FARRAGOZ Notebook

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

How to up-cycle a table lamp

Over 20 years ago this lamp base started off green and fresh-faced. That's the way it's always been until last week when I discovered it while rummaging through old boxes.

I've always thought it had good bones and that someday I should paint it. Standing over the box, it hit me: the methods applied to the new sample board I was working on for the FARRAGOZ Patina FINISHES Course, would be perfect for the transformation of this lamp.

I already had the moulds in which to produce the ornaments that I wanted to add around the top of the lamp. The ornaments needed to be flexible in order to curve around the body and therefore I would have to use recipes and methods from Project 6 of the FARRAGOZ Patina PROJECTS Course. I had plenty of pre-made square ornaments to add around the base of the lamp.

TIP: Whenever I make ornaments and have some leftover mixture, instead of discarding it, I use this to make extra ornaments to keep in stock. You never know when they may come in handy.

HOW I DID THIS

I started off by lightly sanding the entire lamp base. This was no more than a 5-minute job.

{See MATERIAL LIST at the bottom of this post}

Once I had reproduced the necessary ornaments, I glued them all to the lamp.

TIP: Use elastic rubber bands to keep the ornaments in position while the glue dries.

The surface may look clean, but who knows what has attached itself to the wood to penetrate the surface over the years. So it was important to prime it. I used the easy 3-step priming method that FARRAGOZ students use to create their own primers.

When that was done, it was time to add a homemade casein paint layer, followed by gold tempera on the details.

Next, I painted several coats of paint in various colours, using the traditional recipes from our courses.

After everything had dried, distressing was the next step.

Satisfied with the results thus far, I was excited to start the best part of the whole process - adding the extra patina and sealing the piece.

So, to sum up ...

MATERIAL LIST

1. Basic lamp base

2. Sandpaper

3. Primer ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses

4. Ornaments ~ Recipes and methods from FARRAGOZ Patina PROJECTS Course

5. Glue

6. Elastic rubber bands

7. Casein paint ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses

8. Gold tempera ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses

9. Paintbrushes

10. Polish

HOW TO

1. Sand down lightly to key

2. Apply ornaments

3. Prime ~ Following instructions in FARRAGOZ Online Courses

4. Paint white

5. Paint gold details

6. Paint various colours in layers

7. Distress and polish ~ Following Methods in FARRAGOZ Patina FINISHES Course

It is very easy to find lamps suitable for up-cycling at thrift stores, junk shops or markets. In this tutorial, changing the entire look of the piece was merely a case of adding ornaments and paint.

Finding the right ornaments may seem tricky at first, but it really is not. You can buy them ready-made from hardware stores or craft suppliers. Alternatively, you can copy them from old (or new) furniture pieces and frames. Once you start looking for them, you will realise how plentiful they are.

There are various methods to copy and reproduce ornaments. Making a mould is a good idea if you want to reproduce multiples. All of this info is available in our PROJECTS Course.

I've discovered another lamp base in one of the boxes and will soon be giving that one a make-over too. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

This post was shared with:

Inspiration Monday

Merry Monday
Amaze Me Monday
The Creative Gallery
That DIY Party
Inspire Me Monday
Motivational Monday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
PROJECT INSPIRE{D}
Brag About It
Tuesday At Our Home
Lou Lou Girls
Inspire Me Tuesday
Busy Monday
Making The World Cuter
Wake Up Wednesday
Work It Wednesday
Dream.Create.Inspire
Party in your PJs
Wow Us Wednesdays
Share Your Cup
Homemade and Handcrafted
Grace at Home
Thursday Favorite Things
Friday's Furniture Fix
Party Time at a Bouquet of Talent and Top Views
Saturday Spark
Sunday at Home
Sunday's Best
A Round Tuit
Dishing It & Digging It
Sweet Inspiration
Friday Frenzy
Shabbilicious Friday

Friday, 25 March 2016

How to do a last minute Vintage Easter Centre Piece

Time for Easter Bunnies and Eggs once more! My, how time has flown to bring us round to another Easter and am I prepared for it? Well, yes I am now, after some last minute painting of eggs and a bunny to take centre stage on my Easter brunch table.

It all went so fast these last 2 days. I had some unopened packets of polystyrene eggs in different sizes stashed away in a cupboard and a brand spanking new unglazed porcelain bunny sitting on the shelf waiting to receive the FARRAGOZ treatment.

The night before last, I eventually said: "Right, you lot! No more time to waste. Let's get you painted."

I quickly mixed some primer, poured a little into four small bowls and coloured them until I had four different pastel colours of my choice. Next, I stuck a pin into each of the eggs to provide me with a kind of handle to hold onto while I paint them. I applied only one coat of the coloured primer on each and, with the pins still in place, strung them up to dry.

I started mixing casein paint for the bunny. I knew I wanted the finish very loosely based on Finish F140 from the Patina FINISHES Course, but perhaps a bit greener. So mixing the colours was really easy.

