It was quite a challenge to get this glued, dear readers! You may not be able to imagine what a challenge it was – especially if you have never mosaiced before.
It was a technical transportation challenge, this mosaic
That was mainly because we put it – like we often do – on a board. Looks like this:
This is a very nice way to make mosaics, because if you don’t like something, you can just remove it. Nothing is glued at this stage. But then the next phase! A piece of chipboard measuring 60 x 60 centimetres already weighs a bit, but with tiles on it even a bit more. And it has to be turned over with another board of the same size on top of it.
Also a challenge, but we’ve done it many times before
If you want to know how “the secret Azenha method” works, it goes like this: you place a board on top of your mosaic, with a piece of wallpaper that is slightly larger, which you generously smear with wallpaper paste. Then you remove the “flapboard” and carefully place the smeared piece of wallpaper on your mosaic. Be careful that it doesn’t slide, because if it sticks, it stays!
Rub it well, so that all the pieces are nice and secure. Then you place the “flapboard” on top and turn it over as a whole. That way you have your mosaic upside down, and you can stick it onto the wall smeared with cement glue. Easy peasy.
The big challenge here was that the hatch through which the upside-down mosaic had to go, is slightly smaller than the 60 x 60. Long story short: it had to go outside, via the scaffolding. To do this, I had to climb a small ladder onto a wall with the upside-down mosaic and hand it over to Broes, who was standing ready on the scaffolding.
Then I also climbed onto the scaffolding, picked up the upside-down board again, so that Broes could go up another floor, and handed it over my head to him, who then just managed to get it onto the flat roof. Pffffffff! You understand that the sun in your eyes, or a little playful breeze is not welcome at all at such a moment.
But we did it. It’s done. If you’re talking about stress, this does qualify, but the reward is enormous.
You can also see it from the road. My phone made the impressionistic version of it.
.
We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, Holland to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.
A big step, especially with two small children.
We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.
You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.
Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.
Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation
You can subscribe to this blog- see at the right side of this page »
You’ll get it every weekend in your mailbox.
On Sunday morning we publish it on our Facebook, on Pinterest and on Instagram.