Archive for the ‘Recreated Treasures’ Category

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Recreated, decorative and useful!

I’ve found heaps of coasters in my opp shop travels. I love working on these little items. Although a fiddly process the final result is stunning.  I could never really price them according to the hours spent painting them but I still can’t stop myself from doing more.

These of course have decopuaged roses but my next batch of coasters will have my own painted roses. I can’t wait to get stuck into some new painting. It has been a long while since my last session of painting and I’m missing it.

My aim further on this year will be to show you some of my work as it progresses through each stage. It will be a long process because I work on pieces in batches rather than singularly, but I hope to show you how much is involved in recreating decorative homewares.

Ciao for now,

Elena

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When I find an item that can’t be reused for it’s original intention, I’ll find a new use for it. I’ve probably mentioned this in another post but I often come across items that I find appealing & inspiring. It may be the shape, size or look of the thing that draws my attention, but whatever, I know when I see it if I must have it or not. Here is one such item of which I ended up with several. So from gravy boat in all it’s past ‘stainless steel glory’, they were transformed into candleholders.

All were given the ‘decoupage roses’ treatment with a shabby vintage finish & gold highlights. This particular one had candle wax poured into it while others were sold with wax beads in various colours & scents.

A quaint little recreation to lighten up a cosy corner or quiet nook.

Ciao for now,

Elena

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I find Recreating items for an entirely different use very rewarding. Not only am I recycling but also creating a new decorative showpiece, and one that is useful too. I have bought an assortement of drinkware over the years, most of which were once shiny silver pieces. Recreating these into pin & brooch cushions was one popular idea I worked with, and creating pairs of candleholders was another.

These small drink goblets were finished in a motley mix of soft colour and highlighted with pale gold detail. The candle in each holder is held firmly in place by filling the goblet with rice. Each pair recreated was a one-of-a-kind design.

Ciao for now,

Elena

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I had quite a collection of silver drinkware (& still do). Some of them were given a painted finish & others retained their original look if the silver was good polished up. Here is another of the silver pin cushion designs in my past work.

This little liquer goblet was a plain desgin without any decorative features so the embellishments made up for it; and put together with remnant pieces. Gorgeous tassel fringing, a rossette, and a tiny swathe of beads lend this item an elegant touch.

Like the previous pin/brooch cushion cup, this one also reminds me of 1920′s stylish elegance.

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Brooch and pin cushions were a popular little item at my past EP Designs Exhibition & Sales. This little ornate silver casing would have had a glass insert as part of its original design & use. When I found a couple of them at an opp shop the glass insert was missing but I already knew what I would do with them once I got them home. I kept them silver (so painted finish was not required), & polished the casing as best I could.

Then all that was needed for this item was the embellishing - Beads, a mini rosette, colour & a petite feather to decorate the cushion and cup.

A Recreated Treasure – A rather elegant piece – it reminds me of the 1920′s era.

Not many of these were photogrphed but another stylish pin & brooch cushion can be viewed at my EP’s Treasures blog.

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Another roses tray to add to the collection of recreated treasures - A solid, useful item and a delightful decorative piece. Possibly the last of my range of decoupaged roses to be displayed, but not the last of my creative work.

Warm sunny days are disappearing making way for the usual cold Melbourne weather. Well, anything below 20 degrees celsius for me is cold. I’ve made sure the studio is ready to handle the frosty temperatures and equipment is poised, waiting for action. It’s ready for a new season of painting and recreating – all it needs now is the artist to brave the first session and arrive full of inspiration and creativity. It’a not my favourite time of the year so it takes some time for me to get moving but I do enjoy the cosy feeling inside my studio - even though it’s not the tidiest of places, it is comfortable and it’s my little world away from the rest of the world.

Painting these old treasures is a long process but I will keep you in touch with my progress.

Ciao for now, Elena

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After browsing a number of sites owned by talented jewellery artists I decided to bring out another of my recreated treasures. This cute little design is finished in soft pink, pale green & pale gold. I wanted to keep it soft because of the detail in its design.

My first thoughts go to chocolates – The pink compote would look so elegant serving a selection of handmade chocolates but after browsing through Annette Piper’s blog Under The Loupe and seeing some creative jewellery designs I’m now thinking this compote could look gorgeous with a beautiful green, pink & mauve pearl strands
draped over it; add to it a purple bracelet and a rose quartz charm bracelet ; top it off with a pale pink & frosted necklace . A mix of gorgeous beads, pearls & gemstones would sit pretty in the compote and add a sweet little feaure on a dresser or corner table.

