2015 Glass Craft & Bead Expo ~ Mixing It Up with Mosaics with Carrie Strope and Susan Gamble

Mixing It Up with Mosaics

Friday, April 10th, 2015 from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Expand your creativity and enlarge your tool chest while experiencing a unique approach to creating a mosaic. Students will each construct a self-framed 6” x 8” mosaic on Wedi board utilizing an impromptu design method. 

Mixing It Up with Mosaics with Carrie Strope and Susan Gamble

You will use a selection of stained glass, your choice of a themed package of beautiful hand-made, frost proof, brightly glazed, 1/8 inch “skinny” tiles. You will take home a completed mosaic that is ready for display, as well as left-over tesserae to get you started on your next piece. 

Previous student project

 Students will receive hands-on instruction and helpful tips for precision cutting of stained glass into squares, triangles and diamonds. You will experiment with and learn the simple techniques for using two amazing heat-activated adhesive products. 

Creating a quick mosaic in SAMA Workshop

 A bonus to these products is they don’t require lengthy drying or curing time so you will be able to grout your artwork immediately during the workshop! The instructors are experts in their fields and will provide demonstrations as well as individual assistance for each step and answer questions that arise during the workshop. 

Student creation from SAMA workshop

Students bring: safety glasses and glass cutting tools. Some cutting tools will be available for classroom use.

Mixing It Up with Glass, Ceramic, beads, dichroic and more!

Featured Artist Susan Gamble of Santa Theresa Tile Works

Susan Gamble is the owner and artistic director at Santa Theresa Tile Works in Tucson, Arizona. She uses one-of-a-kind hand made ceramic tiles in mosaics to create stunningly detailed and breathtaking mosaics for custom installations, commissions and public art.

No Days Featured Artist Susan Gamble of
Santa Theresa Tile Works in Tucson, AZ

 She recently used No Days Mosaic Adhesive to complete a mosaic installation on Wedi Board. "Both the installer and I are quite pleased with the results. No Days Mosaic Adhesive worked really well."

Custom mosaic installation using handmade ceramic tiles from
Santa Theresa Tile Works and No Days Mosaic Adhesive on Wedi Board

"When working with larger ceramic tiles (that can sometimes be warped), you can layer the No Days Mosaic Adhesive to build up a thicker layer of adhesive behind the pieces." Alternatively, she suggests using the No Days Groutless Mosaic Adhesive behind the tiles that are warped, because it is a thicker layer of film that eliminates the need to layer the adhesive. 

Step by step Groutless Mosaic Adhesive on Wedi board with Santa Theresa tiles

 "I got quite good at building up layers of adhesive, using the heat gun, etc.  I have developed some good
 skills and techniques." 

As well as making the ceramic tiles, Santa Theresa Tile Works offers classes in making tiles and mosaics. Watch for the New Technology Workshops, where Susan offers her experience and advice in working with No Days Mosaic Adhesive. Some of her students have gone on to create architectural mosaics of their own, including a large mosaic fire pit.