D3bbi, if you want it to last a very long time, possible longer than you do, I would suggest "modified thinset".

All that would be needed to do is wet down the bench and apply a thin layer of thinset. Let it dry. Then butter your tiles and plates with thinset and glue them down. Wait two or three days for it to completely dry out, then grout.

As for tile, any tile will work. Ceramic, stone, glass, found objects.

My two cents.

Jynja

Here is a link that might be useful: My garden art

Floor tile would be more durable(the glaze is less likely to scratch). For general reference terra cotta tile is softer and more likely to break than stoneware tile and porcelain tile is stronger than stoneware. For a border look for a bull nose tile, bull nose tile generally are made for most tiles colors and are meant to be used for an edge so you don't have to grout the tile side with the bull nose(the bull nose is curved on the very edge and less likely to snag clothing).

I smear my thinset on in small areas when working on flat surfaces, it is easier than buttering each shard with thinset. I use a kitchen spatula to smear the thinset with not a tile trowel to control the size of the area I spread on.

p

Jynja and Pea, thanks for your advice.

Jynja, I did not know about modified thinset so thanks for those instructions.

Pea, I read somewhere not to use glazed tile such as bathroom tile but not sure where I read that so needed some confirmation. I need to let the bench cure for another week before I get started.

I think it depends on where you are and what the bathroom tiles are made from. If you are in a freeze area some tiles could crack or crumble due to freezing absorbed moisture.

Break a tile and see how chalky the fired clay is under the glaze. If it is chalky the more likely it will absorb water, alot of water. The same can be said for ceramic dishes. I nip up my thrift store dishes after giving them a good washing and sun drying. I nip them into usable size shards and if I have no project needing them right away I store them in a canning jar, often I can come a few days later and see the evaporated condensation on the inside of the jar from where the plate had absorbed the moisture from when I washed them. So if you are in an area where you freeze you might want to be careful what kind of tile you use and plan on bringing the bench inside during the cold months. If you are in a friendlier climate its not a big concern.

The only tile or dishes I stay away from are the one that have what potters call 'ceramic decals' These are decorations that are fired onto the surface of already fired glazed ware. Altho they are fired on, they are fired at a very low temp and so are not completely bonded to the glazed surface below. A tell tale sign that you have plates with decal decoration is that a fork or knife has seemed over time to have scratch away a bit of the design. Now these plates are fine for use on mosaicing frames, boxes and such but items used to walk on or sit on might better to avoid the decal decorated tile and plates.

p

For pieces that I leave out all winter, I use porcelain tiles. Tough buggers withstand extremes of -25C no problem. I've had problems with ceramic and don't use them anymore unless they will be brought in for the winter.

I live in NE Florida so need to worry about extended freezes. Thanks for the details on checking plates. I appreciate all of your shared knowledge.

Hi Debbi! Another thing that I have read is the "water drop test". Place a drop of water on an exposed edge of the tile or dish, and if the water is absorbed - the item should be used for interior use only. This method was easier for me than trying to determine if something was "high-fired" or "low-fired". In one of Sherri Warner Hunter's books - she mentiones touching her tongue to an exposed edge of a plate - and if it sticks - it should be used for interior use only.

Thanks for that tip, Lyndalu. I will certainly check my plates. I hope they don't stick because I have a special reason to use them.

Debbi....I meant to ask you - did you make the concrete bench? I wondered....cause you said you were letting it cure? If so....how did you do it. Pictures? And....can you share your "special reason" for using the plates. And...pictures of the plates? :)

Lyndalu, I bought the bench at a concrete place. They made it for me and suggested I wait a week to let it cure. It will be longer than that before I get to it because I will have a house full of company this weekend.

I am making a memory garden in honor of my sister I lost in 2003 to breast cancer at age 38. I have a pink rose a friend gave me in remembrance of her, a dish garden that my now son-in-law gave us at her service, and dishes that my daughter and sister gave me. My sister gave me a large serving bowl that I have used as a birdbath in the garden. The rest of the plates I plan to use to mosaic the bench. The dishes are just sentimental because it was a special gift from my daughter when she was in college - it was one of those moments that I realized, "she's an adult; she gave me a very thoughtful gift." She is now a kitchen and bath designer so it is very fitting. So they are not antique china just something special to me.

Here's some pics of the garden setting before I got the bench.
{{!gwi}}

I bought the angel at Goodwill.
{{!gwi}}

Oh, Debbi...that is so special! Thanks for sharing that. It's so neat to work with things that are so special to you, and what a lovely remembrance for your sister. I remember you mentioning her before.

Thanks for the pic of the garden area where the bench is going to sit....and all the notes and arrows - that was great!

d3bbi - I just saw that same veggie bowl at a TS yesterday! If you want/need another one for your memory garden, I'd be glad to check and see if it's still there. Also, I have one of those plates in my stash, so if you need it, let me know!

Your plan and ideas will truly make a lovely remembrance spot for you and your family to visit and reflect.

Pat

Pat, that is so sweet. I THINK I have enough but I hope to get to work on it more next week and will let you know if I need your plate. I have lots of company this weekend so will have mosaic withdrawal until Tuesday. THANKS so much!

Okey dokey! If you want it, just email me at:
gpn6049@joimail.com

Have a great week-end and don't let the mosaic bug bite too hard!

Pat