The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-19
SOME FANCY FLOWER POTS
Uow to Make Them at a Very Small Ex-
pense.

Among the thousand and one trifies
that decorate our homes flower pots
play rather prominent part just now.
Many persons are quite content 10 see
and use the art" flower pots that are
sold by the hundred. Others would
prefer 10 possess something newer. II
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-
ton will he the work of their own
clever fingers.
Pots do not require much artistic
skill TO make them look well: but this
class of ornamentation needs rather a
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 Egypto-Etruscan pot-re-
quires only nominal outlay; a cheap
brush costing about twopence, a finer
and smaller fourpence, pennywort
of size. and sixpenny bottle of artists
black complete the outfit. The two
penny brush should be soaked in
water at least twelve hours be-
fore using. to swell the wood and so
prevent the bristles from coming out.
Select the smoothest pot and saucer
that you can, then take il 10 the sink
and give il good scrubbing, letting
the water run on il while so doina.
Then with piece of broken flower pot
rub every part outside, occasionally
wett!ng 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 il smoothness akin
to terra-cotta. The next day you
can proceed to draw the de-
signs on in white chalk These can he
copied from pictures. but ii should be
borne in mind that the subjects should
be strictly of the Egyptian or Etruscan
type. Those girls who can not draw
an outline correctly may lay sheet OF
tissue paper over the picture in book,
and then lay sheet of blue carbonized
paper on the pot with the tissue paper
on top. Then with a sharp pointed
pencil go over the outline on the tissue
Paper, and you will have the clear out
line. Next melt little of the size in
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 or
two coats of the artists black. II NAV
now he considered finished unless you
Ill 90 he ri
three coats of size and one of copal var
nish afterward. This is not really nee
essary. but il is an advantage, as dust
and fingermarks can be sponged of
more readily. As il is rather a difficult
matter to keep a round pot steady
while painting, IL is advisable To place
it on its side. with a book at each side
TO prevent its moving; bring il nearly
to the edge of the able, and rest the
hand on malhstick.
Collectors of postage stamps often
get quite a number which. though they
NAV have no real intrinsic value are
too good or interesting 10 dispose OF.
These make very uncommon flower
pots. After the pot has been sized two
or three times, draw two or three de-
signs on IL with chaik-a partly-opened
fan. a Maltese cross and a miniature
CIeopa tras needle are all suits BILE. For
the ground il is best TO only employ
one kind OF stamp. The lowest value
French stamps look well for this paste
these all over the pot except where the
designs are. These should be of rarer
kind and each article be Of different
colors. When thoroughly dry. give =
coat OF size and al least three costings
Of copal varuish. Chintz j. now in ia
ror again. and there should be no dir
Guilty in getting the required pattern
for an Indian toille pot But Srst 10
prepare the pot Give two coats OF size
this : 70 prevent the porous surface
absorbing too much psInt-uext give II
two or three coats OF enamel. either
Indian rcd or egC-shell b,ue when
each coat Il dry, get = piece Of chintz
o. the old willoS pattern design, not
printed in blue but in gay colOrs. Cut
the pagodas. etc out with very sEagr
pair of scissors. and gum them On the
got a. fancy dictates: then when drv
give three coats OF copsl vsrnish ~
D.1a-Tae-