The Art of Mosaics - Tips and Techniques

Changing from Tile Shack to Glass Tile of Oklahoma

2009-04-25T07:51:00.002-05:00

We are making a huge change this week. We will be closing Tile Shack and reopening as Glass Tile of Oklahoma. We are now a glass tile liquidation company. You will receive the same great service and products but through a different website.

www.okglasstile.com

We have a new shipment arriving Tuesday, April 28. This will contain restocks on most of our Art Tile Collection, some Brushstrokes, and a few Art Tile Minis. We are also adding a few new items.

Once we get our new shipment, pricing will go up slightly. We have made our new and restocked items available for pre-order on our www.okglasstile.com website. These are available at the old price and will only be priced this low for a limited time. All pre-orders will ship out by Thursday, April 30.

We will no longer be offering Artist or Trade accounts. The pricing will be so low on our tile that you won't need it! However, we will be offering special discounts on very large quantity orders. More info will come soon for this.

Liquidation Event Still in Progress

2009-03-19T07:09:00.002-05:00

We are making some amazing changes that will be announced soon. In the meantime, you will find that our Liquidation Event is still going strong. We are out of a lot of colors but still have many items still in stock.

We have marked all our AfterGlow Series down to 50% off. All full sheets are now $5.95 each!

Using Both Sides of the Tile

2009-02-23T07:20:00.003-06:00

Many people get very annoyed by the bumpy, ridged side of vitreous glass tiles. When cutting this tile, these bumps can be very aggravating. They cause your wheels to slip into the grooves and can make cutting difficult.

A friend of mine recently decided not to let the ridges bother her. Instead, she is now using them to her advantage.

Let's start off with cutting. The grooves are not there as a guide for where to cut. You are better off to just forget they are there. However, some tiles seem to cut better across the grain while others cut better with it. You will have to test a couple to tell for sure which tile needs to be cut in which direction. To get the best cut, you will need to hold the tile securely in one hand while cutting with the other. If you let the tile slip then your cut will be bad.

My friend that I spoke about wanted to create a deer using the vitreous glass. She selected all her colors in the tiny tiles. She did this so she could get as much detail without cutting so much. She cut all her tiles in half to make slivers to represent the growth of hair on the deer. But when she tried to glue these slivers to her board they kept falling over. Out of frustration, she turned all of the tiny shards over and glued them all upside down.

After she grouted it, the effect was amazing. Her deer turned out great. Each tile looked just like the flow of the deer's fur. She could not have achieved this if she would have placed all of the tiles face up.

Sometimes it pays to have those bumps!

Still Running Out Of Colors

2009-02-18T06:46:00.002-06:00

We are selling out quickly. Luckily we had tons of inventory to start with! Here is our updated Out Of Stock list.

Avocado
Ebony
Chocolate
Halo
Iris Minis
Espresso
Falu Red
Sienna
Stainless Steel

There are a few more showing out of stock on our website but we actually have 1 or 2 sheets left. I will be adding those in the next few days.

Snowed Out Again

2009-01-28T11:08:00.001-06:00

Unfortunately we are not able to make it into the office again today. There are many layers of ice, sleet, and now covering our roads. We are hoping to make it in tomorrow morning. Please send us an email if you have any questions.

tileshack@gmail.com

Winter Weather - CLOSED

2009-01-27T08:06:00.003-06:00

Just a quick note to let you know that we received a lot of ice through the night and more is on the way for today so we are closed. No orders will ship out today. I am hopeful that I can get to the office tomorrow although we are also in a deep freeze and there is no place for the ice to go.

I will be checking my email constantly throughout the day. If you have any questions, please email me at tileshack@gmail.com.

Out of Stocks

2009-01-19T07:37:00.002-06:00

Colors are going fast around here! We are now out of stock on:

Avocado
Ebony
Feather
Paisley

Iris Minis

Sienna
Soapstone
Stainless Steel

We found a few sheets of Black Walnut that are still available and we are getting low on many other colors. To see which ones, just click on the Quick Order link in each category.

Back Ordered Items

2009-01-14T07:03:00.002-06:00

We are trying very hard to keep up with constantly changing inventory but has proven difficult. We are running out of colors daily it seems and I am working to keep the website up to date.

If we run out of an item that you ordered, we will simply remove it from the invoice and mark it out of stock. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but it seems to be the quickest way to keep orders going out the door. We won't be calling or emailing to let you know. If the color you are ordering vital, the inventory looks low, and you would like to be notified if it is out of stock then make me a note on your order form. I will then call or email you.

Thanks for your understanding in our time of chaos!

Shipping Prices

2009-01-06T07:01:00.002-06:00

Shipping costs are always a concern for clients and they should be. I have had a couple of people wondering why the shipping is so high on their order. I promise that we are not adding anything on to the shipping rates. These are taken directly from UPS and USPS websites. We do add the $1 for handling but that can be seen during checkout.

Shipping rates are based on where you live and how much your package weighs. We figure shipping based on the packing weight. The Art Tile Collection and Brushstrokes weigh 1.65 lbs per sheet and the AfterGlow weighs 1.9 lbs per sheet. You can add up the weight on your order and plug it into ups.com to see what the rate should be.

With orders pouring in and clients saving 40% on most products, the shipping looks high. Think about this way...a $200 order that has shipping of $45 may weigh 139 lbs and contain 84 sheets of glass. Of course this is based on purchases of the Art Tile at $2.40 per sheet. So 139 lbs at $45 is not high for shipping. And if you had to pay regular retail, the cost for the tile would have been $336. Wow, that makes that shipping charge pretty low!

If you are ever unsure about the shipping that pops up, feel free to contact us and we can verify it for you. 99% of the time, the shipping that shows up on our site is correct.

Liquidation of Tile Shack

2009-01-02T09:53:00.002-06:00

Yes, it is true...I have decided to close the doors at Tile Shack. It has been 6 years of a lot of fun and I have made many friends along the way.

We started off with $400 worth of inventory and a dream. I still remember the day when I had to make the decision to give up teaching because Tile Shack had grown too large for me to do both. We can now boast a warehouse full of tile and record sales for 2008. We beat our sales goals for this year over and over.

So now why would I be ready to close the doors??? As much as I have enjoyed working with all of you over the years, I have also found a new career that I love. My new company is Online Marketing Services, www.marketingowasso.com. I have been helping Tulsa area small businesses to improve their online presence for awhile now and have a strong passion for this. My client base has grown to the point where I now have to make that familiar decision of which business I want to continue doing.

There are several companies looking into purchasing Tile Shack but for now I am going to liquidate all the inventory and assets as quickly as possible. So until someone else takes over...enjoy the huge savings!

Are we just giving it away???

2008-12-26T07:50:00.002-06:00

Tile Shack is having a huge 30% off sale right now and we have free shipping on most orders until December 31, 2008! It seems we are just giving it all away. This sale is valid for our Artist members too.

Enjoy 30% off of all our glass tile (excluding Limited Lots), grout, most bases (excludes Wedi), and glass tile blends. We need to move some inventory before it is time to count it all for the tax man.

Don't forget to use the Discount Code: holidayship during checkout! Click here for restrictions.

Holiday Shipping

2008-12-15T06:54:00.003-06:00

PLAN AHEAD! PLAN AHEAD! PLAN AHEAD!

To get your package by December 24, you will need to plan ahead. Our packaging times are now 1 day but your shipping times will vary depending upon where your package is being shipped.

Use our shipping map to see how long it will take your package to arrive. These shipping times start once the order is shipped not from when the order was placed and shipping times are not guaranteed unless you choose UPS 2nd Day Air.

Please don't depend upon the shipping times quoted. This time of year UPS and the postal system get backed up so plan an extra day for shipment. I have seen many packages not make it in time because the shipping companies are just too swamped.

Looking for Large Quantities of Tile?

2008-12-09T14:53:00.002-06:00

Visit www.okglasstile.com, our sister site, to find huge savings when you buy our glass tile by the carton. You will find the AfterGlow Series, Art Tile Collection, and Brushstrokes Metallics at 40% off just by purchasing by the carton.

The AfterGlow Series comes with 10 sheets per case and is posted at $71.34.

Art Tile Collection contains 20 sheets per case and is priced from $48 to $120.

Brushstrokes Metallics has 20 sheets per case and is a steal at $179.88.

Christmas Ornament Mosaic

2008-11-30T08:16:00.004-06:00

This was a post made last December but I thought I would post it again. These mosaic Christmas ornaments are easy to create and make great gifts.

Christmas ornaments make great Christmas presents especially when they are handmade. Mosaic ornaments are beautiful when done with glass tiles. They reflect light and really twinkle.

Materials Needed:
1 plastic ornament
Glass tiles
Wheeled Cutters
Liquid Nails or silicone adhesive
Grout kit

The plastic ornament can be found at various dollar stores. They are usually covered in a ribbon like material. This can be pulled off easily.

You can choose to use Art Tile Minis or any other tiles. If you use larger tiles they will have to be cut down to smaller sizes to fit around the curves of the ornament.

The adhesive you use depends a lot on the tiles. If the tiles you use are translucent then use silicone. If they are completely opaque then use Liquid Nails. Don't use too much so you don't have glue squishing up around your tiles.

Attach the tiles in whatever design you choose. You will find it easiest to lay the ornament on a towel so it won't roll while working. You will probably have to attach one side of tiles and let these set up before turning the ornament over to do the other side. Always check back to make sure your first tiles didn't slide down.

After the glue has completely set, you will grout as normal. You will need to clean off the hanger part well when clearing the grout. Use cotton swabs or something similar to get it out of the grooves.

These ornaments are heavy but still hang on a tree nicely with no worries of falling off. Whoever receives this as a gift will love and cherish it forever.

Orange - The Color of Warmth

2008-11-18T10:46:00.003-06:00

With fall here, the color orange pops to mind. Orange leaves, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, etc. bring warm feelings to most people. Orange is made from combining yellow and red. Yellow is a happy color while red is a firery color. Put the two together and you get the rich orange that is neither boring nor high strung.

Orange is versatile and should be used in mosaic art. Use it to create amazing flowers, autumn trees, and of course holiday gifts. You can also use it to show the setting sun over a field or heat radiating from the sun.

Since orange is created by mixing red and yellow, you can do just that and mix the two other colors with the orange glass tiles to give the illusion of varying shades of orange. You can use orange as a shading color for yellow or red areas too.

The orange tile can help create and define your mosaic pieces. This color is perfect for the start of the holiday season.

Featured Artist - Judy Mayberry

2008-11-14T15:30:00.002-06:00

If you haven't visited our Featured Artist section, you really should. There is a ton of inspiration around every corner.

Judith Mayberry creates some amazing work. She actually made my favorite mosaic piece ever. It is Mums Vase shown on her artist page.

Judy Mayberry lives on Lake Pennessewasee in Norway, Maine with her husband Don (who is a Congregational Minister) and two daughters who are in college. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and considered herself a fiber artist (weaving and needlework) before taking up Mosaics about six years ago. Both forms of art are very tactile which is why it was such an easy transition.

In her Mosaics she uses mostly vitreous glass and her favorite mosaics to make are rural scene murals. She makes small objects like trivets and plant pots, but tends to gravitate towards kitchen and bathroom back splashes, shower surrounds, mirrors, small murals and tables. Making "permanent" artwork in homes has been a new adventure but a hard way to show off her work! Most of Judy's artwork is by commission, but she usually has a variety of mosaics available for sale from her studio located in her home.

Judy is so talented and I am thrilled that she uses our products in many of her custom works of art.

Mosaic Murals - Ken Pirtle

2008-11-11T09:57:00.004-06:00

Ken Pirtle is a genius! He created his own system to take an image and turn it into a mosaic. Not just any mosaic though...his are huge! His last one covered an exterior wall at Amarillo College.

