DECORATING GLASSWARE

NZ Truth, Issue 1273, 24 April 1930, Page 17

DECORATING GLASSWARE

For Special Outdoor Service Sets Every year people are learning to spend more and, more time m their garden, and this has given rise to a charming fashion. TT is much more sensible to purchase inexpensive articles and decorate them. What could be more charming than a colored glass lemonade set to hand round to the tennis players; attractive sets which fit into prettiiy-shaped baskets are so easy to carry about, and much safer than using the ordinary tray. It is very necessary that, the glass should be absolutely clean and free from grease. Wash the articles m warm water containing soap flakes, using a flannel to rub over the surface. If the glasses are to be used for hot d.rin!<s they should be placed m a pan of cold water. Allow the water to come to boiling point as slowly as possible, remove the pan from the fire and leave the glasses m it until the water is cold. Then take them out, allow to drain, dry and polish. Draw or purchase a suitable design, something conventional for preference. The design shown is repeated three times on each. glass, and a larger edition of the same design is used five times on the jug. As all glasses are not the same size, measure round the top, divide the measurement m three, or take the diameter. .•':.' If you allow for each section of the design to be this size you will find it will fit the glass. After drawing out one section of the design on tracing paper, fit this inside the glass about %m. from the top, to leave enough space for the black line. ' Slit the tracing paper round the edge to make it lie flat and, secure with a little gum -paste or pieces'' of stamp-paper. If you make the tracing m ink, it should show through the glass quite well. Use Small Brush Decide on the coloring. Take a little light green senamel from the tin, and put it m a small saucer. Mix it into the very smallest amount of dark blue to make jade green. Then with a pointed stick, specially for the purpose, work the color on to the glass where required. Work from the centre to the edge and do not use the color too thickly. Lay the glass down flat whilst working, so that, the bulk of the senamel does not remain at the bottom of the design. Never allow one color to touch another whilst wet, unless you wish to shade them together. As. most of the green is underneath it should be done first and allowed to dry before the other colors are put on.. This is quite simple when working a set, as you pass from one glass to another, and by the time they are all begun the first one should be safe to work on again. Next use -white, working m the same way. After that, black, filling m some of the leaves and circles. You will notice the centres are a different color. This must not be applied until the undercoat is perfectly dry, otherwise the surface will be damaged, and you will never get a clean edge. Some people find it difficult, and even impossible, to make fine lines with the stick, and use a small sable brush instead. When using a brush be careful to keep it fully charged, and do not press on it, just draw it along. A smooth, even surface is the great charm of this work. When making small dots, let them drop from the point of the stick.