I’d love to be able to photograph this compote with all those gorgeous pieces of jewellery. The compote has a satin finish and would set off the shine and luminous sheen of the jewellery beautifully.

Another of my earlier works. A discarded silver tray which I found in a recycling yard. I’m amazed at times at what can be found at these places. I love fossiking through these recycling yards, opp shops,  second hand dealers and antiques stores. But for the more unusual finds I prefer the recyling yards. These days some of these finds do not find their way to the painting table but are kept aside for restoration some day.

This tray in it’s original state was plain and in need of extra preparation work before I could begin the creative process. Roses have been decoupaged onto a motley of colours background and sealed with a satin varnish. The final result was a shabby vintage feel to the whole piece.

It’s easily displayed on a stand and would team up beautifully with an exotic beaded candelabra & velvet table topper. And of course, it’s always ready to use as a serving tray.

Another piece, recreated, finds a new home as a wedding anniversary gift.

Ciao, Elena

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Decorative Teapots add a touch of Elegance to your Decor.

There are more uses for a teapot, in my book, than just as a teapot. My favourite would have to be as a vase. A decorative teapot filled with beautiful blooms or shabby roses has a gorgeous country feel to it. Group them together on a lovely recreated tray for a chic display, on your dresser, sideboard or occasional furniture….. and in any room. Don’t limit their location to kitchen or dining rooms. A display of this kind is sure to bring a smile or two in your bedroom, study, office, hallway or porch.

These little recreated treasures would brighten up any corner of your home.

Ciao, Elena Perrotta

This three branch candle holder started off as a very plain, bare candle holder without much life. The frame is quite fine so the surface area was not sufficent for the usual decorative painted finishes which was applied to many of my other recreated treasures.

However, we are not limited to just painted finished in bringing to life an old, unwanted piece. Red is one of my favourite colours and it tied in nicely with the beaded fringing I had on hand. This idea was different to what I had been recreating in the past. It was a bit of an experiment too and I enjoyed every minute of the recreation process.

An item like this can look deliciously gorgeous amongst your precious collectables, on the boudoir dressing table, in front of a mantle mirror, on a secretaire ……..

……… or where ever it takes your fancy. What are your thoughts on this recreated treasure?

Ciao, Elena

 Following on from my previous post, here is a collection of decorative items grouped together in a display. This may seem overly decorative but changing displays in your home can be just as refreshing for your home as a new outfit,  shoes or hairstyle for yourself.  Just as we like to pamper ourselves from time to time, a little pampering for your home can brighten up a dark corner, a boring view or bare wall.

Sometimes I like to come up with a new setting or decor feature for a special occasion, dinner party, afternoon tea or expected visitors. It can be as simple as rearranging a few items & furniture in a room, bringing out china & glassware to display, or showing off a new purchase or newly recreated piece. They are only temporary displays and tend to linger on for a while until something new comes up. But you can chose to keep them as a more permanent display.

You could use a collection of your favourite things next to something new you’ve been given or purchased.  The photo below shows a group or my Recreated Treasures – a tall planter, small vase, an elegant slimline jug, three little vases sitting graciously on an oval try, all standing quite elegantly on a soft, pink chiffon table cloth which has been ruffled up around them, and backed by another cloth of lace & fringing. There is a sense shabby elegance about this setting.

Have a go at experimenting yourself with different settings. You may surprise yourself at what you find & what you come up with ….. enjoy it.

Ciao for now from Elena Perrotta

This Recreated compote was completed for the 2005 Exhibition. A number of items with decoupaged roses had been included in my range of newly designed Treasures that year.  This too found a new home & is proudly displayed there. Many of these items are used as decorative features which can brighten up any little corner, dresser, mantle or kitchen. They can be paired up or grouped with similar pieces. I like to team them up with gorgeously flowing sheer tablecloths trimmed with silky fringing, or tassells – either soft bodied or beaded ones, casually draped over the dish or base of the compote. You could easily find little trinkets, vases, silk roses, candle-holders or any nifty little items, cloths, laces or runners & arrange them in a display.

A Recreated Treasure by Elena Perrotta