The most popular types of needlework. Handicraft masterpieces: new types and technologies

Every person has a need for creative self-expression. By the will of their hearts, some make music, others write poetry and songs, and still others even act in films and TV series. However, various types of DIY handicrafts in this lesson are gaining increasing popularity (especially among the fair sex), and craftswomen sometimes create extraordinary masterpieces from scrap materials.

Everyone can master one or another type of needlework, and then, perhaps, make creative activity their source of income. How to find your calling? To begin with, get acquainted with the most popular and in-demand methods of making crafts with your own hands. And then try each of them and understand which type of needlework you like best.

Let's look at the most popular types of DIY crafts

Knitting.

Knitting invariably holds first place in the list of popular types of needlework. IN modern world There are more and more opportunities for creative realization, but the technique of creating things with your own hands from yarn has been passed down from generation to generation for many centuries.

Having arisen as a household necessity, knitting currently belongs to the category of art. What can you do with knitting needles, a crochet hook and a skein of yarn! Fashionable knitted items have long been the property of the catwalks.

Those who want to master this type of needlework need only stock up on the necessary materials and choose the method that interests them. For example, you can knit with knitting needles, crochet or even with a fork.

Embroidery.

The next most popular type of needlework is embroidery. This method of creative implementation involves making a pattern on fabric using threads, beads and even ribbons. The easiest way is thread embroidery. Completing simple patterns is perfect for school-age children.

Older and more experienced craftswomen can make a painting, the pattern for which is sold in any sewing store in a wide assortment. It is also possible to create it yourself by uploading the picture you like into a special program. This way you can even embroider portraits of loved ones, which will make an excellent and very original gift.

Scrapbooking.

This fashionable look handicrafts, the essence of which is to decorate postcards, photo albums and memorable boxes. To create an original design, scrap materials are used: magazine clippings, pictures, ribbons, beads, shells, etc.

This is not only interesting and exciting activity for girls, but also a way to decorate beautifully memorabilia and decorative elements. Many craftswomen make such crafts to order, based on the wishes of the client. Thus, young mothers often want to get a colorful life story of their baby, keeping as souvenirs small things associated with the first moments of the child’s birth. For example, handprints, a tag from the maternity hospital, a strand of hair and much more.

Quilling.

Another interesting type of needlework, which involves creating three-dimensional compositions from twisted strips of paper. Ready-made crafts are usually used to decorate postcards and gift boxes, and are also used as separate decorative elements. You can see what products in this style look like in the photo.

Products using the quilling technique are quite simple to make, but the process itself will require perseverance and patience. This type of creativity has gained wide popularity due to its accessibility to a large circle due to its low cost. Crafts are made from paper using a special stick with an unhooked end, glue and tweezers. All these materials are sold in special stores.

Patchwork (quilting).

Patchwork is called patchwork, the essence of which is to create a mosaic from scraps of fabric according to the chosen pattern. The main difficulty of this type of needlework is correct selection material. Using the patchwork technique, blankets, blankets, potholders and panels are made from fabric.

Previously, this type of creativity was considered the work of poor people, but now it is a fashion trend and is great for women or children who want to make an original thing with their own hands to enliven the interior of a room.

Decoupage.

This type of needlework, which involves decorating household items with pieces of paper, originated in France. Quite popular due to low costs and easy execution techniques. The essence of the work is to glue the required paper pieces in the form of a mosaic, and then coat the workpiece with varnish. The result is an antique effect that will add a special twist to familiar interior items.

Video materials on the topic of the article

The selection includes video tutorials on creating interior items using various handicraft techniques.

Handmade is becoming more and more popular. Most people prefer to create with their own hands not only interesting individual accessories, but also interior items, giving birth to entire masterpieces of handicraft. A huge advantage of needlework is that in most cases it does not require global financial costs, and to create masterpieces, scrap materials are often enough.

Handmade is becoming more and more popular

Handicrafts – great option leisure activities that give a lot of pleasant impressions, creates a feeling of harmony, and also allows you to make budget gifts loved ones or beautifully decorate your own home. That is why most of the fair sex make something with their own hands, not for commercial purposes, but for the soul.

