I've made many birdbaths with tiles at the bottom and along the rim. If you're doing an inside mold, just press it firmly in the middle letting the mud ooze in a little over it. You can always wirebrush off the excess when it's dry. If you're doing an outside mold. Just lay your tile piece in the center first. I always cover my mold with one or two large plastic bags for easy release. Plop the mud evenly along the rim and then the center, covering your tile piece. Let the project cure for a day or two, depending on the size and dampness, and then flip over and release. Wire brush the project and you'll see your tile wonderfully displayed in the hypertufa. If you see a hole or two along the tile piece, just goop in a little hypertufa mud and even it up. Most everything is forgiveable in hypertufa. Tile adds a real southwest flavor to your projects.

Thank you!

I looked on that site and didn't see any pots with tiles. All the pots and mushrooms just had a plastic bag wrinkled look.
I put clear shipping tape over the face of the tile to keep the mix off the front. Working on the inside of a mold, I fill the bottom with my cement mix then determine where the tile will be positioned on the side walls. I place about an inch or two of my mix up the side walls and place the tile on top of that mix. Then going back to the bottom I start putting my cement mix over the entire wall.
Good luck with your project. Billie

I don't know how I missed the "Photo" section on that site with all the pots with tiles.
From the look of the tiles and the gap around them they must have used a piece of wood or styrofoam (maybe wrapped in plastic for a release)to create the space for the tile when making the pots and added the tiles after the pots were cured. Billie

I agree with Billie. It looks like the tiles were inserted after curing.

Hi clarejoe,

email me at
au4653-tufa@yahoo.com
and I'll send you a link where you will find an interesting tutorial on this very subject. There is a lot of additional information you might find useful and interesting at this site.

Robert

Robert...care to share the link with all of us?

or if not.....could you email it to me also?

aart@cybersol.com

Yes, please send me a link. Thanks!

Robert, would you please send the link to me for the additional information.
Thanks!

almostancientpots.com look in the photo section.

Hi all,
The tiles appear to be attached after. Billie nice instruction on how to place a tile while making the pot.
A void can also be created by placing a piece of foam in the place where the tile is to sit. Cut foam to the size of the tile, use foam thicker than the tile to create a recessed tile, thinner than the tile to create a raised tile. Use double stick tape to position the foam to the form. Tile can be adhered with mastic, or a little cement paste with bonding agent.
Happy casting,
Dena