Small vases, plates..usually find my goods through thrift shops, yard sales, flea mkts., etc..........ebay is wayyyy to expensive..........it's a fun search.

Some of the ones I see look like really nice china ones. I have some decorative pieces that were gifts that are nice china that look like that. I have found some small flowers on china Easter eggs and a small vase at the $ store, little boxes and doo-dads at the thrift store, and on a vase at the local fleamarket, no more than $1, most .25-.50. (Pls excuse the red, that's blood.)

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

So THAT's where they are ! Do you just chop the whole piece up to get the flowers ? I can't wait till rummage sale season starts ~~~~ !

PS ..... I know all about getting blood on things ...heh heh

I have 4 - 2 white, 2 pink. Want my DH to drop them off to you, toomuchglass?

Ohh-- you don't have to make a special trip ---- but thanks for the offer ! I'll be on the lookout - now that I know what you guys use :)

I have made roses with polymer clay.

I bought a box lot tonight for a dollar and was surprised to find that the "collectors" plate that was in it's own box was not painted but actually covered in 3D roses, they even have little drops of resin as water drops on the petals. heeee heeeee score! cause I wasn't even after that, I got a bunch of great plates....

toomuch, I usually have to destroy the piece to get the flowers. Because they are cheap, small and lots of curves, it usually doesn't bother me too much (except I feel guilty putting my leftovers in landfills). It is usually tough to find a place to start nipping; I'm going to try the hammer and chisel/5in1/screwdriver approach from slow next time because some are glued with glue that lets go fairly easily. One of the thrift shops has their monthly sale starting this Tues. I am so there to look for 3-D stuff.....

hammer and chisel worked great - didn't break any of them. In fact while I tapped under the first rose bud, the largest most delicate rose popped off in one piece! cool

I guess I need to keep trying they keep breaking petals off on me.

I ordered some "porcelain roses" from this website
http://www.happycraftnsmosaicsupplies.com/Roses.html
They are beautiful and not that expensive.
Bianchi
(hope it's o.k. to post this website)

There is a shop on Etsy that sells clay roses in any colors you would like. You get 10 for 2.00. I just ordered some from her, and am arranging to order specific colors, too.

Check in her "Sold" items to see what they look like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cold Porceline Shop (Roses)

Forgot to post this. I paid $3 for it - over my usual limit, but it had so many roses and the butterfly I couldn't resist. It's about 7" long. I'm hoping I can save some with the leaves!

Maria

WOW! Maria why not use the piece as a central focal intact? It would be lovely , and really standout. You could always grout over the basket looking part to make it fade into the mosaic.

Like Gypsy said,I used to buy from e-bay but they have gotten so high with so many of us doing mosaics these days...and the shipping is sky high...I look everywhere for them even bought the ones on my purple vase at 1.00 store.
I break the little pot with hammer and screw driver they usually come all in one piece . Annie

hrsg- I'm going to leave it intact until I come up with a project for it, so I will keep that in mind!

MAria

FYI- I think if one was to be searching for inexpensive items at eBay, you might consider simply adding the words "trinket" or "knick knack" (include all ways of misspelling those, too). Likely you'll find more cheap stuff.

But I have to admit that likely your best bets will DEF be the yard sales and (this time of year) your indoor flea market places. Oh, and don't forget that holiday craft shows are coming up! Not to be a total cheapskate, but the best bargains are usually at the nursing homes & churches. Plus they always have the best home-made items ANYWAY!!!

Be cautious with the porcelain roses you buy at a thrift shop or garage sale - check the back for a trademark first! I went to a garage sale last month and bought a beautiful pale pink rose for 50 cents. Tossed it into a plastic bag with some other stuff (unwrapped) and flung it on the floor of the car. Got it home and looked on the back and it is a Boehm Peace Rose and is probably worth several hundred dollars (it was a limited run back in the eighties). As soon as I figure out how to take really clear closeups with this camera, I plan to list it on eBay. And to think, I bought it to mosaic it onto a birdhouse!

You found the elusive Ivory Toad of Shanghai!!! LOLOL!

Yeah! It was so cool! Love when things like that happen.

Cool, I always check my stuff before breaking. anything that might be good is always chipped up somewhere!! Good deal Silvamae!!

Maria

Happy Craftn has them but too expensive for my stinginess