Mosaic Lifestyle
Learn how to make mosaics!
Create your own Pique Assiette mosaic bowls, boxes, mirrors and more!
Mosaic Lifestyle, by Melissa Miller
Table of contents below!

Where to find materials (the thrill of the hunt!)

How to cut antique china with tile nippers

Found Objects in mosaics

Table of Contents for Mosaic Lifestyle

Chapter One: Introduction – The Possibilities
Bringing a beautiful craft into your life, and your beautiful life into a wonderful craft

Chapter Two The Search: Finding Broken Antique China & Pottery
Flea Markets, Antique Shops, E-Bay, Thrift Shops, and other sources of damaged collectibles to use in your mosaics. American Art Pottery, Fiesta Ware, Tiles, Fine China, why you should steer clear of new china

Chapter Three: Decoupage in Mosaics
Old photos, letters, postcards, recipes, match books and other ephemera, How to acquire copy and treat images, incorporating images into mosaics. Enhance your creativity, open your world to creative possibilities.

Chapter Four: Expanding your scope: Found Objects in Mosaic
Finding unusual objects and preparing them for mosaics, how to treat vintage rhinestone jewelry pieces, the problem with pearls, recycling bonanzas

Chapter Five: Supplies, working space and preparation
Types of grout & mastic, coloring grout, sanded vs. non-sanded grout, the difference between grout and mortar, which adhesives to use, types of bases, safety measures, efficient work-area tips, confusing mosaic supply issues clarified, how to grout a mosaic, and more.

Chapter Six: The Basics: Cutting china, gluing, & grouting
Nippers vs. hammers, controlled nipping, cutting made easy, cutting apart damaged Capodimonte
floral pieces, how to glue down shards, characteristics of adhesives and which types to use for different objects & bases, incredibly detailed grouting instructions

Chapter Seven: Projects
Make a mosaic picture frame, create a mosaic mirror, mosaic a cigar box, create garden art with a mosaic shovel, introduction to mosaic tables and other furniture, and a quick preveiw for creating mosaic pins and pendants.

"I purchased your mosaic guide last week and can honestly say it's been the most valuable resource that I've accessed in my quest to educate myself in creating mosaics.  You answered many of the questions that I could not quite grasp with all of the other books that I've previously purchased.."L.

"Thank-you for making this book I'm SO excited I LOVE your work so much and you're really an inspiration!!!. I'm actually a mixed-media artist myself and pretty much do the same things with glue, but was interested in your tips about prepping rhinestones and your methods for protecting and sealing other materials". ..Stacy, Des Moines, Iowa

"Great information for a beginner like myself.  I am sure my whole house will have some mosaic tile glued to it before long!.  Thanks again.

Melissa Miller, Melissa's Motifs, Des Moines, Iowa  March 21, 2013 2:22 PM