Ken takes a scenic image and uses 3/4" vitreous glass tile to pixelate the image. He then hand selects the best color matches for the glass tile. He uses the 3/4" tiles since there are so many color options available. Using tile grids and mounting paper, he then meticulously lays out the mosaic by his computer diagram.

You can see his work in progress here. He shows the steps they took to install it. This is fascinating. The cool thing about this type of mosaic installation is that it doesn't look like much when you are right up on it but from afar the image is clear.

His latest project is another scenic landscape that will soon be installed at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. It will be 9ft x 22ft. This equals over 38,700 vitreous tiles! I can't wait to see finished pictures!

http://web.me.com/kenneth.pirtle/Ken_Pirtles_site/Welcome.html

The Color Blue

2008-11-07T09:25:00.002-06:00

Blue...what a great color to mosaic with. We have more tiles in blue shades than any other. There is cobalt blue, aqua blue, denim blue, metallic blue, iridescent blue, and on and on.

So why so many blues? Blue is one of the most popular colors in our culture. It is very calming while reminding us of sky and water. It is so soothing that blue makes a great color for bedrooms (to help you sleep). However it is not recommended for kitchens as it supposedly decreases appetites.

So what can you do with blue in a mosaic...anything. There are so many shades of aqua that you can create a gorgeous watery scene that shows all of the waves and unrest of an ocean or lake. Then there is the sky. Using the rich cobalt blues will create an evening sky scene that will take your breath away.

The great thing about the aquas is that you can blend them with blues and greens to give your image some movement. The cobalts blend very well with purples for a majestic tone. While the denim blues move towards gray so they can be used together to give some umph to your gray scenes.

Whether it is the Art Tile Collection, AfterGlow, or Brushstrokes, you will certainly find enough shades of blue to make your next project breath taking.

Grout Colorant

2008-10-27T07:15:00.002-05:00

Grout colorant is a concentrated cement dye. It can be used to tint your grout and thinset. It is very strong so a little goes a long, long way. If you are going to tint a cup of grout, you can get a strong color by using as little as a teaspoon of colorant!

Since these are tints, you can mix them to make unusual shades. I love to mix one colorant into a particular color of grout to make subtle changes. For instance, the terra cotta grout is a too orange for me so I soften it by adding the brown colorant. It makes it much more earthy.

I always add the colorant to white grout or thinset but I have friends that always add it to gray grout and thinset. The colors aren't as pastel looking and less vivid.

The only drawback to using the grout colorant is that you have a huge chance of never matching up the grout if you have to mix a second batch. If you have a large area to grout and you are going to need to mix your grout several times to get the job done, make sure to measure the colorant carefully and write down how the ratio of grout to colorant. This way you can mix it the same every time and hopefully your grout will match with each new mixture.

Showroom By Appointment Only

2008-09-13T07:57:00.002-05:00

When we set our new showroom hours 2 weeks ago, we said it was experimental. We have now decided to make our showroom by appointment only. There are many reasons behind this but we feel this will be best for our business relationships across the Tulsa area.

Our office hours will be 9 to 5 CST. You can reach us by phone during this time.

If you want to go shop around and see some great mosaic supplies in Tulsa, we recommend Tulsa Stained Glass at 41st and Memorial. They have great hours and are even open on Saturdays. They also carry most of our products.

If you are not in Tulsa, we have other distributors across the nation. Email us to find out where. And, of course, you can also buy from us online.

I hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone too much. Feel free to give us some feedback on this.

Mosaic with Seed Beads

2008-08-30T07:02:00.001-05:00

Using only glass tile can get difficult. What if you want vibrant hot pink flowers or a lime green lizard? You will have trouble finding glass tile in these wild colors. However you can usually find them in glass beads. Beads come in a large variety of colors and sizes. The larger the bead the harder it will be for you to make your image "appear". So you need to use the smaller beads for a better effect. Seed beads can give you that look without breaking it up.

The thought of placing seed beads in your mosaic may make you cringe. Try gluing in all of those tiny little pieces one at a time...DON'T. Most artists will put a large glob of glue and press the beads into the glue. No way should you ever try doing them one at a time. They are just too small.

One of my clients, Sherry Elmore, brought in a piece yesterday that I fell in love with. She loves the glass tiles, especially the Art Tile Minis. However she wanted a gold for the focal point of this piece. The Seville Gold wasn't what she was looking for and she didn't want to do jewelry. So she came up with seed beads.

Now you can see by the finished piece that she had a definate design to follow. We spent some time figuring out the best way to keep the pattern and grout before laying the beads. You do not want to try to grout and clean seed beads! Sherry bought some thin craft foam from Hobby Lobby and cut it to make the ribbon design. She glued this onto her Wedi board and then laid the black background tiles cutting them to go around the foam. She then grouted the entire thing. After cleaning out the foam areas she filled the void with Weldbond then smashed in the seed beads.

After finishing the entire piece she sprayed it with an adhesive spray and framed it. This was a wonderful gift for her parent's anniversary. Great job Sherry!

New Showroom Hours

2008-08-21T07:05:00.002-05:00

The new school year has began in Oklahoma. With this comes lots of schools wanting mosaic education. So we have decided to close our showroom one day a week to work with the local schools. Our warehouse and shipping department will still be running on schedule.

The magic day is Wednesday. This seems to fit the needs of our schools the best. Since we won't be in the schools every week, we will be available on Wednesdays by appointment. Just give us a call and we will schedule you to come in.

Our new hours will begin September 1, 2008. This all on a trial basis and will let you know if we decide to make any changes.

Wheeled Cutter Coupon

2008-08-02T20:27:00.002-05:00

Wheeled cutters are the only tool that we recommend for use with our glass tile. They cut the glass rather than crush it and are vital when doing any installation or glass tile project.

It does take some practice to get a really good cut and often times you won't get it perfect. Glass just has a mind of its own. Here is a link to a walk through of how to cut the tiles. You can also read an article that we wrote about how to cut efficiently.

Since these are so important, we are offering a one time, one use coupon that will give you 50% off one pair of cutters. The code is blogger08022008.

Shipment Has Arrived!

2008-07-30T20:59:00.002-05:00

Our shipment has arrived in our warehouse. This means that we are back in stock on many items such as Antiquity, Ebony Minis, Clover Minis, and the 3/8" tile grids.

We also received many new Brushstrokes colors and one new AfterGlow color. We are working on pictures of these and will have them posted tomorrow.

I am sorry to say that our Tomato Minis didn't come in. Instead we received Sunset Minis. We are working to get a shipment of red mini tiles in as quickly as we can.

Vitreous Glass Tile

2008-07-26T08:06:00.003-05:00

There has been an ongoing debate about vitreous tile. Some people are adamant that Italian brands are the only vitreous to use while others love the Asian brands. So what is the difference? Allow me to explain from my point of view.

Let me start by saying that I have used every brand of vitreous that I know of. This includes the Italian and the Asian. I love some but hate others.

A lot of the Asian tiles come from the same factory but US companies brand them differently. All Italian tile is now made in China and India. So basically, it is all Asian tile. What matters is the process.

The main characteristic of vitreous is the speckling of the glass. It is no secret that the fewer the speckles the better quality the tile. This is also a common sense deal. Glass has fracture points and tends to break along those fracture lines. This is why cutting glass tile can take practice, you have to learn how to manipulate the fracture points. So take those natural fracture lines and add in this speckling and now you have even more places that the glass wants to break. So few specks better cutting. Of course if you are using them whole then you don't have to worry about anything but the color.

The speckling is the quartz that didn't get melted during fabrication. "Italian" tile is created using higher temperatures and heating the glass mixture longer so that the quartz can dissolve. There are many of the "Asian" brands that are just like the "Italian" brands when it comes to speckling though. I will admit there are a couple of lines of vitreous out there that completely crumble with even the thought of cutting them. You will learn on your own which ones I am talking about.

Also remember that occasionally a dyelot will come in that is not very good. Every tile seems to break too easily or crumble when you cut it. This happens with all brands. Just let the seller know so they can contact their factory. Glass is unpredictable sometimes. One tile may cut fine while the next 5 may break wrong.

So now that we know about the speckling let's talk price. The "Italian" tile is about double the price of the "Asian" tile. This is because they do heat the glass longer and this will cost more in manufacturing costs but you are also paying for the brand name. Keep in mind that the higher the price of the glass tile doesn't mean that it is better quality. I have many designers that are amazed that some of my glass is identical to the popular Italian tile but at half the price. Also be aware that the lower the price doesn't necessarily mean bad tile. Like many other companies, we keep our prices low because we import directly.

I heard someone say recently during a vitreous glass debate that you really shouldn't worry about where the tile is made but rather find a line that you really like and can afford. Who cares where the factory is, as long as it has the colors you want at a good price.

Now for my shameless advertisement:

I love the Art Tile Collection (MatrixColor) because it is a reasonable price and cuts very well. I have only had one complaint since I started carrying this line of tile. Everyone I work with loves the look of it and agrees that it cuts well. Of course this is the line that I sell so obviously I love it!

Shipment Status

2008-07-25T07:39:00.003-05:00

I know many of you are anxiously awaiting our new shipment. Unfortunately it has been delayed until August 4. From what I have been told, US Customs decided to hold on to our container for a week before releasing it. I will keep everyone posted as to when it finally arrives.

On this shipment will be a huge amount of Art Tile Minis. Clover Minis, Tomato Minis, and Ebony Minis will all be back in stock. The 3/8" tile grids will also be ready to ship.

In the Brushstrokes, we will have Antiquity back along with 6 new colors. The face of the Brushstrokes is changing somewhat and I will get the new pictures posted soon.

For the AfterGlow, we couldn't get the Silver Sands back but instead have the Stainless Steel on this shipment. It is still shimmery but it looks exactly like your stainless appliances. This should be a popular color!

If you want to reserve any of the new colors coming in, call us or email us. We will put you on our waiting list.

Limited Lots Clearance

2008-07-09T14:20:00.003-05:00

If you haven't been to our Limited Lots section lately then you are missing out. It is packed full of goodies that are only available in limited quantities.

Well, it is time to clear some of these out. We are offering our blog readers extra savings on the Limited Lots items. Just use Discount Code: blogger0709 during checkout to receive an additional 25% off of all items from our Limited Lots.

Take a look now to find:

Stained Glass Chunks (large pieces)
Stained Glass Scraps (small pieces)
Carter Vitreous Glass (marked 1/2 off!)
Glass shapes
Cayenne Sanded Grout
AfterGlow 2" tiles

This offer doesn't expire and quantities are in limited supply. This can be used by ALL of our customers including Artist, Trade, and Wholesale Account holders.

New Colors Arriving Soon

2008-07-06T07:45:00.002-05:00

I love it when we can add new colors to our collections. In about a week we will be getting our new shipment in from overseas. On this shipment will be 6 new colors of Brushstrokes Metallics and 1 new color of AfterGlow Series. Some of these new metallic colors are very unique and absolutely gorgeous. The new AfterGlow color is Stainless Steel. This is temporarily replacing our Silver Sands.

We are also going to be completely stocked on our Art Tile Minis again and the 3/8" tile grids. Then, of course, we are replenishing some of our Art Tile Collection colors.

With all of these new colors coming in, you are going to see some product line changes. I will keep you posted on discontinued items as we clear out old and replace with new!

Using Our Glass Tile With Ceramic Floor Tile

2008-07-05T08:06:00.005-05:00

Yes, you can use mosaic glass tile with ceramic floor tile. This is a common question that I get in the store. The size differences of the tiles is the main concern people have.

A popular installation in a shower is to use large ceramic or marble tiles on the wall but to put in a border or just small swatches of glass tiles as insets. Our glass tiles are thinner than large ceramic tiles. You will have to spread the mortar a little thicker than what you lay for your large tiles then you will nest the glass tiles into the mortar. Use a 2x4 to stretch across the ceramic tiles to level the glass tiles out. However I do have some clients that will go ahead and install the glass with a normal mortar layer. They like the different depths of the tiles. Just be aware that grouting will take a little more cleaning this way.

The pictures show our Espresso tile from our Brushstrokes Metallics installed at a Parade of Homes by Ironwood Homes in Stone Canyon here in Owasso, OK.

Tulsa Parade of Homes

2008-06-25T07:02:00.004-05:00

I don't have pictures yet but am proud to say that our glass tile has been used in 4 of the homes featured in the Tulsa Parade of Homes. I will post pictures as soon as I can.

One home built by Penn Development, market value $1.5 million, used our AfterGlow Series in two rooms. Another home by the same builder, market value $490,000, used the AfterGlow Series in one room.

Hollinger & Associates built a home in Wind River, market value $1.6 million, that used our Fantastix Iridescent glass. I haven't seen or heard which room this went into yet.

Ironwood Homes built a home in the new Stone Canyon subdivision, market value $425,000, here in Owasso and used our Brushstrokes and Art Tile Collection.

There were several other homes that tile was sold for but I haven't received any confirmation that the glass was actually used. We are off this weekend to look at these gorgeous homes to see for ourselves. If you get a chance to visit, the Parade of Homes goes until June 29th.

Marble Shack

2008-06-23T07:25:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to advertise a little for my new side project: http://www.marbleshack.com/. I sell marbles and chain pulls on Ebay and Amazon but decided to add the website too. The marbles are little guys, about the size of an aggie marble (1" diameter). The chain pulls are perfect size at 3" long. All of the logos are fired on in a kiln so they won't scratch off. We have all of the NFL, MLB, and some college teams plus Harley, John Deere, Jack Daniels, and tons of lighthouses from around the US.

I am offering flat rate shipping for $5 to US residents on Marble Shack only. Okay there is my off the topic plug for my new website. I hope some of you will "shop by"!

Going Green

2008-06-21T07:53:00.002-05:00

This is the latest issue for many people in America. It is good for our environment and a good habit to get into. Go green!

Tile Shack has been going green for a long time. We recycle everything that we can. Our bulk packing peanuts that we use to pack your orders are made of recycled materials. We also reuse as much packing material as possible. When we get shipments into our warehouse, we will use the packing materials when shipping out orders.

We also try to pack your order in the smallest but safest box. This allows us to use less packing material. We always make sure to give at least one inch of packing all the way around the products you ordered. So don't worry, we won't let your tiles get broken if we can help it!

We recycle in our office too. The paper we use to print your sales receipts are done on recycled paper. If our printer gets weird and prints something wrong, then we take that paper, cut it up to use as notepads around the office. We don't throw it away unless both sides are covered!

There are many other small ways that we reuse and recycle in our store and warehouse. The best way is that our products, glass tile, are environmentally friendly all by themselves. They can always be melted down to produce another product in years to come.

Go green!

Mosaic Project Ideas for Teens

2008-06-16T07:31:00.002-05:00

It is so easy to turn teenagers on to mosaic art. All you have to do is tell them they are making something useful for their room and they will be listening! The great thing about teens is that they can use all sorts of tiles and break them using the wheeled cutters.

Some cool things to make with your teen:

Bulletin board - Take a piece of Wedi board and glue a large piece of cork (can be found at your diy store) to the center leaving at least a 2" space all around for the border. Glue assorted tesserae all around the outside border. Try using 3/4" vitreous glass broken into triangles with a dash of metallic glass. The Wedi is great because they can stick the push pins into the cork and it will go into the Wedi with no problems. Use Weldbond for the glue.
Picture frame - Buy a cheap wooden picture frame that has a wide frame (at least 1 1/2"). Let your teen glue a string of plastic beads around the outside edge. They can then fill this with colored glass that matches their room. Weldbond works well for the glue.
Memory board - Use a large piece of Wedi board and allow your teen to glue a huge variety of memorabilia such as a picture of their fav band, a ribbon from that contest they won, or even a pair of shoes that they always adored but are now too small. Use scrapbooking letters to glue their name and common sayings to the board. In order to cover the entire surface, provide them with ribbon, shoelaces, ect to swirl in and around the objects. You will want to use Liquid Nails for the glue and definately don't grout this one.

These are just a few ideas that can give tons of fun for your teen and their friends. The ones that use the glass tiles can also be grouted using a sanded grout. Just make sure to wait 24 hours before grouting so the glue can dry. Then place a hanger on the back and trim out the sides of the Wedi with ribbon. Now your teen can hang it anywhere they want!

Wheeled Cutters

2008-06-09T20:53:00.002-05:00

Wheeled cutters are a major part of using glass tile. This wonderful tool makes cutting glass easy and gives clean cuts with the glass.

When I first starting creating mosaics I used a hammer and sock to break my tiles. I would place the tiles into a sock and whack them with a hammer. Needless to say, I had a lot of glass shards and very little usuable pieces.

I soon found basic nippers. These clawlike breakers work with porcelain or ceramic but are a bear to use with the glass. You have to squeeze very hard and then you usually end up shattering the glass. The crystal glass won't even break using these.

Then I was introduced to the wheeled cutters. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Although they are an investment, it is very worthwhile. You barely squeeze and you get a clean cut on most types of glass. You will never go back to using anything else.

So take the leap and buy the expensive cutters. You won't regret it!

Additions to the Limited Lots

2008-06-01T08:07:00.002-05:00

I have just added a bunch of items to the Limited Lots section of my website. These are items that don't sell well and we have decided to discontinue them. Discounts range from 25% to 60% off.

I added the Electric Gems, Glass Shapes, CartGlass Vitreous (not the hot colors), and of course the AfterGlow II Series is still on clearance. There are only a few left of many of these items so grab all that you need at once!

Selling Your Artwork

2008-05-29T06:51:00.002-05:00

As a mosaic tile business owner, I see tons of completed works of art from my friends and clients. The question I get the most is "do you think I can sell my work?". Usually the answer is "yes". The next question should be, "where should I try to sell my work?".

There are a lot of bazaars, festivals, and art shows this time of year. Picking the right venue for your work is the difference between selling most of your pieces and selling none.

If your work is mostly bright colors and off the wall stuff, then an art festival is the best place for you. If you work is mostly classical such as religious items, then a craft festival is probably your best place. If you like to go to all sorts of gatherings then make sure to take a huge variety of stuff.

My point is that you need to research the show that you want to set up in before you even register. You don't want to show up at a show with all earthy pots when the show has all art deco stuff. The customers will know what to expect from a particular festival, so should you.

Cleaning Grout

2008-05-18T07:25:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, grout can ruin a project or make it beautiful. I have had a lot of clients asking me how to get the grout off of the tiles or how to get grout out of the tiny pores or indentations of the tiles.

First off, many people love the grout being stuck in the pores. So don't think you are weird if you like how it looks. When this happens you get a wonderful natural, earthy overtone to your finished product. This is especially true if you are doing a backsplash with our Art Tile Collection.

If you don't like this look then you will need to act quickly. Quickly means within 24 hours.

There is a wonderful product at Lowe's call Grout Haze Remover. This is a chemical that works very well in cutting into the haze that can stay on the top of your tiles. You must mix it as half chemical and half water. If not then you will leave another weird sticky residue on top of your tiles. Take an old sock or rag and dip it into your mixture. Squeeze it out well and wipe off the haze. It is really that simple.

If you have grout in the pores or striations and want it out then you will need a stiff bristle brush. Often a toothbrush with hard bristles will work fine but sometimes you will need the grout brush from your hardware store (this is if you left the grout on for too long). Dip your brush into the Grout Haze Remover/water mixture and brush off every tile that has the grout stuck in the pores. It really won't take as long as it sounds. After you brush the tile then wipe it off with a clean rag.

These two methods should take care of all of your grout residue issues. If you leave the grout on for longer than 48 hours, you are pretty much stuck with what you have.

Places to Get Ideas

2008-05-11T08:12:00.007-05:00

If you are "not creative" or just in a funk about what project to do next, the fix it easy. My very

favorite place to get a design idea is from looking at rugs. Not carpet but rugs. Rugs are made with cool designs and patterns that range from very simple to very elegant and difficult. I don't copy these but instead use them as a muse.

A great website with thousands of rugs is http://www.homedecorators.com/Rugs/. Here you can choose to see designs with different styles, colors, etc. The designs are beautiful.

When I opened my showroom in Shawnee, I did a mosaic rug in the showroom floor. I based it off of this rug from this website. Anyone that was able to come to my showroom then knows that my final creation was pretty cool. Here is what I ended up with. It is a lot different but then again similar.

So next time you are in a slump and need an idea boost check out the website http://www.homedecorators.com/Rugs/ and see what will inspire you!

Teaching Young Children the Art of Mosaics

2008-05-04T07:56:00.003-05:00

I have been in one of our local schools for two weeks teaching the entire school how to create mosaics. These students are from Kindergarten to 5th graders. They were so much fun!

This was my first attempt at teaching elementary kids. I have taught middle school students and knew what to expect but the elementary students were so different. I took in 4" ceramic tiles as the base and the Art Tile Minis for the tesserae. We used Weldbond for the glue.

I went in with the plan to show them examples of a mosaic and discuss what makes something a mosaic. I was then going to talk to them about the history of mosaic art and finally show them how math is so closely related. I did this with the first class and quickly ran out of time. I never realized that the 4th graders would take so long to glue on all of their tiles. Instead of the planned hour, it took 1 1/2 hours and that is with all of the adults pushing these kids along.

I learned to leave out all talk of history and math and just focus on how to make the mosaic. The students all had a design drawn beforehand onto a grid paper. The paper had 10 squares going across and down and the kids were supposed to replicate the design using the tiny tiles. This worked pretty well after they got the first row and column set up. They didn't understand the concept of grout joints either but didn't get too frustrated when I made them move their tiles to give that little space.

I had one fifth grade class come in to grout and that was a huge mistake. They were a little rough and kept popping off the tiles. It was a nightmare. So I am going in every morning this week to work on the grouting. The projects are turning out beautiful and should be ready by Mother's Day!

Price Increase

2008-04-24T06:51:00.003-05:00

It is happening all over...prices are going up on everything. With our latest shipment of Art Tile, we are forced to raise some of our prices on the Art Tile Collection and the Art Tile Minis. I hate to have to do this but with the price of everything going up and the value of our dollar going down, our overseas factory has to charge us more.

The new pricing will go into effect on May 1. It won't be much. The Art Tile Collection A and B colors will increase to $4 a sheet and the D colors will increase to $10 a sheet. In the Art Tile Minis, the A and B colors will go up to $5.50 a sheet and the D colors will go up to $11 per sheet.

To help offset the price increase I am giving you a blog coupon. This will be on the Art Tile Collection only. Save 25% using Discount Code: blogger0424 and it will expire May 24, 2008. Anyone can use this coupon including our Artist clients!

Choosing Tile Colors Online

2008-04-18T07:23:00.002-05:00

The hardest part about selling mosaic tiles online is color matching. Everyone's monitors are set differently so everyone's monitors will show the tile colors differently.

Recently I sent out an order that had a sheet of Marmelade and a sheet of Islands. The customer stated that the Marmelade was different on her monitor but the Islands matched perfectly. She couldn't understand how this happens.

Think of it like this...Marmelade is orange and Islands is blue. The color settings on your monitor that produce orange are different than the ones that produce blue. So it is possible to have one that is close and another that is totally off.

So what is the best answer to this never ending problem? Samples, samples, samples! If color is extremely important to you then order a sample. On www.tileshack.com you can order a sample board, full sheet of tile, or just a small 25 tiles swatch. Yes, dyelots are going to change but it isn't by much so your tiles will still be very close later on down the road. This will also save you time and frustration.

Photographing Your Finished Mosaic

2008-04-11T06:58:00.006-05:00

Taking a picture of your finished mosaic is harder than it sounds. When you do a piece that includes all sorts of glass you are going to have a reflective problem. Some glass photographs better than others. Vitreous glass tile is not a high gloss so it is not too bad but the crystal glass can be horrible.

If you stand in front of your piece and snap the picture you will most likely see yourself and all the glaring light around you. The colors will not turn out correct and you will probably end up with a very dark picture. Iridescent glass causes the same problem as the crystal glass.

To get a decent picture without a professional photographer, you will need a good camera. Those cheap digitals don't do much for glass tile. You will need some sort of light diffusing system. I found a great set up at Wal-Mart that was cheap back in the camera department.

After having the proper tools, you need to plan to take a picture of the finished mosaic from an angle. This will keep the reflections low. You don't have to go at such a stark angle as the picture to the right but get a little tilt on your angle.

Here are two of our product pictures taken at different angles so you can see the difference. The one on the bottom is exactly like the actual blend. The one on top threw the colors terribly. (Yes we are working on better pictures ourselves!)

Adhesives for Outdoors

2008-04-06T08:26:00.002-05:00

As spring approaches, I am getting the most common question...what adhesive do I use for my outdoor projects??? You really have to know the answer to this or your project will get ruined.

First of all, it doesn't matter what glue you use if you use the wrong base. Remember that when wood gets wet, it can warp. Once it warps, your tiles will pop right off. Your best surfaces for outdoors include cement board (hardibacker), glass, and concrete. I have used wood outdoors with good results though. You have to make sure to completely seal it (that includes the bottom) and don't put it directly in the weather.

Now for adhesives...
Thin set mortar is by far the best adhesive for outdoors. It is basically concrete. You don't have to worry about water getting to your glue and causing it to loosen. Once thin set is dry it is hard as a rock. The bad thing is that thin set won't adhere to glass. It has to be applied to a porous material such as concrete. This is by far the best adhesive for your stepping stones!

If you want to do a glass vase (or even a terra cotta pot), then I recommend Liquid Nails. This stuff can stick to almost anything but works especially well on glass. I do not recommend the clear Liquid Nails. The only kind that I have good experience with is Liquid Nails for Small Household Projects. It is a putty color so you don't want to use it with clear tiles. The great thing about this stuff is that it sets up quickly so you don't have to deal with your tiles sliding down the side of your vase.

If your heart is set on using transparent tiles then you will have to try silicone. Just look for the kind that is good for use in a shower or bath. I don't like using silicone since it is so stringy but it might work well for you.

Discount Codes and Offers

2008-04-01T06:34:00.002-05:00

Mosaic supplies can be very expensive if you are not careful. We completely understand this and I try to keep our prices down as low as I can without making us go broke. We do try to offer discount codes or special offers on a regular basis to help offset the cost of your tile. Believe it or not, we have actually had people think that our tile is cheap, poor quality tile because we have the price so much lower than some of our competitors. It is easy to change their minds once they see the tile in person. We keep the pricing low because we import many of our products ourselves. After all of this our clients are very pleased with the transaction and the money they have saved.

So check back on our site often to see what we have on sale, on clearance, or for free. Check this blog often too. Sometimes we stick coupons in here for even more savings. For example, you can use discount code blogger0308 to get free 1 1/2 pound container of grout. Next time you order from us just add the color of grout you want to your cart and type in the code. It will take off $4 for the cost of the grout. This code is good for anyone including Artist and Trade accounts.

Affordable Vinyl Graphics

2008-03-28T07:09:00.002-05:00

There is a new business in Owasso and online. Affordable Vinyl Graphics has a very cool website and an awesome project. It is not directly tied into mosaics but the owner of this company, Heather Rodden, is a very nice person that will go out of her way to get you exactly what you need.

In case you don't know, these vinyl graphics can be installed anywhere including painted walls, metal, plastics, etc. They won't damage the surface that you put them on. So you can hang your mosaic art on your living room wall and then have Heather do a cool graphic that includes the name of your piece. She can do it in any font and tons of colors! You then stick the vinyl under or around your finished art while it is on the wall.

Imagine creating a round piece then having Heather do the name of the piece so that it archs around your art. Cool effects! So hop over to Affordable Vinyl Graphics when you get a chance and make sure to look at their Photo Gallery.

Your Grout Color

2008-03-24T06:27:00.002-05:00

This is the most common question for me...what color grout should I use? This is a very tough question since this can ruin your project if the wrong color is chosen.

Remember the rule of thumb:

Mostly warm colors...use brown grout
Mostly cool colors...use gray grout
Mostly vivid colors (all very bright)...black is a possibility
All white...use white grout

I have people that do a piece where the focal point is all in blue and the back ground is all in brown. Since blue is a cool color they think gray but imagine gray grout with brown tiles...Yuck! You want to choose a color that will make the entire work flow. Brown would be best in this case. What if your focal is all blue and the background is all orange. In this case you will want to use gray to keep your focal from being fractured. Gray would look fine with the orange tiles too.

Don't forget the correct intensity. If your piece is mostly dark then use a darker tone. If it is mostly light use a lighter.

So the rule of thumb is just a guideline. Always do the grout test to make sure of what color to use. Simply don a mask and sprinkle a little of each grout possibility into the grout joints of your piece. See what looks best then vacuum the dry grout out before mixing the real batch.

Tulsa Home & Garden Show

2008-03-10T07:27:00.013-05:00

Hello everyone! The Tulsa Home & Garden show is now over and life can start getting back to normal for the Tile Shack crew. It was a huge success and I wanted to share some of the pics of our booth.

We put together some great displays that show our tiles installed.

We also had some great artwork. Carriera and Artemesia were created by Tish Busking. The shoes and aquarium were done by Sean Busking.

We also got in some rest and play time with some our builder friends.

Tulsa Granite and Middleton Construction of Tulsa also featured our tiles in their booths.

Finishing Edges on an Art Project

2008-03-01T07:03:00.003-06:00

Finishing edges on a work of art has always been an issue. There are several ways that will complete your piece and make it gorgeous.

Try:

Build a frame out of wood. This works especially well when thin backerboard or Wedi board has been used as the substrate.
Do a grout rub on the edges. The grout won't stay in bulk but will leave a fine layer of grit and color that will blend well with the rest of your piece. Just rub down the edges while grouting the rest of the piece. Make sure to pick up your piece and wipe off the excess build up before it sets up. This works well with wood and Wedi board.
Use stained glass copper foil. This stuff has an adhesive backing so it sticks well on the edges. For this to really work you will need to make sure your edge is clean of all grout. The adhesive doesn't stick well to dried grout. I use this when I do a piece on backerboard but it can be used on all surfaces. For a silver edge, use the tape that is used on duct work that you can buy at your local hardware store.
Paint those edges. This is really only a good technique if your work is done on wood. Be sure to tape off the edges before grouting. Pull off tape before grout has set and paint in a couple of days.
Brass foil is a great edging for wood. This is a metal band that is nailed onto the sides of your piece before you grout. Here is a link to a company where we buy our's. We buy brass foil that is .02 mm. Be sure to buy the width that you will need for your surfaces. Go the extra penny and buy brass nails to use on this stuff. It will give a nice finish.

Although you can lay tiles on your edge, I never recommend it. If your piece gets bumped or falls those edge pieces have a good chance of falling off.

Shipping Costs

2008-02-25T08:34:00.002-06:00

With gas prices constantly going up, our freight costs go up too. Many clients don't understand why shipping is so high. Rest assured that we only charge the actual shipping plus our $1 for handling. When you are checking out on our site, your cart will return the real time shipping rates for UPS or USPS.

Now let's see how many people read this blog. I am offering you a free shipping coupon on your order of $50 or more. This is a one time coupon and can be used by anyone within the Continental US. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, I will split the shipping with you but you will have to type the code into the Comment box to get the offer. The Discount Code is freeship2252008 and is valid until March 25, 2008.

Finishing Edges on a Commercial/Residential Installation

2008-02-23T07:32:00.010-06:00

The big question this week has been how to finish your edges of your installation. If you are used to working with ceramic tiles then you have to realize there is a difference with the glass tiles. Most glass tiles are colored throughout so even the edges are colored. This just means that you don't need a bull nose tile to cover the edge to keep color.

My favorite way to complete the edge is to just rub grout into the small gap along the edge. I will tape it off first so I don't get grout on the wall or surface that the tiles are adhered. Then I will grout as usual making sure to rub the grout down the edge of the tiles. As soon as I clean off the excess grout, I will remove the tape to give a nice finished area.

You can also leave the gap of the tile edges alone. After grouting and cleanup, take a caulk that is your grout color and caulk down the edge. You may be caulking other areas too so do it all at the same time.

Framing it out is another way. It looks good but is a little more work. This is especially nice if you are doing wainscoting with tile on your wall or just running a border of tiles around your bathroom. Take a piece of molding and stain/paint it first. Then nail it in to frame your tiles after installation. It would be best to grout before doing this part.

Some people don't want the tiles to just stop at the end of their cabinets and counters. Try stair stepping the tiles down to give it a more flowing look. You have to have the right size top and bottom of your area to do this though. Refer to the picture at the left.

As you can see, there are several ways to finish the edges of your installation. You can make it as simple or elegant as your space needs.

Why on Earth have I not posted lately????????

2008-02-16T07:59:00.003-06:00

I have been so busy that I completely forgot about my blog for 2 weeks. This is crazy!

Business has been incredible but getting ready for our latest shipment was the main reason. We received over 22,000 pounds of glass in last week and we had to find a place to put it all. Our warehouse is packed now! We, at least, created a path to get from the front to the back so that we can move easily.

I promise to be better about posting. Of course now I am getting ready for the Tulsa Home and Garden Show. UGH! Too much to do and too little time!

Grout Joints

2008-01-30T06:56:00.001-06:00

A grout joint is that space between the tiles where the grout will fill. There are some mosaics that are so well done that you don't even see the grout joints. Then there are mosaics that are so well done that you do see all of the grout joints. Wait...does that make sense???

A typical mosaic art piece is created so that the grout will only smooth over the entire piece but has only a small part in the final look of the piece. For instance, a landscape done is gorgeous greens and blues sweeping across the substrate will have minimal grout joints so that your eyes only focus on the overall picture not the individual tiles.

So why not let your grout joints work for your piece? In the mosaic shown, you can see there are some deliberate grout joints and it adds an essential style to the mosaic. When looking at this rainbow piece, you see all of the circles are emphasized with the black grout.

This was originally drawn out as many circles and lines. I filled in the spaces but made sure to keep with the flow of the circles. I filled the outer small circles with a solid color of vitreous tile to add an added accent but it is still the grout joints that bring the focus of the piece.

You will have to draw out your design ahead of time. That is the only way to make this technique work. Try experimenting with different drawings. I saw a mosaic once that had words done in the grout joints. Close up you couldn't tell but when you backed away you saw the name of the mosaic piece in the grout. It was very cool!

Art Tile Collection/MatrixColor

2008-01-24T19:34:00.000-06:00

Well you may have noticed that the names have changed for the MatrixColor tiles. We have a new shipment coming in with new colors. We thought it would be appropriate to change the name at the same time.

Our new Art Tile Collection will consist of 53 colors that includes a gorgeous crimson, olive green, and a rich dark brown. The MatrixColor Q Tiles have also changed. We are adding 4 new colors to this line as well. We will get photos posted as soon as the shipment arrives in our warehouse.

You will also see that we are adding a new line of metallic glass that we are importing ourselves called Brushstrokes. This will have 10 popular colors for you to choose. The best thing is that we can keep the price down.

The shipment is due into the US Monday so we should have the new goodies about a week later if customs is nice to us. We will send out an email notice letting you know.

As many of you have seen, we are still clearing out some items. Keep looking in our Limited Lots section for new items being added.

Installed Mosaic Logo

2008-01-20T07:48:00.001-06:00

I just realized that I never posted about the installation of the mosaic logo that I had worked on for a few weeks back in October. After finishing the tiling onto mesh, I delivered it in pieces. It looked great uninstalled. Here is a picture of it before it was cut up and installed.

