Sydney Minor’s mosaic tower has become one of our outstanding “Flea Market Gardening July Challenge” projects! We giggled a bit and totally understood when she said it became a July-August project. Her completed project was so worth the wait! Her new mosaic totem looks lovely tucked in her garden among her flowers and other treasures!
We were so pleased to have inspired her in any way to try her hand at crafting a mosaic totem. Giving credit where it’s due, Sydney shared that it was in Eric Allen’s glass class at Ed’s Emporium Stained Glass in Bossier City, LA, where she learned to mosaic this style totem. With knowledge gained at her glass class, Sydney came home with supplies and determination to complete her totem!
We’ll show you a few photos of Sydney’s project as it progressed. Her totem was crafted using a 4×4 white vinyl post sleeve, a vinyl post jacket made to slip over wooden posts This gave Sydney a firm base to glue on the mosaic pieces.
1) Using graph paper, create your design to transfer on to the post
2) Rough up the post with sandpaper
3) Glue glass pieces onto the post using marine glue, or adhesive of your choice
4) Grout the design using sanded grout
5) Protect your post from the elements with an outdoor sealer
Some of Sydney’s supplies include a Morton Board Glass Cutting system, glass nippers, running pliers and a pistol grip oil feed glass cutter. She keeps alcohol in a spray bottle for cleaning before gluing, a scraper to remove excess grout, sponges, pencils , graph paper and little storage bins for scraps, and sandpaper…. all sorts of treasures! Every mosaic artist will find their favorite tools.
Sydney shared that as the totem base lay across her lap getting sanded, her adoring kitty, Mittens, filled the other half of my lap! What a sweet “helper.”
“Mittens”
Sydney revealed to us that she’s “Not a precise person—rather willy-nilly and hopes for the best!” She’s a “use what’s on hand” kind of crafter! Don’t you just love her “willy-nilly” project?! Her totem glimmers in her garden…. inviting you to explore more!
Sydney’s finished mosaic tower in her garden
Sydney added a copper post cap as a finishing touch!
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View Comments
WOW!!! I want to do this! Thanks for posting this BEAUTIFUL garden feature.
Beautiful and love your sweet kitty.
Sad to see the flower season end.
Stunning piece!
Sydney,
What a beautiful inspiring project. Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow, your garden is beautiful and Mittens is adorable!
I love it! I am sure Sydney is enjoying it too!
Great job, that is beautiful and of course i do love blue. Sydney that is a beautiful totem for your garden. Thanks for sharing.
We actually use Mac Glue to glue on the glass. It drys clear and never yellows. It is also water proof.
We are a Distributor.
Using these post 'sleeves' is genius, Sydney! This is a first for Flea Market Gardening,...hope to see more used in different ways.
Thanks, Eric...
Sydney, I love your totem! It is spectacular.
Beautiful!