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Stained Glass & Mosaics

Am I going to hate this?

16 years ago

I've been so excited about this project but now I'm not sure how to proceed. Should I follow the haphazard shape of the scales or make them uniform? I've already started with haphazard...I just don't know what it will look like when it is grouted. I just don't want to hate it! I hope you can see what I mean from the pic. Thanks in advance for the advice!

Kelly

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Comments (12)

shrty411
16 years ago
I'd follow more or less what is on the alligator already. But if you're not liking it, now's the time to change.

Maria
kelly6780
Original Author
16 years ago
That is what I want to do. I just want to look in the future and see if it will look weird with grout. Ya know, it'll probably look fine. Oh who cares? Its a designer original! No one else will have one. (unless I hate it and give it away)
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Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, I don't read or speech German either, but that hasn't stopped me from bargain hunting. I got there and the battery in my camera was dead so I couldn't take more pictures. The drawers operate smoothly and there doesn't seem to be any warping. It is indeed a veneer, but 90%+ of the finish is in good shape. The side picture she shows with the dark line on the side panel is wood character, but there is a split in the veneer about 1/8" wide right in the middle of the dark section. I think 'Eckleisten' means corner as she was pointing out damage in the corner section of the dresser. I could certainly live with the dresser as is, but it would look better with a careful cleaning as suggested. The split is unsightly and I'd hoped it could be fixed without damaging the piece overall. I think I understood that the pulls are not original, but I really have to work harder on my German if I'm going to try to keep up this antiquing thing. I will be living here for 5 or 6 years (been here 2 months) but I brought mostly garbage in the way of furniture. I didn't want to ship my good stuff and I thought the IKEA could be left behind to make room for treasures. Like justlinda, I've been using my google translator and watching the ebay traffic in my near area. And just in case anyone is curious, I've also put in a bid on another piece which is much more modern and a totally different style, but lovely too. Antiques in shops are very expensive, but it costs quite a bit of money to trash things, so people tend to recycle as much as possible. These wouldn't be considered 'fine' pieces so the owners are recycling on ebay. I've seen some quite nice things go for under 10 euro--at least it's saving them 75+ euro to take it to the trash. Thank you everyone for helping me in my bargain hunting endeavors. I've got my eye on some clocks too. I thought they'd make much better Christmas presents than the all purpose necktie or scarf. And who cannot find room for an antique clock? Here is a link that might be useful: German Ebay-2
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Definitely search the forums to see all of the millions of discussions (and then just go for it) :-) I have two kids, under 6, and we sealed our callacatta gold with Akemo, per roccocogurl's advice, and couldn't be happier. We had a cookout last year (everyone was outside for the duration) and had no idea someone had opened up a bottle of red wine inside and left it on the counter *all day*. Late in the evening, after everyone left, I found a red crusty ring under it and it came out. You can't see where it was and it must have been sitting there for more than six/seven hours. My two and a half year old daughter is in a phase where she finishes her spaghetti (and sauce) and swiftly dumps the bowl over her head. She think it's funny. I sorta don't at this point. :-) But my point is there is pasta sauce everywhere when she eats and I wipe it up after they finish eating - I'm not spending the whole dinner wiping stuff up as they eat. We do have some etching, but it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, it's more in "her spot" than my sons and sometimes when the sun shines on it I chuckle because it's a reminder of how messy she is with food. :-) You also can only see the etching if you're staring at it in the day time from a certain angle. So I would just make sure you hone it, seal it, and then seal it once a year for maintenance, which is nothing.
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nicethyme
16 years ago
I'd do what you're doing, it lends more character and accentuates his shape.
sunshine_funshine
16 years ago
Kelly, I hear ya'. It's the hardest thing about doing mosaics, judging what it will look like when grouted. This is why I put off grouting sometimes, I am AFRAID I will screw it up. It's happened before....many times, unfortunately.

You have to make a decision and go with it. I think you've made some pretty good decisions so far. I know you don't want to make an EXPENSIVE mistake. But sometimes that's how we learn the most. (yes, I know this way of learning just sucks!) Go with whatever your gut is telling you. (Isn't that true in all things, though?)
kelly6780
Original Author
16 years ago
Nice- Good thinkin.
SunFun- Expensive mistakes are the only ones I seem to make! I think I've done enough to make my decesion. If I wouldn't have liked it thus far, I would have stopped, and started over. I'm very much a go with your gut type of person. However, I was sent home early from school today with the stomach bug...so...listening to my gut today doesn't sound like such a hot idea!
siriusmosaics
16 years ago
I would leave it the way you have it. Alligators scales are not all uniform. They go from small to large. I might place the pieces closer together so that you see more glass, less grout.
bamasusanna
16 years ago
Yep, I agree with sirius. Scales not uniform, but closer together.
texaswild
16 years ago
Since those scales are sooooooo teensy, and since I've just come off mosaicing a highly textured piece, in which I tried to follow the shape of the texture in feathers ('twas a bit difficult), I'd say save yourself lots of headache and go w/what you are doing. I agree w/Sirius in putting the tesserae closer together. You want as much color as possible to show instead of the grout.
kelly6780
Original Author
16 years ago
Sirius, Bama, & Slow- Thanks for the replies! I think that was my problem with wondering about following the scales. Now having put some closer together, I like the going with the scales, haphazarness (what a word)! LOL. And boy I think I will have something of a headache anyway. I didn't realize how tiny some of those scales were. Oh, well. He's a cute little guy, I'll power through!
bianchi2
16 years ago
I do most of my mosaics this way. Its always interesting to see what develops. And yours looks Very interesting so far.
Bianchi
Calamity_J
16 years ago
I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!
kelly6780
Original Author
16 years ago
Bianchi- I agree with you, it IS going to be interesting to see what develops. I just wish I felt a little better so whatever was going to develop would do so faster. Or something like that, anyway!
Jnae- Thanks! I think I am going to love him, too. I want him to go in the back yard...but...I think closer to the front door would be better now. Having a hard day and coming home to charming little guy holding a red rose? Sweet!

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