The company was having carpet put all around the mosaic so they had their carpet guy install the logo. He did a great job installing but chose to grout it in white grout. It ruined the piece! Here is the picture of it installed.

This shows how white grout can completely fracture the piece. Since the background was made using a dark cobalt blue tile the white grout really stands out. It doesn't look as bad on the center where a pale blue was used.

I would have recommended a medium gray to be used but was not consulted unfortunately. So I instead sent the owner a link to a grout stain product that I don't think he ever used.

Project Idea #5 - Mosaic Windows

2008-01-17T07:03:00.000-06:00

If you have ever gone to a flea market then you probably have seen old windows for sale. These are the ones that are rectangle shaped with the four sections of glass, paint peeling on the wood but very sturdy. If you can get it cheap, I suggest buying one or two. Just make sure the glass is still in one piece.

You can clean up the paint by scraping it off and repainting. I have seen many clients that leave the peeling paint the way it is to add character to the piece.

After you get the wood cleaned up, you can just mosaic directly onto the glass. Use a mixture of opaques and translucents to give a wonderful overall effect when the light shines through. You can use stained glass or glass tiles or both. Weldbond is a great adhesive to use since it dries clear. Once you get all of your glass on then grout it the next day. Be sure to tape off your wood before grouting though.

Once you have it completely finished you will need to add a hanger to it. I suggest screwing in round hooks on the top corners and attaching a chain. The window can now just hang from the chain. Screw in a hook in your existing window and hang your new window so the light can illuminate your piece.

Grout Study

2008-01-07T06:58:00.000-06:00

Even though we have this formula that we use for choosing your grout color, sometimes it isn't that easy. I have a piece that I am getting ready to grout today. I have contemplated the grout color for 3 days. It consists of metallic glass tiles of Henna and Painted Desert. Henna is a very dark brown with varying colors of black to medium brown. Painted Desert is an orangy rust color.

My first thought was black. Black grout doesn't actually dry black (more of a dark charcoal gray) so that really won't work with my brown based tiles. Then I thought a dark brown. Dark brown is a very difficult color to achieve though. My last thought is a mixture of black and mocha grout. Any one of these three might look good.

Now that I have basically three options for grout, I am going to perform a grout study. I glued sets of tiles onto a board. I used more Henna than Painted Desert so I laid them out as Henna.Painted Desert.Henna. I will mix the black, then brown, then the combo grouts and put one between each set of glued tiles. After the grout dries I should be able to see which grout color will look the best with my tile colors.

You can do this with any project that you make. Save some of those scrap tiles and glue one of each color used to a board. Do this several times so you can test several colors at once. By doing a grout study, you may save your mosaic from ruin by using the wrong color of grout.

Mosaic a Different Shape

2007-12-30T08:16:00.000-06:00

Now that Wedi board is readily available, take a leap and mosaic something wild. If your normal substrate is a square, cut out a circle instead. If you normally use a circle then cut out a wavy rectangle. The shape of your substrate can completely change the look of your finished piece. The piece shown is done on Wedi.

Once I found Wedi I realized that I could cut out circles very easily. To get a large circle, tie a string that is the length of your radius (distance from the center of the circle to the outer edge) to a thumbtack and then tie the other end to a pen, marker, or pencil. Stick the tack in the center of your board and drag the pen around to form a circle. This is the same process as using a compass but allows you to draw a large circle.

After you get your circle drawn on the Wedi then take your utility knife and cut it out. There will be rough edges unless you are perfect at cutting. If so, just scrape them off to even out the edge.

If you want to do a wavy rectangle just draw your pattern before cutting it out. You have the freedom to make it look like whatever your fancy is at the time. As I always say...try something different whether it be a new tesserae or a new substrate or even just a new shape!

Wedi Board

2007-12-23T07:35:00.000-06:00

As you probably know, we are carrying Wedi board again. This is my all time favorite substrate to use. It is the easiest to use. If you have never used it before then read my Wedi review below.

Wediboard is a lightweight substrate that you can literally cut with a utility knife. It has a styrofoam center covered in a layer of mesh and then a layer of cement. Even though it is so lightweight, it will hold a lot of weight. This includes the weight of glass mosaic tiles! My favorite thing to mosaic is a round shape. This is very difficult to achieve with a wood base. But with Wedi, I can cut whatever size circle I want with my utility knife. I don't have to ask my hubby to cut my surfaces anymore!

Wedi board comes in two thicknesses, 1/2" and 1/4". While the 1/4" is perfect for some projects, I think hanging 1/2" is so much easier. This is because I found this cool hanging nail thingy at Lowe's that makes it a snap. All you do is hammer the sharp end into the wall where you want your finished piece to hang. Then take your mosaic and press it onto the blunt end of the nail thingy. That is it! I have a piece in my showroom that is about 2 1/2 feet in diameter that is hanging this way with no problems. As long as you get the right size, it won't poke through to your surface and pop your tiles off. Please remember that you can't do this with 1/4". It is too thin.

The other issue people have is with how to finish the edges of Wedi. When you cut it there will be exposed edges that show the blue styrofoam. I have done several things to cover it. The best way for me is to simply rub my grout along the edge. It covers the edges and keeps consistency with the grout color of the mosaic itself. I have also used the copper foil from stained glass stores and the aluminum tape from Lowes for duct work. It all works well for me I just prefer the look of the grouted edge.

I have heard people say that Wedi cannot be used outdoors. However on the Wedi website it shows that they use this stuff to create showers and such. I imagine it would be fine as long as you prep it well by covering all of your exposed edges with thinset.

There will be more to come on the subject of Wedi...

Is a latex additive necessary?

2007-12-20T07:26:00.000-06:00

Yes and No

Latex additive is a liquid that you would add to your thinset mortar instead of water when mixing. It makes the thinset more flexible once it dries and makes it very sticky. So why would you need this stuff?

Glass tiles are nonporous. This is what makes them great for use outdoors. You don't have to worry about water absorption and then freezing issues. However since they are nonporous it is a little bit harder for the thinset to grab and hold these tiles. The latex creates an amazing bond between the glass and the thinset that will make you feel safe that your tiles are going to stay on.

Obviously if you are using any other adhesive the latex additive is not necessary. Or if you are using ceramic or porcelain there is really no need for it. But it doesn't hurt to use it since it does add the flexibility of the thinset.

New Stuff

2007-12-16T08:23:00.000-06:00

It is that time of year when we say out with the old and in with the new! This means that we are discontinuing some items while getting some new things in stock. New stuff is always a lot of fun around Tile Shack. It is like Christmas everytime a new shipment comes into the warehouse!

So what is new for 2008? We have 15 new colors of AfterGlow Series. The pics on the website are actually pretty horrible right now. This tile is difficult to photograph. The shipment is due in this week so we will get better pics then. Basically there are a lot of the softer colors needed to round out this tile line. There is a soft yellow, bright white, mauves, and many pastel shades.

We also are now carrying Wediboard in the form of Wedi Packs. Wedi gets destroyed when shipped by the full sheet so we found a company that will be drop shipping this for us in precut sizes. We will have a few packs in stock at our showroom too. Those are due to arrive this week too.

If you love iridescent tile then you are going to love the Luster Series. It is everything that the Fantastix is not. These colors are pastels with a smooth iridescence to them. They are also 3/4" so they can be incorporated with all of the other 3/4" tiles that we have.

We are now selling our Mapei grout and thin set in 5 pound resealable buckets. This keeps you from having to buy it in 25 pound bags only to have it go bad on you. I have had so many people tell me that they want to use the latex additive in their thinset but don't want to buy that huge jug at the home stores. So along with the grout and thinset we are also selling grout sealer and latex additive in smaller sizes.

We have several other new items that will be on their way from overseas soon. We will announce those when they get a little closer.

Now what are we getting rid of??? It is not by choice but the Sq Palette is being discontinued by our supplier :(. We love this tile and still have a bunch in stock. Just remember to buy all that you need for your project at once. As we run out of colors we will just remove them from our site.

The glass shapes and electric gems are not going to be restocked. If you need a large amount of the glass shapes let me know. I can make you a deal on these.

If there is anything we don't have that you would like us to carry, let me know. We are always looking for new and exciting products.

Electricity is back on!

2007-12-11T18:58:00.000-06:00

We froze for most of the day but we now have power at the store. Orders flew out the door today and more will go tomorrow. We really appreciate your patience with this situation.

Oklahoma Ice Storm

2007-12-11T07:39:00.000-06:00

We didn't think it would be this bad but Oklahoma got hit hard with an ice storm over the weekend. We chipped off over 1 inch of ice yesterday from our cars. It is weighing down trees and snapping power lines like crazy.

This storm has knocked out power to over 200,000 people. This includes Tile Shack's showroom! We are still packing out orders but it is taking a little longer than usual. Wandering around a warehouse in the dark is difficult! So please be patient with us.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us. I have power at home so I can check email often. I am also checking voice messages from home and can return your call easily.

They say the power won't be fully restored until next week. Let's just hope that happens a lot sooner!

Mosaic a Terra Cotta Pot

2007-12-09T08:14:00.000-06:00

One of the most popular applications of mosaic tile is on a terra cotta pot. These finished pieces make great gifts and look terrific no matter what you put on them. Creating a mosaic pot is a little different than doing a piece that will hang on a wall but is usually what a first time mosaic artist to be wants to do.

Prepping your pot is extremely important. You have to seal it on the inside, outside, bottom, and top. This is very important since terra cotta is very water absorbent. Use a mixture of 1 part Weldbond and 5 parts water. Brush this on every surface of the pot and allow to dry. After the sealer has dried then you can draw your design directly onto the pot with a pencil.

Using the proper adhesive is important too. I always recommend using Liquid Nails for Small Projects (not the clear stuff). This adhesive is very tacky so you don’t have to deal with your tiles sliding down your pot while you work. It is also great for a piece that will sit outdoors as it is not water soluble.

Choosing glass tiles is the safest tesserae since these can be set outside without any worries of freezing temperatures. They are also small enough to go around your pot smoothly. You will still probably need to cut these down with the wheeled cutters so they lay flat. I usually lay the pot on a towel in my lap to work on the sides. It makes it easier to see the design.

You are going to grout as you normally would. It is sometimes easier to turn the pot upside down and grout from the bottom up. This is especially true with angled sides of a terra cotta pot. After the grout has cured for at least 48 hours, seal it well. Your beautiful pot is ready to set out on your patio for years and years.

Project Idea #4 - Christmas Ornament Mosaic

2007-12-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

Christmas ornaments make great Christmas presents especially when they are handmade. Mosaic ornaments are beautiful when done with glass tiles. They reflect light and really twinkle.

Materials Needed:

1 plastic ornament

Glass tiles

Wheeled Cutters

Liquid Nails or silicone adhesive

Grout kit

The plastic ornament can be found at various dollar stores. They are usually covered in a ribbon like material. This can be pulled off easily.

You can choose to use MatrixColor Q-Tiles or any other tiles. If you use larger tiles they will have to be cut down to smaller sizes to fit around the curves of the ornament.

After the glue has completely set, you will grout as normal. You will need to clean off the hanger part well when clearing the grout. Use q tips or something similar to get it out of the grooves.

These ornaments are heavy but still hang on a tree nicely with no worries of falling off. Whoever receives this as a gift will love and cherish it forever.

Picking Your Pattern

2007-11-25T08:21:00.000-06:00

Deciding upon the right design or pattern for your mosaic can be a difficult task. Too much detail and the effect can be lost in a mosaic. Too simple and you may end up with a big blob on your surface.

It can be very overwhelming if you don't know what you want at all. Below you will find some places to look for design ideas.

