A bunch of us are using mortar, also called thin set, just mix it up like grout and butter it on, you find it anywhere they sell grout, cement, etc... I also use silicone sometimes when I have picky little things I want just so.

If I were using a metal tray to mosaic for outside use, I'd stick w/the GEII, and grout w/the mortar. That's just my opinion, doncha know.

I know you've gotten good advice from Slow and Jane.
I'm interested in pictures!!! :) I have house numbers on my "one day" list... so I really enjoy seeing how others have done it. I'm sure it's going to be creative and beautiful on a tray.
Great idea!

DH wants me to do a "Jane and Richard Bray" sign. Just another thing added to the "To Do List"!
Got pics of these tiles you made? Front and back? They sound wonderful!

Hi folks! Thanks for your advice. Here are all of the pictures that I have so far.
{{!gwi}} This is before I cleaned up the pieces after the clay had dried for 12 hours.
{{!gwi}} This show how much the clay had shrunk after 24 hours after I cleaned them up.

Sorry, no pics of the backs. All I did was score them to that they were not smooth. I also numbered them so that they will go back without my having to work it like a jigsaw puzzle.

After they dry for a few more days I'll bisque fire them. Then I'll glaze them and then fire them again. That may take several weeks as we always wait until we have a full kiln before we do a firing. No sense wasting all that energy!

I'll post more as I get the steps done.

~~Mimi

Ooooo, thanks for the pics. That is going to be really special! I envy you "clay people" who make their own tiles. Someday, someday....

Oooo is right. This w/be a wonderful plaque. This is what I LOVE - something entirely from scratch. I want a kiln so badly, but am resisting the temptation. I'm afraid it would become another obsession and cut into the mosaicing time, and I am so addicted to mosaicing, I simply can't leave it and start another hobby.

Wow... I am so glad to see those pictures. I had no idea how you would go about making the tiles. So... you put the clay in the tray... drew and cut your design... and as it shrinks, that will give you the grout line spaces. WOW again... that is VERY cool! Sorry to sound so strange about it... I just couldn't understand how it would work...until I looked at your pictures. YES... the temptation to make tiles grows stronger! :)
Thanks again for the explanation, Mimi.
Katie

Great,sure wish I could make my own tiles.

If you really want to make your own tiles you should check to see if there's a local studio that you can go to to do your work. I use a local studio where I'm teaching one of my sons to throw pots on a wheel to do mine. They rent studio space and will fire your work for an hourly rate plus the cost of your clay. Only way to fly in my book. No worries about hot kilns and little people, no huge expenses and I get to escape for an hour every week. Look for art lessons or ceramics classes in the yellow pages. You might be closer to making your own tiles than you think!

~~Mimi