About Country French Paint Colors

Country French paint colors combine elegance with rustic charm. This works great for families because you can still have nice items that are durable for kids. The key to this style is to use worn woods, and natural stone paired with brighter paint colors. This style can work anywhere in the house such as a kitchen, garden, or even a bedroom. Use paint when decorating to save money and create your own unique design style. This keeps your room from looking like a theme restaurant.

Rustic colors are worn and can be used throughout a Country French room. Use worn woods that look aged. Paint a kitchen island with layers of paint. This will stand out against standard cabinets without overwhelming the space. Paint treatments can make your new condo look like it's an older manor. Layer colors of paint that are close in tone for a stucco wall appearance.

French Country style uses cheerful colors. This makes it perfect for a kitchen or laundry room. Adding fun colors to a room will make doing chores that much easier. Bright blue and yellow are traditional Country French colors. If these colors seem too country or bright to use on the walls, keep the walls a neutral white or beige. Country houses often feature wood beams and plaster walls. Bring in a pottery vase filled with fresh sunflowers to get your theme across easily. Avoid cheap accessories with roosters or sunflowers on them. This may make your home feel less elegant. Instead think of how a home in the French countryside would actually look. It would be filled with antique silverware, furniture that has been passed down from generation to generation, crisp white linens, and handmade pottery.

Elegant colors can work in a French Country room. Worn blues and aged gray create a restful bedroom. Accent with Queen Anne style furniture and a bed canopy made in a toile fabric. Add a country air by making the inside of the canopy out of a checked fabric for contrast and a little bit of country charm.

To learn much more about different color makeovers, and interior decorating paint colors visit Interior Decorating Colors where you'll find this and much more, including the most popular paint colors to use.