Coloring book pages are wonderful. The designs are large and open so there isn't too much detail to worry about. These are especially good for holidays designs.
Look around you. Dishtowels, decorative bowls, paper towel designs, etc. Most household items have simple details that would be great for a mosaic.
Other crafts give loads of ideas. Cross stitch patterns, quilt designs, and embroidery pieces are great because they are simple.
Look to nature. Find a good National Geographic magazine and look for a close up of a butterfly, frog, or whatever else they are lucky to get a shot. The closeups usually are pretty simple without too much detail.
If you are into symmetry, then do an image search for tessellations. This is a mathematical design that repeats itself symmetrically using slides (translations), turns (rotations), and flips (reflections). These are usually pretty simple designs but they look intricate.

THE DON'TS OF FINDING DESIGNS!!!!!

This is a very important section. Please read it fully...

DON'T copy the artwork of another artist. This is copyright infringement and can get you into lots of trouble. If you see a painting that you really want to copy, then ask the artist for permission first. If they say no, then forget about it.

I hope these tips will help you in choosing the pattern that you are about to use on your mosaic. It really can mean the difference between a good end and a bad end result.

Limited Lots

2007-11-21T06:56:00.000-06:00

Many of my clients love, love, love the Limited Lots section. I love it too! I am always looking for a bargain on mosaic tiles and such. This usually means there is only one or two of whatever I find. These get lumped into the Limited Lots section.

I recently bought most of a mosaic artist's goodies. She decided she wanted to move on to another artform and approached me about her stuff. When I went to her house I was amazed. She had some much I didn't know where to start.

So I bought a huge lot of it and will probably go back for more once this first buy is resold. So what did I get???

Tons of stained glass 1/2" squares
Box full of an off brand of vitreous tile
Trays of fused cabachons some of which are dichroic and others are millefiori
Larger squares of stained glass (about 4")
Loads of unglazed porcelain tiles
Grout galore
Glues and surfaces
Bags and bags of river rock and pebbles
Glazed ceramic squares and other shapes
Iridescent glass (pretty sure it is Sicis)
Some beautiful metallic glass
A few sheets of Van Gogh glass (I put this on Ebay because I didn't know how to price it)

There is probably more that I cannot think of right now. So if you are in the area, come by the store and I will be happy to let you dig through my cool new stuff. In the meantime, I will be putting as much of this stuff in the Limited Lots section as I can each day. If there is something you want to see now, let me know. I will just add it first!

Grouting Vitreous Glass

2007-11-18T07:28:00.000-06:00

One of the most common complaints about using vitreous/venetian glass is the grouting. Vitreous tile has some pits, striations, and speckles. This is what makes it vitreous and usually gorgeous tile. However when you spread grout on top of the vitreous tile, then the grout tends to fill the pits and striations.

I, personally, love this look. I think it makes the piece look more natural and earthy. I do admit that sometimes I don't want that. Imagine if you are using white tiles but grouting in black. The white tiles will pretty much lose their white color.

So what can you do? There are a couple of options. This first method is the easiest for me. After you get the grout cleaned off of your piece take a stiff toothbrush and go over each tile to brush out the grout. You have to do this while the grout is still very fresh. Once it has a chance to dry, you will not get it out of the pits. It seems tedious but goes quickly since it is just a light brushing.

The second option is to use a Weldbond mask on the tiles before grouting. Brush full strength Weldbond onto each tile and allow to dry. Grout as normal and then pull off the Weldbond. It should just scrape right off. You can even add a little water to pesky spots since this is water soluble glue. This method has far too many steps for me but is widely used in the mosaic community.

I am sure there are other methods that I am not aware of but these are a starting point. Using vitreous glass gives you a tremendous color palette that is a must to your mosaic work. Don't let the pits and striations steer you away from this amazing tile.

Add some texture to your piece!

2007-11-11T07:35:00.001-06:00

Adding texture to your piece can really add the punch needed to get the oohs and aahs from people. You can add this by using a couple of techniques.

A friend of mine named Cary Huff creates some of the most unique vases that I have ever seen. In the one shown, she uses all of the techniques that I mention below.

Use really shiny glass tiles for the foreground image then use matte tiles for the background (or vise versa). If you prefer the vitreous glass like I do, then use Sq Palette for the foreground image and then the MatrixColor Venetian for the background. Your image will basically jump out at the viewer.

You could go really dramatic by using a solid crystal glass such as The AfterGlow Series for your main design and do the background with our Fantastix Iridescent tiles. Each type of tile is shiny just in different manners. You will really dazzle the viewer using this technique.

Adding texture can also be taken literally. There are some tiles that have texture on them such as many types of stained glass. If you like using stained glass then create your piece as normal. However mix in the same colored glass but use some that has the texture molded into it. Be careful not to overdo it in this case. The texture pieces used in the wrong place can ruin a piece. For instance, if you are doing a face then you may not want to use both texture and flat pieces for the cheeks but rather use the texture pieces for under the eyes or the lips.

The last way that I can think of for you to add some pep to your piece is to layer the tiles. Create your piece as you normally would. Once it is dry then glue some tiles or glass gems to the top of your tiles in various locations. After the glue sets up then grout around these addons to smooth out the transition. It creates a breathtaking piece when not overdone.

Always remember to do what is appealing to your own eye and I am sure it will look great when finished!

What can't you use to mosaic???

2007-11-06T06:41:00.000-06:00

I get this question a lot when doing classes. People want to know what they can't use to mosaic. My answer is simple for what not to use as a base. Anything that flexes is NOT good. Imagine that your flexible flower pot is an ice tray and the tiles that you meticulously set on it are the ice cubes. Now twist the ice tray/flower pot. What do you see happening??? All of the tiles/ice cubes will just pop off. That is my only rule with bases.

So what do you not want to use as tesserae? My rule is simple again. If it is going to rot, then don't use it! I have had people use some different items as tesserae besides the usual glass, porcelain, and stone. I have seen cork, plastic beads, forks, plastic fruit, napkins, metal salt and pepper shakers, legos, and on and on and on.

My favorite site to point my students to is www.jellybelly.com. Here is the direct link to their art gallery. Here they make mosaics using jelly beans. It just shows what can be done with odd material as tesserae.

So in the end, you should always be willing to try something a little different. It doesn't have to be outlandish but every once in awhile, add something off the wall to your piece!

Project Idea #3 - Thanksgiving Day Trivet

2007-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Nothing would warm your hostess more than to receive this wonderful gift on Thanksgiving. A handmade Thanksgiving Day Trivet, will look great on the table while serving dinner.

These are easy to make. All you need are:

8" ceramic tile
carbon paper
Thanksgiving themed coloring sheet
pencil or pen
MatrixColor Venetian glass tiles
Weldbond
wheeled cutters
grouting kit (grout, gloves, paper towels, newspaper, plastic spoon, plastic bowl)

The coloring sheets can be printed off of many websites. Just make sure it is a large simple design. Some examples would be of a pumpkin, Indian corn, turkey, etc. Lay the carbon paper (carbon side down) on the top of the ceramic tile, then lay your coloring sheet on top of that. Trace the pattern onto the ceramic tile with your pen or pencil. When you finish, the carbon paper should have left the design on the top of your ceramic tile.

Now you just need to take your MatrixColor Venetian tiles and glue them onto the design in whatever fashion you want. Use your wheeled cutters to nip the tiles into smaller pieces to fit the design better. Use a dab of Weldbond on the back of each tile to adhere the glass to the ceramic.

Once you finish this, allow it to dry overnight. The next day, you can grout as usual. Be sure to seal the grout with a good grout sealant to protect against any spills that happen at the dinner table!

In Memory of Ben

2007-10-31T07:08:00.000-05:00

If you have the time, be sure to check out our Featured Artist section. There are so many terrific artists that we show in this section of our site. They all create tremendous work.

Be sure to click on the link for Ben E. Tobin. Ben's motto was that he could mosaic anything that didn't move. And he could use anything to mosaic with. He created some of the most beautiful pieces on some of the strangest things.

Yesterday I learned that Ben passed away. My heart is very saddened by this news. Ben was a wonderful mosaic artist but an even better friend. He battled an illness for years and finally succombed to its clenches. He will be missed greatly by so many people.

We love you Ben! May your body finally get a chance to rest but let your spirit still inspire us all!

Mosaic Tile Sizes

2007-10-26T06:42:00.000-05:00

The definition of mosaic tile is any tesserae that is 2" or smaller. Typically mosaic glass tiles are 2", 1", 3/4", 5/8", 3/8", and 1/2". 2" and 1" tiles are typically crystal glass, 3/4" are usually vitreous and metallic swirl, 5/8" are iridescent, 3/8" are vitreous glass or stained glass, and 1/2" are usually stained glass.

Many people wonder what they can do with such small tiles. For an artist, the possibilities are endless. I rarely use tiles whole. I usually cut them down in some way so I don't have such a symmetric piece or straight edge. I will cut them into fourths, halves, triangles, etc. This also means that an artist can integrate all sorts of tiles into one piece. By cutting them to smaller pieces, you can combine the iridescent with the vitreous or the stained glass with the metallic tiles.

There is another issue that the mosaic artist must face. Some tiles are thicker than others. This is fine if your piece is going on a wall but not okay if it is going on a floor or table top. You really have to have all tiles the same thickness or you will have a wobbly table top.

Most mosaic tiles are 4mm (vitreous, metallic, stained glass, iridescent, our AfterGlow tiles),5mm(some crystal glass), or 8mm(ceramic and crystal glass). Some stained glass is even thinner. If you are working in broken china then you have multiple thicknesses and multiple problems.

However, different tile sizes can offer you much diversity in a piece. Imagine the texture qualities that you will achieve by using the AfterGlow glass with MatrixColor Venetian glass. The smooth versus rough surface will make your crystal glass tiles pop out. Experiment with different tesserae when you can.

Just make sure that you are aware of your tile size and the desired outcome of your project before purchasing tiles. You will have a less frustrating experience this way.

Mosaic Logo Finished!

2007-10-18T07:07:00.000-05:00

Well, my part is done at least. It still has to be installed and grouted. I have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable projects I have done. I just hope that the client likes it as much as me!

So to continue on with the steps to completion. Here is how I went about filling in the large starburst. I used whole tiles when I could. I really tried to not use many of the tiny pieces but had to do a lot of fill in because of the shape.

I had some design issues with the center of the large starburst. I had tiles coming in from all directions because of each point being tiled at different angles. I finally decided to just lay the tiles in the center going one direction. I angled it so it has a little more flow when looking at the logo straight on. I ended up with a slight curve to my tile lines that I had to fix and refix to get straight.

After getting all of the cracks filled in, I was ready for the background. I wanted it to be a basic squared off background. No frills so that the starburst would jump out. I chose to use Peacock in full sheets as much as possible. After adhering all of the full and partial sheets, I allowed these to dry overnight. I did this so that I wouldn't pull off the tiles when I soaked the paper off of the tiles.

The next day I used a wet sponge to get the paper off. I then started filling in around the large starburst. This was pretty easy but very time consuming. The edges of each tile are not perfect but I think grout will hide some of the blemishes.

After finishing the entire logo, I had to let it dry overnight. The last thing I had to do was cut this up into workable pieces and shake out all of the shards that were in the grout joints. I had a few tiles pop off so I glued those back on. I then flipped each piece over and pulled off the plastic wrap so that the glue could finish drying. This piece is now ready for delivery. I will post a pic of the installed logo later.

Creating Mosaic Logos

2007-10-11T06:34:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I don't take on many commission jobs. I am way too busy and never like the way my pieces turn out. I was approached by a company at the Tulsa House Beautiful show about doing a custom mosaic of their logo. It is to be 5 foot by 5 foot. I must have been feeling good that day because I told them "Sure, I can do this!"

After picking the 4 colors that would be used: French Violet, Peacock, Bubble, and P921, they gave me their business card that had the logo. My wonderful husband figured out how to blow up the image to the 5 foot by 5 foot size without losing too much of the design to pixels. I did go through and outline the large starburst so I could see it easier through the mesh. Now I am filling in the design by adhering the tiles to the mesh with Weldbond.

