I get crazy in the Spring. There is so much to do. Not that any of it rises to the level of if-I-don't-get-this-done-my-very-existence-is-in-jeopardy, but urgent feeling nevertheless. Usually there's a week in April when I go from looking at my yard, seeing the empty garden boxes and all the cleaning up chores that never got finished in the Fall and feeling uninspired, to almost overnight looking at the exact same yard and feeling not just inspired, but driven to get out and work until every single project I can think of is done. Clearing every bed and border, thinning perennials as they start to emerge, trimming trees, bushes and vines before brush pickup day, planting, mulching, cleaning/fixing/repainting or staining outdoor furniture, and of course, garden art projects all crowd up in my mind. This post, not surprisingly, is about garden art. Garden orbs to be specific. Here's the process... Somehow I neglected to take pictures of the grouting process...oh no! Grouting is easy but may seem intimidating if you've never done it before. For any space to be grouted over 1/8", use sanded grout (it's much easier to work with than non-sanded grout anyway). Mix it with water until it's the consistency of stiff cake icing. For a round shape, I spread it on with my fingers. It will dry your skin out...I'm not saying this is advised practice, just saying it's how I do it. You can also put it on with a spatula or putty knife and work it in the spaces with a damp sponge. Once the spaces are filled, start wiping the orb with a wrung out sponge, repeatedly cleaning the sponge in a bowl of water until the orb looks pretty and smooth. There will be a haze on the tile. Don't worry about it just yet. Let the orb sit for 30 minutes to an hour...there's no magic to it...and then go back with a dry rag (with no nap) and rub it lightly. The haze will come off. You'll want to do this a few times until it looks clean. If you end up with a stubborn haze the next day, you can clean it up with a haze removing product that's available at a hardware or big box home improvement store.
1 Comment
Debbie Wilkison
5/9/2016 10:03:53 pm
I love them!
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Hi, I'm Donna. Long time artisan/creative. Full time work in nonprofit world. Mother of two adult sons. Currently, also mother of two cats. Recent PostsThe patience project. Because patience is a virtue. And a creative challenge.
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