Tortuga tiles are all hand-made by Artist and Designer LuRu. In addition to the tiles you see in the shop, she is able to customize designs or adapt existing tiles to any given framework. She earned her BFA in ceramics from The Ohio State University and her MFA in sculpture from Louisiana State University.
Tortuga Tiles and Mosaics can be purchased at Indie Craft Fairs and Tiki festivals throughout Florida and through associated dealers. Please see the events page for upcoming shows or pay a visit to the following boutiques:
Once the tiles are bisque fired I can glaze them. Many of the glazes I use are made from scratch using materials such as Gerstley Borate, Silica, EPK clay and mineral colorants..
67 Main Street
Tonawanda, NY 14150
(716) 694-6600
1980 East Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 761-7881
3599 North Federal Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
(954) 563-3272
contact: LuRu@tortugatileworks.com
The following shows the process of making the tiles which takes aproximately 12 days with drying and firing times. Lead times vary on larger custom orders.
Each pressed tile is dried to leather hard for 2 days and then is cleaned up, trimmed and left for 3-5 more days. It is then fired to bisque temperature in one of my electric kilns.
First I carve a low relief design in clay. Then it is cast in plaster. Once I have the mold I can reproduce the original carving by pressing earthenware clay into the mold.
Each color of glaze is applied with three coats. Each kiln load takes 2 days to glaze..
Finally, the tiles are fired a second time to 1945 degrees. Each kiln load takes aproximately 8-12 hours to reach temperature and another 12 hours to cool. Some tiles like the rayguns and robots are fired a third time to a cooler temperature with a white gold glaze to add metallic luster.
Mosaics are prepared to be either interior or exterior wall hangings. Interior mosaics are adhered to luan with mastic. Exterior mosaics are adhered to concrete board with thinset concrete.
Tiles are set into place.
After the mastic or thinset has cured overnight, the grout is applied.
As the grout sets up, it is cleaned off with a damp sponge. As tortuga Tiles have a lot of relief carving a nail brush is used to get the grout out of the carvings. When the grout has dried, the tiles are buffed with a towel. After 24 hours the grout is then sealed.
100 5th Ave
Indialantic, FL 32903
(321)951-2787
201 S.E. 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 372-0455
