My biggest achievement and reflection on the past week is the pure energy released by just starting something. I have been brewing several pieces of art and have felt a little ‘blocked’. Then, on Thursday, in a somewhat artistic frenzy, I started – sketching like crazy, onto the bases where each piece will be mosaiced. Boy, it felt good. I then started playing with tiles, experimenting with colour and reflection.
During this process I had an ‘aha!’ moment when I realised I could use a whole bottle, cut in half length ways, to make up a central part of one of the mosaics. I found the perfect bottle (an old shisha pipe basen no less!) and faced the challenge of how on earth to cut it in half whilst keeping both the bottle and my hands in good shape!
The joy of the Internet and the beautiful sharing spirit of Mosaic Artists Online bought me the solution within half an hour. Here’s a You Tube video of how to cut a bottle (great for crafting, making vases etc…) which I adapted – used a glass scorer to score the length of the bottle, then hot and cold water and – crack – a beautiful, clean cut. Love it. (If you try this, make sure you protect your hands and eyes).
Everything except my job is going really well at the moment so for me, sadly, this month I'm going to have to concentrate on getting my day job situation sorted out one way or another as it's putting a huge strain on me at the moment. At least my creativity is not suffering because of it so it's not all bad 🙂
I followed your post on MAO when you asked about cutting the bottle in half lengthwise and your description intrigued me. I watched the YouTube video and learned how you did this. That was a really useful and well instructed tutorial!! I was so curious to see the bottle you described and now I have. You did a great job and I can't wait to see the finished piece. Did you have any trouble scoring around the bottom edge or other part of the bottle? I'm going to do some practicing and see if I can do it too. Thanks for the inspiration.
One a month seems a good idea. Concetta. Last week was a bit slow move on my creative work. I had almost canceled the craft fair that I enterd for November as I was in a panic mode! But I didn't and have told quiet a lot of people so I have to keep the aim. This month I will be making stuff as much as I could before going back to my semester in spempetmber. That is my aim. Happy sunday! xm
Really hope there is a shift in the right direction for your work Veronika. Well done on not letting it sap your creativity 🙂
I know what you mean by going into panic mode Maki. Lets see how much we can get done in a month eh? (and enjoy the process!) xx
Hope your experimenting goes well Ginny!
Love seeing the process. Can't wait to see it finished.
Oooo…i have an overhaul planned for my site too. Now I just actually have to do it. And yes, starting a project(s) is always a great thing. Thanks you for sharing how you cut that gorgeous bottle (what an amazing idea!). My hubby has been wanting to make drinking glasses out of bottles, and was kind of stumped as to how to cut them. Now we know! I hope you have a productive break:)
I really adore seeing your process and these works are looking gorgeous! I have a huge scary to do list and im hoping to get as much as possible done and checked off this week! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you!
Thanks Natasha – off to work on it now! Hi Amy – lets see how we get on with our sites in one month eh?! I will still be blogging, just limiting the Celebrate posts to once a month 🙂 Hope your week is mega productive Jacqueline. Love to you all xxx
Can you be more specific how you adapted this process to cut a bottle lengthwise? I have wondered how to do it but can’t visualize it. Thanks!
Hi Eileen
if you watch the you tube video for the basics then what i did was carefully score the bottle lengthwise with a glass cutter…it is tricky because it is more bumpy – you have to go slowly and press firmly 😉 Good luck!
I watched the video on how to cut a bottle in half which I understand. I just don’t see how you can cut lengthwise?? Where did you find a glass scorer that would cut lengthwise? Guess I’m just a little slow …
This was a great link to watch, thank you for sharing it Concetta, I can now go a make my father’s birthday present.Lanterns for the garden. It’s his 70th birthday and he really doesn’t want to be treated to a day out or a big bash but he does love his garden and a few recycled bottles turned into T-light holders would be perfect,he’ll love them all the more as they’ll be Hand made .
Thank you
Caron
You are very welcome 🙂
How was the present Caron? Glad the inspiration was of help.
Greetings,
Saw that you scored a bottle and then broke it in half. How did you score all the way around the bottle? I know about the hot and cold water to break, but how did you keep the cutter on the bottle all the way around.
PLEASE can you do a video ? Please, please, please
Thanks so much.
Marty
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Hi
I read your post,I myself was trying to start a mosaic with broken beer bottles. I wanted to ask you what kind of adhesive did you use to attach the glass to the base?? I tend on using a ply board for the backsupport. Plus this would be my first time.