Welcome to BLOG Zentangle. To learn about Zentangle, visit our website, read our free newsletters, take a class with a local Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), and best of all . . . create your own!


Monday, October 21, 2013

Crack!

Maria writes:

Hi there everyone!

We are now just coming down from the high of a fabulous (once again) seminar. A wonderful time was had by all, including us. Rick is getting pictures ready for a newsletter and blog to share some of the fun we all enjoyed.

This serving dish . . .


. . . must be a gazillion years old. Or, if not, at least a hundred years old.

I don't remember where it came from, only that it was my favorite and I used it almost everyday. It is about 15 inches at its widest and has a nice old ivory-color crackled patina. In the back is a cool trademark with an almost too happy looking lion and a unicorn with a questionable look on his face . . . . "Royal Stone China, Wedgwood & Co."

We have an old cast iron stove in the kitchen and the heating part was on the other morning and I heard that (too) familiar "crack" of something not too happy.

Ugh! My beautiful old platter finally died.

A big crack appeared down the middle, but not all the way through. I just could not toss it. It served me too well for too long. So . . . what does one do with an old cracked but in one piece dish that has no value to anyone???

You tangle it, of course!

I added a bit of super glue where the crack was and figured I could just look at it for a while longer. . . at least until it broke in two. I owed it that much at least.

I picked up my trusty IDentiPen® and went to town.

 
So smooth and fun to write on! Much easier than I thought it would be. I started with that big black tangle and added a bunch of springkle, fluxed it on either side then added that flowy version of tripoli. I balanced it all off with garlands of pokeleaf and a few other bits here and there.

I did not use a string, but figured out I could have used the grey Fabrico® marker, had I thought of it. Oh well, next time.

I may throw a coat of urethane on it. Or not. Not sure. I like it. It will have a nice home in the china cabinet in the dining room.

Sigh. . . .

And here is another piece I revived.


It was an old candy dish I think with the plating wearing off to reveal the copper(?) beneath. It was damaged beyond repair in the middle of the bowl so we added some tangles in black and used a white Sakura® Gelly Roll® pen to add some highlights.


Oops . . . Almost forgot! Susan Olsen is the winner of a tile from the last blog, "Bordering on . . . " Its on the way, Susan. Congrats from me and Rick.

We will not be giving this venerable platter away, but I am sure we can find something worthwhile to send out to one of you lovely tanglers. . .

Click images (gently!) for larger views.

34 comments:

floweringmoon said...

I just love both pieces Maria, and I will definitely not be throwing anything away any longer! Thanks again for the inspiration :)

Shelly Beauch said...

Re-cycling at it's best and so elegant!

Lesley S-G said...

This just reinforces my solution for most things..."When in doubt, tangle it!" Thanks for sharing these lovely pieces, Maria!

ToujoursSoleil said...

Both pieces are absolutely gorgeous, especially the candy dish!

Ginny Stiles said...

Inspiration every time.

Deborah said...

Omg I love what you did and I love the story behind the dish! I wish I could Zentangle but I just can't get the hang of it.

Anonymous said...

There are some things that are so hard to part with. Glad you were able to reinvent them! They're beautiful!

Carole Ohl said...

Lusciously lovely!

Anonymous said...

Love both the tangles and the re-use of loved pieces. I often hate to throw out some (broken) things just because they are broken - what a splendid way to extend their life. Thanks Maria for your inspiration.
Rae Smith, Townsville Australia

Sara said...

How clever of you to tangle the platter back together! Both pieces are new kinds of treasures now. And I am home now,too, and seeing all kinds of "new" things in the house that just need a touch of ink on them! Thank you all for a wonderful seminar!
Sara

Anonymous said...

I Love it! Such a creative way of using old plates and broken objects. I will definitely never throw anything away again! Thanks!

Francie said...

Both turned out to be lovely!

Styx and Stones said...

Great work.... if the platter should break... don't throw it out... use it for mosaic or jewelry...would make nice pieces... love the copper... gives me an idea.

Sue Jacobs CZT said...

What a great way to make lemons into lemonade!!!

Unknown said...

The copper dish is so pretty. Now I can't wait for spring for yard sales!

Deb said...

What a beautiful way to save something treasured!

Bette Abdu said...

Thanks for sharing. It is always interesting to see what you make of things that don't go exactly as planned.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Love that you tangled the platter back together again, and the candy dish is lovely!

Ellen said...

Again great ideas for using Zentangle. Thanks for sharing.

Molly said...

Simply gorgeous!
And what is that very cool bold tangle in the center?

janee said...

Oh Maria, you crack me up! You are always an inspiration to me. Thanks so much. The pieces a beautiful, as always.

Tmbr said...

Absolutely wonderful! You guys are inspirations for life itself. I'm with Molly...what IS that very cool bold tangle in the center? ;)

Zentangle said...

New tangle? . . . . .

What new tangle??? ; )

patience is a virtue

launie said...

When the platter finally shatters don't hesitate to make it into a mosaic!

Linda said...

Rick and Maria!
Beautiful! Always you both have so many inspiring ideas for us all! Thank you for all you do!

mtngirlshannon said...

Absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Love that big bold centerpiece tangle :-)

Unknown said...

I love how the platter provides its own shading!

Unknown said...

What a great idea...I can now look at old/gently used china in a new light. And thank you so much for the Bordering on inZanity give-away. It's beautiful!! My initial was added to the center in gorgeous sepia ink...lovely!!
Thank you for being such a great inspiration to me(and judging from the last CZT seminar) the world!!!

Anonymous said...

Just found your site and love the whole thing. A note about finishes. Polyurethane yellows in time, so I would recommend using a different finish. Also, many finishes will smear marker ink, so I recommend testing on a small item of similar material or on the back or something. KBS Diamond Ultra Clear or Krylon spray both have a UV protectant which will minimize fading. The KBS product is costly, but works beautifully on unusual surfaces (I decorate eggs). The trays are too pretty to take a chance. Hope this info is helpful.

Anonymous said...

I am new to this for a couple months now and am absolutely obsessed. It's the best method I could have ever found. I am drawing every chance I get. Thanks for such a great method. I would love to take a seminar one of these times.

On The Merry Way said...

I have an undying affinity for dishes of all sorts. There is something absolutely wonderful about a beautifully appointed dining area, and a delicious meal served on gorgeous dishes with age. I am very pleased to have another idea for repurposing a long loved dish.

pointedpenscribe said...

Such delicate,intricate,lacey tangles! It's modern day filigree that reminds me of medieval illuminated borders. Oh what fun it is to tangle !!

Unknown said...

Maria, Love, love, love, everything you and Rick create. I tangle a lot and have one sketch book almost filled and many tangled tiles completed but have yet to attend a seminar. Someday...it's on my list.