A FASCINATING HOME CRAFT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 10

A FASCINATING HOME CRAFT

PAINTING ON GLASS. Have you seen those pretty little glass pepper and salt-shakers, and ashtrays, decorated with hand-painted wreaths of forgct-mc-nots, pimpernels, or tiny mixed posies? They look most effective, yet arc quite simple to do; and now that there is such a vogue for decorated glass, they will make charming gifts. The tools and paint are inexpensive, and the pepper pots and ash trays may be had in, plain glass, from sixpence each, so the hobby is not a costly one. You will need an old plate, a small tin of white enamel, tubes of oil paint in various bright shades, a bundle of toothpicks, one or two cheap, fine brushes, a bottle of turpentine, an old spoon and some clean rags. In addition, of course, you will want glass shakers, ash trays, etc. ■ Stir up tho enamel with an old spoon; this is very important, for the enamel should not be thin. Having well mixed it, take a spoonful from the tin and put it on one side of the plate. Close to this squeeze colour from the paint tubes, —black, blue, green, etc., according to requirements. Be sure to wash and dry tho things to bo decorated before starting to work on them.

Now choose your designs—little wreaths of flowers, trails of creeper, or small conventional patterns. With the tooth pick dipped first in the white enamel, then in the colour, which should bo thick, start work. A forget-me-not is suggested by a dot of blue for each petal and a yellow dot for the centre. Do not overwork tho flowers and bo sure to keep them small. Leave a few white touches to give a natural look, but otherwise do not try to go into detail. Leaves are just touches of green. To join up a wreath or spray, or two groups of flowers, paint in a little slender line, or make a chain of dots in green or light brown. EASY TO EEASE. If you are not satisfied with your design, take a piece of rag dipped in turpentine, wipe the article clean, dry and polish it, and start again. The great thing to remember is to keep both your touch and colours quite light. Anything smeary or laboured is to be avoided. The work becomes more and more fascinating as you plan out new colour schemes and learn to work the paints into neat yet original little designs. C.K.J.