Faking Black and White Enamel Ware with Polka Dots

 I am still in the planning stages for my black and white kitchen, you know, saving great kitchens in a Pinterest file.

But I know I will want black and white accessories, so I have been collecting and adapting a few things to add punch.

My cabinets are a good three feet below the ceiling, so I have been saving up goodies to go there.

 This pitcher was a fairly common looking steel pitcher, similar to the one above, though I think this would work with an old aluminum pitcher as well.

I sprayed several coats of white spray paint on the pitcher, as you see to the right.

Then using craft paints and a foam roller, with the handle removed, I made polka dots around the pitcher.  I later filled in the holes left by the foam roller, with a brush, and painted the rim and handle.

Next I sprayed the pitcher with a high gloss craft paint, available at craft stores.

 Here it is with some enamelware pitchers.  The coffee pot in the middle is one I gave the same treatment as the polka dot pitcher.

I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and plan to do similar treatments to other old metal utilitarian pieces.

Thanks for stopping by, I will keep you posted on my kitchen redo as we go along.

Chevrons and Subway Art

 Its crunch time for the Reclaim-ologist boutique ... and frankly I am having fun ... crazy I know, but having a deadline energizes me.

I stamped the top of the night stand I painted yesterday ... tricky? Yes, perfect? No ... but loved doing it.  Hopefully I will get better at it ... right?

 So here are the goodies I have been working on, plus the royal bee stools I did a while ago ... now ready to fit in with the black and white theme in one corner of my booth at the show.

The chest to the left is great with its new black enamel paint, but I wanted something to add personality.  I found this old advert on Graphics Fairy, and it was just the thing.  The trunk is lined with wallpaper that has old newspaper adds, and I thought it worked well with those.

 This old desk is also very durable with its oil based enamel paint ... and fun chevron drawer fronts, to perk it up.

Its also solid oak and very heavy, hauling it into the show should be interesting.

 

Set up for the Reclaimologists' show is tomorrow, so wish me well!

Halloween Meets Instagram

 Today is the day ... its the Reclaim_ologists Instasale on Instagram .... and on the table above are some of my offerings.

 

Oh, and I had to show you the cute chair I picked up at the Haunted Mill Event a couple of weeks ago from Angie Farmer of The American Homemaker.  I love it!

 These guys were so fun to make ... I used glass candle sticks and an old encyclopedia to decopauge them for the bases.  Also used scrapbook paper, vintage crepe paper, ribbon, old buttons, game pieces, rhinestone jewelry parts, washi tape and black Halloween garland!  Such a fun project.

 

 Loved this scrapbook paper, and thought it was perfect to go with the book page designed stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I wanted to use a face for Jack that was a bit different than the norm ... so I did some searching on Graphics Fairy and found this guy ... I thought he looked super happy ... so I borrowed his face.

My listing times on our Instagram page are 1:15, 1:30 and 1:45 today if you want to come by and see what's been keeping me busy!!

DIY Making Fake Enamelware

 About a month ago I was working at the antique mall and saw an adorable reproduction French enameled bathing pitcher ... it had a checker board band around it and I was smitten ....



That started my mind peculating, and I thought it would be great to use black and white enamel ware on the tops of my cupboards when I redo my kitchen in black and white ... a project that is still in the planning process.  I know, as an antique dealer, that old enamelware can be pricey, especially the pitchers, tea pots and coffee pots that I thought would look best.

I then found the small enameled pitcher above and it was  a steal, so I bought the tall bathing pitcher (not a steal) and the small jug and looked for an in between piece ... that's when I saw the aluminum coffee pot above ... and thought "Perfect size, love the shape, very cheap ... ah if only it were enamelware ...

 

Now for a little history, enamelware was made by dipping tin pots and pans into heavy enamel (oil base) paint.  Then after drying, it was baked. 

 

Spray paint is also oil based enamel ... though I did find that even with a clear coat on top of the white it was not shiny enough to look like enamelware.  That's when I remembered my secret weapon ... 'Hi Shine' ... it worked like a charm. I then used a foam paint brush and painted the trim on the rolled edges that are usually painted on enamelware.

 Sadly the cute aluminum tea pot I found at a garage sale .... for a dollar, with the same intent, had a painting accident ... and will have to be stripped and redone ... a project for after flea.o.logy.

 

So here is the completed grouping.  See how the coffee pot is the perfect size?  I love it and am now on the hunt for old aluminum forms, which are ALWAYS MUCH CHEAPER, but have the same utilitarian shapes as the slightly earlier enamelware.

 

And did you notice that I christened it a chocolate pot? (Ala Graphics Fairy) I want black pops, but don't want to be too matchy matchy to the checkerboard pattern ...

Oh and then, while still in the enameling mood, I looked around and spotted these abused, but not very old, tin buckets with paper patterns glued on.  (I bought a stack of 12 of them for $4 at a yard sale of course)  After some soaking and scrubbing, I gave the one above the same treatment.  I found the label form on Graphics Fairy too ... then moved it to my Paint program and 'typed' in a flower name ... it reminds me so much of the gummed labels my mom used to type on and label EVERYTHING with ... that it makes me smile!

Thanks for coming along ... if you love enamelware, maybe you will be making some fakes yourself?  What do you think?