Ep. 119 MAKING A SMALTI MOSAIC GARDEN SCULPTURE & A Bit of Studio Organization!

Ep. 119 MAKING A SMALTI MOSAIC GARDEN SCULPTURE & A Bit of Studio Organization!
I made the teardrop substrate in a Paltiya workshop with Maria Sarmiento a while ago.
In Episode 119, I mix up a bit of Laticrete 254 black-tinted thinset and cut some smalti with a hammer and hardie while I wait for it to slake. Then I talk a bit about smalti and show some of my 24K gold stash. Next, I pull out my sample cards of Orsoni smalti from MosaicSmalti.com and MDM smalti from DiMosaico. They both have gold samples attached and the colors are beautiful! Then I talk about cutting smalti with both Hammer & Hardie and wheeled nippers, including chipping off the face to get a faceted cut which will capture the light. I like to put my thinset in a baggie to extend the life and control it, then pipe it in place and spread it out with my Italian spatula. On this project, my goal is to keep it loose and a bit uneven to give it interest and character. Working this way is a bit of a challenge! I then show how I solve a few problem areas where two sections collide and turn it into one contiguous, flowing design. (Hint: millefiori to the rescue!) Hopefully, the smalti police won't appear in my garden and give me a ticket.
That's about it this week for mosaic projects! Then I show several of the projects on the back burner that are making me feel guilty for not finishing them. Lastly, I show off my freshly painted storage unit - Yea!!! It took so long to prime and paint it in my hot garage!
That's Ep. 119 of Putting It Together with Julie Mazzoni! Thanks for watching. See you next time!
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Ep. 99 MORE MOSAIC SKY AROUND THE SUNFLOWERS, Starting a new Commission and a Community Project! • Ep. 99 MORE MOSAIC SKY...
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[@cherylnull9890]

Busy lady! Thank you for the video! Have a great week. 😊

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you! You too!

[@carolhellmers465]

Thank you so much for the advice on how to lay gold smalti. Now I can confidently move to the next step on a project I’ve had on my desk for two years! Always love seeing your videos which are so generous - thanks! Have a good week!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It can be intimidating since it is so costly!

[@jenihead129]

Glad to see I am not the only one with many projects started 😊. I am loving the outdoor sculpture piece and the mirrors. So much fun to see your pieces come alive!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Yes! Thank you!

[@deeannhansen1469]

I love watching you create!!!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you!

[@cindycoleman5196]

Very helpful video. Thank you.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

You're welcome!

[@rupashukla5916]

You are actually wearing one of the sunflower pendants!!! Even the phone cover is🌻!!! Have fun organising but do mosaic too in between. Looking forward to completion of the old projects which look interesting. See you next Monday 👋

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Those back burner projects make me feel guilty. Especially when I skip over them to start a different mosaic!

[@rupashukla5916]

Happens with me too - especially with the embroidery and knitting ones 🙃

[@maryp536]

Happy organizing!😊

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thank you!! My brain is tripping on everything right now. It will be better soon!

[@diannecrea7090]

Thank goodness you cannot see the mess I am in between my studio and now my car as a former student contacted me to collect just a few tiles. My car is now chockers with tiles and china. They all need cleaning. I am going to have to encroach on my husband's area now, so that I can sort these and I think I may have to go through the rest of my stash to separate. It has been over a year since I sorted. A lot harder when you are dealing in china, as I mostly do. Love your new garden art! 💕

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks so much. Yes, the mess is a constant struggle to stay on top of. I finally donated much of my china stash as I wasn't really using it and it seems easy to get my hands on if I change my mind. I did keep a wee bit of it. Haven't finished that garden art and installed it yet. 1/3 finished!

[@diannecrea7090]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 , I have decided to go through plates with just floral icons and cut them out and tidy up and into containers. I used to try and leave plates whole as I used the rim to go around the top edge of planters. Hard to get students with this side of dedication as much as I try, because upcycling is my thing. They seem to want the easy way out! 🙃

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

That sounds like a space saving idea!

[@EvgeniaKotsiubinski]

Amazing sculpture! I love the way your andamento goes. I'm reorganizing my studio as well and getting used to a new high table. I work standing now and have my feet tired instead of my back😁 Maybe I'll get a new ergonomic chair

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I'm going to go pick up the new work table today! It is adjustable height.

[@lydiavalletta6501]

you have wonderful work. please can you tell us how you made the tear drop flowers ? i have wanted to do topiary with mosaics and i think it would help. thanks.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I made them in a Paltiya workshop with Maria Sarmiento a while ago.

[@user-nx8pi1wb2b]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 7:22

[@queensweet5900]

How do you make different types of substrates ?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I made three of these exterior substrates in a Paltiya class.

[@cristinaraposo9489]

Hi! I love your work!! Do you mix glue in the grout and would you inform the site address of your esmalti suppliers for me to see if they would send me in Portugal?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

I am using Laticrete 254 thinset with no glue, just water. Orsoni is available at mosaicsmalti.com/ and MDM is from www.dimosaico.com/store/ I do not know if they will ship to you. I am in the U.S.

[@ljubowart3831]

😊🙏💌

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks for watching!

[@deborahwade8485]

What is paper on table you work on

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It is waffle paper. My local glass shop wraps the glass in it and it is great to work on.