Japanese stepping stones from Bits-Ceramic tiles

a bit Ceramic tile Flower Japanese Stepping Stone

a bit Ceramic tile Flower Japanese Stepping Stone

What do Japanese stepping stones have in common with Pompeii the city of the thousand mosaics?

Stepping stones were already used in Pompeii and other Roman cities to enable its citizens to cross the often flooded or waste covered streets without any inconvenience.

At the same time carriages were able to pass the stepping stones which left enough space for their large wooden wheels.

In Japanese gardens stepping stones had very same very practical function, allowing to stroll through the gardens without soiling expensive clothes and shoes.

Stepping stones are ideal surfaces to cover with mosaics as they are large enough to covert hem with more intricate motives and at the same time one can even tell mosaic stories across a series of stepping stones thus inspiring the stroller.

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Soft-Bits – Vision in Blue

Flower Pot made from broken mosaic tiles

Flower Pot made from broken mosaic tiles

Giving flowers always feels special, but even more special when encased in a classy flower pot.

It is the beautiful 2 hued faience-colors of these blue Soft-Bits tiles that let this flower pot radiate an almost ethereal glint.

Of course not everyone likes to break larger tiles wrapped in cloth with a hammer. Not only can splinters cause injury but also does such a harsh  treatment result in substantial material loss and surface abrasion of the bits that you actually can use for your mosaic.

Sharp edges are another inconvenience and cause for future splintering or cracking when exposed to freezing temperatures.

This is why Alea designed the Soft-Bits.

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