Why integrate glossy, glimmering molded ceramic shapes into your mosaic project?

Creating a chinoiserie-style, floral or naturalistic mosaic of visual interest, alive with beautiful natural creatures, can be accomplished with relative ease by mosaic artists. One way to add visual excitement to a large-scale mosaic project (wall art or an interior installation like a mosaic tile backsplash) is to know just the right type of molded ceramic tiles to find and choose for your mosaic art project.

Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon inspiration on Etsy when I discovered Barb’s Cottage, a truly bespoke business selling molded ceramic tiles. More about Barb’s glossy, adorable creatures below.

If you were part of my course on How To Do Chinoiserie-Style Mosaic Wall Art, you might recall that I included a little green monkey who was hiding out, waiting to be discovered in the lower corner, watching my “Love Peacocks.” (Pictured here). This is an example of how to integrate a ceramic molded tile into your mosaic project. I can’t remember where I found my monkey, but I’d kept him for years waiting for just the right occasion to mix him into a mosaic.

The beauty of these molded tile pieces by Barb is that they are totally unique, nearly one-of-a kind, and arrive ready to apply to your mosaic because they have a flat back, making it easy to glue and apply into your piece. What I personally love about them is their glossy finish, which integrates beautifully with the iridescent mosaic glass which I use in my work. I like a good gloss all around and these molded tiles certainly deliver.

Shaped Tiles in Glossy Ceramic for Use in Mosaic Art

What is amazing about Barb’s business is that–as she explained to me–she’s in her early 80’s now, and retired from being a university professor when she was 72, when she began crafting and selling her unique pieces. She’s clearly a super-seller on Etsy, and what a fun, beautiful business to have built. How inspiring!

Her molded tiles are shaped in silicone molds instead of the more traditional process of rolling out and stamping a design on clay. Using silicone molds results in forms with intricate surface texture that is highlighted with her translucent glazes. When used as a focal point surrounded with tesserae in mosaic projects, her hand painted tiles add character and interest to contemporary mosaic art.

Barbs Cottage on Etsy regularly offers between 100 and 200 tiles for customers to choose from. Prices range from under $5.00 for small, simple figures to between $10 & $20 for larger & more detailed designs, making her molded tiles affordable for both professional and DIY mosaic-makers.

Here at the MosaicArtistblog.com we are so pleased to feature Barb and her fabulous tiles here. I’ve included pictures of a few of my favorites above. Happy mosaic-ing!

Learn more about Barb’s work here.