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mysticalmanns

I'm running out of excuses ...

18 years ago

I've been watching this forum for months, just fascinated by all the beautiful things you folks create. I lusted, yes I did ... and finally I said it out loud (which made it real) I want to learn how to Mosaic.

So I started thinking about things I'd need to get ... I went to eBay to look at glass and chickened out because it seemed pretty expensive when you included shipping charges. Then somebody mentioned Craig's List so I watched out there for a couple of weeks, but nothing popped up. One day I posted a little WTB ad ... and got a wonderful response from a lady who sold me about 20 shoe-box sized containers of glass for a little bitty price. So I had glass.

Then I paid attention to grinders and tumblers. I decided I don't need a grinder just yet, but tumbling would be mandatory because I'm a chickenchit about getting my first cut finger. On Sunday, hubby and I found Harborfreight and got a double-tumbler. I emptied the container of tiny pieces and tumbled all afternoon and evening. Then got out two boxes of jelly jars (for canning) and sorted all these little pieces into jars so they're nice and organized. That took an hour ... killing time, you know, putting off the inevitable.

So THEN I was trying to figure out just where I could set up my stuff to start playing around with it. While I was at work yesterday, Hubby went to the basement and moved stuff all around, set me up with shelves to hold my little containers, a table for working on, ran a cable line down there and brought in an old TV ... and then ... THEN ... he built a light table for me. GEESH!! He obviously does not understand the art of procrastination.

The only thing left was a cutting tool! And I got one of those pencil-types today at Home Depot. (forgot to get adhesive tho)

I have a fake silver tray that needs to be made beautiful, I've picked out my tessarae to use ...

*GASP*

I think it's time.

maybe ...

Comments (23)

  • 18 years ago

    Wow! GOOD FOR YOU! Your hubby sounds a lot like Mine.
    So wonderful and helpful. Get you some glue and get to it!
    and post a WIP pic. Welcome to the forum!

    Hazie

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome Stoney,as Hazie say's go for it!!!!I personally have never tumbled glass,until getting on this forum I thought it was normal to have shredded fingers,your smart.That will be my next play thing.Good luck!

  • 18 years ago

    Come on stoney and play with us! We are glad to have you so get to it! Show us pics!

    BTW, loved your narrative!

  • 18 years ago

    Git it, smash it, glue it on down!
    Your hubby sounds like he wants a mosaic done!

    Don't be scared. Jump in. If it doesn't turn out the way you had wanted, big deal..You'll learn!!!

    Welcome to our world!
    Susan

  • 18 years ago

    STONEY, it sounds like you'll fit right into this grout (oops, GROUP) of NUTTY mosaikers! WELCOME!

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome Stoney! sounds like you are soooo ready for this and we are here for you - can't wait to see what you create!

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome, Stoney! Well, I know you are a good writer and a writer puts their thoughts together, one word at a time with carfeul consideration. SOO I know you're going to be a good mosaicer because that is just what an artists does, puts one piece at a time together with careful consideration.
    Looking forward to seeing your first project.

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome to the board. Jump in and do it. You will learn from mistakes. I did. LOL.

  • 18 years ago

    Thank you so much for the kind welcome! I'm terrified but excited at the same time.

    I played with the pencil glass cutter/scorer today after work, with ZERO success, I couldn't even get a decent score line going. So I just smashed my glass with a hammer. That worked great! LOL! I think the problem was that I chose opaque glass to work with so you wouldn't be able to see the silver tray through the glass. (at the time, I didn't think about the adhesive underneath the glass ... DUH) That opaque glass is tough! I'll be ordering one of those two-wheeled glass cutters and hope it works for me. Otherwise, I'll never get to work with squares and triangles, only weird smashed shapes.

    Anyway, I thought I'd post some pictures of my little setup. It's pretty cozy down there ...

    Here's the glass I bought, for $25.

    {{!gwi}}

    My new light table ...

    {{!gwi}}

    And my little cubby ...

    {{!gwi}}

  • 18 years ago

    So THEN I was trying to figure out just where I could set up my stuff to start playing around with it. While I was at work yesterday, Hubby went to the basement and moved stuff all around, set me up with shelves to hold my little containers, a table for working on, ran a cable line down there and brought in an old TV ... and then ... THEN ... he built a light table for me. GEESH!! He obviously does not understand the art of procrastination.

    HOLD ON TO THAT MAN!! He's just like mine and they are rare, rarer, rarest!

    Are you standing up to cut glass - it works much better that way.

  • 18 years ago

    I can tell already I wish I had your patience! Dive in and have fun.............go break something! Welcome!!

  • 18 years ago

    Hi Stoney, it looks like you got some great glass there. I checked to see if we happened to be close, so I could offer to help you get started with cutting, but Kansas & Florida are a bit too far, LOL.

