Since ancient times, artists have decorated buildings with mosaics — pictures or designs made from small, colorful pieces of stone, glass or tile set in mortar. That international tradition ...

The Case Against Glass Mosaics 1. They can be costly. You might have to crack open the piggy bank when purchasing a glass mosaic. In general, they cost more than natural stone backsplashes.

Oceanside creates a wide range of handmade mosaic glass tiles. They recycle 900,000 kilos of old bottles each year to create their tiles. During the process, the glass is heated up to 1600°C.

Ellie Thompson makes a stained-glass mosaic at the Chicago Mosaic School in Edgewater. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times A little blood blotches the colored shards on the bench in front of Ellie Thompson.