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Stained Glass & Mosaics
mmqchdygg

Backsplash Update 11/25

18 years ago

Just a few more pix. Fixed piece #3 (right side under cabinets), and grouted pieces 1 & 2. The flamingos flew the coop; couldn't get them to work in the design:

Notes: Used the wet-saw (my NEW favorite tool) to cut the cup & dish-thing in half, the square beads are E-6000d onto the sea glass with the fish-line intact through them still, and I'm totally LOVING smalti!!!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

That round hay-wagon scene is the center of a plate (rest of plate used in pic #1 on the left), those wooden things are earrings I found for 98¢ a pair at Goodwill with the posts cut off with wire cutters...um, what else...oh, that little "thing" is just that: a "thing" I found at goodwill...cut in half with the wetsaw, 98% of the dishes used in this piece were from TJ Maxx

{{!gwi}}

Sorry about the flash on this one. Newbie lessons learned while grouting:

1. Get yourself a set of cheap wire brushes...they are a Godsend when taking the grout out from around beads, glass globs, and rocks...BUT...if you have a set of 3 types (black plastic bristles, silver bristles, and gold bristles), do NOT use the metal ones on rocks! They leave a metallic finish on your rocks (easily removed by using a toothbrush with a little grout to scrub that back off.)

2. Old toothbrushes are a necessity when working with uneven tesserae, and getting grout out of crevices of tesserae (ie: those black leaf-shaped beads)

{{!gwi}}

Still a few places where I'll have to get in with the razor-blade and dig out the edges of some tiles.

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

Comments (19)

  • 18 years ago

    WOW!!!!!
    I showed one of your previous posts of the backsplash to my SIL yesterday when she asked if there was anything I wanted her to watch for at thrift stores. I said, "YES. Dishes like THESE!" She lives near St Louis, so has far greater access to far more variety. I told her I want to do a backsplash just like yours someday!!! I love Love LOVE it!!!

    Roni

  • 18 years ago

    SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 18 years ago

    Wow your first job and it looks awesome. I do have to say i'm scared to use plates. I have 4 that i have that i'm using on a bird bath. I'm not going to break them, waiting on my wet saw and i well cut them.

    Just wonderful job.

  • 18 years ago

    Truly amazing. Hard to believe it's your first project. You're a natural at this plate stuff. Every time I look at yours and KLINGER's backsplashes I want to re-do mine. I soooo love y'all's. Glad to see you left the buttons in. Your choice of colors in plates are just delicious. Suppose I need to go back to TJMax's and not be so stingy. However, I don't remember seeing quite an array of these colors in Texarkana. Good job, MM. I was wondering yesterday when we were going to see an update.

  • 18 years ago

    Beautiful job MM...love your choice of plates,I get a lot of mine at Marshall's and Ross .Pay more than I want but thats the only way to get them.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks again for all your great compliments! I finished this piece, so will leave you with a last update of the (pre-grout) finished piece.

    2 more small ones to go! One more small vertical on the right side of the window, and a tiny 4" wide x 45" piece under the window, then done!

    Was GOING to do the perpendicular wall by the stove, but I think DH needs a little more time to get used to this ;) No matter; it'll get done soon enough- HA!

    {{!gwi}}

  • 18 years ago

    Wow Mary it looks great. You are using smalti huh?? Wow, I have never yet tried that stuff (price always makes me back down) It looks great!!! Cant wait to see it finished it will look wonderful!!

  • 18 years ago

    WOW! You did a wonderful job. I love all the colors and different things you put in there. So many things to look at. Love those cups, the dishes, well everything. Cant believe this is your first project, I am so impressed.
    Oh, I am still looking for the smalti though.
    Bianchi

  • 18 years ago

    Smalti is up there next to the cup handle on the right- I was picking out the bigger chunks. There's another small section "inside" the cup, and "inside" the little asian jar (the one on the right), and fills in some of the bottom edge. I haven't really gotten into smalti- a full-blown section I mean, but loving the way it looks & feels.

    I found 2lbs of it for $7.00/lb at MosaicSmalti.com (the Rotti Mix)

    Oh, and a correction...the right section of this (the autumn colors) came from the Christmas Tree Shop, not TJMaxx.

  • 18 years ago

    It looks GREAT! How did you cut the cup and pot in half? I have been wanting to try doing that but I think I need better equipment.

  • 18 years ago

    Oh, I love your beads and the surrouding blue glass from the cup to the pot. Your colors are lively! Nice job on the grouting!

  • 18 years ago

    It's TOTALLY AWSOME!!!!!!! So much color. I may have to ditch dh so I can do this. Can't wait to see it all in place.

  • 18 years ago

    Holy Dawg Snot!!

    Now THAT'S a backsplash. Can you imagine playing a game of "I spy" with that?LOL!!
    I love all the stuff, colors etc.

  • 18 years ago

    How can you comment on perfection!!!! I'm speechless!!!

  • 18 years ago

    OMG!!!!!!!Same every one else say .Such a great job makes me want to start on mine .I have already done my bar .The bad thing about mine is I did it in whites and off whites because I like to change my kit a lot but I do like all those colores so great.

  • 18 years ago

    I love it..outrageously beautiful and full of eye candy surprises...........busy and fun...and to wake up in the AM to make the morning coffee......this would put a smile on my face and make me start off happy! Great job...!

  • 18 years ago

    WOW I am so glad you chose the tan grout. I think it is perfect to tie all the colors together and still not be too dark.

    I love your back splash. I just can not believe you have never done this before. It looks like you have already had years of practice. You certainly have a knack for putting colors and patterns together. It has been a joy to watch this project evolve.

    Chris

  • 18 years ago

    Great work, coming right along!

    I really like the fall leaf pieces you have in there.

  • 18 years ago

    Wow! great work!

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