Before going to bed, I painted the first colour. As the bunny was very porous, there was no need for a primer.

Everything had dried nicely overnight and yesterday morning I was able to add the second colour to the bunny.

Last night I added the third colour.

This morning it was dry enough to be distressed, after which I sealed it.

And that was it! Eggs done in one coat of coloured primer (no distressing or sealing) and bunny done in three coats of casein paint, distressed and sealed - All ready for the table.

I added a shell wreath I made last Christmas, an old bird's nest, some pewter ware, crystal ware, emptied goose eggshells I've had for years, real Easter eggs and a few Ladurée chocolates.

Now I need to get cracking on the menu for the real food.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Tania

xxx

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Thursday, 25 February 2016

How to paint a new plastic frame to look like an authentic antique

I had another point to prove with paint. This time it's to my nearest and dearest. Yes, I know I keep doing this, but I can't stop myself. You should have heard the remarks when I walked through the door with this tucked under my arm.

Granted, it simply smacked of cheap and nasty mass production, but I believed I could have this $3.50 plastic mirror frame looking like an antique, in no time.

HOW I DID THIS

I quickly sanded the entire frame, leaving the surface less smooth for my homemade primer to adhere to.

{See MATERIAL LIST at the bottom of this post}

I then applied an inexpensive homemade primer in 3 quick steps.

Next up was some white paint.

At the time I was painting some paint finishes sample boards in blues and greys for the new Patina FINISHES Course and I had tiny bits of these leftover casein paints in the fridge. As I was aiming for a lovely crusty look in shades of blue and grey with a touch of gold just peaking through, I decided to not let those little spoonfuls go to waste.

I mixed them together until I had two shades of blue. I did the same with leftover greys.

I applied them in a sequence that I knew would give me the perfect patina I was after and once dry, I distressed and sealed it.

And that was it! A new mass produced, glossy white, plastic mirror frame became an old and unique "antique mirror" in just a short time.

So, to sum up ...

MATERIAL LIST

1. Moulded plastic frame with some detail
2. Sandpaper
3. Primer ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses
4. Wax
5. Casein paint ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses
6. Gold tempera ~ Recipe from FARRAGOZ Online Courses
7. Paintbrushes
8. Polish

HOW TO

1. Sand down lightly to key
2. Prime ~ Following instructions in FARRAGOZ Online Courses
3. Paint white
4. Paint grey
5. Paint gold details
6. Wax resist
7. Paint blue
8. Wax resist
9. Paint grey on details
10. Distress ~ Following Methods in FARRAGOZ Online Courses
11. Polish

It is more work than using a spray can, but I think it is fair to say I have saved this piece of plastic from inevitably landing on the rubbish heap.

Now the mirror glass is bothering me. It looks too new. Do you agree? I think I will be ageing that too, using the same methods we used to age the mirror in the Italian Style Mirror module of the FARRAGOZ Patina PROJECTS Course.

Happy Painting!

Tania

xxx

FARRAGOZ Students are creating the most beautiful patina, applying paint and techniques from the online courses to their own projects.

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This post was shared with:
Friday's Furniture Fix
Inspiration Monday
A Round Tuit
Dishing It & Digging It
Merry Monday
Sweet Inspiration
Share Your Cup Thursday
Craft Frenzy Friday
That DIY Party
Amaze Me Monday
The Really Crafty Link Party
Party In Your PJ's
Turn It Up Tuesday
Talk of the Town
Dream.Create.Inspire
Wow Us Wednesdays
Homemade And Handcrafted
Waste Not Wednesday
The DIY Collective
Thursday Favorite Things
Be Inspired
Handmade Hangout
Grace at Home
DIY Salvaged Junk Projects
Shabbilicious Friday
Friday Feature
Saturday Sparks
Motivational MondayBusy Monday
A Bouquet of Talent
Sundays at Home Link Party
Sunday's Best

Thursday, 31 December 2015

Saving money and the planet, using old world recipes to make furniture paint from scratch

As the earth is warming and governments are scrambling to retain greenhouse gas emissions, I walk around smiling, safe in the knowledge that I am doing my bit - and so can you!

So here is how you can relax and enjoy this year!

Break The Pattern

Waste is one of the biggest culprits killing the earth. And it's not just the value of the product that lands in a rubbish skip, it is the accumulated cost of getting it there from manufacturing to end user. It's the labour, the electricity, the transport, the storage - all added together over the product's lifetime.

So a product may only cost a few dollars but these accumulated costs can run into hundreds, even thousands. How do you stop this wastage? Keep things in circulation, keep them from being replaced, increase their value.

Recycle vs. Up-cycle

By adding value to a piece that you're recycling, you are up-cycling. Most furniture painters are recyclers. You see scores of pictures on Pinterest and in magazines. Entire TV programs are devoted to recycling. "Here is a quick and easy way to save some money", usually slapping on a coat of paint and adding a cushion.

