Making Bits And Pieces Mosaics

Bits and pieces, pique assiette, memoryware -- there are many names for this unique folk art technique that has flourished for centuries around the world. Mosaic art, revered for its intricacy and beauty, can now be made by anyone with the simple methods found in Making Bits & Pieces Mosaics. Marshall's easy-to-follow techniques make it fun for readers to transform everyday items into one-of-a-kind works of art by attaching broken dishes, ceramics, jewelry, and glass to a wide range of surfaces. With clear, step-by-step directions and inspiring photographs, crafters can create fabulous projects of their own, including flower pots and vases, lamps, fireplace mantels, bird baths and bird houses, plant stands, garden tables, walkways, and more!

Make mosaics on any surface--mirrors, tables, chairs, picture frames, bowls, switch plate covers, wooden shoes, and more.

“Of greatest use to beginners. The dozen projects will introduce first-time mosaicists to the art without...frustration.”—Booklist “You’ll never look at a shard of glass in the same way again.”—Glass Craftsman Innovative techniques, in tandem with striking and original designs, will make you revel in the creative pleasure of fashioning beautiful mosaics. An overview covers four basic mosaic methods: pique assiette, which uses fragments from plates, mugs, and pictures; direct (just lay it down and glue); indirect, where the work is done on a temporary surface before being cemented; and three dimensional applications. Magically transform everyday objects into art by replacing a standard kitchen counter with one covered in fragments of stone, glass, and pottery, or turning a simple lamp into a finely crafted sculpture. For additional inspiration, 50 artists provide invaluable hints and tricks of the trade.

Found materials are taking the craft world by storm because the creative potential is tremendous. Contemporary mosaic artists--who continue to expand the limits of construction and materials--can benefit greatly from this movement toward reuse. Even the mosaic neophytes among us can explore the myriad possibilities of these new materials with this fabulous guide. Learn everything you need to get started in the world of found art mosaics, from materials, glass, ceramics, natural materials, grouts, surfaces, sealants, safety gear, and more. The 27 projects here--including the Buttons & Pebbles Vase, Glittering Jewels Belt Buckle, and Recycled Bathtub Garden Planter--each reuse and repurpose objects differently, as the found object may be the surface, the tesserae, or both.

Often, our lives feel like a disjointed collection of drab glass, stone, and ceramic pieces. We wonder if thereÕs any purpose or plan to our lives. Has the artisan stopped working on our project and tossed us onto the shelf to collect dust? We think weÕve been thrown into the landfill as rubble. Sometimes our introspection thickens and we find ourselves in depression or a dark night of the soul. ThereÕs no gold or color any more, just a monochrome palette of black, white, and gray. We sense great loss and despair of ever regaining that which has been lost. Miraculously, itÕs in the midst of such times, we often find God doing amazing things in our lives. If we are yielded to Him, looking for His ways in us, we discover HeÕs building all sorts of things into our lives; He is creating a wondrous mosaic from the tesserae of our experiences. These essays represent some of the tesserae being assembled into my life image by the Master Artisan who makes no mistakes.

Identifying five special needs populations, the book discusses the unique techniques needed to most effectively assist each group.

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.