Master the age-old, beautiful craft of mosaic. Begin by selecting the right tools and materials, from the classic rectangular chunks of hand-made Italian glass called "smalti" to found objects like buttons, beads, and pebbles. Plenty of tips are given for setting up and organizing a workspace, and all basic techniques are clearly explained and illustrated in glorious full color. Once you've learned how to cut the pieces for your mosaic and affix them in a design, you're ready to get to work. More than twenty projects will enable you to hone your skills while crafting exquisite decorative items in a variety of styles. Make an elegant Roman swirl mirror frame, a Byzantine box in jewel-like colors, an Aztec serpent wall panel, a geometric tabletop based on Islamic patterns, a dragonfly vase, bright modern candlesticks, and much more. From a hand mirror and a picture frame, to a front door and the ceiling of a room, almost any object can be transformed into a work of art using the versatile technique of mosaic. 128 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 11. NEW IN PAPERBACK