Ep. 121 A SMALTI MOSAIC OWL, NEW WORKSURFACE, WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN GROUTING & GLASS SHOPPING!

Ep. 121 A SMALTI MOSAIC OWL, NEW WORKSURFACE, WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN GROUTING & GLASS SHOPPING!
0:06 A SMALTI MOSAIC OWL. I pick up on my smalti mosaic owl that I started a YEAR ago at a Demo Day at the museum. I start by selecting some of the soft grainy brown and other browns as well as some transition colors of Mexican Smalti. I am using black tinted Laticrete thinset as the adhesive. The swath around the eye is my goal. In the upper right region, the black feathers taper down and I adjust my original image.
Then I have to break down my bigger pieces of black smalti because I don't have any A-cut sizes. I score and knock the score on my hardie a couple times, then I can pick up the hammer and get after it. Yay! Progress on the smalti owl mosaic!
5:15 Next, I show how to put together my new workbench from Home Depot! It has a bunch of screws, adjustable height butcher block top, metal legs and two drawers. I assemble it in about an hour and then wait for my husband to help me put together the drawers since they are heavy and each side needs to slide into the groove. Looks like the only thing I might change now is the floor lamp that is a little bit too low.
8:00 I walk you through my grouting process with a butterfly I finished a while ago. Using black sanded fortified grout, I start by putting on my mask. You need a mask when you are mixing the grout. It usually takes a little bit more grout than water. I am looking for a thick peanut butter like consistency that does not slop off the spoon. Once it is to my liking, I can remove the N95 mask and put the lid on my grout container. Slaking takes 5-10 minutes.
After slaking, the grout stiffens up a bit so I like to give it a good stir. Then plop it on and spread it around with a spreading tool. My favorite spreading tool is a blue finishing rubber. I prefer sanded grout and this project it is needed as my spaces are huge! Once all the grout is in there, I use my spreading tool to remove excess grout from the surface of the glass. Then it is time to wait for the grout to cure a bit and haze over. Good time to walk the dog!
13:31 When I return, it is ready to wipe down. Once I give it a try I realize I let it sit too long!!! This is NOT what you want to do when grouting! I fill some areas where I knocked off the grout by smashing in extra grout. This is one reason why I like to hold onto my mixed grout until the very end. I end up using a wet cotton rag to wipe off the grout and then it cleans off easily. I clean my tools outside with the hose, in a bucket or with a spray bottle, but NEVER in the sink.
15:50 Then I give the butterfly body some Rub N Buff in Gold Leaf to show off the texture.
16:29 Last of all, we go on a field trip to Chattanooga, TN. There is a stained glass store called Visions Stained Glass owned by Carolyn Insler. Carolyn makes custom stained glass pieces. She shows us some lemon tree panels for a front door and a floral panel to compliment an existing piece that she repaired. I show some of her work, which includes a few mosaics. You can tell Carolyn has been in the glass business for a while! She also has a scrap glass room! I finish up with a few ornaments and a tree panel she made. More information @ visionsgallery.com/
WATCH NEXT:
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[@lorrainehayes4688]

You teach so well, thank you for sharing your knowledge.❤️

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks for watching!

[@LEONRIMES]

Nothing short of 'WOW' to your owl. I judge my appreciation by what really grabs me, and your owl has me completely rapt (ha ha) in its talons!! I missed seeing or hearing that you'll post again when you continue or finish the owl, but I sure hope you do. Thanks very much for a great instructive video, I learned a lot!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks so much. I plan on working on the owl more if I can fit it in!

[@autumngrace8541]

Put some blocks or sheets of thick wood, even some pavers if you have those. The bed raiser blocks and a piece of wood on top. Put under that lamp to raise it up. Thinking outside the box so you can use the money for mosaic material and not a lamp. :)

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks! I’m still using it. It works ok when I have my lower work tables set up. I move it all over where I need it.

[@alisoneyers2450]

Phenomenal work. Thank you for sharing. I am learning so much from you. Xx 💫👍

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Wonderful! Cheers!

[@katybehrman7192]

The rub and buff gold was fantastic!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Right?!? It’s so pretty!

[@pmarlowe1638]

Julie, that owl is going to be amazing! Your attention to detail blows my mind! Loved the butterfly with the Rub-n-buff! Currently working on a butterfly myself & (thanks to your inspiration) will be adding antennae! Another awesome class!! Thank you!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Thanks! Lol. You didn’t mention my grout disaster. It cleaned up ok with water, thank goodness!

[@pmarlowe1638]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 You know, I was just telling my husband one of the things I truly appreciate about your videos is the fact that you share your “oopsies” with us and show us how they can be resolved. When I was a school teacher I told my students sometimes you truly come to understand something by correcting a mistake.

[@lisabroussardjanuska7681]

I've heard you mention you didn’t care to use cathedral glass. Being super "green" to the stained glass biz, can you please give some incite as to why. I love the mirrored glass, I'm a typical girl I guess!! And the smalti, watching you break them is so satisfying! 😊

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

The main reason is that the substrate will show through it unless you are super careful. So I do use it occasionally.

[@lisabroussardjanuska7681]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 ohhhhh....so use an appropriate background color!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Yes! Or paint white. Or use white adhesive.

[@speedmom1702]

I love the gold rub n buff! It was just the right finishing touch to your butterfly!... And the glass! Can you pick which part of the big pieces you want cut or do you have to buy the whole sheet? Plus there is a bigger selection of glass as well!! So overwhelming! Unless you are there for certain colors only. Still, I would see a color I just couldn't live with out. I have a stained glass addiction!! What an amazing shop! Some beautiful pieces. Thank you for the little tour!! 🙂❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

It was so fun picking out the glass! Carolyn cut it down for me and I just showed which end I preferred. I would rather have more colors available for my students in smaller pieces (8”x12”) than huge pieces of one color.

[@caseymadison6243]

I’m having so much trouble with getting a jet black thinset. Please help!

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

This one is very good! mosaicmentoring.com/product/238503/

[@sherrillgammon3366]

Do you need to use thin set for working with smalti?

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

Great question. No. I’ve used Weldbond before and not grouted. But I prepped my substrate by painting it black so it would recede. I’ve also grouted smalti although typically I do not.

[@sherrillgammon3366]

@@mazzonimosaics8222 I’m on for your Fall class and I have a million questions now😊.

[@mazzonimosaics8222]

@@sherrillgammon3366 Awesome! See you in the fall!