I use all different kinds of textures it just takes a lil more patience to clean off the grout

Textures can be a pain for grout cleaning, granite in particular was nasty for me. But, with translucent textures you can turn them over and still see the look. I do that with corded. I have no problems with waterglass and rough rolled, though it's harder to cut.

I use textured glass and love the look but it does take a little extra time to get all the grout cleaned up. Some of it does create challenges in cutting but it's very pretty. I like Spectrum glass as my first choice.

Yep, I'm with everyone else. I like the textures, but they do take a little more trouble. They sure can make a design more interesting though!!

Do you have a tumbler? Broken bottles is an idea that I've been percolatin' on...I'm totally addicted to irridecent glass right now, cuz of the Bling Factor! But I'm using up my stash quickly! I just let things evolve in my head and try it! It could be mirror or buttons, I think it just depends on what mood (creative) you are in. I guess what I'm saying is let the ideas flow from you, I look on line at different sites, that is how I decided to do a cake. I look at stuff and think hey, I'd like to do that and then figure out what glass I'd like to use. BUT I"M AN ADDICT!!! I buy glass just cause it is beautiful and I don't have that particular color/texture yet. I hoard it
all away and just look at it!! hahahaha!!!! It's funny, the other day I was worried if I locked the house up properly, then realized that we have nuthin' ta steal unless they are into stained glass, chipped cups/plates, and bits and pcs of tile!!! heh heh!!! That's my wealth! lol! DH's is his $400 bicycle!!! Now that I'm unemployed it will be a dear purchase if any, at the glass store. If you go to "delphi glass on line" you could look at the glass and see what sparks your fancy....

Hey Calam-the trouble is, it ALL sparks my fancy. That's why I was asking. I think I will purchase a few different types to get a feel for and MAKE myself hold off on any BIG purchase.

I do not have a tumbler. I have just lived with the cuts and scrapes on my fingers so far, but I really LOVE the look of the glass-and all the COLORS! LOOOVVVVEEE THAT COLOR! I purchased a few glass vases for $1 at Walmart yesterday. They are bright yellow and blue because I want to do a sunflower, but I am sure I will need a tumbler before starting that project. I really want some red glass. (red is my favorite color) I looked at Harbor Freight at the rock tumbler and was thinking of getting that one. My husband goes there all the time for tools and stuff so I may tag along this weekend, unless I can get him to keep the kids so I can hit the stained glass shop. HA!

I hear ya' on the hoarding...My DH doesn't really know what to make of my obsession yet. He just asks me to clean up the laundry room 'cause he can't get to the music room behind it for all my stuff. HA! Paybacks are heck! now he knows how I have felt stepping over all his stuff all these years! LOL

Jane,

"I buy glass just cause it is beautiful..." I feel so much better now. Came home today with 4 pieces from the stain glass store just 'cause they were beautiful'. LOL!! :O)

Did the same at Michael's the other day with glass beads... Aweful I tell ya!! Just aweful! (But oh so much fun!)

Seems I read somewhere you could coat the patterned glass with gelatin or?? to make it easier to get the grout off when cleaning. Need to look that up since I have scads of patterned clear glass I plan to use on the small purple dresser. Soon.:^))) At least I can dream.

I checked with some local stained glass artists about buying their scrap glass and got lots for very little money. You might check it out.

Chris

The stained glass shop I used to buy from would sell their scrap for $1.00 a pound.

I think what I am asking is, do you use different textures in the same piece?

SUNFUN: I use LOTS of textured glass, I like the sparkle it adds since the light can bounce off in lots of directions. Look at my "name plaque" thread, it has a lot of textured clears, mostly corded, which, yes, will be heck to clean off.

CHRIS!!! Given the above, find that information QUICK! as I can still use it! I haven't grouted that thing yet so there's still time to save myself some labor/grief. Thanks!

SUNSHINE: I use just about any and everything in a mosaic - glass, dishes, bottle caps, rocks, glass globs, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, broken glasses, metal washers, plastic and resin items, keys, watches, beads, stones, and the list goes on. WHATEVER you want to put in a mosaic is OK. Yes, the grouting is work, but it's worth it.

Yes! Cram as much texture as you can into it!
Also, consider the "grain" of your streaked glass and how you cut/place it. You can really get some eye catching patterns that way too.

What a great topic! Tiffy, I do the same thing!!! Love beads!!! What about glueing the textured side down, leave the flat side up? Oh man, I have soooo many ideas in my head, and in my "stash" of everything, and sometimes what I think of first when I buy a pc of something, that seemed like a brilliant vision at the time, ends up being something different at the end. I just was out with Klinger yesterday and bought the coolest wrought iron thingy(reminds me of Squirrelly's stuff) and already have an idea for it, so I'm gonna be in my art room today getting my 1/4inch grinder bit set up and my glass saw watered up and play! It's hard to get me outta the house after it gets so hot in the afternoon!(God Bless the man who invented air conditioning!) I have two projects that need some cut glass, one is my surprise item and the other will be funky too!!! Stay tuned!!! hee hee!!!

WAH WAH WAH I looked for the information on coating the glass before grouting and could not find where I had read it. Was three computers or so ago. All I seem to remember was gelatin on the ruff glass let it set up then grout and after grout is set up wipe it off. I would suppose you would have to try to clean as much grout off the glass as possible before it set too tight and then go back to clean the gelatin off. I think the thought was the gelatin would stick long enough to allow wiping the grout off but not be permanent. I would try it on some scrap glass first and see what happens. I would try it here but I do not think I have any gelatin. Sorry for this being so vague. I even looked beck through archives on the Yahoo group I belonged to.

Once grout is set really hard/cured it can take lots of water as in my fountain. So I wonder if something like Elmer's glue that is water soluble would also work. It all would take so much time it might just be easier to wipe the grout off as fast as you can and maybe try to pipe around the grout lines. I think I will take the easy way out and turn the glass smooth side up. I just looked on a table I did that to and you do mostly loose the patterned look.Sigh

Chris