The "Hot" New Collectibles

A few months ago I wrote an article named "Signed vs. Unsigned -
Buying Art, Pottery and Collectibles". The basic premise of the
article was my own opinion about "Should you pay the price for
signed jewelry, art and collectibles, as opposed to buying what
you love, whether signed or unsigned?". Since writing that
article, I have read in one of my many collectible newsletters
and magazines that the "hot" new collectible trend is buying
unsigned and unknown artist and artisan items. I personally
think this is great! Not only does it help the collectibles
market, in several different areas such as unsigned jewelry,
studio art pottery and original artworks, who is to say what
that "unknown artist" or unsigned item will someday be worth?
Picasso received hardly any recognition while alive, but after
his death, we all know where the prices went on his works,
straight through the roof! If you are a collector, this is the
perfect time to start turning your buying trends towards
unsigned items, or as yet, unknown makers. The prices are much
lower than the normal collectible names, as well as the fact
that no matter what market you are buying in - BUY WHAT YOU
LOVE! This way, you don't end up spending a fortune on an item
that in five years may not even be considered a good collectible
investment. Remember the "Beanie Baby"ฉ craze? Well, now there
are tons of folks out there with mountains of "beanies" that
they may have paid a small fortune for, and I sure hope they
love them because that market is pretty much dead! The
difference between paying $150.00 for a Beanie Babyฉ during the
insanity of the craze feels much worse when the bottom drops out
of the market, than spending $150.00 for a couple of beautiful
art pottery bowls or vases, especially if you love the look of
the items anyway. When you look at the items that you purchased,
ones that could possibly become not only valuable collectibles
based on the development of the artist during their creating
lifetime or at the very least, loved heirlooms that are passed
on in a family, this all begins to make a lot of sense. If you
buy what appeals to you, you can never go wrong. It is my
philosophy to by what is aesthetically and artistically
appealing to me, is unique, and I could care less whether the
artist or maker is "known and listed" or not! Five years from
now, I will not be crying over my purchase and the money I
spent, I will still be loving the item as much when I purchased
it, if not more! If it goes up in value, so much the better.
That is just a wonderful side fact that doesn't even enter my
mind at the time of purchase. I buy because I like what I see,
hear, feel, etc. Perhaps this is why so many are turning to the
unsigned and unmarked items, without quite as much emphasis on
the signatures or hallmarks. Sure it's nice to own a full parure
of Miriam Haskell jewelry. But, I am more content with an
unsigned, unique sterling pin for a fraction of the price, that
I can actually wear and show off for a fraction of the price I
would have paid for the Haskell name. Of course, Haskell jewelry
is and always will be a hot collectible in the jewelry market,
but consider this. The majority of people collect her items
because of the artistic appeal, unique designs and quality of
the piece. Shouldn't we judge all items we consider purchasing
by those same rules, no matter who made them? I think so. I also
feel that in the long run, as time goes by, those purchases made
with the heart and the eyes will be the ones that we grow to
love the most. Sure, Haskell jewelry is a great collectible,
sure to increase in value as time goes by. But who is to say
that that little pottery vase made with great form and design by
a student in an art pottery studio or class will not someday be
worth a small fortune? Plus, as it increases in value, if it
does, you will have not paid a small fortune for it, you have
admired and loved it since you bought it, and your family may
now already arguing over who gets it one of these days when you
go to that great auction in the sky, regardless of the market
value! Items we acquire through life, if well loved and worn or
displayed with pride and love, develop a value all their own.
How do you think the collectibles market began? For instance, we
have in our family, a beautiful and very large ewer. For years
and years, it has been passed down from my grandmother, to my
mother, and now my sister and I are determined that this ewer
will never leave our family, if we can help it. Turns out that
this ewer is a Rookwood or Roseville, and most likely worth a
small fortune! Do you think that my Grandmother purchased it
because of the name? No, she bought it because it was pretty and
she loved the way it looked. Names meant nothing to her, she
just loved the look and feel of the pottery, and it has been on
constant display in our family, in one home or the other,
because of where it came from, not who made it! To us it is
priceless, no amount of money could ever get it away from us. To
the collector, it has a set price, although it may be a large
price, but that is no matter to us. We will never sell it
because of the memories it holds. I always get a little giggle
(not to offend anyone, it's just my strange sense of humor...)
when a dealer lists something as "An important piece of "such
and such"". Aren't they all important in one way or another?
They were important to the person that made them, or designed
them, or cast them, or threw the clay, I don't care if it was a
10 year old child in pottery class, or a ewer like the one in
our family. I guess what I am trying to say is that all items
have value, from one viewpoint or the other, and we shouldn't be
so caught up in the "name game". Broaden your horizons on your
next browsing trip and always remember that "one man's trash is
another man's treasure"!

Stunning Raku Pottery Will Enhance Any Decor

Raku pottery has become a popular interior design accessory that is becoming more popular as a technique with professional potters and hobby pottery enthusiasts and more widely used to enhance any décor because of the mutant color qualities that blend with existing decorating schemes.

Raku pottery takes its origin in Japan, where the family of Japanese potters from the16th Kyoto created the style and distinctive characteristics of low temperature and interrupted firing, because their firing was wood-fueled kilns, since there was no propane at the time.

While some lore believes that “smoking” gave Raku the name and characteristics, that myth comes from the fact that the pottery was allowed to air-cool after the traditional fire started to die down, and the smoke formed the variant color details.

It has become popular again in the last twenty-five years as the Raku pottery techniques involve drawing red hot pots from a kiln and the subsequent “smoking” of the pottery is done in sawdust for the effect. In fact, Hamada, the famous Japanese potter, once said he wanted to wait until the end of his life to learn how to make Raku pottery, because it was the most important and difficult technique to master.

Raku pottery techniques are done in various ways and originally earthenware was used, although any clay body can be used in the process, because it is the glazing and firing technique that makes it distinct. Much of the characteristics of this pottery come from the glaze that is used and it will cool with a “cracking” appearance, also called crazing, that gives the pottery vibrant color contrasts, which are mutable, and may have strong simple shapes and random crazing.

