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hand-painted teacup and saucer with louchelab Print E-mail
Written by julieincharge for How-To   
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:14

It's been awhile since I've run a how-to article, but this one from Etsy Storque just begged to be posted. It seems pretty simple to do, doesn't cost a forture, and it looks like a lot of fun.  I think a hand painted cup or bowl or plate or something would make a great Mother's Day gift.  And you've got plenty of time get it done.

Hand Painted Teacup header

As I settle in to compile this week's How-Tuesday post, the world outside my window looks like a flustered snow globe, with whipping winds and a frigid fog of white. On days like this, I wish for nothing more than to cozy up at my craft table with a pot of tea and a few supplies, to follow my notions and fleeting little ideas down a mysterious garden path in my mind and see where I end up. I have admired Aya Rosen's artwork and art-infused life since watching the LoucheLab's Love Story video a couple years ago.The project she shares with us today could serve as a springboard to transforming your own art style into a new medium. I know that after reading her how-to, I am ready to get started decorating dishware for my new apartment!

* * *

This little project is really fun to make! It’s pretty simple, not very messy, and rather inexpensive. You don’t need any special tools and it makes a wonderful gift. In fact, I discovered this painting method a few years ago when making a vase as a gift for my mom. Usually my designs are rather complex and take some drawing skills. For this project I was trying to see if I could make something cute without a complicated illustration, and instead, get a cool design by just using a simple shape over and over again.

So, let’s get going!

 

This is what you’ll need:

  • A piece of china to paint. It may be any white china, ceramic or porcelain. In this case it"s a cup and saucer.
  • 1 fine tip Pebeo Porcelaine 150 marker. I used 08 Anthracite Black.
  • A few colors of Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paint. I used 43 Ivory, 18 Sapphire Blue, 20 Turquoise, and just a tiny bit of 05 Coral Red, 01 Citrine Yellow, 10 Tourmaline Red.
  • A paint brush or two, a pallet to mix paint on (I use a plate) and a few cotton swabs to fix mistakes
  • Rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner
  • A standard kitchen oven to bake the piece and set the colors

 

The first thing to do is to clean the piece with rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner to remove any fingerprints or grease. Next, if you have never used the marker, you must “start” the paint to flow. The way to do this is to shake it well for about 30 seconds, then press the tip to a piece of paper and pump it, until the paint starts to flow.

 

Once it starts to flow begin to draw on your dish. The cup I chose has a scalloped pattern around the rim, which made me think of clouds, so the shape I chose for this set was a raindrop. I framed the area I wanted to draw on with a black line, and then I drew rain drops all over the cup. The marker paint dries to the touch in about 5-10 seconds.

 

I drew the same design on the saucer.

 

I had an idea to draw a small design in the middle of the saucer — something that would not be seen when you pour the tea, but would be a surprise when you lift the cup! At first I thought about a sun, but then I decided to draw a rainbow instead.

 

And now for the fun part! I used a medium sized brush to paint the inside of the raindrops. The first color I used was Sapphire Blue. First, mix the paint well before you start painting. Do not shake the paint, as this will cause bubbles that will be transferred onto your piece. The consistency of the paint is nice and thick straight from the bottle, but if it’s too thick for you, add a tiny bit of water. I painted about ¼ of the raindrops in this color.

What happens if you go out of lines or mess up? No problem! If the paint is still wet, simply wipe it with a cotton swab or a tissue. If the paint has dried, use a moist cotton swab with a bit of alcohol. If the whole thing is a big disaster and you want to start over, just wash the dish with warm water or rinse with rubbing alcohol and dry well before starting over.

What I really love about the Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paints is that they mix together very well. You can do a lot with just one or two colors. For the next bunch of drops I mixed the sapphire blue with some ivory to make light sky blue.

I painted another ¼ of the raindrops with the light sky blue, then switched to white, and then switched to turquoise mixed with a little bit of white. What’s important to remember is to rinse the brush and wipe it dry on a towel to remove excess water between the different colors, especially when switching to and from white.