There is nothing wrong with this, we all do it. But I would like to think my work permanently saves furniture from the rubbish skip and not just temporarily. And for that, you need to put in a little more effort. It may not be the quick and easy way, but is it really that much more effort?

Waste Not, Want Not.

Words I so often heard my grandfather utter when I was a child. He lived through the Great Depression and his frugal ways made a huge impression on me. He was a recycler and up-cycler long before these words existed to me and not because he had to, but because he found it challenging. I believe he instilled in me an urge to see the potential in a discarded object, to create something out of nothing and to value simple things.

I used to paint furniture with modern paint. I used to have a storeroom filled with tins from previous jobs. Most of it ended up being thrown away. It was either the wrong colour or the wrong odour. This bothered me to no end. Every time I tossed another tin of hardened paint in the bin, I could hear my grandfather: "Waste not, want not."

Since I've started making my own paint, things have changed - a lot. These days I have a cupboard with dry materials and a fridge with wet supplies. Leftovers are mixed together to make dark base coats. Or I use them on odd small pieces that need several coats of different colours. I have less than 3% wastage. I'm sure my grandfather would have approved.

I now also have access to any colour imaginable, not just the ones on the colour chart. I can create colours in the middle of the night on a public holiday and any other time when the store is not open. The transport cost of making paint is almost nothing. So is the storage. And if I only need a small bit in a specific colour, I only make a small bit. I buy my raw materials locally - I don't have them flown in if I can get them down the road.

So, am I doing enough for the environment? Yes, I am. I don't have sleepless nights about saving the planet. I do what I can and that’s the end of it. Then I relax and enjoy myself. I suggest you do the same.

May 2016 be the absolute best-est, best-est year of your life!

Happy New Year

and

Happy Painting!

Tania
xxx

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Thursday, 24 December 2015

Merry Christmas

♫ 'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la-la la la, la-la la la.♫

I love, Love, LOVE Christmas! It's my absolute favourite time of
the year.

I really like my job and I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to do it. But I cannot do it without your support. For that, I would like to sincerely thank you. We appreciate it very much and will never take it for granted.

May your Christmas be filled with love, happiness and peace!

From our family to yours ~ Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Tania

The FARRAGOZ Team

xxx
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Wednesday, 16 December 2015

FARRAGOZ has a new course!

It's called the FARRAGOZ Patina FINISHES Course and it consists of 24 26 finishes with step-by-step instructions.

Reproducing Antique Finishes

How often do you see a beautiful painted antique in a magazine and you so badly want to be able to recreate that finish, but you have no idea where to start? You can't even work out which colours to use. And what's the process?

Suitable For Beginners

These finishes look very difficult, right? And they can be. For the past year, we have been painting and planning to come up with a process that will teach even a beginner how to do this online in a very user-friendly way. Finally, we compiled this new online course in which we have broken up every technique into small steps that explain in detail, by way of videos and text, how to do each step.

How It Works

We believe learning should be fun and easy. That's why we follow a very logical and teachable process that starts with analysing the finish and ends with a finished sample board. With every step you finish, you just click "complete" and you will always know where you left off when next you return to continue. There is no way to get lost.

We take you through the process 24 26 times. Every time you make a different sample board and with every sample board, you gain more confidence. Soon you will be able to take a magazine and reproduce any finish by yourself.

Mixing Paint

The FARRAGOZ Patina FINISHES Course focuses on how to achieve various finishes on wood, using homemade primer, paints and sealers.

We often get this question: "Isn't mixing your own paint very difficult?". Well, there is nothing as easy as opening a can of modern paint that is ready to use. The same goes for dried pasta, for instance. But can you really compare handmade fresh pasta with dried mass produced pasta? Of course not. Same with handmade paint. That is the way it was done hundreds of years ago and if you want an authentic look, that is the only way.

So how difficult is it? It is not difficult at all. There is an easy process to follow. The difficulty only exists in your mind. Anything we are not familiar with always seems challenging. Anyone can learn to make pasta. It's flour and water, cut into strips. Nothing more. Same with paint. Before the very recent invention of modern paint in cans, mixing your own paint was as common as making pancakes - everyone could do it. If they could, so can you.

Who should do the course?

The Patina FINISHES Course is directed at furniture painters who wish to achieve a rich patina on wood that looks authentically old. This course goes beyond the application of paint. There are sections on how to set up a small studio space in your home, how to set goals, how to avoid chaos, how to do presentations for clients and much more. The Patina FINISHES Course is for both the hobby furniture up-cycler as well as the more professional furniture paint artists wanting to set themselves apart.

Already a FARRAGOZ student?

The Patina FINISHES Course can be taken in addition to the Patina PROJECTS Course, together or separately and in any order.

We've had such raving revues from students taking the Patina PROJECTS Course. Thank you very much for that. We hope this new course will exceed your expectations.

Happy Painting!

Tania
xxx

P.S. Two bonus finishes have been added to the initial 24 finishes since the launch of this course.