Because of these characteristics, they make a stunning collection of elegant pottery that can fit a wide range of interior decors and have colors that mutate to harmonize with the surroundings of a room. Pleasing to the eye, calming to the spirit and bringing joy and harmony to your heart and life are part of the Raku tradition. Traditionally, Japanese used Raku for their Japanese tea parties for these reasons in ancient centuries.

Today, Raku pottery comes in a variety of finishes and patterns. Bright colors like lapis, aqua, persimmon, red, coffee, amethyst, egg plant gray or gun metal blue are examples. Finishes turn out with different patterns that vary with the color of glaze used. Pottery that is Raku inspired is often inspired by primitive ritual and ceremonial ceramics from around the world. Examples would be a fetish pot, volcano seed pots or volcano bowls.

These unique pottery shapes, colors and finishes can turn a room into an artistically pleasing palette that features the aesthetic and relaxing Zen-like traits that make this type of pottery more than just another vase. If you have never seen Raku pottery, then you will certainly recognize it for the unique glazing patterns, vibrant colors and unusual shapes it can have. It is these characteristics that have made it so popular in decorating today.

The different look you achieve by using Raku pottery, versus normal ceramic pottery with standard glazes is dramatic, as the Raku pottery has an almost ancient pottery look that gives it an old world character, yet has shapes that are unique, edge techniques that are free formed or different patterned and can become the focal point of any room, regardless of other decorating styles in a room. You can enhance any décor when you use this pottery to compliment your interior design.



Come see this stunning Raku Pottery and hundreds of other items at MadeInAmericaDecor.com offering only American made décor accents and accessories for home, garden and gifts.

Six Styles of Pottery For Southwest Decor

Native American pottery is unique in that every tribe, Hopi, Navajo, Cherokee, Apache, and so on leaves a part of its heritage in the colors, patterns, and designs used. Therefore, to enhance your Southwest decor, all you need to do is look at the various options and choose what fits your needs. Of course, some people will mix and match pottery from several tribes for a more interesting display. Regardless, learning about some of the primary options is exciting, helping you when it comes time to buy.

Genuine Native American pottery is made by hand without the aid of a potter's wheel. While buying authentic pottery would be more expensive and some types more difficult to find, you can purchase gorgeous pieces from numerous brick and mortar companies, as well as online. However, if you have time to check around, you will probably find pottery that would work with your southwest decor with beauty and unique authenticity.

We wanted to provide you with information about six types of pottery that you might consider for your Southwest decor.

1. Hand-Coiled - This type of pottery was made with a very interesting method called coil and pinch. The base of the pottery piece began as a slab of clay, on which coils were added to create strength and durability. After the first coiled row, excess clay was trimmed and the outside edge formed. Row-by-row, the pottery piece was constructed, ending up as a gorgeous piece of Native American art. Typically, smaller pieces of pottery have 3/8 to 1-inch coils while the larger pieces were made with coils of 3/4 to 1 1/2-inches.

2. Hopi - Hopi Indians are known for making gorgeous pottery creations, also called Pueblo Pottery. Prior to being fired, the cream-colored clay was polished and then painted using dyes made from minerals and vegetables. The creator then added a design like a Pueblo village, kiva ladder, parrot, lightening or road runner depending on personal choice. Once fired outside, the pottery was packed in dry sheep manure. To compliment the Southwest decor, Hopi pottery is a favorite.

3. Horsehair Pottery - This type of pottery is another option that looks amazing in a home with Southwest decor. This pottery was created by Native American Navajo Indians, but also, many other tribes. Added to the surface of the pottery are strands of hair taken from a horse's mane and tail. This design is unlike any other and because of the technique: each pottery piece comes out as a one-of-a-kind creation.

4. Wedding Vase - Although pottery such as this was initially made for marriage ceremonies, this makes a great addition to a home with Southwest decor. The vase is rustic yet elegant. Designed with two spouts, one for the bride and the other for the groom, the spouts come together in one vase symbolizing two people becoming one.