I laid out the design on cardboard boxes that I taped (and taped and taped) together. I then taped plastic wrap on the paper and then fiberglass mesh on the plastic. I taped all of this down well. Then I started to work.

I laid the central orbits first starting with the arrows. I tried to use as many whole tiles as possible since this will be placed on a floor. I did the blue first since it was the dominating shape.

Next I worked on the inner starburst. This was done in the French Violet using mostly half tiles cut into triangles. It gives it a nice texture that will be enhanced when the outer starburst is finished. The hardest part of doing this starburst was filling in the center. I was trying to not use anything smaller than a full half tile, so it was a difficult puzzle to complete. There are a couple of larger grout joints but I think it will look good when grouted.

Next it was time to do the letters...I had such a hard time with this. I was completely blocked for quite some time. My problem was that the letters are not a full tile wide. They are just under a full tile so I had to shave each tile off using the wheeled cutters. I was very worried because the tiles weren't perfectly smooth or perfectly straight. After seeing many other examples of mosaic letters and speaking with several people about it, I realized that this is how it has to be. The grout will actually smooth these out a lot.

So after working on these letters for what seems an eternity, I finally finished the lettering. I felt like I was carving each tile and I guess I was. I used my grozing pliers to smooth out the edges when I could.

The past couple of days I have been working on the outer starburst. Once again, I am trying to use more full tiles then not. With the angle of the points that was impossible though. So I lined the outside of each point with the full tiles and am filling in the gaps with odd shaped triangles (half pieces). Working around the letters has proved to be the most difficult so far. I am trying to fill in without making it look filled in. I am trying to achieve consistency between each point section. Today, I am going to try to finish as much of the inside as I can.

Project Idea #2 - Funky Picture Frame

2007-10-03T07:28:00.000-05:00

We are offering a class this month on how to make a funky picture frame. It is always fun because we don't use typical tesserae. We use everything but the kitchen sink! These make the best gifts because you can personalize your's for the person you are creating it for.

Try using jewelry, buttons, scrapbooking decor, beads, and glass tiles. Here is a quick walk through on how to make a picture frame with pizazz.

Materials Needed:

1 Picture Frame (make sure it has wide framing of at least 2" on all sides)
Liquid Nails
Wheeled Cutters
Scissors
Glass Tiles
Assorted Trinkets
Grout
Gloves
Paper Towels
Toothpicks
Toothbrush

First of all don't spend a lot on a picture frame. We have a store here called Big Lots. They have amazing frames that are perfect for this project. I bought the one that I used for $2. They are sturdy and have the correct framing width. Before starting remove the glass and back of the frame.

Now start gluing the trinkets onto the frame using Liquid Nails. I say this adhesive because you can stand things up on end with little problems with this thick adhesive. For the one that I made, I used earrings and cut off the posts. I then stood them on end to give the ribbon effect. I then used the backs to make "flowers" in spots. After adding on your trinkets (the more the better!), fill in the empty spots with the glass tiles. I used the Aventurine Metallic color Henna on mine so I could keep the overall gold tone of the frame.

Using the Liquid Nails is great for this project but be careful not to use to much. Once this stuff gets on the tops of your pieces it is very difficult to get off even with acetone. Use enough to build a base for your funky pieces but use very little on your glass tiles since they don't require much to stay in place.

Now that you have covered the entire front of the frame, try adding a string of beads to the sides. Plastic ones work just fine. Let your frame set overnight to dry.

Mix your grout as you would for any other mosaic. While it slakes, you might need to tape off some of your items that you don't want grouted. On mine, I covered the elephants with tape since I didn't want it to get any grout in the grooves of each. Remember that it is going to be difficult to get the grout out of some of your areas.

Spread your grout on and work into the grout joints. Take your paper towels and clean off the grout. Use the toothpicks and toothbrush to clean off the funky trinkets that you used until it all nice and shiny!

The grouting is difficult and not actually necessary if you can fill the entire surface with no grout joints. I just prefer the look of a grouted piece.

Some frame ideas:

Try adding Harley Davidson items for your Harley fan then use Obsidian and Mango Passion AfterGlow tiles.
Create a breast cancer awareness frame with our Carnation tiles and pink ribbons glued on after grouting.
Make a memory frame for the grandparents with small toys or special items of your kids. Then fill it with a picture our your child.

Project Idea #1 - Coaster Sets

2007-10-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone needs a coaster...or at least that is what I think! Coasters are those small 4" squares or circles that people can place their drinks on so that the table doesn't get all wet. Like I said...everyone needs a coaster. Actually they need a set of 4!

These are some of the easiest and least expensive projects. Get creative and do a set for yourself or let your kids, nieces, nephews, preschool class, etc. make at least one for a holiday gift.

You will need:

4" ceramic tile - any color
100 Q Tiles - color is up to you
Weldbond
Grout
Gloves
Paper towels
Cork feet or cork sheet

You can tile either side. I usually choose the glazed side so that it will be even on top. Use a dab of Weldbond glue on each tile and set in whatever design you choose. Make sure to leave a small space between tiles for the grout and that you place at border of tiles around each edge. The gap should only be about 1/16" wide.

Allow your tiles to set up for 24 hours. Lay down some newspaper to grout your coaster on. Mix the grout to container specifications. Cover your tiles on your coaster and allow to sit for a few minutes. Wipe grout off with paper towels until all grout it removed and the tiles are shiny.

That is basically it. After you allow your grout to cure for at least 24 hours, seal it with a grout sealant. Place 4 cork "feet" on the bottom of the coaster. You now have a beautiful, handmade creation that makes an awesome gift.

These are perfect for kids because there is no cutting involved. The tiny tiles fit perfectly on the ceramic tile.

Thin Set Mortar

2007-09-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

Thin set mortar is one of the best adhesives for mosaic art whether it be for a small piece or large structural installation. It is basically cement and is perfect for anything going outdoors.

Don't buy thinset already mixed up from the home improvement stores. It is much more expensive and doesn't hold as well. Just buy it in dry format. If you don't want to buy a 25 pound bag for your first piece, we sell it in 1 1/2 pound containers for you to dabble in.

The best liquid to mix in is a latex or acrylic additive. This can be found at your local hardware store. Once again, if you don't want to buy a gallon jug of the stuff, we sell it in smaller bottles. Use this additive instead of water for mixing. It will make the thin set stickier and it creates an awesome bond with the glass tiles. You will mix it to the consistency of toothpaste (like grout).

Thin set can be used on many surfaces including cement, ceramic, terra cotta, wood, and backerboard. Thin set doesn't hold well on metal or plastic. If you are doing a large piece then I recommend creating your piece on mesh using the double direct method. Then you can just install the entire piece at once after spreading the thinset.

If you mosaic is small then you can either spread a little thinset at a time and lay in the pieces or backbutter each piece as you set it in place. Thinset can be very messy. Keep your area clean as you lay the tiles especially if you are backbuttering. You will get it all over your fingers so keep an old towel nearby.

Once the thinset has set up then it is very difficult to scrape out of the grout joints. Keep a toothpick handy to wipe out the joints as you go. Also, only mix a little thinset at a time if you are laying tiles using the direct method. Once the thin set starts to haze over then it is no good and must be thrown out.

Be sure to use all disposable items when working with thin set so that you can just throw everything away when finished. Don't wash thinset down the drain as it WILL clog your pipes (I know this from experience)!

Once your piece has dried for 24 hours, grout and seal. You can then place it outside and not have to worry about the tiles popping off.

Direct Method of Mosaic

2007-09-25T07:29:00.000-05:00

This is the most common way to lay mosaic tiles. Basically you glue each tile directly to your final surface. This is a great technique for a lot of mosaic pieces.

You can use whatever adhesive you have chosen and prep your surface accordingly. To lay your tiles, either lay your glue on the surface and then place your tiles or dab the glue onto the back of each tile and lay the tile on your surface (called backbuttering). Each method works and I actually use both when tiling direct.

The problem arises when you have a cool design that you want to transfer onto a tabletop or other similar surface. Once you draw out your design then you can redraw it onto your table easily using carbon paper. Lay out the carbon paper on the table then lay your design on top. Trace over all of your lines and it will then be reproduced on your table.

Now you have to adhere the tiles to this table. If using thinset, you might have trouble. You will have to be very careful to only spread enough thinset so that you don't cover up your lines. This is where the backbuttering of the tiles is best. If you use Weldbond or some other tube like glue then you can use either method to lay the tiles.

Direct method is best when you don't have a specific design in mind. Random placement of tiles works great in this area.

The AfterGlow Series

2007-09-22T07:43:00.000-05:00

As you have noticed we are running a promo for a free mixed bag of AfterGlow tiles. You may be wondering why on Earth we are giving away these tiles.

I fell in love with these little guys when I first received the samples from our factory. The colors are so clear and they cut like a dream. Use the wheeled cutters and you get a very straight cut with little or no shards. These will not cut with the basic nippers.

It wasn't until I grouted my first piece when I really realized how awesome these tiles are. Before grouting the light grabs the color and illuminates it. After grouting there is a border around each tile and that makes the light really play off of the color (kind of refracting is oddly). It just seems to light up the entire tile or the entire piece.

I know you are saying, "of course Tammy is going to say this...she is trying to sell her tiles". Obviously I want to sell these tiles, but as most of you know I am more into helping clients than making money. Every client that comes into my showroom goes nuts over The AfterGlow Series. I always get people coming back for more.

It is one of those items that is very hard to photograph and must be seen in person to appreciate it. So this is why we are giving away a mixed bag with every order over $50. By the way, we extended this promo until Sept. 30. I promise that you won't be disappointed.

The Perfect Grout Color

2007-09-19T07:33:00.000-05:00

Picking out the best color of grout for your completed project is extremely important. The wrong color can destroy your piece. Trust me...I have ruined several mosaics due to a bad color choice.

In the tile industry we do have a rule of thumb for grout colors. Gray and brown are always good choices with varying shades depending upon your overall color. If you are using mainly cool colors then choose gray grout, if using warm colors then use brown grout. For an overall light effect, choose a light colored grout and for darker tiles use a dark grout. So if you do your piece in mostly a rich cobalt blue with a hint of light aqua and white thrown, I would recommend a dark gray grout. The cobalt is a cool color and dark tile. If you choose to do your piece in varying shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, then I would recommend a medium tone brown grout. Does this make sense???

Using the neutral grout colors will make it to where people don't see the grout only the flow of the tiles. However, what if you want to make your grout joints stand out? Black and white will do this. Black grout is an amazing choice for those brightly colored tiles. It will give your piece a leaded stained glass feel. White will fracture your entire piece so use it sparingly. I only recommend white grout when most of your tiles are white. It is not as pleasing to the eye.

Grout colorants can give you a ton of options for grout color. Grout colorants are a strong concrete dye that resists fading. A little goes a long way! Just a teaspoon will tint 2 cups of grout to the dark shades. I only add it to white grout. This gives you brighter colors. Some people will add it to gray grout. You will still get the colors but they are more muted. You can also add the colorant to thinset and concrete (like your stepping stones).

Try mixing different colors together too. We mix terra cotta grout with brown colorant. This takes the edge off of the redness of the terra cotta giving you a rich grout color. We will also mix black grout with white grout to achieve gray tones. How about mixing blue and red colorant to get a beautiful purple? Maybe add sandstone colorant to terra cotta grout for a rich goldenrod grout. See the possibilities are endless!

Mosaic Tools - What do you really need? Part 2

2007-09-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

So other than cutters, what tools do you need? I can tell you that most of what you need, you will have laying around your house. There is no need to go spend lots of $$$ on these items. Spend your money on tiles instead!

