Tiny Pieces Mosaic Tools & Supplies

PINK GLITTER MOSAIC TILES.
Actually, there are about 12 colors of glitter tiles in here. I was like a magpie (well, who could talk), mumbling «something shinyyyy…»

I went there to pick up some special tools for a kitchen backsplash project. Not only the staff was *extremely* friendly & helpful, I found out that Tiny Piece is actually an awesome place to learn how to make mosaic. Their gallery showcases some very elaborate and intricate work from the faculty and staff. I highly recommend people who want to learn about making mosaics to visit Tiny Pieces.

I would rather shop at Tiny Pieces than buy groceries, in fact, lately it seems like I have been forgoing the basic necessities so I can!
Lately I have been running up against some creative blocks and every time I have visited Tiny Pieces, Andryea has totally talked me down. After not doing mosaics for a month and trying to throw something together, I went to Tiny Pieces for some guidance.
Andryea took a look and asked me some questions about what I was trying to do. I had already done the major design, which was a replication of a logo, but was struggling with the background. She took me around the mosaic school to point out the way different backgrounds of different pieces would bring out the design. We looked through pictures and finally I decided how I wanted to proceed. Finally I picked out the sheet glass for the white background (there are a million different kinds of white and she continued to show me how each one would look when it was finished). She cut some for me and I ended up paying an EXTREMELY reasonable price for the glass, easily ¼ or ¹⁄₅ of the price for not as cool looking glass at the online supplier I used to purchase from. Obviously there’s no shipping charges and I had the right amount right away.
I know what you might be thinking… I need and love this shop because I am a mosaic artist. True, but it is really an essential store for ANY Chicago craftsperson, DIY enthusiast, or tile lover. Because I tend to linger in there and ask a million questions, I have often seen people come in and out of Tiny Pieces to ask about a random project they are working on at home or because they are looking into doing their first mosaic.
I remember once in the fall when I was in there pondering colors and playing with different tiles, a young couple came in to ask about a table they wanted to mosaic. They had just moved in together and they had the table at home and some ideas about a design but NO materials. She walked them through the entire process and sold them all of the materials they needed from adhesive to a spectrum of colored tiles, nippers, scrapers, grout, grout coloring, and grout sealer! She even taught them some tricks on cutting tiles.
There is NO other proprietor that I have met that is this genuinely dedicated to her customers and willing to spend the time to make absolute sure they have what they need in order to make their projects go perfectly.
Incidentally, I did finish my piece today and Andryea even took back the new sheet of glass that I didn’t use… she let me trade it for something else I needed more. Not sure what her official return policy is, maybe this is just because I am her #1 customer ;)
If I could give six stars I would, until then, go to Tiny Pieces!!!

After ordering tile and mosaic supplies via internet for over 12 years, there is finally a brick and morter shop that addresses the great materials that one might use in mosaics. The shop has glass, glass tile, ceramic tiles of all colors, and adhesives and grouts too.
Even if you have never done a mosaic you will find cool stuff in here. The latest rage is those mosaic belt buckles which are a cool way to start making a mosaic piece. Andryea is extremely knowledgable is a great resource for all kinds of supplies.
(I work at the adjacent Chicago Mosaic School which is a non for profit arts school, so I am a little biased…:))