5. Navajo - Another one of the Native American Indian tribes known for creating and designing pottery are the Navajos. In fact, pottery was a vital part of existence of these people. Using a pit for firing and an open fire, the pottery pieces were fired one at a time for hours. Prior to the pottery cooling, hot melted pinion tree pitch was carefully applied. Interestingly, this type of pottery was usually not decorated because its use was utilitarian, for holding water, cooking, and dishes for eating. However, some of the newer pieces reflect southwest decor with traditional symbols of the Navajo people.

6. Casas Grandes - This type of southwest decor pottery known as Mata Ortiz Pottery, is created using natural clay from the mountains near the Mexican village of Mata Ortiz. The design and color of this rustic pottery was done with natural pigments made of roots and minerals, applied using human hair brushes. Each piece of pottery was made by skilled artisans, all by hand.

Get "The Rustic Southwest Decorating Guide" a popular free download with room by room tips and ideas to help you. You can also get discount coupons and special offers on southwest decor from Mission Del Rey. http://www.missiondelrey.com

Type Of Pottery Ware

There are many types of pottery ware available, but how do we know that which type is suitable to be used for specific purpose. By knowing their characteristics and nature will help you to decide which type that you will use effectively.

Ceramics

Generally, ceramics is the pottery ware which are coated on the surface. The example of ceramic ware that we familiar with are plates, bowl use on the dining table, sanitary ware, roofing/wall tiles, mosaic, pitchers, vase etc. The raw materials that use for making ceramics are some type of soil, rocks, stones etc. The ceramics production process, start from preparing raw material, then mixing all of component, then build up the design. There are several types of build up process, which are build up by hand, build up by using spinning round board, build up by Jigger machine, build up by using mold or build up by squeezing machine. The next step after build up the pottery shapes is drying and biscuitfiring, then coating or glostfiring. The last process of making ceramics is decoration and painting. Decoration and painting includes, drawing directly onto the surface or use sticker paper. This process, however, can be done before or after coating process.

Earthenware

The common characteristics of earthenware is it has brown or red colour, because the raw material that used to produce earthenware has mixture of iron substance. This type of raw materials is generally used for sculpture and images due to its attribute that not easily retract and riddled, so this materials will not easily crack or broken. The earthenware soil that has white colour in nature is rare, so we normally add extra substance to whiten the soil, and also increase the iron substance, which has red or brown colour. Generally the substance has the heat resistance at 1,050 degree Celsius. The charming of earthenware is its colour. Some potters don't like to make pottery arts on the pottery ware that has white colour such as Porcelain, as a result, they tend to use earthenware to make pottery ware instead. Apart from its advantage about having attractive colour, using earthenware also save their time and cost to biscuitfiring as well. Earthenware also known as the common type of ceramics, however, the formulations and component of earthenware is vary, depending on region that they come from.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a kind of ceramics that requires heat in highest temperature among other kind of ceramics to produce. Generally, porcelain requires temperatures between about 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. We can differentiate porcelain from other pottery by toughness, strength and smoothness of the surface as well as consistency of colour of the pottery's texture. Some type of pottery that made from porcelain looks very much alike glass, this type of porcelain pottery use heat from cone 8 to cone 12. According to its characteristics described above, porcelain is one of the pottery ware that popular for produce commercial products. The common product of porcelain that we are familiar with are kitchen ware (due to its high resistance to heat and electricity), medical equipments such as false teeth, caps etc.

Type Of Pottery Ware

There are many types of pottery ware available, but how do we know that which type is suitable to be used for specific purpose. By knowing their characteristics and nature will help you to decide which type that you will use effectively.

Ceramics

Generally, ceramics is the pottery ware which are coated on the surface. The example of ceramic ware that we familiar with are plates, bowl use on the dining table, sanitary ware, roofing/wall tiles, mosaic, pitchers, vase etc. The raw materials that use for making ceramics are some type of soil, rocks, stones etc. The ceramics production process, start from preparing raw material, then mixing all of component, then build up the design. There are several types of build up process, which are build up by hand, build up by using spinning round board, build up by Jigger machine, build up by using mold or build up by squeezing machine. The next step after build up the pottery shapes is drying and biscuitfiring, then coating or glostfiring. The last process of making ceramics is decoration and painting. Decoration and painting includes, drawing directly onto the surface or use sticker paper. This process, however, can be done before or after coating process.

Earthenware

The common characteristics of earthenware is it has brown or red colour, because the raw material that used to produce earthenware has mixture of iron substance. This type of raw materials is generally used for sculpture and images due to its attribute that not easily retract and riddled, so this materials will not easily crack or broken. The earthenware soil that has white colour in nature is rare, so we normally add extra substance to whiten the soil, and also increase the iron substance, which has red or brown colour. Generally the substance has the heat resistance at 1,050 degree Celsius. The charming of earthenware is its colour. Some potters don't like to make pottery arts on the pottery ware that has white colour such as Porcelain, as a result, they tend to use earthenware to make pottery ware instead. Apart from its advantage about having attractive colour, using earthenware also save their time and cost to biscuitfiring as well. Earthenware also known as the common type of ceramics, however, the formulations and component of earthenware is vary, depending on region that they come from.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a kind of ceramics that requires heat in highest temperature among other kind of ceramics to produce. Generally, porcelain requires temperatures between about 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. We can differentiate porcelain from other pottery by toughness, strength and smoothness of the surface as well as consistency of colour of the pottery's texture. Some type of pottery that made from porcelain looks very much alike glass, this type of porcelain pottery use heat from cone 8 to cone 12. According to its characteristics described above, porcelain is one of the pottery ware that popular for produce commercial products. The common product of porcelain that we are familiar with are kitchen ware (due to its high resistance to heat and electricity), medical equipments such as false teeth, caps etc.

Stop Trashing Your Broken Pottery

Below we have listed some easy and creative ideas to give your broken or chipped pottery a new life!

Items needed: safety goggles, hammer, cloth bag or 2 plastic bags, and a hard surface you aren't scared to scratch up.

How to safely break up your pottery Place your broken clay pottery or ceramic piece in the cloth bag or plastic bags. We recommend double-bagging if you use plastic since plastic bags can be punctured easily. Find a hard surface (ground, picnic table, etc.) that you won't mind using a hammer on. Make sure you are using your safety goggles or glasses. Place the bag of pottery on the surface and lightly tap the pottery with the hammer so that it chips away. You should try to make your chips about 1 square inch each. But don't be a perfectionist. Unequal sizes and irregular shapes are beautiful. Now that your pottery or ceramic is just a bag full of broken pieces, you are ready to get creative.

Planter Drainage Plants need drainage. So how do we solve the problem of planters without drainage holes? Well, this one is easy. Just place those broken pottery shards in the bottom of the pot and fill the rest with soil. Depending on the size of the planter, the pottery shards should fill it to about 2 inches in depth.

Decorative Soil Cover Many succulents and stemmed plants have bad habits of leaving the soil bare. However, a quick fix to this bare soil is to place your broken pottery shards right on top of the soil. Create a layer just thick enough so that you can't see the soil. By placing the layer of broken pottery shards, weeds will have a tougher time growing and watering your plant will be made much easier because you won't have to worry about splashing the soil.

Mosaic Art Colorful pottery shards and ceramic pieces are perfect for making beautiful mosaics. Consider creating a stunning mosaic on boring mirror frames, tables, large pots, and vases. For easy-to-follow directions on how to make a mosaic please follow these helpful instructions from e-How: Mosaic Art Directions.

Sea Shells to Pottery Shards Want a new look for that old seashell lamp? Well look no further than your broken pottery chips! Take out the seashells and fill up the lamp with colorful pottery shards.

La Casa Mexicana.us is your source for unbroken and high-quality Talavera, Ixachitlan, & Gorky Pottery.