Well, here you have the mirror almost-finished, all pieces in place, ready for grouting. Note how I resolved the right side: as I said, I cut the tiles in half, but after three rows I went back to the squares. That way all green areas have a size-relation between them, not only color.

Now, the step that many says is the most difficult when making mosaics: grouting. Is not that grouting is hard, but if you choose the wrong color, you could kill a nice done design. I have at least one post about that, with an example. Of course, you can always fix it, but definitely is not the idea! So, how to choose the correct grout color?? Well, you should have color notions I guess, and/or a good taste. Most people use gray or sand colored grout, because those are neutral colors and work well with most design and mixes of tiles. The other typical are black and white. I like black, but rarely use white. I just don’t like white grout. In fact, I normally use a grout in a dark shade, compared with the colors in the mosaic. I think it looks better than a lighter shade. And as of colors, I love to use different colors! Is not that I don’t use gray or sand colors, but there’s also blue, red, red clay, clay, different shades of green, even purple!… and you can make your own mixes out of those!! So, it is endless, really. And that’s what I love about it!

In this case, I decided in an early stage of the work to use the aquamarine grout that I have. I think is perfect, because it mixes green and blue perfectly well. Sometimes this early decisions end up changed in the end, but in this case I stick to it.

BTW, is necessary to wait 24 hours for grouting, after gluing the last tile. This way we are sure the glue is really dry.

So first, is necessary to protect all the areas that wont be grouted. In this case, the mirror itself and the back. I wont add a picture of that. Then, make the mix with the perfect amount of water. With a spatula, I cover all the areas of the front part, making sure the grout is really penetrating all the spaces between the tiles. Finally, I apply grout on the sides, so they have the same color and everything matches perfectly.

After waiting for 15 minutes (all the timing depends on the temperature), I clean very softly with a humid sponge. Just a little water in it, so the excess of grout goes away. This is the moment of true, were I’m able to see how the mix goes, if the grout add to the design, or on the contrary, it results boring or unbalanced.

In this case, I like it! I think the grout makes exactly what I was expecting. Beautiful. After about 30 minutes, I clean again with a dry cloth, and leave it for other 12-24 hour to keep drying.

Final steps (last but not least): painting the back (blue in this case), add the hanging hardware and add a polyurethane layer to the back and the sides. This is important to fix the color on the sides.

A lot of steps! But totally worth it, for me. Ah! Still have to take pictures to sell it! I like that part, though. Hope you like the results!

Now, I can start with the background. BUT, new decision, what shape are they going to take? plain squares, halfs, quarters, curvy (the slowest), triangles…. The possibilities are almost endless, so I apply, again, the trial-and-error technique. I had already decided not to use complicated shapes (curvy, triangle, etc) because one of the goals is to make the mirror faster, so the final price is cheaper. So, let’s see the possibilities:

First, just squared vitreous in a boring layout. Then, I remembered I had come pieces of green stained glass (that’s for fusing glass), so I tried that too that adds a little texture. Third, the squares following the shape of the objects. I like this the better, so I choose this. At first I was going to cut the pieces in half, but then I realize I can try an even more simple solution and leave the things how they are. This is weird in me, actually. I don’t think I have one mosaic where I leave the pieces squared-shape, except for the coasters, of course.

Well, in this case I still take a little in some edges to facilitate the curves and keep a more even space in between the tiles. One of my obsessions, something I learned on the very beginning, was that a good mosaic has to have a constant space in between pieces. That makes it flow better, and shows dedication form the artist. He/she doesn’t just put the pieces in place, but also shape each of them to fit perfectly. Like a perfect puzzle. So I made that part of my style. Very time consuming, yes, but I really like the results.
That’s with the upper part finished. Note how the smaller green cuts on the ribbons start to make sense against the background. I like it so far!
BUT, and there’s normally a BUT, I have a problem: on the right side, if I put two squares, the space in between them results too wide. Aggghhhhhh. I should had thought of that when I was making the initial drawing, plan it. How to avoid it: in this case, the stained glass on the right should have been wider, so when I get to put the green vitreous, there was only space for less than two pieces. One hole piece, and one cutted, so I could control the space in between them. Hope that makes sense! LOL.

Left: the right side of the mirror. Tiles are not glued, just putted there for reference of space.
Right: the upper side of the mirror. Tiles are shaped and glued, and keep a relatevely constant space.

Well, I’m very inspired and concentrated, so after get up the table, walk around the house for a few seconds, I find the answer: Cut the vitreous in half!! That will use a little more space, allowing it to fill all the wide needed. It also makes sense right next to the ribbon, that uses smaller pieces. Ok! Let’s try that, then!

The first thing I have to say, is that every project is very particular, the process varies depending on the design, the materials and the decision and particular taste of the artist of make the cuttings in a particular way. So, this is very personal.

So, this mirror will be made in a wooden base, already assembled so I just have to make my design on it. I decided to use stained glass on this, mixed with vitreous glass. I made the drawing in a piece of paper, and I took the inspiration from another mirror made by one of my mentors, Maria Jose. I wanted to try her designs, that are beautiful, rich, but easier to make than mines (I have to make several new items because I’ll be participating in a very fancy event, but I’ll talk about it later).

So, I made the drawing on the paper, and with copying paper I translate this to the wooden base. That way I know were to place the pieces when they are cut. Then, with the same copying paper, I copy each piece to the piece of glass so I can cut it exactly the needed shape. This technique is the same used by stained glass artists for making their art.

The process of cutting glass is pretty fun. After you draw the line you want to make, you have to “mark” it with a glass cuter, which is a kind of a pencil, with a rolling point that scratches the glass. Then, you have to give the glass small beats with the rear of the glass cutter, along the marked line, on the back of the glass. Eventually, the two pieces of glass just split. BUT, if the line is too curvy and you’re not experienced the glass may broke, not exactly where you were expecting! This is soooo frustrating!

Well, I’m cutting glass right now. Doing well so far. I will update when I’m finished with that.

I guess I’ll leave the rest of the materials for tomorrow…

Well, hope you liked the change!