Sweeping through the main level of the house is a 500 piece slate and granite mosaic.
The clawed tentacles of a sea monster swirl about the floor.
So far it has never pulled anyone under... though you never know.

First there came the Hardie board underlayment. Kelley in deep concentration takes a slice with the electric shears.

Using techniques borrowed from stained glass work I've done in the past, a rosin paper sheet is laid over the floor. The pattern is drawn on the paper and then outlined with wide felt markers representing the spaces where the grout will go. Scissors are then used to trim away all the grout lines. Pieces are numbered and lettered into sub project zones and marked for location on the Hardie Backer.

Below I attempt to explain the Kraken concept to Morgan... as I have to mant guests since. I guess you just gotta read the ancient tales...
And if your mind is the type that never strays from between the lines... you still won't get it.

One guy... an accountant... asked,
"Did you order these tiles from Home Depot?"
No.

Laying out the patterns on the slate stones.

Simply trace the patterns with a marker and put the number and letter on the back for placement.

Anywhere there is a corner less than 90 degrees you have to cut it one way. Dry the stone. Epoxy the back and the cut side of the stone for support. Allow that to cure. Then cut the other side of the point.
If you don"t do the above, the slate will just shatter into a stack of flakes. Slate is not very strong by itself. But it cuts fast and easy.

The granite stones are heavy. These will be the claws.

All the stones are cut with a wet diamond saw. This is messy. We built a temporary tarp shack out back to contain the muddy spray of the cutting.
I wore an oh-so-stylish plastic rain suit for 6 months to keep my pants dry.

Above, the freshly cut stones are placed back on their numbered spots. Walking on them before they are glued down will break them.