Ep. 115 MAKING FRITBALLS FOR MOSAIC MANDALAS, a few Wearable Mosaics, and an Easy Mosaic Tray!

[@pmanzano4474]

This requires so much patience! I’m glad to learn about fritballs.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It was hot and a bit back breaking to be leaning and careful at such a task! Easy but time consuming.

[@pinkm0scat0]

THOSE MOSIAS CAME OUT SO NICE!!!!!!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@yvonneschimmel453]

You have tons of patience lol. You never cease to amaze me! Way to go!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

More like a crazy obsession!

[@yvonneschimmel453]

Those mandalas are breathtaking!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks Yvonne!

[@yvonneschimmel453]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 yw

[@petertwining5729]

Enjoyed the video and your tray is perfect for the bathroom. 😊

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks so much Peter! I needed a fun project. 😊

[@RachelFields-if4bg]

You are diligent ❤ Beautiful artwork ❤

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you so much 😀

[@cherylnull9890]

Wow! I love those frit balls.I had no idea they were that much work! The Mandalas are going to be Amazing! Your tray is pretty,looks great in your bathroom. Thank you again for sharing with us .♥️♥️♥️

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you so much! If you purchase frit balls online, you know the price comes from labor!

[@sundaysunshine2925]

You are an incredibly patient person ! Just loading the kiln look so labor intensive . Your work Is so pretty

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you!

[@rupashukla5916]

Great job Julie though back breaking laying all those pieces in the kiln and then washing the beautiful outcome 👌👌👌👌. The blue tray from leftover tiles and grout was a splendid idea and added a touch of class to the sink counter!!! Can't wait for the Mandalas to start 😍

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you Rupa! The mandalas start this week!!!

[@carolhellmers465]

Huge mandala project ... I hope you have some good helpers! I love revisiting your videos to reminded me of some of your wonderful tips. Thanks so much for this amazing resource.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Aw, Thank you Carol! The 15 mandalas are much more work up front than the 3 last year. We have volunteers register for free so I have a good idea of what to expect as far as turnout!

[@KC-fd3lt]

Love you tutorial videos. I always learn so much from you! Your artworks are beautiful!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you so much!

[@j.c.7555]

I am thrilled to learn of frit balls. Always wished I had a kiln but I’ll look on Etsy. This video was so interesting as always. Thanks again Julie..you are always busy which I love seeing all your projects.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Sometimes a glass studio will let you pay a firing fee and let you use their kiln.

[@laurafrustable]

Sooo much patience!!! But the fritballs look amazing! Loved seeing you break tile, because the project I am working on right now is tile. I always see you working with glass, so was nice seeing you use tile for a change.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I love using all the different materials, but I have so much stained glass that it has become my most used material.

[@maryp536]

Julie you are a patient woman, great job on the fritballs! Just getting started with mosaics. Thank you for your tutorials I have learned so much. BTW I’m right up the road in Suwanee.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks Mary. So happy they are helping!

[@lisabroussardjanuska6774]

Always wanted to know what fused glass entailed. I love how they are rounded on the tops and sides, so cool! Thank you for the Mr. Eraser tip!!! Your tray turned out lovely!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Glad it was helpful!

[@debbieschoop-wilson3612]

What a great informational video! I have loved frit balls for years and amassed a collection of them until my aunt told me how to make my own. I don't have a kiln, but am wondering if I can make them in a microwave kiln? I am just getting started making mosiacs. Thanks for the tip of the magic eraser to get off the haze.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Yes. I had a microwave kiln a few years before I bought the regular kiln. I never used mine very much as it was so finicky and batches were pretty small. I suspect others have had better success than I did though.

[@elainefuehrer5739]

im a fused glass artist, and i was thinking u were gonna fuse the whole Mandalas. I do love how they came out. I work with Bullseye 90. I have a frit maker and pour them out of it into my kiln washed shelves. Still clean up of the balls is a must. your Kilns are awesome. i have 3 but nothing as big as yours. ive done a powder mandala in one color with a stencil. Where do u find your mandalas?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I am using kilns from the art center where I work (I don't have a kiln right now.) I designed the mandalas using Adobe Illustrator.

[@ingriddean5333]

What substrate material did you use for your outdoor mandala project? They are very beautiful......

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I used Wedi board. I start them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/robSZYhtbseZj7csi=LsLteZ0YLGXr1Tb7

[@hotwireman49]

omgosh that tray is soooo cute! May i inquire about the kilns? are they yours? I'd love to make some frits too, but no kiln here.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

The big kilns are at an art center where I teach classes. I did purchase a small used kiln about a year ago.

[@tomjohnston7596]

What kiln temperature do you use for the fritballs? Can regular glass tiles be used or only stained glass?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

To get the best results, use glass for fusing. COE 90 or COE 96. Otherwise the glass might devitrify and lose its gloss. My fusing colleague set the kiln for me, and she used a full fuse schedule for COE 96. Each kiln is different…

[@timeenuf4200]

As always so creative. Didn't know what frit balls are so I'm glad you showed how they are made. So for those of us without kilns, can you recommend someplace to purchase frit balls? Again thank you for bringing all of us into your mosaic mind.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I have seen them available on Etsy - you can search and see what comes up. www.etsy.com/shop/ArtGlassandCrafts?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1120311801 I've also seen some at Luna Mosaic Arts in the past. Lisa Bonin carries dichro frit balls, which are amazing!

[@donnadiesburg7451]

your music is too loud. I had to turn my volume down then up when you talk. So I unsubscribed.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I’m sorry for your experience. I have set it at 70%. Maybe I’ll knock it down to 65%.

[@kathiekarancz964]

do you use double thickness glass for your fritballs? I did see that you did it for the purple ones but it almost looks like you didn't for the rest. Thanks again.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

No. Single squares. I experimented on some of the purple because it was cathedral glass and I wanted opaque. So I put white down first and stacked it. It was somewhat successful in producing some usable purples.