National Baptist world., 1894-11-02
SOME FANCY FLOWER POTS.
How to Make Them at Very Small Ex-



pense.
Among the thousand and one trlt1es
that decorate our homes flower pots
play rather prominent part just now,
Many persons are quite content to see
and use the art" flower pots that are
sold by the hundred. Others would
prefer to possess something newer. 1t
is to the latter class these few remarks
are addressed. No doubt to many OF
them the pots will have an added charm
when it is understood that the decora'
tion will be the work of their own
clever fingers.
Pots do not require much artlstlc
skill to make them look well; but this
class of ornamentatiOn needs rather
very dainty touch and a pretty taste
and fancy, two virtues all our girls pos
sesS.
The first we will take under our
notice-the ptoEtruscan pot-re
quires only nominal outlay; a cheap
brush costing about twopence, finer
and smaller fourpence, pennyWorth
of size, and sixpenny bottle of artists
black complete the outfit. The two
penny brush should be soaked I'D
water at least twelve hours be-
fore using. to swell the wood and sc
prevent the bristles from coming out.
Select the smoothest pot and saucer
that you can, then take it to the sink
and give it a good scrubbing, letting
the water run on it while SO doing
Then with piece of broken flower pot
rul, every part outside, occasionally
wetting the pot to make the work
easier. When this is done give the pot
a rinse, and let it drain until next day.
! This preliminary process makes the
! pot one tone of color all over,
and gives it smoothness akin
to terra-cotta. The next day you
can proceed to draw the de-
signs on in white chalk. These can be
copied from pictures, but it should be
borne in mind that the subjects should
be strictly of the Egyptian or Etruscan
tvpe. Those girls who can not draw
an outline correctly may lay a sheet OF
tissue paper over the picture in book,
and then laya sheet of blue carbonlZed
paper on the pot with the tissue paper
on top Then with sharp-pOinted
pencil 90 over the outline on the tissue
raper. and you will have the clear out
line. Next melt d little of the size IL
Jar and go over the surface inside the
outlines with the cheap brush. Give
at least three coats, allowing each one
two hours to dry. Then give one OF
two coats of the artists black. 1t may
now be considered finished unless yor
like to give the whole pot and saucer
three coats of size and one of cOpal var
nish afterward. This is not really nee
essary. but it is an advantage, as dus
and fingermarl1s can be sponged OF
more readily. AS it is rather Difficult
matter to keep a round pot steady
while painting, it is advisable to place
it on it's side. with a book at each side
to prevent it's moving; bring it nearly
!, to the edge of the table, and rest thu
hand on a malhstick.
Collectors of postage stamps Otter
get quite number which. though the.
NAV have no real intrinsic value ar
too good or interesting to dispose OF
These make very uncommon flower
pots. After the pot has been sized tw
or three times, draw two or three ole
signs on it with chall-a partly-opene'
fan. Maltese cross and a miniatur
Cleopatra's needle are all suitable. FO
the ground it is best to only emplo
one kind of stamp. The lowest valu
, French stamps look we'll for this; past
| these all over the pot except where TIN
, designs are These should be Of a rare
; kind. and each article be of ditferen
, colors When thoroughly dry, give
, coat of size and at least three coating
: of cOpal varnish. ChintZ is now in fa
vor again, and there should be no diff
Guilty in getting the required patter
= for an Indian tOille pot. But first
\ prepare the pot. Give two coats OF slz
this is to prevent the porous surtac
q absorbing too much paint-neXt give
, two or three coats of enamel, elthe
p Indian red or egg-shel blue; whe
! each coat is dry, get piece of chint
of the old willow pattern design, nc
printed in blue but in gay colors. CT
the pagodas, etc, out with very shar
pair of scissors, and gum them on tn
pot as fancy dictates; then when Or
give three coats of copal varnish.-
Y Recorder.