After I finished the raindrops I switched to a very fine tip brush and painted the rainbow. I used a mix of yellow and red to make the orange, and a mix of yellow and blue to make the green.

That’s it. All of the painting is finished!

So, what now? It isn"t time to use it yet. The colors are completely removable with warm water until the piece is baked. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Then, place it in a cool oven directly on the middle oven rack and set the temperature at 150°C or 300°F.  When the temperature has been reached, set the timer for 30 minutes and bake. Once complete, turn off the oven and allow the piece to cool down gradually before removing. Now you are really finished! Your cup and saucer are ready to use. Enjoy your tea!


A few more tips...

  • The fine tip markers may become plugged. To prevent this, always replace the cap immediately after using, even if you are just taking a short break. Also, be sure to store them horizontally. If it does get plugged, take the tip out and soak it in hot water for a few minutes and dry well.  If the plug doesn’t release, repeat this and blow through the tip.
  • When baking the dish, don’t pre-heat the oven. The difference in temperature may cause the china to crack. Instead, put the dishes in the cool oven, then turn the oven on.
  • It’s very tempting to get a million color paints and use all of them on the same dish, but I’ve had the most aesthetically pleasing results with using only a couple of colors on each piece.
  • The paints are translucent, which means that white or light colored china works the best. If you want the paint to be more opaque, simply mix it with a little bit of white (43 Ivory), or place a base coat of white (43 Ivory) under the color.
  • Of course, you don’t have to draw raindrops if you don’t like them. A few other simple shapes that might work equally well are: hearts, polka dots, stars, doodles and random lines, animals or text. You can make this extra special by adding the name or initials of the recipient of the cup and saucer!

Please note: Pebeo is non-toxic. However, it is not recommended for use on surfaces that come in contact with food.

Thank you to Aya Rosen from LoucheLab and art supply company Pebeo for sharing this project with us.

LoucheLab"s Love Story | More How-Tuesday Posts | Ceramics & Pottery on Etsy

 
uk style: a bit of fluff Print E-mail
Written by Amity in Spotlight   
Monday, 22 February 2010 01:00

Used to be I thought of pom poms as no more than props for cheerleaders.  But this piece from Etsy Storque, by Amity in London, has given me a whole new pom pom outlook.  This is just too much fun!


Pom Pom article header

I’m all for a little stylish frivolity, especially at this time of year when, let’s face it, we all need a bit of cheer to get us through the bitterly cold and grey days.

Enter the pom pom (a.k.a. pom pon), a funny little ball of fluff we can all remember making at nursery school. Show me something more outrageously fun and, dare I say it, unexpectedly sophisticated to liven up my winter wardrobe in a jiffy and I’ll eat my ear warmers.

February has a habit of dragging its heels and I can’t think of a better way to put smiles on the faces of my fellow Londoners than donning a colourful fur ball or two.

Photo by sunchineupton on Flickr

Art student and blogger, Milla, goes the folk route with an amazing oversized scarf. Capturing this look is about the colour combinations, which can work in both bright and muted tones.

Pom Pom looped Scarf

By knitwit, $29.

Giant Dirty Flamingo Necklace

By AAliciaAccessories, $175.

the pom pom lariat.

By missindie, $25.

Teal Hooded Poncho with Pom Pom

By LoveandKnit, $109.

 

Photos via Marie Claire

All in the best possible taste — Givenchy shows us how bubble-shapes are done in their Spring/Summer 2010 Couture Collection. If I happened to have a ball to go to (see what I did there?) then either of these looks would be adequate. Absolutely stunning designs with a hint of surrealism, which is just how I like my high-end fashion.

Feathered Jellyfish Ensemble

By TheMoonShop, $2069.

Couture Circle Bubble Skirt

By supastarclothing1, $54.50.

Black Satin Bubble Dress

By decadentdesignz, $145.

Beating Heart Evening Gown

By devaniweaver, $295.

Photo via Alicia on Flickr

Speaking of surreal, how delicious is this scene from Alicia (who also happens to be one half of the Etsy shop duo sirenaconjersey)? It"s like something out of a Pedro Almodóvar film, I keep waiting for these two to have a furious argument, hug and then start a restaurant business together.

Franny and Zooey... 3 poms

By PomLove, $18.

Party Pom Garland - 3 yards

By PartyPoms, $40.

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Kit

By BlossomLane09, $20.

Sweetheart POM Candy Flower Kit

By ThePaperWhale, $4.85.

Photo via Duckie Brown

Duckie Brown introduced the oversized male pom pom hat for Winter 09/10. Absolutely phenomenal. Nuff said.

Green Mohawk Hat

By LeafLee, $30.

Massive Pom Pom Hat in Dark Grey

By YesJess, $44.

The Two Tone Pom Pom Hat

By ItsSweets, $40.

Wild Man Bearded Hat

By BreannaGunderson, $20.

Photo via Style Bubble

UK funstress, Susie Bubble, never fails to bring playfulness to our computer screens, which is why we love her so. Just delightful here in a neon Topshop jumper. As she admits in her blog post, this is one weighty style statement, but it"s well worth the effort in the cheer stakes.

POMPOM VINTAGE CARDIGAN

From loverosevintage, $28.

Suzette"s Collar

By CircusDolls4ever, $43.

POMPOM  Ballet Shoes

By KirstyMcKenzie, $177.

Bubble Sweater

By inspirebynancy, $75.

 

Photos via Chris Benz

Chris Benz"s 2010 Collection carries us into spring. I"m loving the use of colour here. Is it just me or is this a bit Kelis circa "99?

ostrich vest.

From vjones1, $65.

Carolina Faux Fur Couture Dress

By cuddlebunny, $115.

men"s Harf Vostok

By TheOriginalHarf, $95.

Wild Things Are Hat -SALE

By Hiporufalo, $30.

Photo by sharkseason on Flickr

I must be kidding, right? Well excuse me, but this photo from Visual Artist and MFA Fibres student, Suzen Green, was too fun to pass up. Why merely accessorise with pom poms and fluffy things when you can embody them?

NEW - "Midnight Fusion" Hair Fall Hat

By capturedimagination, $85.

Gigantic Auburn Bouffant Birds Nest

By CrudeThings, $400.

Jeans hat with yarn hair for kids

By lachiffonniere, $19.

COUTURE POMPOM HAT

By couvert, $75.

Style Posts | The UK Edition

 
good looking winter warmers Print E-mail
Written by Marina Flournoy   
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:26

It has been chilly, chilly, chilly all over the east and elsewhere. So I've pulled together some comfy warmers to help you lay on the layers and look good in the process. You'll find plenty more in Handmade Lookup and at our featured sites.

Colorful Chunky Slippers

click for details

By Crazy Jane Knits, $24

Alpaca Wool Scarf

icon

By Jorge Priori, $69 (sale)

Custom Fitted Wool Coat

click for details

By Stephanie Teague, $295

Converible Wool Hat

click for details

By Terry Graziano, $154

Felted Merino Wool Hoody

click for details

By Sandmaiden, $115

Silky Wool Hooded Scarf

click for details

By Rose Tung, $150

Merino Wool Scarf

icon

By Sonya MacIntosh, $150

English Thompson

click for details

By Yokoo, $60

Men's Alpaca Wool Sweater

click for details

By Alfredo Falcon, $85

Felted Slipper Socks

click for details

By Pawfelts, $50

Alpaca Wool Gloves

click for details

By Manuela Ramos Mvmt, $45

* * *

Go to Handmade Lookup. Handmade Lookup

Last Updated on Sunday, 21 February 2010 22:06
 
etsy finds: which fashion rules the runway? Print E-mail
Written by Mary Mary in Spotlight   
Friday, 12 February 2010 04:46

From Etsy Storque:

Fashion Rules header image

With New York Fashion Week at full speed, and the untimely loss of industry favorite Alexander McQueen, today's finds consist of emerging fashions on a global scale.  This array of avant-garde designs was nominated by Etsy's community. Join in the fun and vote for your favorite item from this collection today! The top five picks will be featured on Etsy's home page Friday, February 19.

