Decorate

time is ripe clock
The ‘time is ripe’ clock. I painted white frame black, then used fruit erasers for decoration.

‘Decorate’ is what I say to people when they ask me what I like to do.

The next logical question people ask is ‘what specifically do you like to decorate’? To that I respond, ‘anything that doesn’t move faster than I do’.

That’s the joke our neighbor made up when he feared that his washing machine might be next. But seriously . . . .

 


According to Google the definition of decorate is:
dec·o·rate
/ˈdekəˌrāt/
verb 1.make (something) look more attractive by adding extra items or images to it.

 

 

How To Decorate Furniture and Furnishings

telephone table
A telephone table with a green spray base, a floor cloth upholstery, a matching floor cloth, lamp shade, and accessories.
Stencils When I first started to decorate, I briefly did so on furniture using stencil designs with acrylic paint.

Freehand Designs I rapidly was able to develop my own freehand styles of painting without the need or desire for stencils. But I did continue to use acrylic paint.

Surface Materials and Primers Wood and metal are the materials I like to decorate most. These surfaces work best when primed with spray paint or a gesso base.

 

Color Surface Next I use Liquitex or Golden acrylic paint that comes in a jar or bottle. Do not use paint from a tube because it is too thick. This paint would be the next layer when an additional color coat is necessary. As an alternative, spray paint can be sufficient as the color surface on large and intricate pieces like the telephone table above.

The Ultimate Furniture Decoration Technique

foot-stool
A small table that I have been able to decorate with oil cloth, pants, and sock ‘n shoes. Photo by Phil Jacobs.
For this most unusual technique(s) to decorate furniture and matching furnishings, I decorate with a variety of materials like this foot stool table:

• oil cloth
• fabric
• ribbon
• socks ‘n shoes

Note that the integrity of the pristine maple wood finish is underneath and has not been compromised by any adhesive or other sticking material.

 

 

How To Decorate Accessories

OK
Oka b sandals in so many colors to decorate.
Along my my decorating project journey, I have come to notice all kinds of other objects besides furniture and furnishings that want to be included. Small objects call out for unique identities.

In fact, this happens to include my collection of personal accessories like shoes and handbags as well as household items. Since I have so many of these items as well as things to decorate them with, their desire to mate is magnetic.

Materials to Use for Decoration To decorate handbags and shoes, I use a variety of materials:

• buttons
• earrings
• bracelets
• necklaces
• ribbon
• pins and pendants
• silk flowers
• plastic trinkets

pink button dots
Pink Oka b sandals with dotted button decor.
Shoes Summer sandals are the easiest and most fun way to decorate one’s shoes. Decoration can take these Oka b hot pink sandals at least one step further in becoming more adorable summer shoes wear. That’s thanks to my decorative techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

button handbag
Handbag with button decor.
Handbags I apply the same guideline to handbags that I do to furniture. If a new or vintage item is more valuable in its original condition, then do not try to enhance it with decoration. Leave it in its original condition.

 

 

 

 

 

dish
A small freehand acrylic painted dish with a spray paint base
Small (Non-Porous) Surfaces These items are fairly straightforward to work with. Just follow my ‘5-P process’:
Prep-clean or smooth surface if necessary
Prime– with spray paint or gesso
Paint-add a base color layer if one is necessary
Prettify– add a decorative layer
Protect– with a layer specifically designed for this purpose

 

 

 

matte and gloss finish
Liquitex brand Acrylic Matte Medium and Gloss Medium and Varnish.
Protective Coatings A final step when anti-scratch protection is necessary is Liquitex Matte Medium or Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish.

There is another kind of protective coating for wood that is a commercial rather than an art brand.

It is very durable but after many years it can start to yellow if it is used on a metal surface. So bear that in mind.

When you need to protect a wood surface it is preferable to use Zip-guard. It is a water-based Urethane wood finish.

 

tape or glue
Use double sided tape or strong glue to decorate.

Adhesives to Use for Decoration

There are primarily two optional methods to decorate handbags and shoes. Double sided heavy duty tape is a viable but temporary solution. But for permanent ways to decorate these items, use B-6000 glue.

It dries fast and stays on. So be sure that is the final design you want to use to decorate something.

If you’re not sure, go with the double stick tape. It provides a temporary way to decorate. Either way is fun and whatever you do, it enhances the original item.

And More Ways to Decorate . . . I am sure there are more kinds of knick knacks that can be used to decorate a surface. Let me know what you come up with. In fact, send us a photo of your ideas and creations.

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EVA ZEISEL: MASTER OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

 

Teapot
A popular Eva Zeisel Teapot, distinguished only be the applied pattern. The photo is from the Eva Zeisel Forum Facebook group.

The Story and Work of a Useful Object Maker

Industrial design masters, like Eva Zeisel, are very special. They are people whose work has transcended the design of everyday objects to things of beauty.

They are masters. This blog post will focus primarily on her mastery of tableware designs.

 

Industrial Designed Objects

Before I go any further I want to make a crucial distinction. It is the way that industrial design differs from crafts artisanship.

ID objects are meant to be machine reproduced in quantity. Yet a prototype may start out as a hand made one of a kind.

 

Handmade Crafts

But on the other hand, crafts are hand made. This is from start to finish.

If a craft object is reproduced, it is done so by hand. In addition, it may even stay one of a kind.

 

 

About Eva Zeisel

The details of Eva Zeisel’s life fascinate me. She spent a short time in jail for political protest. This did not dampen her enthusiasm for life. She lived to be 105. Her career included teaching Industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York. As a matter of fact, I lived near Pratt and took a course there. For an in-depth biography, read below and go to the sources and resources section of this post.

industrial design master
A short bio of Eva Zeisel,Industrial Design Master from Google.

Design Styles

industrial design masters
Three fish shaped bowls by Industrial designer Eva Zeisel. Photo from the Eva Zeisel Facebook forum Group.

Eva Zeisel Colorful Teapot Designs

The picture above of the nested fish bowls may be less typical of her work than her tableware designs. Here is one that I love.

industrial design masters
An Eva Zeisel teapot set design from her Facebook Group forum.

Teardrop Collections

Eva Zeisel’s work was well known for the teardrop shape design. Below are samples.

Museums, Exhibitions and Colllections

Over the years Eva’s design vocabulary changed. I would be remiss not to include other pieces I like very much. They are in the tea set category. Notable are shows of her work in museums all over the country, as well. They have included:
Denver Art Museum, Serious Play 2019
Eva Zeisel Collection at the International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Ann Arbor Michigan
Eva Zeisel Collection pieces at RISD

industrial design master
Listing of Museums and exhibitions from Wikipedia

Future posts in the Industrial Design Masters series may include RUSSELL WRIGHT, DOROTHY, MACKENZIE-CHILDS, PORTER, and the TARGET TEAPOT DESIGNER/ARCHITECT

SOURCES & RESOURCES

Eva Zeisel, Wikipedia
Nonfiction Book Review-Eva Zeisel on Design: The Magic Language of Things
Eva Zeisel Forum, Facebook Group

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