When I moved into my house everything was great except, the previous owner had red and gray stepping stones and red lava rock everywhere. I decided that the stepping stones needed more color so I went on Amazon and order 100 Mexican tiles. I had so much fun with the stepping stones, I wanted to do more. Seven months later, 450 Mexican tiles, countless tubes of Liquid Nails and tons of glass accent pieces, I finished my little project which I photographed for this book. I hope you find this helpful and have as much fun as I had transforming my yard.
If your lifestyle includes relaxing and spending time outdoors with friends throughout the year, a Mexican-inspired garden seems a perfect fit for painted ceramic tiles with flowers. Enrich your outdoor living space with vivid color, warmth and a rich blend of cultural Spanish and Colonial influences with our beautiful, hand-painted Mexican tiles. When I loved into my house the previous owner had red and gray stepping stones and red lava rock everywhere. I decided that the stepping stones needed more color so I went on Amazon and order 100 Mexican tiles. Since I had never did this before, I went Home Depot and started asking questions; what type of glue and how do you use a caulking gun. The gentleman was very helpful and I went home to start my new project. It sounded so easy but I couldn't get the caulking gun to work. So I turned on my computer to U-Tube and watched a couple of videos. I had so much fun with the stepping stones, I wanted to do more. Seven months later and 450 Mexican tiles I finished my little project which I photographed for this book. I hope you find this helpful and have as much fun as I have had transforming my side yard.
Takahashi leads a colorful architectural tour through Mexico, revealing the many ways tiles are used for function and decoration, adding color and interest to everyday surroundings. 130 color photos.
“This thorough guide to techniques, tools, and materials is filled with expert tips and tricks. The detailed project instructions will inspire you to make your own mosaicked mark on the landscape.” —Lorene Edwards Forkner, author of Handmade Garden Projects In Mosaic Garden Projects, artist Mark Brody walks step-by-step through the creation of 25 decorative yet functional projects. With simple ideas like address signs and stepping stones to more complex projects such as an orb fountain, Brody also includes with a primer on the fundamentals of mosaic and information on the range of possible materials. Project templates are included along with instructions on how to scale each project. Mosaic Garden Projects is packed with inspiration that will brighten the garden all year long.
DIV97 full-color, royalty-free designs from turn-of-the-20th-century catalogs incorporate stylized flowers, leaves, and other plant forms, abstract and geometric figures, stars, suns, and more. /div
Imagine beautiful mosaic pieces with tiles that you easily create yourself! Mixed-Media Mosaics offers a fresh, new approach to a traditional art form. By making your own tiles from polymer clay, you control the size, shape, color and even the texture, resulting in beautiful finished pieces that include tabletops, boxes, jewelry and shrines. In addition to learning traditional tiling techniques such as working with grout and cutting glass tile, you'll also explore creative options for personalizing tiles: • Discover the magic of mica powders and the regal look they can give to mosaics • Learn quick and easy ways of adding paint to handcrafted and commercial tile • See how easy it is to create molds and cast your own relief tiles • Find ways to add personal meaning to your work with the addition of text tiles • Experiment with the addition of beads, jewelry and other embellishments by embedding them right into the tile! Whether you'd like to complete a mosaic tabletop for your patio, a jewelry box as a special gift, or simply experiment with jewelry, you'll find the inspiration you seek in Mixed-Media Mosaics. Start creating your custom mosaic pieces today.
Packed with colour photos, In a Mexican Garden captures Mexico's courtyard gardens, loggias, patios and swimming pools. An introduction highlights historical influences and folk art traditions of the distinctive Mexican style.
An indispensable compendium of essential know-how, inspirational projects, and troubleshooting tips Just like having a mosaic tutor on call 24 hours a day-this book is packed with handy, timesaving tips, trade secrets, templates, projects, and technical knowledge to improve your skills, speed up the learning process, and help you make unique mosaics with a professional finish. Easy-to-follow step-by-step techniques, photography, and illustrations. Professional quick fixes and solutions for commonly encountered problems. Advice on what to buy and how to use the tools and materials-from stained glass to pebbles, shells, and beads. Tips on design-finding ideas, order of work, and adding eye-catching details-as well as handy templates to allow you to create stylish mosaics straight away. Book jacket.
This survey of twenty-one gardens by Steve Martino, whose work blends colorful, man-made elements with native plants to reflect the sun-drenched beauty of the desert, is sure to inspire gardeners, landscapers, and admirers of California and the Southwest. For more than thirty years, Steve Martino has been committed to the development and advancement of landscape architecture in the Southwest. His pioneering work with native plant material and the development of a desert-derived design aesthetic is widely recognized. A recurring theme of his work is the dramatic juxtaposition of man-made elements with ecological processes of the region. His love for the desert--the interplay of light and shadow, the colors, plants, and wildlife--inspires his work. As Martino explains, "Gardens consist of two worlds, the man-made and the natural one. I've described my design style as 'Weeds and Walls'--nature and man. I use native plants to make the transition from a building to the adjacent natural desert." Though Martino's work is deeply connected to the natural world, he also has a flair for the dramatic, which is apparent from his lively color selections, sculptural use of plants, and keen attention to lighting, shadows, and reflections. Boldly colored stucco walls frame compelling views of the desert and sky, expanding the outdoor living area while solving common site problems such as lack of privacy or shade. Interspersed are custom structures molded in translucent fiberglass in vivid hues--colorful arbors, outdoor showers, and internally lit benches.
