No, I don't have a morton YET! but planning too soon. It will actually be strange to have perfect sized pieces...

I just score a bunch of angles and then do a bunch in the other direction. It took alot to make myself try making diamonds cause I don't measure or mark anything and figured I'd never get it right but low and behold I AM!!! LOL

They look perfect to me. Even when I use the Morton my diamonds aren't perfect. I don't DO perfect in ANYTHING.

Progress has been made. I think this is all the green/blue I want, I'm thinking of filling in now with smaller black diamonds.

{{!gwi}}

Nice....I love it! It's just gorgeous!

NT, this is looking great! Mirrors would be a great addition too! They add so much sparkle. Are you using thinset for adhesion? If so, how are you putting it on? On your glass or on the base or both?

Debbi, yeah I think I'm adding mirror shards on the top and somehow have them blend down into the black diamond fill.

This is only my 2nd time with thinset and still trying to stop being so sloppy with it. Larger pieces - I butter them but with anything 1/2" or less I smear it on the column and set into it - that's faster. Unfortunately I just cut my diamonds too small to butter and it will be tight to put it on what remains on the column.

Wow. looking good!

Maria

I suggest sealing the backs of the mirror pcs before you put em on as the moisture will cause the mirror backing to peel off, I have used clear nail polish, but am thinking of trying a can of spray sealer I've got. It's looking good tho already!!!

I love it! Love the colors so far, can't wait to see how you finish it. It's fun watching you and Calamity working on columns at the same time. Great minds think alike!

OHYEEEESSS! Mirror and black diamonds as a finish. I LOVE THIS, and of course yours too, CALAM.

This is fabulous, and I want to know how you did the cement base too. I'm looking for ideas of making a bird bath now that my kitty has to stay indoors all the time (cancer). The birds will be feeling like they can venture out into the garden...

GGG

hey girlgroupgirl, here's a thread that describes what I did. and if you follow the instructions from Chris about GAF you'll find loads of info on cement work there

Here is a link that might be useful: how I built the column

Nicethyme - That is absolutely gorgeous. Can't wait to see the mirror shards added to it. It will be beautiful!

Sometimes you hit a point in a project where you just sit back and think, "What was I thinking????" Seriously, I feel like it's never going to end....

If I had had a plan and mapped it out before hand, I could have built from top to bottom or vice versa but NOOOOO I had to wing it and now I'm ever sooooo sloooowly filling in between with these teeny black diamonds (which admittedly I did to stretch the ONE sheet of black glass I had) but LORDY this is taking me FOREVER! I haven't even given thought to grout color because I'm not seeing an end in sight OMG!

whine whine whine

{{!gwi}}

But it look so GOOD!!

Maria

and ya know this is the first time I've bought black glass because I'm so easily dazzled by color... but dang it's so very beautiful - I'll have to get more because it would be fantabulous with any floral - very classy looking

OH GIRLIE!!!! FABULOUS - I LOVE it, and LOVE the diamonds. I, too, love black glass, but my favorite is the iridescent w/different colors, especially the hot pink, blues and greens. If this were mine, I'd use gray grout. It w/look wonderful under that bowling ball. Great job. Yep - know what you mean on pre-planning, or the lack of it. I'm the Queen of un-planned and pay dearly for the consequences.

I think the black glass would look fabulous with florals!!

Maria

Black is a great idea for flowered stuff and I have a ton of porcaline flowers to do something with and I think I'll use black for sure!!! The black diamonds gives your pc a real snaky look, which really adds to the demensional quality, very nice! Pythony?! I could see it done with a dark grey grout, charcoal? I think black might take away from the nice black diamonds..green? Blue? hmmm....

Pythony? new word from Jane... I like it! lol

Any color you choose will only enhance the finish. In my experience, black grout enhances black stone or glass. It gives it a clean look. More to the question, are you using regular sanded or non sanded, or are you using spectra lock/epoxy.

My reason for asking is that if you are using regular grouts they will deteriorate in the sun over a period of one year and your grout will end up either grey or beige. Only epoxy grout will retain it's color.

Jynja

Need a little cheese with that w(h)ine??? I LOVE your column, NT!!! The black diamonds are looking great! You're going to be so proud of this when you're done.

On the column in my front garden, I was HOPING for a little fading of the black grout so the red design would show, but alas, it's still BLACK after two yrs. However, on the first piece I did on my front walk, I think the black may have faded a teensy bit, or maybe it's the dirt. I have read from other artists' work that the only colors that DON'T fade are those of Tints-All. What is epoxy grout? Attaching a link to the column taken ???, and a pic of one taken just now - showing that the color black is holding pretty well.

column

Spectra lock would break my bank besides I really don't want to work with caustic materials. I wonder if any of the permeating sealants have a UV protector.

Hmmmm, like sunscreen for grout! LOL I have to put some on my cat for the next few days - I got him a "lion cut" his confidence is SHOT! LOL

oh hey, I'm not grouting the cat - I swear! lol

just a runaway train of thought... nevermind

Hey, this is great! How much cement did you have to use?

Nancy

Has anyone ever tried ArmorAll on grout?

Ever since I sealed the wooden column, them mosaiced one side of it and turned it over the next day and bumped it and all the pieces fell off I've been afraid of it. It was my stubbornness in ignoring the directions (may not mix w/some water-based adhesives) so it was a dumb mistake. I was wondering the same thing recently about using it on grout. Boy, that stuff is good at sealing wood - why wouldn't it waterproof grout? Maybe I'll try it on the duck family to see it's effects.

Hmmm? never thought of Armorall but I was wondering about car wax, it's used on crete sculpture and it has UV block...

Mad, I think I might have used less than half a 90lb bag of Portland with the 3 different mixes I used

whoa whoa whoa! Duck family??? And that column of yours puts my weeny one to shame!!! Shaving cats! What's next, puppy juggling? hee hee!!! (Slapping myself for you!)!!

Good girl, sit stay

Just LOVE the black diamonds. Hang in there - you're about half way there - so there is light at the end of the tunnel. Great job!

Slow ~ Did you use black Mapei on that column or sanded grout? Looks great after 2 years. The black glass does stand out too!

NT - boy, you are aquiring so much knowledge on this subject, I'm amazed. CAC: Mapei black sanded grout. When I started using the mortar as grout for outside stuff was on the cedar column in my back yard, figuring it would help to preserve the wooden structure to encase it in cement. Eventually, it'll deteriorate, but hopefully not in my lifetime.

I'm grouting

I have to stay up tonight and finish.... in an insane voice, he gave me an ultimatum - to get the h@ll out of the kitchen.

Sheesh! LOL

Bless your heart! We're all so anxious to see another NT beauty. Too bad you have to work in these conditions. I canNOT imagine what you could produce in a studio. You deserve a room of your own to work in. Can't you work outside?

Well, that's one way to get motivated.

Maria

This was actually the first project I tried to do outside but since my only time to myself usually comes after 11 pm I kept running out of daylight!

It was an empty threat anyway, he said he was gonna throw it out (he can't lift it) lol

here it is ungrouted

{{!gwi}}

this is what really bogged me down, trimming shards of mirror to fit. I like the look just took way too much time.

{{!gwi}}

and here we are grouted and taken outside! yay!!!!

needs a little more cleaning and a sealant and I'm ready to bring her down to the garden. But first I must weed that garden or I can't take pics! lol

{{!gwi}}

and the mirrors...

{{!gwi}}

Well, little girl, you've done it again. That's another tripple wow. Definitely can see the movement, and I LOVE the mirrors. Go ahead and put it in your weedy garden - we don't care. My place looks abandoned. Wanna see the two together. This was worth the wait, NT. You are soooo talented. I KNOW what you mean about the teensy tesserae. Most of the ones for my b.r. project were 1/2", some were 1/4 X 1/2. Waaaaaaaay too small for the area, but I'm a slow learner. Love this pedestal. What's your next project?

Spectacular! I love it! You'll be glad you fussed with that mirror tile later when it sparkles in the sunlight!!

I'm with Slow, Can't be worse than our neglegted gardens!

You'll be the talk of the neighborhood again!!

Maria

Oh NIce it is so perfect..colors ,design another Nice Spectacular!!!!!!!What a great Job!!!Annie

Nice, that is BEAUTIFUL!!! Oh my goodness it is going to look spectacular in your garden! You have quite an artistic talent! The APPLAUSE you hear is just for you!

oooooh, nice....it turned out absolutely beautiful. I love it. The colors, the design of your mosaic....and your wonderful concrete work! All fantastic!! Another beautiful piece of art by nice.....you are definitely inspiring!!!!

now see told y itd be worth the headaches and bachaches im sure well im sure it will be a showpeice in the garden kudos it turned out beatifully

Yeeeaaahhhh!!! She's done!!! It must feel sooo good!!! WOW!! Was worth the wait! Looks awesome, what bling!!!!

Nice that is amazing! another wonderful project from you. You are not only talented but truly inspiring.

Congratulations on another great project! The colors are so amazing. Can't wait to see it with the BB on top!

Barb

What an amazing job! I love the way the colors flow, love the mirror on the top, truly inspiring!

That turned out soo beautiful and will look amazing in your garden. Who looks at weeds anyway when you have this gorgeous art to look at.
Bianchi