RelovedVintagechina
By Mel Chaplain-Spence
hellohappiness... This book is packed with imaginative ideas to turn china oddments into fully conceived mini works of art – very quickly. If you love markets and collecting unique finds; and if you love crafting, you will adore learning how to transform china oddments into beautiful, soulful creations. In recent years “Make Do & Mend” has risen up defiantly in rebellion against mass production and consumerism. Designer-makers have joined the movement, casting new light on old heirlooms and china oddments – and by adding a contemporary edge these ‘object d’art’ are much coveted.
Learn how to transform mismatched & modest domestic pieces into utterly unique style statements - personal creations you will treasure – and all on a shoestring budget. The nostalgia of vintage items combined with contrasting contemporary treatments, creates unique and joyful pieces for interiors, as well as providing tremendous enjoyment in the making process. .
Whatever your style – elegant, rock & roll, whimsical or quirky – these guided-projects here will excite and inspire you, and draw gasps of Ooohs and Ahhhs from your new admirers.
decorativesurfaces Layering surface treatments upon the existing vintage design produces exciting and stimulating designs. You can compliment the existing theme and colours, or completely juxtapose with unexpected additions. Any ‘wear and tear’ of the vintage pattern simply adds soul to the piece. Decoupage approaches can be used – such as the project for family silhouettes where black card cut-outs are pasted to the plate surface. Another successful choice is ‘Lasertran’...
PROJECT 1 1.
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Wash your vintage plate in soapy hot water before beginning. Working with one of existing colours of your vintage plate (here blue) find an image that attracts you/makes a statement. The internet is a good source (www.graphicsfairy.com) or scan into images on your computer. Now...How to use Lazertran Inkjet: this can be bought online or from stationers or craft shops. Follow on-pack instructions, but essentially you load and print onto this specialist paper as you would ordinary print paper. Allow 30 mins drying time. Cut the image to size and soak in water until the transfer comes away from the backing paper (about 60 seconds). Apply transfer to vintage plate, and gently smooth over with dry cloth to remove air bubbles. After application the transfer will dry with a white background. T o make this clear and show the surface colour and texture below, apply 2 or 3 coats of any oil/spirit based varnish., and allow to dry. Ta dah !
PROJECT 2 Wash your vintage plate in soapy hot water before beginning. Work with the same process and steps as before, this time using family photos to create a wall display for family tree.
PROJECT 3 Wash your vintage plate in soapy hot water before beginning. Work with the same process and steps as before, this time using an unexpected image for extreme contrast and a touch of rock’n’roll attitude.
PROJECT 4 Wash your vintage plate in soapy hot water before beginning. Take of profile photograph of your subject and print onto quality paper. Cut out profile image and paint over with matt black paint. Stick to plate with ‘copydex’ glue or similar. Ta dah !
PROJECT 5 Wash your china in soapy hot water before beginning. 1. Source PORCELAINE PAINT in a colour you like (craft shops or online) 2. Paint and/or pour the paint onto your china, and move the piece around to help the pain move. Swirls, splats and drips add to the effect. 3. Allow to dry for 24 hours and then bake for 20 mins in a domestic oven at 180 degree centigrade. Cool and use. Ta dah !
deconstructconstruct By deconstructing the surface glaze of vintage pieces, a ghostly remnant of the pattern is left and the result is very evocative and pleasing to the eye. But unintentional deconstruction (or damage) can be wonderful to work with too. Centuries ago, the Japanese developed a method for fixing broken pottery called KINTSUGI - they would aggrandize that which was broken with a lacquer resin sprinkled with powdered gold, believing that when something has suffered damage and has a history, once fixed it is more beautiful and precious than before it was fractured.
And construction offers all sorts of possibilities to combine elements into something new and original.
PROJECT 6 Wash your china in soapy hot water before beginning. Source gold enamel paint from a craft shop or online, and delicately paint lip of cup in gold. At one point, over paint / pour an excess of your gold so that it drips. (decorative use only). Ta dah !
PROJECT 7 Wash your china in soapy hot water before beginning. 1. Glue a broken vintage piece of china together (break it first if you need to!) 2. Once dry, trace the lines of repair with a gold enamel pen, or with a paint brush and gold paint. Allow to dry and revere your piece as the Japanese did with their Kintsugi. Ta dah !
PROJECT 8 1. Photograph or scan your vintage china to capture the glaze pattern for later use. 2. Sandblast the glaze away to the degree that satisfies you – leaving some layers of the original pattern. (find a local provider and use a very fine grade of grit) . 3. Break or sandblast away a section. This is then infilled with a textile insert (either a contrasting material, or the original pattern printed onto fabric with specialist transfer paper (craft shops or online). Glue in place and display. Ta dah!
Practicalchina Your china isn’t just beautiful, but functional and practical also. One of my favourite ideas is using china cups and bowls to organise my drawers – ear rings in one cup, rings in another. On the following pages are just a few ideas to inspire you – let your imagination flow, and break all the rules.
Orphaned lids are given a new family to belong to ... Ahhhh!
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Happymaking... We hope you found the projects here inspiring. Please try a few – you’ll find your creativity flourishes the more you do. And trust your instincts for any new ways to work with vintage china. Have fun, and ta ta for now xx