Plastic containers are a must. I mean those that you would usually throw away when the product is gone, like butter and frosting containers. These are great because after you have cleaned them out, you can store your tiles or broken chips in them and mix grout and thin set in these. I never use anything that has to be washed when it comes to grout and thin set. I just throw the entire container away after I am done.

Plastic spoons are another great disposable item. Anytime you get food to go, save that spoon that you never use. After mixing your grout just throw it away with the plastic container. Newspaper is another great disposable item. Use this as your work mat. It will catch all of the shards and spills. Just wad it up and toss it when you get done.

Sponges are great for cleanup on your pieces that have odd items sticking out. Paper towels are a must when dry grouting (which we will talk about next time). Buckets are needed for doing large projects. I have found that those plastic gallon ice cream buckets are perfect for use as a bucket. Invest in a box of latex gloves. You will go through at least 2 pair when grouting.

So what about items that are not disposable. You definately need safety glasses and a dust mask. These are some safety items that will help to prolong your life! You never know where glass is going to go when you cut it. You just don't want it in your eyes. Grout dust is horrible for your lungs. Always wear a dust mask when pouring dry grout so you don't inhale the dust. It will just turn to concrete in your lungs. Not a good thing!

Other tools that I use are an old butter knife, scissors, utility knife, 3/16" notched trowel, and toothpicks. The old butter knife is one of those with the weird pointed end. This is great for digging out thin set or grout that is in a place it doesn't need to be or even back buttering tiles. Scissors are used with cutting fiberglass mesh and patterns. The utility knife is used most often for cutting substrate like hardibacker. I use the notched trowel when I need to lay and trowel through large areas of thin set. If you hold it at a 45 degree angle you will have a perfect thickness of thin set. Toothpicks are used for fine tuning the mosaic. I use them to dig out thinset from grout joints and mostly to reposition tiny tiles that I can't get my fingers on.

As usual, I have probably left out something. Always remember that you can use a lot of things around your home when doing mosaics. Once you use them on your projects, keep them in a small tool box for your next piece.

Tulsa House Beautiful Show

2007-09-07T07:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend we will be exhibiting at the Tulsa House Beautiful Show featuring Andrew Dan Jumbo from While You Were Out. This is our first home show and are not really sure what to expect. We have been working hard on new displays that will feature our MatrixColor and AfterGlow Series. We have tons of eye candy for all to see.

If you are in the Tulsa area this weekend stop by to see us. We will be at booth number 256. It is one of the more colorful booths out there. We have examples of how to use our glass tile in your home installations such as showers and backsplashes but also have some artistic pieces. I am hoping to show everyone how mosaic tile can be used throughout the home. Some people are scared of the small tiles and glass shards!

We look forward to meeting all that can come by. While you are at our booth make sure to pick up some free samples and tons of literature that we have available.

Hours:
Friday 2 to 9
Saturday 10 to 9
Sunday 11 to 6

Mosaic Tools - What do you really need? Part 1

2007-09-03T08:04:00.000-05:00

This is a tough topic in the mosaic world. Everyone uses different tools for different reasons. As my motto states, find what works for you and stick with it.

The very first tool that you will need is a cutter of some sort. There are wheeled cutters, basic nippers, hammer, and tile saws. All of these work well with different types of tesserae. The wheeled cutters are, by far, the best tool for working with glass. They cut pretty precise with some practice. Here is a tutorial on how to use the wheeled cutters. See my blog below called Getting A Straight Cut With Glass Tile.

There are several brands out there to choose from. I have tried most of them and have found that they are really all the same. The only big difference is if the wheels are stationary or if they wobble freely. The stationary wheels are the best. The wobbly wheels give you wobbly cuts. If you happen to have a set of these cutters, simply place a washer beneath the wheels. This will give the wheels a tighter fit.

Other than the color of the handles they all work the same and have the same type of wheels. When your cutters don't seem to be working as well loosen the bolt and turn your wheel slightly. This gives you a brand new cutting surface.

There is another type of wheeled cutters called Starretts. They have a different handle set up. I haven't used them myself but have recommended them to my clients with severe arthritis. They are supposed to make cutting tiles so much easier on your hands.

Then there are the basic nippers. These are good for cutting ceramic, marble, and porcelain. They are much harder to use though. Don't use the entire cutting surface as this will shatter your piece. Place your tile on the front corner or back corner of the cutting teeth to get a cut. The nippers are not meant to "cut" the tile, but to direct the breaking of the tile. So place your teeth in the direction you want the break and then squeeze. These take some practice as well. Once again, these are all pretty much the same, just different handle colors. However, I have seen a pair at Lowe's that have a nice ratchet system that will make breaking so much easier.

A hammer is an awesome tool to have laying around. When you have a huge plate, bowl, or ceramic tile, you can use the hammer to break it down to a workable size. Be sure to place a towel over the top of the item first. You don't want your glaze to pop off with the break.

A tile saw is really only necessary when working with large ceramic tiles and marble. You can get some great cuts with it. It is very good for cutting your marble into strips so they can then be nipped into small tesserae. Keep in mind that a wet saw is very messy!

So that is all of the basic cutters. I am sure there are others that I have left out. Feel free to let me know what I have forgotten.

Cutters are the most important tool but what else do you need? A sponge if you wet grout, paper towels if you dry grout, buckets for grout water, plastic containers for mixing thinset and grout, plastic spoons for stirring, utility knife for cutting surfaces, notched trowel for spreading thinset, gloves, safety glasses, fiberglass mesh, etc. etc. etc. There are lots of tools needed for different projects. Research before getting started to make sure you have it all ready to work with. We will go into more detail in our next blog.

Vitreous Glass 101

2007-08-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Vitreous glass tile is one of the most popular forms of tesserae used in mosaic art. I personally love it because of its uniform size and shape. These are perfect for use on a tabletop and floor since they are all the same thickness. I don't recommend always using them whole. Try cutting some up to give a rough edge look to your piece. I cut these into strips or quarters or even triangles. Mix it up a little to add texture to your piece.

So what is vitreous glass tile? The definition of vitreous is basically that light can pass through but you can't see through it. Keep in mind that this is just an overall definition. Some vitreous tiles are completely opaque. This is usually true for the hot colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows. There are several new brands coming out that have completely solid colors in the blues, greens, grays, etc.

Most vitreous glass has a speckled surface which people love. It gives the tile a natural look that is appealing for most projects. I have found that most of my clients prefer this surface texture for their home installations over completely smooth tile. However, too much speckle is not always a good thing. A good rule of thumb is that the more speckles there are the lower quality the tile. I have seen some tiles that are completely spotted and they just shatter when I cut them. That is very frustrating! Then there are the completely smooth tiles. These tiles are gorgeous but some of these cut weird too. Sometimes they will separate in layers when cut. Always go back to the rule that glass has fracture points and will split where it wants occasionally.

Price doesn't mean good or bad quality. You will find which tiles you prefer and just stick with those. I love the MatrixColor and the Sq Palette. These are my personal favorite. I create all of my work in these two lines. However I do throw in a CartGlass vitreous tile occasionally to get the colors that I need. I have tried other lines of vitreous and have likes and dislikes of those as well. I won't go into those here though.

Vitreous glass tile comes in hundreds of colors. The palette it gives you is extensive and will help you create the perfect piece. Always be willing to try something new!

Getting A Straight Cut With Glass Tile

2007-08-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

This can be very frustrating for some people. You need a precise cut on your glass tile and you just can't seem to get what you want. There are ways to cut glass tile to almost perfection. However, you must remember that glass is glass and it tends to have a mind of its own sometimes. If you get a piece that will not cut well, then put it aside and try a new one. Glass has fracture points and it will break along its own line occasionally. You just have to direct the cut.

I use wheeled cutters to cut all glass. Click here to see the basics of how to use wheeled cutters. Some people use the basic nippers but I have too many problems with them. To cut all the way across the glass tile in a straight line you need to cut quickly and efficiently. If you take too long to squeeze the cutters for a cut then you will end up crushing the tile. This crushed area will result in a poor cut that is curved. You can't give the glass time to find its fracture point. Place your wheels where you want the cut and pop the tile apart with speed. Don't let your cutters wobble either.

You still may have a ragged edge. This is normal and usually a desired effect. Most artists don't want a "perfect" edge. They want it to all look hand cut. To clean up a ragged edge just slowly start nipping the the rough area off. You can also use grozier pliers to pull of the unwanted part.

Practice really does make perfect on this. The more cuts you make on glass tile the better you will get. Remember that it will take a lot to dull your wheels. If they seem to be getting dull just rotate them slightly.

If you have your own technique that works, feel free to add a comment on it.

Weldbond - The Good and The Bad

2007-08-24T07:21:00.000-05:00

Ooohhh Weldbond! As a mosaic artist I love this magical glue. It is very easy to use, dries clear (eventually), and gets stronger as it dries. I tell my students that a "dab will do it" when using Weldbond so it is also inexpensive to use.

Weldbond can be used for most indoor projects. I don't recommend using it for hanging a kitchen backsplash or shower surround! You can use this wonderful adhesive on most surfaces. Try it on wood, metal, ceramic, and glass.

This adhesive is perfect for a sealant to be used before tiling your piece. Create a mixture of 1/5 of Weldbond and 4/5 of water. Brush on the entire surface of wood, concrete, and terra cotta. Allow to soak in and dry. This will help protect against added moisture that may seep onto the surface of your piece and damage the integrity of your mosaic.

I use Weldbond for the double direct on mesh method. I use it very sparingly to adhere my tiles to the mesh. Just don't use too much so that it completely covers your mesh holes. You need to leave some space for the thinset to seep up and touch your tiles.

The drawbacks are that it is a water soluble and doesn't set quickly. Do not use this adhesive outdoors!!!! I created a gorgeous bench using Weldbond. I then placed it outside under my covered back porch. Within 2 months the tiles began to just come off in sheets, held together only by grout. Don't allow your mosaic to be destroyed due to ignorance of your glue like I did!

If you decide to use this glue on glass be ready for your tesserae to slide for a little while. Weldbond doesn't set up quickly so your tiles will move easily until the glue has time to dry somewhat. One thing that helps this is to brush on a coating of Weldbond on your glass and allow to dry. Now use the Weldbond to adhere the tile as you normally would.

Keep in mind that Weldbond needs oxygen to set up. Once the tiles are squished onto the surface, it is harder for air to get underneath the tiles. It will take a little longer for the glue to become clear but it will eventually. If using transparent tiles, be sure to cover the entire back of the tile with glue (thin layer) so you will not see the glue once it does completely dry.

That is all for today. I hope this helps you understand the power of Weldbond. Please let me know if I have left anything out by leaving me a comment! Here is a link to purchase Weldbond.

Introduction

2007-08-22T06:28:00.001-05:00

My name is Tammy and I am the owner of Tile Shack Mosaic Supplies (www.tileshack.com). I have been in business for almost 5 years. During this 5 years I have taught many people how to create gorgeous mosaic art.

I have been creating my own mosaics for about 9 years. I have written a couple of articles for GlassCraftsman magazine. I have been in several newspaper articles. I was even asked to create a commission piece for the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, TN. It was the sheet music to Hey Good Lookin'.

Over this time period, I have picked up tons of techniques and tips. Some of these work well for one person but may not work for someone else. You always have to be prepared to try something different until you find what works for you.

For instance, a good friend of mine, Cary Huff, creates the most amazing vases. She uses stained glass, vitreous tiles, broken china, glass gems, and other assorted things. She also loves using Liquid Nails for her adhesive. I don't care for making vases or using Liquid Nails. I prefer nice flat surfaces such as wall hangings or table tops. I hate using Liquid Nails as I can never get it to work properly without making a huge mess.

Just learn to adapt when something is not working and always be willing to try a variety of techniques. Creating mosaic art is not rocket science but does take some time and thought.

That is it for now. I will return every few days and post a great tip or technique that you will hopefully try. Feel free to post a response if you disagree or agree with what I am saying. I am, by far, not an expert just have a ton of experience!