Blog Author
bethie
(view profile)
Recent Entries to this Blog Windchimes-Love or Hate
Posted: 31 Mar 2011
Glass Fun with Birds
Posted: 31 Mar 2011
Mr. Sunshine (mosaic)
Posted: 21 Feb 2010
Fence Project
Posted: 28 Nov 2009
Gnome Door
Posted: 10 Feb 2009

All Entries
 


Making A Mosaic birdbath




Category: bethie's world | Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:50 pm

Well the hubby has talked from time to time about making a mosaic birdbath. First he had to find a shallow one piece low birdbath. Birds really like shallow water. He finally found one he liked and brought it home. I asked him if he had any preconceived ideas for design or color and he said "no." Hooray- now it can be just what I want. First we drag it around to several places it might look good. We decide to nestle it in some mini- varigated bamboo that I have trimmed like a hedge. Now I am ready for design and color. I decide on a kind of Mer-Lady. I want something that doesn't fade into the background because I have a lot going on here. So I draw her and here she is. You can see where I have made corrections on the original.

Before hubby goes out the door he says if I have the pattern cut out when he gets back he will be happy to start cutting glass. You don't have to tell me twice so I get busy. I need three copies of the pattern. One will be cut out and glued with rubber cement to the glass that will be cut with a glass cutter. They will be cut and ground with the paper on them. One copy is a map that you will need to lay the cut pieces on and the third I will use to put the design on the birdbath and put in my files. Since the birdbath is concave I will cut the pattern in pieces to get it to lay flat in the birbath.
Now hubby has cut the glass that is cut out and given it to me. I take the paper off every piece and clean and dry it with windex and lay it on the map.

Now I will take the hair and snap each piece into 4 or 5 and lay it back on the map. This is done because I want the hair to look like long pieces but it has to conform to the curvature of the birdbath. This takes some time and when I am half done I decide I better start glueing it. If someone knocks this glass off this paper I will be in big trouble.

Now I am using my 100% silicone glue. This makes a great waterproof bond. I know how good because now that I decide on red for the outline I change the heart on her face to red and have a time prying up the blue heart. Then I am finished with the glue. I get my razor knife and trim all excess glue from the edge. Now the piece sits for a full 48 hours to cure. We decide on a pale gray grout to match her face. We could go with black. That would give her kind of a broken puppet look that would be interesting also. Hubby does his usual great job of grouting. It sits for 24 hours now and then I clean it with a ceramic tool and some little wire brushes. It's ready.

She nestles right into this bed as if she were made for it!



This blog entry has been viewed 7592 times
You're reading one of many blogs on GardenStew.com.
Register for free and start your own blog today.


Comments

 

eileen wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 4:11 pm:


You make it look so simple Bethie but I'm sure if I tried it it wouldn't look half as good as yours!! It DOES fit into the bed as though it were made for it. Beautiful!!!




 

glendann wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 4:15 pm:


Wow !!! you two are such a team.Wonderful birdbath and wonderful art.I do love is Bethie.




 

Chitweed wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 4:17 pm:


Need I say...WOW?

I know you hear it all the time, but you are one talented lady. Hubby is talented too, the glass cutting alone was a wonderful, not to mention the grouting.
The thought process, the design, the work, and the finishing is...sorry there's no other word...WOW.
You need to do something for that show on DIY network that shows crafts across the country.
Fantastic.
WOW.




 

hummingbird3172 wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 4:48 pm:


Bethie, she's stunning! I love mosaics! I really love that you showed the whole process, including the planning.

YES...Crafter's Coast to Coast, YOU need to be on it! :-)




 

Netty wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:34 pm:


Another amazing piece Bethie.




 

cajunbelle wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:36 pm:


Another beautiful work of art Bethie and hubby. I love it.




 

CritterPainter wrote on Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:47 pm:


Yep, Wow is the word!




 

Frank wrote on Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:48 am:


How did I miss this? That's great work Bethie ;)




Lucy wrote on Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:23 pm:


Oh my goodness! This just blows me away. I can't wait to see what else you have created.




kjalady wrote on Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:20 am:


Wow! you sure get the thought processes churning! can't wait to get started and can't wait to see more of what you've made.





Leave a Comment


Login or register to leave a comment.








Entries by Category All Categories
bethie's world

Archives All Entries
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006