Archive for the 'Crafters & Crafting' Category

Crafting on the Tail of the Dragon

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 offer very reasonably priced glass vases in many shapes and lots of assorted colored glass marbles.

My approach with glass marbles is a bit different as you can see. Instead of dumping them in a glass container and viewing them from the outside I actually stick them on the glass so the light does interesting things to them. While my designs and little glass marble projects may not be exhibited at fine art shows I created and built them, one piece at a time!

There are usually several craft projects going at once. A half-finished seascape sits on a card table in the little area of the garage that I loosely call a mosaic craft "studio." A garden "lady bug" wall design awaits grouting, a mirror in a frame sits ready to mosiac.

Usually I am reasonably tidy but sometimes if I have a lot going on it can get a bit disorganized but the mess is kept contained to the garage, no worries! It's my little corner of the world and it's got good feng shui. I am happy to just sit on a stool and look around at all the neat crafting materials that I have collected over the years. There are many little drawers, shelves and cubby holes all filled with tesserae (broken bits and mosaic treasures). I just never know when a fun craft project idea is going to hit me and I like to be ready!

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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.

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Here is a nice short video that will give you the basics for making inexpensive garden mosaics, but do use your gloves throughout the whole grouting process – that stuff is murder on your skin.

Use your imagination and express yourself and craft accent pieces like the Talavera tile pots shown. You can do them quickly and easily and they really make nice contrasts with whatever plant you decide to put in them.  Make sure to use a good grout sealer if they are to be exposed to the elements.

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First Project In Our Craft Gallery

Since we just started this showcase of crafts and craft projects recently on lowcarbcrafter I was convinced (reluctantly) to feature some of my own works – just to get us started. Since millions of crafters and mosaic enthusiasts still don't know about us I am willing to stick my neck out and subject myself to criticism of my earlier works. That's ok I still like most of them and anyway, I have thick skin!

But let it be known I am doing this strictly in the interests of furthering my craft, willing to be the guinea pig who gets the show started. Come on folks, I told my wife I would keep submitting my own projects to the gallery until some other brave soul ventured forth with one of their own. Let's show the world what we crafters can accomplish!

This started out as one of those hard plastic tissue holders that are made to slip over a standard, square off-the-grocery-shelf tissue box – thereby hiding those awful pastel designs. Anyway, I purchased it for $.50 at a garage sale (remember we are into practical mosaic!) It was begging to be covered in a unique design and I was going for a southwest look in a swirl of green smalti (glass) tiles, both dark and light greens, coral and turquoise and accented in gold scrap pieces. I used a sanded grout from Home Depot – mallard green color in the 5lb bag. It was inexpensive, fun to do, took little time and looks great in the hall bath. Create some buzz with your own designs and ditch the plastic look. 

You can learn more about how to do easy craft projects like this tissue box without having to purchase any fancy tools, expensive materials or going to a mosaic class in The Beginners Guide To Mosaic  

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This little piece of work, strips of Mexican tile laid on a plywood and wonderboard overlay, is almost four feet long, and two feet high! It was created to be photographed as the header for a new craft website. As it turned out it  became an image for a single post for crafters to observe. Ah, well, you have to go with the flow sometimes and maybe someday MexicanMosaic.com will have it's own forum. For now we are very happy with the crafts and craft projects contained within this blog.

Colors That Crafters Love

You can blow the image up to see the colors by hovering your mouse over the image and clicking it. You will see the wild colors that you can find in the patterns of 4" Mexican tile, particularly the hand-painted variety. I used a wet saw to cut the pieces (keeping them uniform in size while varying the lengths) for the border and the flower patterns then repeated what I call a random pattern from top to bottom and from side to side. The field of off-white tile in the center was done in a random pattern to balance the repeating strips. I grouted it with a Home Depot sanded grout color called red clay. 

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