Mosaic inserts for mirror frames and picture mosaics

Mosaic inserts are ceramic shapes that can be used as focal points on mosaics and is quite an easy way for beginners to start mosaicing. .

Below is a picture of a  mosaic framed mirror I did for  a client in Hout Bay, Cape Town using the inserts. I sent them the mosaic frame on the board, and they installed it to site, including the mirror. It may be under cover but it is still outdoors- so it must be able to withstand rain splashes,  and temperature changes over the seasons. If you want to know how to mosaic like this (its very easy- just time consuming)- see posts on this topic elsewhere on this blog.

Fishy mosaic mirror for outdoor area

My happy customer reflected in the mirror

Here are some photos of just a few of our mosaic inserts we have available at the Pottery house. So if you are a mosaic artist, driving on the National Road between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, you HAVE to stop by and visit our studio and showroom. If you are a bargain hunter- you will be in heaven. Scratch around in the seconds box for really, really inexpensive things. We are just off the N2, on the eastern side of Knysna. Turn into Bokmakierie St, and we are right there. You cant miss the mermaid waving at you. .

small butterfly mosaic insert

mosaic inserts for sale at pottery house

stripey fish mosaic inserts approx 15cm

cats and chameleon handpainted ceramic mosaic inserts

little piggies, mosaic inserts

funny angels, mosaic inserts. I have improved these since

tree of life mosaic 

Mosaic mirrors 

ceramic tiles and things we make at Knysna Pottery House

mosaic inserts, handmade with love

Entrance to Knysna Pottery House

mosaic table- slow progress Stage Three

This third stage is taking forever. The drilling of the holes was messy and time consuming and I am not sure that the end result is worth all the effort. The glass discs were thinner than the ceramic pieces so had to install them carefully with extra silicone.

So at last the design is set, and it is just a matter of gluing the pieces down and filling in the backround with plain glazes in soft complementary colours. Hopefully the next posting will show the table just before grouting. It is taking especially long because each cut piece of tile has to have its edges ground down on a grinding stone.

There is a lot of dust and dirt on the table, so have to clean the surface with a brush first. I tried vacuuming the dust off but my vacuum cleaner sucked some of the pieces up and made funny noises, so I thought better just use the paintbrush...... My hands are aching a bit too, so giving them a rest. I discovered I could make my vacuum cleaner blow the dust off, which was better than sucking the dust up... A few smaller pieces went flying off.....

17: 01/2011 update: I have been very lazy and taking far too long to finish the table, but I made good progress today. I am almost finished glue-ing all the pieces down. I am planning the grouting already. I think dark grout will look great.  I will do the final post on this table project this week. Promise.