In the spring of 2012, I attempted to graft a Pear scion onto my apple tree using Winter Banana Apple as an inter stem. (All of he grafting i do is "Whip and Tongue" grafts wrapped in grafting tape. I then coat the wrapped union with grafting wax) The parent branch was a Winesap Apple branch with a grafted Winter Banana Apple scion from a few years before. (I actually have two of these paired branches.) I then attempted to graft two "Kieffer" Pear scions onto my two Winter Banana Apple inter stems. The "Kieffer" Pear scions started to grow, but died a few weeks later. This spring (2014) I attempted to graft this Apple / Pear union again using the same Winter Banana Apple inter stems. I had just enough branch on my Winter Banana branches to try this experiment one more time. This time around, I used "Sunrise Pear" scionwood. The grafting was a screaming success! (I had enough "Sunrise Pear" scionwood to graft two branches onto my apple tree, and two more onto an ornamental pear. All four pear grafts were a success!) I have no idea why this experiment failed in 2012 and was a success in 2014. I do not know if it had to do with the pear variety used, or if it had to do with environmental circumstances. I will re-post in 2015 with an update. There are a few different treads on this subject so I will be re-posting on those threats also. Below are pictures taken on 07/27/2014.

Linda, what a great question. Ordinarily I would be concerned if the silicon II was in an exposed area where there would be some stress or external pressure. The silicone if allowed to move would certainly crack and destroy the mortar. But in this case I used a very thin layer of silicone, mainly as a glue, to hole the glass in place gripping the bottom part of the glass and the tie wires so there is no movement. When the mortar mix is applied it connects to the sides of the glass, and the tie wires. When the mortar mix cures it is one piece sealing the silicone in sort of a cocoon which is not subjected to any outside force that would move the silicone. I cannot answer the second part. I pick up a "something" and see it as an all together different thing. But it is not always easy - I have searched for days looking for "something" to trigger my brain, without any result. Once I spent a couple of weeks (not 24-7) staring at a piece I never completed before I got an idea and the old incomplete sculpture was completely disassembled and reassembled as an entirely different item. I started working on a totem pole sculpture months ago, I reached a certain point and everything became a big blank. But IÂll get back to it one day  IÂll walk past it and the "magic" will happen. Here is the totem so far.

Will you share the dragonfly tutorial? I'd reallllllly think they're so cute! The pic I see is not clear enough for me to see if there is beading on the 'body' or what. BTW... I haven't been around for 3+ years, & even then I was mostly a lurker. FINALLY life has straightened out for me, I once again have my own home, nothing fancy, mobile home in a park. After 3+ years of living here & there (long story, but it's over)...I am HOME! I am ready to decorate...& dang it...it's winter! Well, or so the calendar says. Weatherman says we'll be seeing winter starting tomorrow, tho. lol. Diane

I've been at work , so not able to respond to this thread. I've been doing concrete and mosaic projects for close to ten years now. The history stones birdbath mold is a well built sturdy one. It would be a good choice for a beginner. The basin however has got a raised ring of leaves going around the middle so it would be a challenge to mosaic. Something smoother would be better. If you look on ebay you'll find a lot of choices. Sand casting is a moldless fairly easy way to do what ever shape you like. By covering your sand cast shape with a thin layer of plastic you'll get a smoother form to mosaic onto.If you are gong to make these for your self then a thin set, or standard mortar mix will be a good way to go. If you were to sell these then you would want to make them as cost effectively as possible to recoup as large a profit as possible. I have several mosaic birdbaths I've made for myself. The amount of time involved making these will make it hard for this to be profitable. The cost of the cement if you made it by scratch would be maybe 5-10.00 per birdbath. the mortar and mosaic materials, grout and sealer will all vary depending on the mosaic choices you use. The time to do this is another thing though. I've sold lots of different creations but it just doesn't make sense for you to spend your time doing it unless you get a good return. If you can, make a couple for your self then monitor your costs and the number of hours spent. I would only make more on a consignment basis. I regularily have people wanting to buy my stuff but when I tell them what I would charge they back off. In regards to the Rianna method, this will give you the freedom of making any shape you like. Again though, it is not a fast way of making things and wether you'd make enough is doubtful. Rianna says she certainly isn't making tons, it's a labor of love sometimes. I'm making a 4 foot girl using this method. I'll use 4 rolls of mesh at 18.00 per roll by the time I am done. I just have the head and a hand left to do in the mesh and it's taken me maybe a dozen hours so it'll likely be 15 when I'm done. Then the cementing, mosaicing grouting and sealing. This project will cost me 100.00-125.00 I think by the time I'm done. Maybe 40 hours involved. I'll enjoy having my sculpture in my garden . I'm not trying to discourage you but the profit potential in this is not high. Make some gorgeous creations and just enjoy them for your own use is what I'd recommend. Cindy