La Belle House Tea Chest by Theresa mARTin

Recently a friend visited my studio for the first time. I’m always a bit uncertain when showing people my studio because it’s organized chaos does not appeal to everyone. She surveyed the room. “Of course,” she said, “because of the work you do, you can’t just go out and buy the type of thing you need”.  It’s fabulous when someone gets it. Saving my used tea paper, picking up that rusted, flattened tin can, or unusual small piece of something are eccentric habits. I’m happy when those little quirky bits fall into place in a layered piece like this whimsy alterable, making a piece that is unique.

METHOD:

• Paint the figure and house silver, then dab with Inka Gold for a mottled, gold leaf effect.
• Use old book pages for collaging some sections of the house.
• Fill the inside of the house with tea papers saved from tea time and dried to a soft, pretty tea stain color. TIP: If you dry your used tea bags on a piece of cotton, you will have a nice tea dyed piece of cotton and it makes the bags look soft in color.
• Drape a piece of printed organza silk around the base, then a piece of lace. Add a flower and a key hole.
• Print out a whimsy face onto translucent vellum and back it with pieces of the book page for an interesting layering effect.  This was reinforced with a thin piece of cardboard.
• Add a piece of found object metal backing with a  drop crystal for the finishing touch to the background.
• Add some millinery leaves.
• Add wheels if desired. The wheels are held together with thin dowels.

 

 

MATERIALS USED: