of an underdog in the mosaic world because I follow a different path, simplicity is my mantra, both in design and method and that may be considered by some as not adhering to the classic mosaic styles, but ask me if I care. There is a green movement about which is neither here nor there as far as mosaics and arts and crafts  is concerned but it sure is fun and gratifying to recycle a plain glass vase into a work of art – for under $5.! I also have a feeling that there are more folks out there like me who have the urge to craft and would be willing to try a simpler form of mosaic before tackling more complicated designs.

I prefer to be able to complete a project in a matter of hours or days versus months and years – not to mention the costs, special tools and special techniques required for more complicated projects, should you go deep into classic mosaic design. I believe that anyone can be successful using my starter plan and once they discover how easy crafting can be they will naturally progress to more involved craft projects. Keep in mind that mosaic materials such as glass, tiles, china and marbles will last a very long time and what you create could end up as a family heirloom. Sign and date your mosaic craft projects- they are likely to be around for a generation or more.