Mosaic Gazing Ball

I had been itching to make a gazing ball from a bowling ball...I was given a bowling ball (they are pretty easy to find at flea markets and yard sales for a bit of nothing.  Mine actually came with a carrying bag and a pair of bowling shoes!!) by a friend so I created a unique garden accent that looks great in my flower bed.  Since my flower beds are currently a mess and under construction, I modeled the gazing ball on the deck...I used bits and pieces of glass marbles-both flat and round, some millefiori pieces left over from another process, some mirror tiles, some glass beads, various and assorted glass tiles and curved glass pieces.  I started out to make several designs, but it didn't work out what I attempted initially...so this is the finished product!  I used a sanded grout adhesive mix so just stuck the pieces directly onto the bowling ball, working in sections and allowing that area to dry before moving on to the next area.  I had the gazing ball stand already and actually used it while applying the grout and pieces...I think it made it easier to handle the bowling ball.  I used the basic procedure I described in my post Mosaic Madness.

The work isn't perfect as you can see up close, but no one really sees it up close like here, so I think the finished product is great.

The mirror tiles didn't show up well in the photos but they reflect the light and make the gazing ball sparkle in the sunlight!

I am posting at A Soft Place to Land's DIY Day