In today's blog, Karen Perkins shares her mosaic story, how she got started, her process and her inspiration. Thank you, Karen, for sharing your beautiful mosaic mandalas with us.

I started doing mosaics about ten years ago thanks to a class run by a friend ,Alyson McGrath, who teaches with Workshop in Brisbane. I have dabbled ever since. Alyson is a prolific mosaicer and artist, while I tinker on the weekends and sometimes have to wait for inspiration to hit.

In recent years I have been making mosaic tabletops for friends and family. I describe my style as a ‘messy mandala’, as they start with careful measurements and evolve into something a bit hectic!

I have been lucky to source tables from friends, hard rubbish collections and gumtree when looking for something specific.

I found this tabletop on the street, and I had a carpenter friend add the legs. It was to be a wedding present for my niece, and her ‘vibe’ is pink, white and funky, and when I saw her pink hair on her wedding day, I knew I had captured her style!

I measured the table to find the centre and started with the heart, as befits the occasion.

I love the iridescent white/pink petals from the Mosaic Store.

Different angles highlight the different surface sheens, which add depth and texture.

I initially followed the pattern I had used with a previous table, which evolved from there.

This green design was my first mandala table, which helped me understand the impact of a repeating pattern and when to use feature tiles for the best effect. As you can see, this has become a consistent style for me, though I still like experimenting with different types of tiles, like ornate silver beads and gorgeous watercolour tiles.

Apart from using previous designs as inspiration, when starting a project, I had no idea how it would evolve or what tiles I needed. My orders from The Mosaic Store tend to be multiple shades of whatever colour(s) I’m working with, but once I’m ensconced in a project, I’ll inevitably run out of a key tile that is an essential part of the design. Waiting for my next pack of tiles to arrive is an oft-used excuse for delays!

I prefer using glass tiles, though the ceramic petals have a lovely shape and size that makes them irresistible. I also don’t worry too much about varying tile heights - yes, the table surface won’t be completely flat, but that just means you shouldn’t put wine glasses on it!

When making a table for someone, I ask them to pick a couple of colours for me to work with. Green has become my most requested colour - sometimes, I make an executive decision and add another colour that I think will work, like the blue I added in one of the tables pictured below.

Who knew there were so many lovely shades of green?

I constantly wrestle with which grout colour to use, as I know it can have a big impact. I probably should have gone a bit darker for my niece’s white and pink table, but I didn’t want to detract from the delicate colouring. It’s also a bit daunting to cover your beautiful design with thick mud and hope it reveals itself ok afterwards! I recommend grouting when you have time to re-wetting it and cleaning the tiles once it’s dry to make sure they don’t look dusty. You can also add a grout sealant afterwards to keep it looking good.

This blue, green and purple table is one I did for my Mum, and I adore these colours together. Can you spot the design error? It’s also the first glass table I’ve worked on, which required a different type of glue. I chose not to grout this one, as I wasn’t sure it would work with a glass table.

My latest project is a housewarming gift for friends, inspired by paint colour combinations they were workshopping with me during their renovation. The pointy oval table shape is a big variation from my usual circle shape and has presented me with a challenge in terms of where to take the design next. I’m still playing around with that.

As well as table tops, I have been through a phase of mosaicing terracotta plant pots, glass candle holders and the top of a log, typically tending towards abstract designs and often bright colours. Tables can take a long time to finish, but they make wonderful and unique gifts.

Essential tools for my mosaic projects:

• Electric sander, as I tend to upcycle wooden tables and need to remove the varnish before starting. Sanding by hand is hard work and holds no appeal for me!
• PVA glue, which I also use as a sealant after sanding (three coats).
• Small plastic tub to hold the glue I’m working with—usually, a recycled takeaway sauce container.
• Paintbrush to use to put glue on the tile backs before placing. I only use cheap brushes because, inevitably, I delay cleaning the glue off, and they get ruined.
• Glass tile cutter - I often use these to cut 1 cm x 1 cm tiles into rectangles or triangles, as I find smaller pieces easier to create designs. I envy people whose designs consist of whole tiles; I don’t know how you do it.
• Safety glasses to use when cutting tiles.
• Metal tool to help position fiddly little tile pieces that I insist on making smaller. Also helpful in scraping or digging out stray grout.
• Grout of various shades of grey, which I invariably mix and end up with a ‘medium’ shade. One of these days, I’ll be adventurous and try a grout colourant.
• Sturdy rubber gloves are an excellent idea to protect your skin from the drying effects of the grout and any sharp tile edges.
• White vinegar and a soft cloth to clean the table after the grout has dried.
• Grout sealer to help protect the grout and make it water resistant.
• Tiles in all shapes, sizes and colours, as well as clear storage boxes to keep them in. I group my tiles by colour. The Mosaic Store has a fantastic range of tiles, and I appreciate the care they take in carefully photographing and describing each item.

My husband has suggested one day doing a project that uses the ‘tiles I already have’ instead of ordering more mid-project. As if! Thankfully he has lots of expensive hobbies, so he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

Happy mosaicing!

Karen Perkins

Here’s a rainbow pot I made: