Craft time

[stgulik]

Last winter, I bought this art piece at a thrift store. It consists of decorated tiles set in plywood with gold fabric glued down. I think the fabric is silk--it sure tears like silk. There is a plain frame, which I have removed for now. The whole thing looks like it used to hang in a Chinese restaurant.



I was just enchanted with the tiled scene, but as you can see, the silk fabric is stained, faded and badly torn. The piece sat around for months while I decided how I wanted to rejuvenate it. I decided it would take a nuke to get those tile pieces out of the plywood. Directly applied force might crack the tiles.



So I am going to leave them where they are and just redo the plywood surround. I scraped off the disintegrated silk. Dusty work! Next weekend I'll sand off the remaining glue and then see about painting. A few nails embedded in the wood have rusted and I'll have to deal with them somehow. I was going to replace the silk with new fabric, but painting will be easier and well within my skill set.

Comments

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That's really pretty! I love tiles like this. I agree that painting would be a good option - you have loads of colours to choose from, and it will give it a more 'framed' look. And take it from someone who has experience in these matters, trying to remove those tiles will result in heartbreak - I know from whence I speak, and all that.

And there's always Pinterest, so sayeth the Pinterest whore.

[toblass.livejournal.com]

Those tiles are gorgeous.

I agree...leaving those tiles as is makes the most sense.

Post your progress. :D

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

If you have a table saw, you could saw down the larger ends of the plywood so that it's the same width as the sides. That way, when you paint it or whatever, it will look more like a frame. You could also buy unpainted molding to affix to it before you paint it, which would further give it the look of a frame.

Aren't thrift stores the best? I tell ya, without thrift stores, garage sales, and dumpsters, I would be much more of a minimalist than I already am.

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

It's really pretty! Don't forget to post progress-pics. 8^)