MAKE FREE MOSAICS FROM FOUND AND RECYCLED MATERIALS

[@rachelkoiks]

So I’m not the only one with mini hoards of rocks, shells, plastics and broken glass and things. I’m always picking stuff up when walking my dog always with the intention of making a mosaic but now that I’ve accumulated so much material, I realized I have no idea where to start or what to mosaic. I was impressed by micro mosaic Roman jewelry which is what inspired me to save all these broken glass pieces I find daily among many other goodies. I love anything that finds a way to use trash in a sustainable way because even the recycling system isn’t efficient like we’d all like it to be.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I know exactly how you feel! It is getting to the point that I virtually cant get into my little studio because it is so full of things that I have collected! 😀

[@pattihill952]

You are so very talented!! Talk about trash to treasure 😊And you explain it all very thoroughly. Thank you for sharing your time and talent

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are so welcome

[@SuperBrowndog1]

It's so helpful to see the mosaic being created from the beginning. Thank you.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are so welcome! 😀

[@quirkybird3551]

I always look forward to your videos, and this one is especially timely as I have a lot of found objects from my local beach in need of a project. I appreciate the clarity and detail of the information that you provide, and the fact that there is no distracting background music. Thanks so much, and please keep the videos coming!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Music to my ears! Thanks so much for this 😀

[@privacydisappeared917]

Thank you and greetings from Rome - attending a mosaics school and also learning a lot from you!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Lucky you! Enjoy every minute of it and dont miss the Palazzo Massimo :museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it/en/palazzo-massimo/

[@AcumenManagement]

fab - where is the mosaic school please? link?

[@sabinereimer7809]

I used similar materials to make a big mosaic at my bathroom walls. I used a tranparent coating for the pebbles. Much easier to clean and the colours are popping up!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

That's a great idea! Did you use a kind of varnish?

[@dianapeek2036]

I stumbled on to your video just now. You explained everything so well and simple !

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I'm really glad that it was helpful! 😀

[@arcar66]

I LOVE IT....this is what I do too....nothing goes to waste!! thanks Helen

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

That's good to hear! 😀

[@whistleblower1826]

You are simply fabulous, Helen!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Thanks, that's lovely to hear! 😀

[@HoneyBeeBuz]

Hello from USA so lovely, thank you for sharing your knowledge 🥰

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are so welcome from rainy Scotland! 😀🏔

[@LydiaCarr-ne3pi]

Love your vids. And you are so inspiring. Thankyou for your teaching.❤❤❤❤

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are so welcome and thank you for your comment. 😀

[@megrieker]

Hi from the USA! If we don't have that type of grout, what would be the closest thing? would it be sanded or unsanded grout? Polymer? Fortified? There are so many choices here, and I want to make sure I do the right thing! Thanks so much!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

In the US, you can use Laticrete 254 Platinum which is polymer fortified and or Mapei Glass and Tile Thinset which is also polymer fortified which is the same as Adesilex P10 which you can buy from places like Home Depot. I am not sure if it is sanded - there is no mention on the packaging that I can see so I think that the sanded/non sanded option is for grout rather than thin set. I hope that helps!

[@wendygerrish4964]

I take it 'thinset' means grout fortified with polymer that one sets the tessera on, and the sanded grout and polymer is for the actual grout filling in the gaps maybe? I'm doing my first mosaic project and wasnt expecting the great variety of options, and greater number of techniques~ presently in California.

[@jacqualineweber6335]

Your videos inspire and truly help me. Thank you so much❤

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I'm so glad to hear that Jacqualine 😀

[@MaisieStirfry]

What a lovely little piece! You have a great eye for colour. Once this has set, would you then adhere it to a sturdier substrate in order to hang it? Or would you simply hang it as is (and how would you typically hang such a thin piece?)? Thank you in advance, and take care!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I just make up a small amount of tile adhesive/thin set paste and cover the back of the mosaic and install it onto a permanent surface. If you want to move the mosaic around in the future then your best bet is to put it onto a sturdier substrate with a hanging fitting.

