My first mushroom, leftover thinset

18 years ago

I don't know if this is going to work out or not, we'll see. After sticking the seeds on my strawberry, and sticking the shards on my planter, I still had a blob of thinset leftover. (Lesson #1: Mix up LESS THAN you think you'll need. It goes a long way!) So I took a round-bottomed bowl about 10" across, covered it with plastic wrap, blobbed on the thinset, and stuck flat marbles (and three round ones, see?) all over. I HOPE it will come off the bowl when it's done! My thought is that I will then fill the cavity with concrete, stick a glass vase in it while wet and cover that with concrete also, like, WHO?...LYNDALU I think...for a base.

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Comments (11)

cindiloo
18 years ago
Great idea! And thanks for the tip about mixing up less thinset!
It's gonna be a cute 'shroom!
ladyronnie
Original Author
18 years ago
Ok, Lesson #2 on this short-lived project...
"Don't rush it. Thinset is a fragile beast, and 24 hours is NOT long enough when it's nearly a half inch thick in places!"

I gave the bowl a single shake, over a couch cushion so it would have a soft landing. Ouch!

Lesson #3...or call it a Tip if a Lesson has to be Learned The Hard Way, 'cause I got off easy on this one:
"Thinset cleans up easy when it is still soft."

I didn't use the wire brush, it just happens to be laying there, noticed it when I was previewing. I just crumbled the thinset off the marbles, then took the bowl outside and used the hose and rubbed the remaining bits off.

Oh, Lesson #4, learned about a year ago:
"Do not wash up thinset messes in your kitchen sink. You WILL have to replace the trap if you do so."
Ask me how I know.

Live and learn.
Onward!
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daisyme
18 years ago
The lessons I learn from the "don't do this"s are even more valuable than the "do this"s. LOL Thanks for the lessons before I did something like this myself. I know you'll find something great yet to do with those marbles.
cait1
18 years ago
Thanks for the thinset lessons!!! Invaluable!! But sorry your project didn't work out. It was looking GREAT!
ladyronnie
Original Author
18 years ago
Take 2...Made another one tonight. Try, try again!
bamasusanna
18 years ago
Ah, she perseveres!!
DON'T TOUCH!!!
texaswild
18 years ago
Well bless your heart. Uh, I hope this one doesn't fail too, cuz I'm afraid it needs the wire under it for support, doncha think? I copied BAMA's idea in using my leftover to make hearts, and I used the double layer method even for those. Hoping this works for you.
Calamity_J
18 years ago
I think it will work, just let it dry completely!! I noticed with mortar and thickness, it takes a loooong time, after it dryes, if you are worried, you can always add some fibreglass tape to strenghten it from the inside.
ladyronnie
Original Author
18 years ago
What I'm thinking of doing, once it's CURED enough this time, is to take it off the bowl, then lay it IN the bowl (to hold its shape for sure), and fill the cavity with concrete. I'll stick a glass vase into the center to make a mushroom base like LYNDALU does, and concrete all over it. I think it'll work. If not, more tuition!
texaswild
18 years ago
That ought to work. Anxious to see.
Mermaid
18 years ago
Thanks for the lessons. I am one of those people that learn the hard way because I like to try things for myself!!!

I sure hope this works. I love the mushroom. Gee another thing to try. There jsut isn't time in the day to do all the things you want to.....

Keep us in the loop I want to see the completed thing, and I am going to search for Lyndalu's musrooms to see what she did...