I am a bit of a hoarder. I am also a bit of a magpie. These two elements are both a blessing and a curse when it comes to creating mosaic art.

When it comes to materials there are just so many things that can be used to create mosaics - I see the potential in lots of different materials, both traditional and non-traditional. As a result I keep hold of lots of things, just in case they come in useful.

Estimated time to read - under 3 minutes

I’ve been cutting up slate into rods on my wet saw this week, making sure I have enough for an upcoming residential course, as well as for adding to my mosaic kits. And as I stood there all kitted out in my overalls and safety gear, getting messy, the thought ‘why do I bother with this?’ crossed my mind. Afterall, there are other (much less messy) ways to prepare slate.

I have my reasons for doing this though, and I thought I’d share a bit more about them today, along with some general hints and tips for cutting and working with slate rods.