Wedi board - my first time to use it.

I purchased two large pieces of Wedi board from Maryland Mosaics almost a year ago.  I finally got brave enough today to cut out a piece.  I used an Exacto knife and it wasn't too difficult.  The cement coating chips a bit but I am going to seal the edges with thinset anyway so it doesn't matter.  I have come up with a new way to hang the finished piece; first I want to seal the edges and install the Wedi in something else (a secret right now) and then I will take pictures and post detailed instructions (if it works).  I'm excited. 

Wedi is a light-weight substrate that looks like rigid styrofoam covered with mesh and then coated with a thin layer of stuff that looks like cement.  I want to use it because of its light weight.  I can do a large wall hanging without worrying too much about the weight.  So we will see!  I will post an update shortly.

I am nipping plates and bowls for the birdbath and still thinking about the design.  Although I haven't posted much lately, I'm working!  Today I grouted a beautiful pink stained glass and Swarovsky crystal picture frame, and then cut out the Wedi. 

Here's an interesting discussion about Wedi that I participated in last spring:

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/stainedglass/msg1213403330145.html?40

More later.

Wedi - now what do I do with it?

The Wedi (weedy) board is here! so I am considering the possibilities . . . I got two 30" x 36" pieces . . . I have been thinking a lot about shapes of things that hang on the wall; what is appealing to people. We are accustomed to squares and rectangles. Our eye also recognizes certain other shapes such as an oval or a guitar so that's acceptable for a wall hanging. But do I want to cut up the Wedi (just because I can?) Or just mosaic a large square? I have been wanting to do something in three repetitive shapes that fit together as a whole. But I don't want it to be complicated to hang. So it still needs to be one unit but appear to be three. Hmmmmmm.

Maryland Mosaics order - gift from my friends

My lovely and wonderful friends, the Waid Women, gave me a gift certificate from Maryland Mosaics for my birthday in February and my order came today! MAC glue, new Leponitt glass mosaic cutters (wheeled nippers) and Kathy included a little goodie bag of beautiful mini-tiles, one is a bag of crystal sparkly glass tiles and the other is a bag of ceramic tiles. Oh and what are those strange little thingies in the upper left? Why they are Wedi Board Wall Installation Kits! What is Wedi? Wedi (pronounced Weedy) is a mosaic substrate that is light-weight, can be cut with a sharp knife, and can be used outdoors (or in). I ordered Wedi from her also and it will be shipped separately. On her website it says that the hardware must be attached to the board before you begin to mosaic. So this will be a new experience for me, actually Planning Something before starting it! More about the Wedi later . . .