In order to find suitable type needlework, you need to carefully study the list of popular techniques, and then, after trying out various types, choose the most interesting option. So, what are the different handicraft techniques?

For beginners, the most suitable techniques for working with threads are:

thread quilling;
weaving fluffy pillowcases;
macrame;
grandma's knitting;
various types of embroidery.

The use of fabric is necessary in the following techniques:

creation of textile dolls;
batik;
kinusaiga;
guilloche;
Teriman.

For environmentalists, the following handicraft techniques will be the best option.

Wood painting.
Burning out.
Ikebana.
Straw.
Eggshell mosaic.
Mosaic of fish scales.

Carving on various materials is especially popular:

plaster;
tree;
stone;
eggshells;
bones;
fruits and vegetables - carving.

There are various techniques associated with glass:

stained glass;
fusing;
lampwork.

From volumetric modeling, beginners can choose:

soap making;
candle making;
modeling from salt dough or polymer clay;
modeling from cold porcelain;
ceramic floristry.

Interesting paper techniques:

quilling;
origami;
weaving from newspaper tubes;
applique;
kusudama;
scrapbooking;
papier mache;
iris folding;
vytynanka;
decoupage

Newbies may also be interested in:

beading;
embroidery ribbons;
decor with buttons;
creating topiary;
kanzashi.

The list contains the most popular types of creativity in the world; in addition to them, you can find other hobby options.

Gallery: handicraft masterpieces (25 photos)

Rare species

It happens that traditional types of needlework gradually become boring, in which case rare types of creativity will come to the rescue.

There are also rare types of needlework:

encaustic - painting with wax crayons and iron;
Kirigami - cutting out three-dimensional models from paper;
zardozi is an embroidery that has historical roots: in ancient times it was owned exclusively by men in India. For embroidery they used only precious metals and stones. Modern materials make it possible to make this embroidery budget-friendly without compromising its beauty, luxury and elegance;
Yubinuki - a technique for creating jewelry necessary to protect fingers while sewing;
drawing with cotton wool on velvet paper;
ebru – drawing on water;
oshibana - painting pictures using dry natural materials, for example, foliage, grass;
temari – embroidery on balls;
amigurumi - crocheting toys;
ganutel - the formation of graceful flowers from threads and wire twisted into a spiral;
patchwork - patchwork sewing;
wallow.

Kirigami - cutting out three-dimensional models from paper

New types of handicrafts in the world

Art is constantly evolving, so more and more different handicraft techniques are appearing in the world, among which you can easily choose something to your liking.

The following new handicraft techniques are the most popular now:

Yarnbombing is street knitting, which involves creating images for city parks, streets, summer cottages, as well as a variety of outdoor items.
Diamond embroidery is a handicraft that combines two ancient techniques: mosaic and embroidery. This unusual hobby involves creating pictures from rhinestones.
Modeling jewelry and accessories from polymer clay.
Printed decoupage involves creating a craft based on an image printed on a laser printer.
Making toys from nylon socks.
Knitting from plastic bags.
Parchment craft – echo old looking creativity, which consisted of embossing patterns on thin untanned leather. In modern times, paper is used whose density exceeds 150 g/m2.

Yarnbombing is street knitting, which involves creating images for city parks, streets, and summer cottages.

Are there profitable types of handicrafts (video)

Handicraft masterpieces: which ones can you make with your own hands?

It’s interesting that absolutely all types of handicraft techniques can be done with your own hands. The only obstacle to this may be the lack necessary materials or equipment at home. However, given a certain financial situation, these obstacles can be easily removed.

In order to maximize your talent and comprehensively study various types of techniques, you will need to start making crafts with light models, gradually honing your skills and complicating diagrams, sketches or templates. Interestingly, you can even do carpet weaving and metal-plastic at home.

Carpet weaving and carpet weaving: what is needed for this?

To practice carpet weaving you will need narrow circle materials:

hand-made carpet loom or wooden frame;
smooth linen threads for creating warp and weft;
yarn from which the carpet itself will be woven;
nailer;
shuttle;
hook;
scissors;
carpet weaving sketch.

This type of needlework can be easily done even in the absence of a carpet weaving machine.

