The Patio

Who did this, and where?

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Reply from Sue:

FAV'S...Re: Mosaics [Re: Catherine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Patio. adobe, cob?
Sunday March 24, 2009 4:35 AM (4 hours ago)

Here's the website and story of that patio, she used to have a mosaic studio, (its in New Zealand) sold the business end, and put in a cafe!
http://www.larte.co.nz/history.html

here's a couple pics of it...

http://www.jasons.com/New-Zealand/Taupo/LArte-Mosaic-Cafe-and-Sculpture-Garden

couple more... http://www.totaltravel.co.nz/link.asp?fid=630728

Couple more good ones... https://www.coffeesupreme.com/freshly_roasted.php?id=169

It could be made from cob but it may not last a long as cement, but think if the cob was covered with a layer of cement before the mosaic and had a cement or rock base to keep water from creeping up from the bottom it would last quite awhile...Could definitely do more with cob, cost wise.. I flipped when I found this patio, best I've seen yet. I do have some other inspiration I am attaching... I see you were able to bring up (open) that last word doc I sent, so am sending this in the word format also..

Catherine wrote to Sue: "Here's a mosaic website with a bunch of interesting links... and I like your mosaics better!"
http://mosaicartsource.wordpress.com/2007/03/13/mosaic-sculpture-outdoor-art-exhibit-prix-picassiette-2004-chartres-france/"

Hey there was a few in here I hadn't seen, thank you!! Believe me I have spent many many weeks and hours researching lots of Mosaics, I especially love the large dimensional ones! I have probably over half the Megabits of my computer eaten up with tons of files of mosaic pictures. I'm talking tons of pics... I have them categorized by stuff like fish, birds, cats, dogs, chickens, murals, furniture, benches, cool ideas, lizards & snakes, cowboy, beach scenes, animals, flowers, garden art, guitars, etc ...48 folders so far and still trying to get them organized. all filled, some up to 16 MB each!! I get so excited and want to do so many of them! ha ha

Hope I can stay for at least a month when I come down, it will be this year, don't know if it will be with Trek Study or just coming down when Astrid is going down in Dec. So be sure to start a BIG collection of pottery/dishes/cups and tiles. Try to sit them on some wood or someway -so they won't get buried in the dirt/sand during the rainy season. Rocks too...separate colors of everything the best you can... We'll do SOMETHING! Cob takes more than a month (several depending on the weather) to dry before you can put cement on it, so we'll have to figure out something unless you can get some kids/friends/hire someone to get a bench or something started so it will be dry...

Later! [Sue Pearson]

Building with Cob & websites

Catherine Todd Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 9:24 AM
To: Sue Pearson

Dear Sue,

Yes, I finally found this email (which I have retitled so I can find it again in the future). THANKS! I was panicking over money, and then remembered about cob and your email! What a relief! I even have books on building with cob, but just forgot about them with all the sales pitches from "traditional builders" and not seeing much of the work around. That says something, doesn't it? I have to make a list of all the ways I can build without much money, and make a website, DVD and book. Including your artwork and ideas. We both make money, yes? I can't believe you spent the time to do this, and THANKS AGAIN!

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 4:29 AM, Sue Pearson wrote:

"I know what you mean about building material costs: they are sky-high in Guatemala, too, while wages are still very low, at $5.00 to $10.00 or $20.00 per day, depending on skill level. It's pretty incredible & not easy for many people down there. Build with COB, you say? This is possible in Central America?"

Remember we spoke about Ianto's book on cob building? all his places are built out of cob only (would be great to use outside of your plastic recycle bottles!) You said there was a cob builder across the lake from you...There is TONS of information on the web about cob building and lots of books at the library. I checked out as many as our area had, then go to the used section on Amazon and buy the one's I really liked. You should have plenty of sand, clay and straw in your area, its certainly a good cheap way to go! Be careful its addicting! you'll be looking at the websites and reading the books, its a very cool thing! Its just like clay, you can model stuff and carve stuff and shapes are only left to your imagination! you can make all your furniture shaped right into the walls! I love it and can't wait to try it in Mexico,. If I had a house I'd be at awhile here, I'd start with an oven and then make lots of remodel jobs with it, arched doorways, half walls, its endless!!!

Hate to give you something that will just eat more of your time but here are a few of the websites I have booked marked. It is not a bad time taker though, cause it could give you a good, cheap way to build one (or some) dwellings in Pana! Just save this email for future reference..

http://www.appropedia.org/Blue_ox_earthen_oven

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=797446823830833401

http://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Peel-10Handle-12-Blade/dp/B0001MRS9I/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1210314363&sr=8-11

http://www.cobworks.com/mexico2005.htm

http://handyprojects.blogspot.com/2005/04/earth-mud-cob-adobe-horno-oven-links.html

http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/buwicostgu.html

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/cob.htm


I'm sending a floor I just finished painting for a friend who had plywood put on her cement floor studio. Its done with a wood grain tool and it does a great faux wood look. This floor was done with 4 colors and came out super. It was a big job but it looks great.
The tool, if you haven't seen one, is only $5.... [see other post for photo of floor]

Well got to go... later!

Sue Pearson, portrait & floor painting tool