Over the course of this project, I created a mosaic using thrifted china and pottery pieces arranged on a mirror base, with the goal of upcycling materials into something both functional and visually interesting. I began by collecting plates and cups from thrift stores, choosing pieces with different colors, patterns, and textures so the final design would have variety and depth, and then used a tile cutter to break them into smaller shards for the mosaic. This part of the process was more difficult than I expected because the pieces did not always break the way I wanted, which meant I had to adjust and work with what I had. Arranging the shards onto the mirror also took a lot of time because I had to think carefully about spacing, balance, and how the patterns looked together as a whole. After completing the layout, I moved on to mixing and applying grout, which turned out to be one of the hardest parts of the project since getting the right consistency was not easy and spreading it evenly required multiple attempts. I also learned the importance of safety during this step because grout can be harsh on skin, and I initially applied it without protection before realizing the risk. To figure out how to do this correctly, I relied on watching instructional videos and learning as I went, which helped me improve my technique and fix mistakes. Once the grout was set, I spent a long time cleaning each individual tile and refining the edges, which was repetitive but made a big difference in the final appearance. Even though the process was frustrating at times and took more effort than I expected, I am happy with how the mosaic turned out and proud that I was able to complete it from start to finish. This project taught me patience, problem solving, and how to adapt when things do not go as planned, and it gave me a better understanding of how much effort goes into handmade work. While I do not see myself choosing mosaic as a medium again, I still value the experience because it pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me grow creatively.
