Ep. 156 ST. JOHN MOSAIC GETS SOME TAIL FEATHERS, PLUS FINISHING FOUR MOSAICS!

Ep. 156 ST. JOHN MOSAIC GETS SOME TAIL FEATHERS, PLUS FINISHING FOUR MOSAICS!

Welcome to my studio! A quick overview of a few projects for the week is the first order of business.
1:27 I show a few mini dozen rose backgrounds. Then I kick off and lay in the light blue base tiles followed by the white at the top. It takes next to no time!
2:38 It is grouting time for my Monarch stepping stone! I am using a polymer admix in the sanded black grout to give it strength and help with water resistance. I also reveal a high fired ceramic stepping stone that is ready for grout.
3:44 I start by taping the edges. Then I spread the grout all over both mosaics with my blue ceramic finishing rubber tool. I wipe off the excess grout, then wait about 20 minutes to give it a final buff. Once that is done, I pull off the tape and clean my tool and hands outside in the hose.
5:11 I give myself a thumbs up for both of these gorgeous mosaic stepping stones. I put the monarch near my marigolds and zinnias! The ceramic stone looks great under the magnolia tree near my ferns and hostas.
6:19 Now I focus on the St. John mosaic. I start by cutting thin strips to finish the scroll and outline it. Then I move to the tail feathers, using a variety of brown stained glass and Laticrete 254 Platinum as my thinset.
8:04 My thinset bag had a blowout! I decide to scoop it directly out of the bag and spread it on the sunflower. SPOILER: I never get back to work on the St. John mosaic.
I use little crab colored tiles near the center and my irridized gold tiles to finish each petal. Then I use Illuminations Plus tiles to fill in the petals in between. Yay! Done piecing!
10:52 The Next Day. I am getting ready to grout my sunflower, and I show my very precise "Eyeballing Tap" method of mixing colorants. I'm going to mix colorants in my thinset for the beads and I want the colors to be close to the grout color. After I add dry grout and mix, I adjust the color until I am satisfied, mixing and "Eyeballing" until I am happy with the grout color.
14:02 While that is slaking, I quickly grout my mini background using a premixed Spectralock I grout in natural gray. I use the mini crowbar tool to clean out the corners of the frame. After it sets up, I will clean it up with a damp sponge. Then it will be good to go.
14:57 I grout both sides of my sunflower stake using my "no tape" method, which means I am careful to apply the grout so it doesn't get on the beads, then wipe it off using strokes away from the beads.
15:51 I prop up my sunflower between two bins of glass and begin by piping colored thinset on the edge and smoothing in place with my mini crowbar tool. Then I dump beads and press in place. Next, I add individual beads using tweezers and tap again before moving to the next section. I find this sunflower is easier to apply, spread and sprinkle if I just hold it in my hand. Then I show the sunflower in my garden with the other one. It looks so bright and happy!
17:33 Back inside, I start on the mini roses in...yellow! I have a piece of textured raku for the vase and start cutting and adding roses. I have three different shades, one of which is textured. I make little curved nips and then cut those down for the petals. I like to build each rose, then add a little puddle of E6000 to an index card and dip the pieces in that before placing them in position on the mosaic. I add leaves in a soft green that complements the raku vase. When I get to the last few roses, I layer them on top along with a few more leaves to give it some nice depth! Then I bring it outside to take a look. Peanut would rather chase squirrels!
20:02 A mosaic recap is in order!
1. Never came back to the sky on the St. John mosaic after my thinset blow-out.
2. The beautiful Monarch stepping stone was finished!
3. The high-fired ceramic stepping stone was finished!
4. I finished one side, grouted and added beads to my two-sided sunflower garden stake.
5. I went from start to finish on the mini roses in yellow! Full disclosure- there are only ELEVEN roses on this one. I just couldn't fit another and have it look balanced.

That's Putting it Together, Ep. 156. Thanks for watching! See you next time!

WATCH NEXT:
Ep. 136 ST. MATTHEW’S MOSAIC GARMENT & 3 MOSAIC SUNFLOWERS!

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MOSAIC IN PERSON CLASSES (Atlanta metro area)

[cindycoleman]

Your pieces always turn out great. Nice how you were able to come up with such a soothing design with the random ceramic pieces. Love your stylized roses. Amazing how you cut the glass randomly for the stylized roses and they go together so nicely. Thanks for showing how to mix the colorants to get the desired color. Appreciate all the work you do to post these videos.

[diannecrea]

Love the edge of the pottery stepping stone, the brilliance of the sunflower and your yellow roses! 🙏💕

[carolhellmers]

Just love those minis! And what a gift to have received! Those ceramic pieces are just gorgeous and you made such a beautiful stepping stone. Great fan of your work!

[timeenuf]

Love everything but the mini frames with roses are amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[daiagomes]

I LOVE the mosaics you make! Congratulations!

[rupashukla]

Julie the new colour grouted sunflower, the mini and the stepping stones are fantastic 🎉 St.John 🙏🙏🙏

[carolzutski]

wow, those high fired ceramics pieces are amazing! lucky you!!!

[kathypalmer]

Oh my gosh I love the stepping stones❣️❣️❣️
Your work is just amazing 😊

[petertwining]

All your mosaics are beautiful but your two stepping stones looked wonderful finished, loved them both. I laughed at the end when you were holding the sunflower you reminded me of a fairy godmother with a magic wand and how you said see you next time. Lol

[pmanzano]

I really love your mini roses. That’s my goal when I have had more practice.

[kathypalmer]

I ordered some mesh so I’m going to try and make a sunflower for my daughter in law’s memorial garden❣️wish me luck😊
I think the one you just did is my favorite so far😃

[arlenebain]

Gorgeous steppingstone! Love it!! I have ordered some metal stakes to make a flower plant stake. Thanks for sharing your expertise! Love the minis!! Beautiful! ❤

[tonyaschade]

Those stepping stones and little flower arrangements just make me happy to look at. Thank you! I’m all caught up on your videos and am so excited when a new one comes out. I discovered you back in March so that’s some serious binge watching!😁

[diannecrea]

Very envious of the hand made ceramic pieces! Also, I tend to get my students to coat the whole stepping stone with our polymer here, called Davco 4 in 1 Grout additive, because I do not purchase the most expensive thinset or grout products, before they mosaic and then get then to grout the who, four sides!

[debbiezito]

I really enjoyed your video. I created mosaics for many years until I discovered fusible glass. You’re amazing how easy you make using thin set for your tesserae. Your sense of creative style is amazing. I love your use of different varieties of tesserae, especially on your double sided sunflower. The seed beads for the edging takes it to the next level. I can imagine how beautiful in your garden with sun reflecting from them. You’ve inspired me today. Thank you for sharing your talent. I loved everything you’ve made. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Happy mosaicing! DZ

[victoriapostolit]

Thank you very much for sharing ! All your mosaic art looks wonderful and gives a lot of inspirations ideas, What brand of grout do you use in black color? Do you use black colorant?

[lisaclancy]

I too have been trying to binge watch your videos- so much good info. What is the liquid you added to your grout to make it more water resistant? Thanks. Wish you were in my area - I’d be signed up for classes !

[marylamb]

Are the stepping stones just for visual pleasure or can they actually be used to step on as a stone path walkway? They are beautiful! Also, why is St. John represented as a bird?