The Mosaic Idea Book: More Than 100 Designs to Copy and Create

I bought this book for my daughter (8th grader) who is really getting into mosaic art after completing a project she did in art class last spring. This book has great ideas for patterns, and shows each pattern in several different color combinations, which is great because it shows her that she doesn't just have to copy the pattern.

As a self-taught mosaicist, I own 25 mosaic books, including this one, and I can honestly say that the Mosaic Idea Book is one of the best of the bunch. Instructions are clearly presented and accompanied by a generous assortment of photos. As in any good how-to book, the author explains the basic materials, tools, and techniques used in mosaic work, but she does so in a way that really holds the reader's interest. One of the book's best features is that it contains plenty of patterns -- a tremendously valuable resource for both beginners and advanced mosaicists. The patterns are especially helpful, however, for the novice mosaicist who is still learning how to plan and lay out a design. Friends and I have used a few of the patterns in the book -- we enlarged/reduced them on a copy machine, to fit our specific projects. I used the chameleon pattern and created a mosaic that everyone describes as "spectacular." This book gives readers a lot of "bang for their buck." If you can buy only one mosaic book, I highly recommend this one.

I bought the book as a beginner looking for the basics of how to get started. While the book has that info, its emphasis is on specific animal and plant design, borders, symbols, etc. Heavy on the animals.While this isn't the main book I consult in mosaic-making (I like Leslie Dierk's book), I will definitely keep this as a reference.

This is the hands-down, all-time best. I have just about every mosaic book published in the last 10 years. It has tons of interesting patterns--sophisticated yet simple. It's a little 'long' on animal patterns--it even includes the ever-popular 'winged bat' in various poses. The animal mosaicist will especially enjoy the book--but don't let that put you off. It has more useful patterns than any book on my mosaic shelf. Simply: The best.

This book is a great source of ideas. Many books just give you projects, this book helps you create your own design and make a project that is more 'you'