Are you a crafty type?

Two of the ugliest tables in Christendom were liberated from skips over the weekend and I would like to revamp them for summer use in the garden.




One already has tiles set into it, and Id like to replace them with a mosaic of some sort.

I seem to recall seeing photos of some beautiful mosaic work on here...

Not being remotely creative, Id like some advice on how to go about it please. Ive had these sorts of good intentions before, but not followed through.

I thought Id sand, paint and varnish the other one, a friend from Boston is moving near me, and it may make a decent gift.

 

Chop them into smallish pieces and have a nice bonfire party. :D

 

How will you get the old tiles off??

Val

 

Clare! :D :D
I actually want to give it a try this time!

Usually my garden projects end up in the shed or donated to a charity shop!
Dont ask how my 'turn a water tank into a pond' project went.


Gemini- I think a sharp chisel could be used?

 

sand the wood, and then apply a few coats of danish oil ... get the danish oil that has the UV protection (for outdoor use)

I have used danish oil on the wooden cabinets of a pair of 1970's B&W DM2 hifi speakers

amazing stuff and instant transformation

 

Great haul!!

I reckon you could prise out the old tiles with a carefully applied chisel. That way, the new mosaic would be bordered by the old wood frame. Or turn the table over and see if the tiles could be pushed out from the base. If that's not possible, I think you could probably lay your mosaic on top. Wouldn't be a technical perfect job but you'd get a result. I think the table would be quite heavy afterwards. And you'd have to treat the edges carefully so they were neat and reasonably strong and waterproof.

Probably your first consideration would be protecting the wood base otherwise you might not get many years of use from your table. I think it is bound to deteriorate eventually, anyway.

As for the mosiac, you consider:
*Copying a simple picture you like - tricky!
*Using squares, circles or stripes as a basis for your design. Easy! Something like this, maybe?

http://www.artreproductions.co.uk/graphics/29-kandinski.gif

You will also find many books in the library giving projects for mosaic that you could just copy. Also search the net for mosiacs you like the look of and make something similar. Start accumulating old plates!

Keeping the work flat and level will probably be your main problem. Some artists work"upside down" but you can't do this on a table top. I suggest you apply an even layer of adhesive (no more than you can complete in one session) and use a flat piece of board and spirit level to gently tamp it down and level it as you work. If you do this carefully the overall top should be nice and even when you finish.

Lastly, it will need grouting - consider using a coloured grout rather than just white as you can get some incredible effects easily with a very simple design. Have a play with this.

Changing grout colour

What a good site, I feel quite inspired myself!

 

Many, many thanks Madahhlia!



Im really very grateful for your detailed post. Even a geek like me can follow those instructions!

I was really concerned about keeping things level! With tiles and broken crockery obviously being of differing thickness.

Im fairly sure producing a coherent picture will be beyond me, but I might manage some geometric shapes!

I had some local potters at my party a month back, might it be worth popping in to see if they have any bit of old smashed pot in their studio?

 

Madahhlia, that site really is full of ideas.

 

Buy small mosaic tiles and just go nuts :yess:

 

Hey Kyle!

Im fully intending on not paying for a thing other than adhesive and grout! :D

Before I go spending, Im going to see what I can find locally.


This table is covered in shards of broken plate!

 

Is that one of your tables or how you want it to look?

I'm not really creative with stuff like this, but I'd probably do a mosaic pattern, similar to this;



Obviously the Morrissey bit, which seems pretty easy when you see it like this!

 

I love that you're obsessed with Morrissey! :D
I can see Bez and Noel Gallagher too!


I dont have nth of the talent or patience to produce something like that wall mosaic!


That table above was from the site Madahhlia recommended! Its quite lovely.
I had been concerned about most plates and crockery having slanted sides, but clearly, its about cutting the pieces small enough.

Im so giving this a go!

 

If I had a cat, its flap would be decorated thusly:



catflap

 

In the pubs I go, I'm known as 'The Morrissey fan' lol and I get told all the time by dudes who are about 60 (Morrissey is 52) ''I was in the same class as Paul Morrissey'' which isn't even his name lol

And sadly that mosaic is no more :( the building in Manchester (Afleck's Palace) has now been changed into something random..

 

Ok-I have officially broken ground on this project!

The base appears to be 15mm chipboard. Ive removed the awful tiles.
There is a lip around the table, 10mm deep.




The site Madahhlia recommended suggested sealing the background with dilute PVA. Ive sealed the corners with a waterproof silicone sealant. I would have sanded the edges first, but I love picking PVA off my fingers. The circular bits re where the tiles were stuck on.



And yes I do know it looks a state! :D :D