The fashion vote will be open from February 12, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. ET until February 18, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Visit Etsy's Voter to choose your favorites from a variety of themes and collections.

 

The coolest shorts - wool

By MyLolaFashion, $69.

Points Dress

By lizarietz, $321.

Black Beauty Bustle Gown

By stephaniemadesh, $740.

Lace Leather Necklace

By LemkaB, $48.

Shoulder Statement Neckwear

By giia, $138.

Pink Souffle Hair Piece

By itsokmydear, $45.

Pizzo earrings

By betsy3, $18.

Amenaza maxi skirt

By etceteraperu, $25.

Long oval Lapis and silver ring

By littlebugjewelry, $44.

Crystal Boxes Necklace

By MothHouse, $52.

Painted Shoes

By ScholarlyArticles, $85.

Felt wool nuno silk handbag

By JuliaFelt, $165.

Dark Grey Wool Cloak Bolero

By yystudio, $178.80.

Leather Panel Leggings

By blackmarketbaby, $92.

Dancing Macrame knitted dress

By uniquastudio, $218.

valentine Jersey twist Tank

By avalentine, $44.

Nude star-light evening gown

By OblivionClothing, $380.

RING nickel silver oval

By quenchmetalworks, $275.

Briefcase in Russet Brown

By jennyndesign, $226.

Boer Belt

By adhesif, $110.

Avant Garde Paper Neck Piece

By papercutsbyjoe, $45.

Sugar Ring Silver and Agate

By MarKhed, $200.

Felted Bracelet Cuff

By FeltedPleasure, $29.

Men Kimono style Overcoat

By RayVin123, $225.

Unique statement necklace

By babinka1981, $60.

4-Strap Belt

By garbagedress, $70.

Pixie"s frill dress

By Nadinoo, $230.

Nuno Felted Shawl

By vart, $158.

Grey Wraparound iLE AiYE

By ileaiye, $160.

lemon layered mini flapper dress

By IreneBau, $373.

Classic Beige Coat FREE SHIPPING

By tasifashion, $149.

Azure Swiss Blue Topaz Earrings

By GlitzGlitter, $55.

Black Wide Belt Lace Brass Buckle

By ByTheBelt, $25.

Reversible ruffles cowl

By poaplumbagsjewelry, $80.

Pleats in Blues zippered clutch

By lolos, $26.

SWANclothing SOCK GARTERS

By SWANclothing, $35.

Wind necklace--14k gold filled

By thejewelrybar, $32.

Big Daddy Cable Knit Scarf

By TheRubyNeedle, $72.

Indigo Mo-Tuk

By saralagace, $135.

Lavender freeform cuff

By uloni, $46.

Felted gloves --- Handmade to Order

By aureliaLT, $49.

Honeycomb

By emilyryan, $700.

Reconstructed sweater coat

By jill2day, $197.

Aviator Cap Vintage,Wool, and Silk

By bonniesknitting, $52.

ASYMMETRICAL NECKLINE TOP

By duende74, $75.

Dark Brown Elk Leather Ruffle Bag

By stacyleigh, $597.

Blue Bow Fragola Hat

By P8Accessories, $55.

Organic Cotton Ruffle Dress

By TheGarbologistsWife, $136.

Turquoise Statement Necklace

By Studiohart, $438.

John Smith faux with pin back

By EWMcCall, $17.

crimson and clover

By savoytruffles, $50.

Turquoise and Copper Necklace

By catrocks, $98.

vintage 1960s mod eyeglasses

From thevintagegreen, $49.

Multi color Turquise yarn Fingerless

By cookieletta, $24.

Sweater Vest in Wool and Silk

By BlueKimonoStudio, $48.

Black Metal Waist Cincher

By annaladymoon, $70.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

 
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