Thanks Robert for the great tutorial. Just a couple of questions:
1) Did you have any problem with the "mortar" mix sticking to the SiliconeII?

2) How do you come up with these great projects? I read a quote where they said to become a successful inventor, one only needed a big pile of junk and a great imagination. Seems like you have both.

Thanks. Linda.

This is great, thanks!

Linda, what a great question. Ordinarily I would be concerned if the silicon II was in an exposed area where there would be some stress or external pressure. The silicone if allowed to move would certainly crack and destroy the mortar. But in this case I used a very thin layer of silicone, mainly as a glue, to hole the glass in place gripping the bottom part of the glass and the tie wires so there is no movement. When the mortar mix is applied it connects to the sides of the glass, and the tie wires. When the mortar mix cures it is one piece sealing the silicone in sort of a cocoon which is not subjected to any outside force that would move the silicone.

I cannot answer the second part. I pick up a "something" and see it as an all together different thing. But it is not always easy - I have searched for days looking for
"something" to trigger my brain, without any result. Once I spent a couple of weeks (not 24-7) staring at a piece I never completed before I got an idea and the old incomplete sculpture was completely disassembled and reassembled as an entirely different item. I started working on a totem pole sculpture months ago, I reached a certain point and everything became a big blank. But IÂll get back to it one day  IÂll walk past it and the "magic" will happen.

Here is the totem so far.
{{gwi:132257}}

Know what....I understand completely what you are saying. Ummm .. that "reindeer with antlers" reminds me of those "Black Forest" carvings that are on cuckoo clocks or statues/figures......LOL

Thanks so much for the dragonfly tutorial! It looks awesome. I have been wanting to experiment with cement but don't have the workspace for it (I live in an apartment with carpenting EVERYWHERE). I love the animal totem too! What did you use for the deer's antlers? Good grief, why don't I just fess up and ask what items did you use for the whole thing? lol! I recognize the cage from a fan.

luna_llena_feliz,

Heh, heh, let's see if I can remember.
You are right about the cage from the fan.
I am surprised you didn't recognize Beaver on the bottom.
His overall face is made from a baseball catcher's mask, the nose is a blade from a sickle bar mower, the outside of the eyes are serving spoons, the ears are from a pair of serving tongs, the teeth were cut from an ironing board, and the two big front teeth from scrap metal.
Deer is mainly made from some kind of kitchen strainer, tablespoons for the eyes, serving spoons for the ears, and the antlers were made from a pair of candle holders.
Raven was made from the fan cage, his eyes are also from serving spoons, his head was made from a track light fixture, his beak was the handle to a fruit press, and his feathers are the handles to the serving spoons.

Whew! I wasnÂt sure I could remember them all.

BTW, thanks for all your kind comments.

Robert

You are so clever. I love the totem and the way you've put the items together!

great directions. cool totem. You know sometimes when your mind goes blank, then it is finished....

Robert, that totem is looking awesome... maybe a mosaiced bowling ball in there somewhere would give it some dimension..oh heck you don't need my ideas... you are the artist...I love it...