[@MaisieStirfry]

@@HelenMilesMosaics Ok, perfect, thanks Helen!

[@patriciaterranova1074]

Nice piece, I am wondering if you add another mosaic will you build on the scraped thin edge and continue a design?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Sorry for the late reply Patricia - I have been travelling and teaching. Yes, you can certainly build up the design on the scraped thinset edge.

[@saramelville5139]

Brilliant video - thanks so much Helen x

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are so welcome Sara! Talk about teaching your grandmother to suck eggs!!! 😀

[@diannecrea7090]

Wonderful Helen, Thank you! 🎄💕

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You are very welcome Dianne! 😁

[@trishjordan3008]

Thank you very much, Helen.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You're welcome 😊

[@lisaschiro1550]

Hi Helen, You make it all look so easy, thank you! I want to make mosaic belt buckles. Would I need to use your homemade adhesive, or could I use store-bought grout on the buckle blanks? I’m using items of different thicknesses to customize each for my children/grandchildren. Appreciate and advice, sincerely, Lisa Schiro

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Hi Lisa, I hope you get on well with the buckles. We have been in contact via email but I wanted to make a comment here in case anyone else has the same question. I dont recommend tile adhesive on metal but would suggest epoxy sculpt.

[@Elainewoods-r3w]

I am coming to Edinburgh next week do you know where I can buy Leponnilt glass mosaic cutters from please _

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I get mine online and I am not sure where you can get them in person....So sorry not to be more helpful

[@diller468]

would you be able to apply directly to fiberglass mesh as well? or does it depend on the size and shape of the found objects?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, as long as you have plastic under the mesh to stop it sticking the table. That's a quite a common way to make mosaics so thanks for pointing it out! 😀

[@jenniferchristenson4200]

I have several little things I made out of resin, could I use them with grout? I can't seem to find an answer

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, I am sure you can. Resin is basically plastic and I dont think it is porous so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.

[@anaschilling2668]

Thank you so much for this helpful video, would this adhesive work on wood or terracotta pots?? 🌹

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, tile adhesive works on both wood and terracotta. Just make sure that you use marine ply if the mosaic is going to be outdoors and also I like to seal the wood first using a 50/50 mix of water and PVA.

[@gawarecka1]

J’adore

[@dee6075]

I’m wanting to mosaic old broken concrete pavers for use in the garden, is there anything I need to keep in mind (as in adhesive, grout,etc) when creating them? Thank you in advance

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Not that I know of. Concrete pavers are a great substrate for mosaics.

[@Stopmotionbro]

This may be a silly question (I’m new to mosaics), but would you not grout this? If not, how do you know which pieces of mosaic art to grout?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Not a silly question at all. When you use tile adhesive/thinset there is no need to grout the mosaic because the thinset holds the pieces in place and fills the gaps between them. Some people do grout when using materials which are different heights and textures but it is an extremely labour intensive process as you have to pick out all the excess grout which gets trapped so I really wouldn't recommend it.

[@Stopmotionbro]

@@HelenMilesMosaics Thank you for the explanation! Do you have a video showing how to grout a project that is made using found materials when weldbond or another glue is used instead of thinset?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

@@Stopmotionbro I'm afraid I don't, but this looks like it might be helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5ibmHylh7-Mjac

[@mariawilson2595]

Helen did you grout that piece ?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

The beauty of using this method is that you don't have to grout. The tesserae are held in place by the tile adhesive which also fills the gaps between the pieces.

[@monicapinto6005]

@@HelenMilesMosaics could you grout it if wanted? what shall I watch out for?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

@@monicapinto6005 You can grout but it's hard work grouting around pieces which are different heights. It just takes a bit of time and patience!

[@zimmermannnathalie3128]

Thank's🙏

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You’re welcome 😊

[@zagreanmarialiliana]

❤🙏🏻🌹

[@nabihahabibullah1577]

💐✋💐

[@abrahamkendal3839]

promosm 😄