Mirror and stained glass kimono

by Cathy Sohl
(Scottsdale, AZ)

Mirror and stained glass kimono on cement backer board

My first mosaic.

I decided to take a mosaic class at the local arts center. I didn't realize that I should start small and simple like the other class attendees. I had a 2 x 3 foot piece of cement board and I was determined to fill it up with pieces of stained glass.

I had a few false starts (stained glass is surprisingly easy to scrape off cement board), and this is the project I ended up with. Many, many small pieces of glass and mirror, there were a few times I took a little break, so it took me almost a year to complete. Sadly, I also have to work for a living.

By the time it was completed, I was very nervous about the grouting process, especially since it had been almost a year since I had taken the class. And of course, since I wasn't doing simple and small, I decided to use three different colors of grout. I think it turned pretty good for a first time project and it definitely started a need to play with stained glass and mirrors a little more.

I'm finally putting together a "real" work area instead of a corner of my bedroom and hope to spend a lot of time (when not hanging out at work or with grandkids). I also plan to get a few more tools besides a little glass cutter and tile nippers to make the process go a little faster.