Mosaic Trivets
A trivet (triv-et) according to Webster's Dictionary is a stand with short feet for use under a hot dish at a table.Beaver Falls middle and high school students embarked on a journey to the thrift stores in town searching for chipped and unwanted dishes, bowls, cups, glasses or ceramic items to use for their projects. The result of their journey provided students with a load of treasures that would soon become colorful mosaics trivets.
The process, used by the Greeks 5000 years ago of placing small stones and glass together, is still being used today.
The process is relatively simple but is labor intensive requiring patience and skill. During the process, students first covered their items with a heavy towel, while wearing safety goggles and gloves, and then broke the item into pieces using a hammer. The students then spread the pieces out to plan their designs. Next, they used a flat sided knife to apply the glue on each piece and placed on 8 inch by 8 inch piece of wood. Next they applied grout with the use of a spreader, filling in all cracks and crevices. They then, using a sponge, wiped the artwork while they went along and once the mosaic was dry. The students then cleaned up using soap and water with a sponge. They worked to wipe off all the bits of grout and grit. They then used a brush to apply the sealant to the grout making it water resistant.
Now the trivets are beautiful and are ready to receive their hot dishes.
Geanan Murtha