    Maybe you could find a craft class at a recreation center near you, that's where I took a class in stained glass years ago. Even if you don't take the class, maybe you can find someone at work or ?? that has done it. You never know who you may know that has cut glass before. I actually enjoy cutting & breaking, it's a great stress reliever!

    I can't wait to see what you do with your tray. I haven't actually done any mosaicking yet myself either. I went to Marshall's today and bought a picture frame for $2 off the clearance shelf, so maybe we could race;0, LOL.

  • 18 years ago

    Hi, Stoney. I've migrated here from the KT, too -- these people are amazing. . .and I'm in your shoes, too. I'm so darn close to actually doing something, not just picking these folks' brains!!

    Hugs,
    SadieSadie

  • 18 years ago

    Hey Stoney...I'm just getting started, also!
    This is such a great place to learn and get encouragement from all the other talented folks here. They are really a great bunch and so creative!!!
    What a great score you got with all that glass! Looks like you are all set to go!
    I have found another great resource for learning and ideas is the Library! I have found many good books on mosaics and have learned a lot but there is nothing like just jumping in and going for it!
    The books are good but they dont encourage you like the great folks on this forum!
    Look'n forward to your wip pics!
    Crystal

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome Stoney!! Now that we've lured...uh I mean inspired you, just jump in!
    Ask us what you don't understand, but start gluing some glass down.

    Takes a little while to get the hang of the glass cutter, just keep practicing!

    Maria

  • 18 years ago

    Wow! Get started,and let's see some progress,lolol!!! I so wish I had a room of my own to work in. I used to work in my daughters old bedroom on her bed,but I had to store more things in there and lost my space,now it's back to the dining table.

  • 18 years ago

    I think I would liken where you are, to transition..
    the point of no return.

    in birth, during transition I always knew it was about to happen, right at the moment I would throw up!!!

    sure hope that isn't the case with you and as you realize you've hit a point of never turning back, you'll be a few cut fingers away from your first project.

    I have only a small stash of completed things but sure did spend a lot of time in the 'preparing' stage.
    sitting for hours on end, just nipping up dishes by the dozens..sorting into jars and bowls, then vases.

    it was fun, to sit and see some sort of progress but I know that feeling of getting to a certain point and then...
    the progress is quickly followed by "NOW WHAT?"
    I'm going to actually risk a piece, that all will see?
    OMG!..

    then, right after you get a bit comfortable and a tiny bit of confidence, is when you dare, ever so carefully, to sign up for an exchange..
    another OMG moment...
    a completed project date?
    and sending it to someone you don't even know?
    omg, what have you gotten yourself into...
    but after the second transition moment goes away, then,
    you can choose your hours and addictions.

    I don't spend as much time in actual mosaic work, because I got so busy with a different medium but it will never keep me away from checking in here, every single day, more than many times a day, to admire the effort and beauty of the things in all stages of completion.

    I prefer to have many projects to work on at once..I can't even function, unless there are several to ping off the walls toward.
    but that's my approach to life in general, so it's nothing new.
    and..........I've heard that glue on top of a cut, is soothing!

    Becky ;(*_*);

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome to our little addiction, stoney!! Try this....set yourself a cast-in-concrete deadline to start (say Friday) and another for posting whatever progress you've made (say Friday night)...as you can tell, we're chomping at the bit to see your work with that gorgeous glass!

    Pat

  • 18 years ago

    I'm listening, I'm reading, I'm looking, and I am right behind you.... I WANN'A DO IT TOOOOOOO!
    Sounds like you are a tad bit closer to reality of starting than me...
    So BEST OF LUCK>>> " YOU GO GIRL !!!"
    like that Dr Ruth said....
    "If it feels GOOD... just DO IT !!!"
    Nice that the DH is helping....
    Nice that the GW people are helping and encouraging you !!!
    You are just one more step away !!!!
    YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!
    * * * *HAPPY ****HOLIDAYS !!!!!
    M E R R Y + C H R I S T M A S !!!!
    GOD BLESS !
    susiesunshine

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome to our family Stoney! Don't be afraid to start glueing...practice makes perfect you know!!! How sweet of your DH to make a space for you along with a light table to work on.

    Barb

  • 18 years ago

    Stoney......did you get the line breaking pliers?
    That is really a must to break the score line. It takes the right amount of pressure for a good score line, you can hear it. I can't believe you are using a hammer! I did that on tiles, but never glass!

    Hazie

  • 18 years ago

    Stoney...welcome!! Glad to see your doing something...did you read further up that pantherfl wants to race...ready set GOOOOOO!!!! Now Pantherfl you get that project going!!!!

    Now that your here its kinda like the hotel California...such a lovely place and you can NEVER leave!!!

    Seriously though you will love it here and we are glad to have you and look forward to seeing all that you do in your wonderful place that your wonderful hubby set up for you!!!!!

  • 18 years ago

    Welcome!! I love what you said "He obviously does not understand the art of procrastination." Cracked me up.

    That's a great stash of glass that you got for $25! Wonderful! And a great set-up!

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