Hi pats....I'm glad you like the mushrooms. They were fun to make, and I love the look of them in the garden. I let the concrete "cure" before I mosaic the item. There are differing opinions on this, and some people are mosaicing the next day, but I've been following the rule of wet curing for a couple of days (keep spritzing with water to keep item damp, and cover with plastic) and then I let it cure for at least a couple of weeks. All the books I've read say wait about 28 days (I try to wait that long, but sometimes it's a little shorter)....but like I said, I've heard differing opinions on this lately. If you're new to creating concrete structures, I highly recommend a book by Sherry Warner Hunter. I use cement based adhesive (also called thinset) and the brand I use is Mapei - it's the MAPEI - Ultraflex 2 - Professional Grade Polymer Modified Mortar. It's good for both indoors and outdoors. I use several different brands of grout - love the MAPEI - Keracolor-S (they have the best BLACK that I've found) have also used Custom Building Products - Polyblend, and recently used Tec AccuColor (scored some bags at a thrift store). I've had good experiences with all 3 of these brands. I definitely prefer SANDED grout over unsanded. And would NOT recommend pre-mixed grout. Also, when you mix up your grout - it's easier and less messy if you mix it a little on the dry side - like a thick peanut butter consistency....and I don't use a damp sponge for cleanup - I use soft cloths (strips from t-shirts work well)to wipe off the excess and clean up the tiles. On working with something the size of the bigger mushroom, by the time I finish putting on the last of the grout, the first part I applied was ready to be wiped down with the cloths. Since joining the other forum, I discovered that several people over there are using this same method...all with good results. Hope this helps. AND....since you're new to mosaics, also come on over to the Stained Glass and Mosaics Forum...look through the FAQs there......there's a wealth of knowledge contained there, and it's like this forum, everyone is so nice and friendly and helpful. You'll be able to get answers to all your mosaic questions there - no sense in trial and error....when you can ask the questions ahead of time! Welcome to the world of mosaics - it's addicting!! lyndalu

this forum needs a moderator to remove obvious spam/advertising such as this. TD

welcome, jfrorelo! I have a lot of clutter and a lot of dirt--just so's you know. I chuckled at the AA reference, and I agree, even though we don't need to apologize, sometimes those "this is my problem" statements really help to focus us. We really do try to cheer each other one--and encourage, applaud, etc. We've always got lots of ideas, and I think we get pretty good at explaining WHY our solutions work for us, so that might help other people decide if our solutions can adapt for them. You'll see lots of ways people tackle problems. I've been working on the car thing--I'm trying to train my kids (and me) that we NEVER leave anything in the car, not a single wrapper. I make them bring it w/ them in their pocket, or in whatever shopping we're bringing in (that's the best). I know someone else who makes it a point to empty out their car when they're getting gas. They're stopped, and waiting, so they scoop up any garbage, etc., and throw it out in the trash can that is usually nearby. And someone here once suggested taking a paper-towel tube and stuffing it w/ plastic grocery bags, and stashing it under the seat. Then, you can use that to corral stuff and bring it in from the car. Of course, you'll have to fill the tube up again now and then.. So, pick a specific problem if you'd like to, start a thread to get ideas, and plow right in. Or, just keep posting here.

OT here--We are very hot, hot, hot here in the summer time (normal daily temps are over 105 degrees. Nights may cool off to 80 for two seconds and then shoot back up. I love the pinks and striped plumerias and my garden is mostly pinks, whites and purples. I can grow brugmansia (which I love--and have one blooming right now--pretty white one. I also grow orchids inside the house as well as outside. It is the winters that get cool here and foggy for weeks on end. Ugh! The gloom! Hate it. We are mostly around freezing (but not too freezing as we are a citrus area) at nights but get up in the low 40's during the day during the worst part of winter. That lasts for about 3--4 months or so. We have lots of wind machines so the citrus doesn't freeze. I would love to go plumerias. I may give it a try some day.