My first mosaic

Started by Karin Wainwright in Mosaics of Interest. Last reply by Cher Manning on Tuesday. 2 Replies 0 Likes

In 1999, a friend dragged me to a mosaic class when our other friend who was supposed to go with her took ill. I did not want to go. But, good friend that I was, I gave in and went. The class was like no other I have ever experienced. Our teacher gave us each a 30x30 board and 10x10 mirror. There were a few tins of river-glass tiles and some nippers. Not the wheeled type I might add. Those were not available yet. She cut a few tiles and gave us three 500ml bottles of wood glue that we had to share amongst 12 of us. The she proceeded to sit herself down in a corner where she continued to ignore us for the rest of the class while she carried on with a mosaic she was busy with. Well, not to be deterred, we pushed ahead and managed to get a few tiles onto the board. The class was three hours long and cost R450. What a rip off, but it was enough to get me to love mosaic. I finished my mosaic that day and grouted it a week later with the dreaded white grout.   I was still wet behind the…Continue

Tags: basic, beginner, amateur, first

Happy 5th Birthday MASA!

Started by MASA in General Interest. Last reply by Nelie du Toit May 12. 12 Replies 1 Like

Five years ago today, five people got together and decided it was time to form a group for enthusiastic mosaicists and do something towards promoting mosaic as a whole lot more than a craft. To those people who started us off: Owen Calverley (Publisher Craftwise Magazine), Marina Ehlers (Mosaic Arts), Jacqui Charles (Mosaic Works), Karin Wainwright (Mosaic Workshop) and Cher Manning, Thank You!Since then, MASA has experienced changes in profile, organisation and administration, but remains true to its original mission: to promote, develop and encourage mosaic. Our membership has had its ups and downs and our greatest challenge remains how to…Continue

Are nerves of steel needed to do commissions?

Started by Linda Erasmus in General Interest. Last reply by Linda Erasmus May 6. 16 Replies 0 Likes

Hi everyone I’ve been “commissioned” to make a couple of pieces before, and each time has been quite nerve- wracking for me.  In my case I was asked to pretty much do whatever I felt would come out beautiful, so in each of these commissioned pieces there were no definite “do’s and dont’s.  I ended up almost not enjoying the process so much because I was constantly worried about whether the person is going to be happy with what I produced (thankfully they were). For those of you who make commissioned pieces, whether on a regular basis or occasionaly, I’m just curious, what is your experience when you go through the entire process?  Do you find it just as enjoyable as you would any other piece, or does nerves come into play?  Or does nerves perhaps settle as ones confidence and experience as a mosaicist grow?  Regards Linda Continue

Leponitt Cutter: Real Mccoy or Knockoff?

Started by Linda Erasmus in Mosaic Technical. Last reply by Karin Wainwright May 10. 17 Replies 0 Likes

Hi eveyone I just came back from KZN where I bought a Leponitt cutter for R130, which is at a lower price than what they normally sell for (attached is a picture of the one that I purchased).  Any mosaic materials and tools offered at special prices are always welcome, but I can’t help but wonder why the price was lower?   Is there something like knockoff cutters? I’ve only heard wonderful things about the Leponitt cutter, one website even stated that it is the “Rolls Royce” of cutters, so could it be that I’m just wrongly assuming that they will inevitably sell at higher prices? Regards LindaContinue

Size of Mosaic Market in SA

Started by Lyn Laubscher in General Interest. Last reply by Lyn Laubscher Apr 10. 4 Replies 0 Likes

Hi, Could anyone direct me to where I could find information on the size of the Mosaic Market in South Africa, e.g. Market size: ZAR p.a., number of formal organizations and members, training institutions, retailers, expected growth rate, etc? Thanks so much.Continue

Tags: size, market, Mosaic

What tools do you use to mosaic?

Started by Cher Manning in Mosaic Technical. Last reply by Colleen Swart May 14. 32 Replies 0 Likes

Recently at Hobby-X people asked questions about the tools we use to create our mosaics. Many were quite baffled that we could cut round tiles and that I did not have a magical tool beyond my trusty Leponnit (the 5th one in 7 years). This got me to thinking of all the odds and ends I have gathered over the years to make my mosaic life a little easier and had a look at my mosaic tools:Overlocker threading tweezer - the best ever because of the very thin slightly bent front endsChinese food wood chopstick - for removing grout around inserts and millifioriMetal strip from old computer port (flat at one end) - for removing grout residue from the sides of wood baseSpatula used for cake making - for applying and removing groutTupperware bowl that slots into saucer - for mixing small amounts of groutSmall metal tool (trowel shape at one end, flat rectangular at the other) - for just about anything that needs scraping, plastering, etcStained glass grinder - for big jobsCarborundum File - for…Continue