I have been working with our commercial representatives from Mapei and Daltile for advice regarding the tile portion of the butterfly. I have decided to tile the butterfly using viterous glass. Is the the best material because of the wide color variation and the tiles are very thin, 1/8″. The glass is well suited for outdoor use as well. The tiles come in standard sizes, which I will cut using a glass tile nipper with rolling wheels. I ordered a book from online, The Encyclopedua of Mosiac Techniques: A step-by-step visual diectory, with an inspirational gallery of finished works, by Emma Biggs. It has been a great resource.
The tile adhesive will be a grout and adhesive in one, from Mapei, graciously donated to the project. The product is an epoxy based, the best choice given the base is lightweight fiberglass. It has been recommended for the chemical bond, though not typically used outdoors. (Additional technical note, the recommended trowel size for the Kerapoxy is 1/4 x1/4 x 1/4 for my application, with 1/8″ thick tile).
A huge thank you to both Daltile and Mapei for all the advice.
