Birdbath Part Deux

Our email conversations went like this. Aaron, "I like your blue birdbath."  Me, "Thanks. Want One?" Aaron, "Sure. :-)"  So when I visited my son and his wife, Jane, in Houston, Texas we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

Aaron had an old pottery birdbath that we dug out of the shed.  It was pretty dirty and needed a good scrubbing.

Some clean water and a scrub brush got it clean.  Then I let it dry in the hot Texas sun.

We needed some plates to break up for the mosaic work, so one night after dinner, about 8:00, we packed up the baby and headed for a nearby Goodwill. That store is great for finding treasures.  Alas, these were the only plates with a colorful pattern that we could find.

We gave Goodwill our $8.00 and left the store with 5 plates and a bowl that kind of matched.  The pattern is a bit too fussy and pink for my taste but our shopping had time constraints.

After donning some stylish protective eye wear, I placed some plates inside a paper bag and gave them some good wacks with a hammer.  The bag keeps the shards from flying all over the place.

I was able to cut the larger pieces with a tile cutter, a luxury I didn't have on my 1st attempt.  This was a very handy tool.

Once again, I used the rim of the plates for the rim of the birdbath.  It gives it a smooth, finished look.  Then I began placing the tiles down the side, "buttering" the backs of the tiles with mastic, or tile glue.

The tiles are set and ready to be grouted.

Note that there is a lot of space between the pieces.  That's okay as the grout will fill in and the tiled area will not be walked on.

Now I wait for 24 hours before I grout.

I used a pre-mixed white grout and applied it with a putty knife working it into the crevices with an old paint brush. Then I took Jane's kitchen sponge and started wiping off the excess grout.  That turned out to be a bad idea since it left bits of sponge between the tiles. I did replace Jane's sponge.

 A damp cloth, (ripped up old t-shirt) proved a better solution. I wiped off most of the gooey stuff rinsing the cloth in a bucket of water, then took dry cloths to finish and polish.  I had to re-grout some areas where I got over zealous.

The finished product on it's stand in the garden.  In hindsight, I wish I had used a colored grout as there was so much white tile.  Mother Nature and abuse should soften the look, though, I think.

I had a wonderful time visiting my family and playing with my 1 year old grandaughter, Olive.  I hope to visit again soon.

Here is Jane and Olive.  She's wearing a tutu I made her for her birthday.