This type of needlework can be easily done even in the absence of a carpet weaving machine. Instead, you should use a wooden frame made from hardwood. The size of the frame should be directly related to the size of the future desired carpet. In this case, the frame should exceed the dimensions of the carpet by 15 centimeters in width and 30-40 in length. The most popular frame dimensions: height – 120 centimeters, width – 90 centimeters.

Historical facts about carpet weaving

There are various facts dating the emergence of carpet weaving. The first appearance of woven carpets dates back to the 16th-11th centuries BC. Images of these interior items were discovered in the tomb of Thutmose IV. Interestingly, the process of creating carpets was also recorded. It is evidenced by a fresco created in the 10th century BC, which was discovered in Beli Hassan.

Carpet weaving was also widespread in Assyria. It was here that the oldest pile carpet was created in the 5th century BC. This work of art was discovered in Altai, namely in the Lazaryk mound. It is interesting that even in ancient times, carpets served not only as a means of decorating a home, but also for storing valuable information. Among nomadic peoples, the history of the appearance of carpets was determined by their living conditions in a sharply continental climate.

Carpet weaving in Russia is most widespread in Dagestan. Moreover, carpets made by Tabasaran craftswomen are especially valued.

It is interesting that the inhabitants of Dagestan were engaged in carpet weaving back in the Bronze Age, gradually passing on the secrets of their craft from generation to generation. This Dagestan folk art is not inferior in quality to the best world representatives. Proof of this is the fact that Dagestan carpets are regular participants in exhibition fairs not only in Russia, but throughout Europe.

Master class on creating a carpet (video)

Metal plastic surgery: can it be done at home?

Metal-plastic is a type of arts and crafts that results in a relief picture made of metal. This creativity differs from coinage in that it uses metal plates no more than 0.5 millimeters thick.

It is interesting that in Rus' metal-plastic was used to create jewelry, church utensils, and household items. Gradually, this type of creativity lost its popularity, but its revival dates back to the 50s, after Irakli Ochiauri created a portrait of his teacher on a sheet of metal.

Metal-plastic is a type of arts and crafts that results in a relief picture made of metal

In order to engage in this type of creativity at home, you will need the following tools:

thin sheet of metal;
substrate for embossing;
ruler (a contour grid can be used instead). These tools are necessary for extruding the outline of an image. If it is necessary to draw thin lines, you should use a ruler, characterized by a working end diameter of 1 millimeter, and for thick ones - 2-3 millimeters;
different crushing stacks;
conical extrusion, necessary to create a narrow groove and insert stones;
punches.

Hobbies in metal-plastic can be realized at home, as they do not require special financial costs, expensive equipment and materials. The only thing you need is the skill of applying lines and shading, which should be honed over quite a long time. You can acquire these skills by first performing simple graphic drawings on a sheet of paper.

Almost all areas of handicraft are available for home implementation. In addition to their traditional types, such as knitting, painting, drawing, paper folding, more and more new directions are emerging that are suitable not only for realizing the hobbies of women, but also men. Therefore, among the whole variety of creative techniques, you can find an original, interesting or unconventional manual hobby that will delight the master long years. In order to master the basics of a particular technique, at first you need to rely on various ready-made diagrams, and a master class that can easily be found on the Internet can also help with this.

Handicrafts, as I already wrote in a previous article, are a wonderful type of hobby that allows us to escape from everyday affairs, get positive emotions, and, of course, create something new and beautiful. There are a huge number of different trends in needlework and in this article I want to describe the most popular of them today.

Sewing

I want to start with one of the most ancient types of needlework - sewing. It seems to me that sewing can be put at the head of needlework - this is the most widely used direction in our daily life. If we can do without embroidery, jewelry, or some beautiful interior items, then we are unlikely to go without clothes. It is clear that most of us buy clothes in stores, but nevertheless, in every home there is always thread and a needle. And if you remember labor or home economics classes at a girls’ school, they again teach the basics of sewing. Everyone probably sewed nightgowns or aprons))) In a word, we all, to one degree or another, are proficient in this type of needlework, but there are those who are happy to devote all of their time to it free time.

Sewing includes many different areas, but the essence is the same - creating products using material (fabric, leather, fur), needle and thread.

Most popular destinations:

Sewing clothes, accessories, jewelry.
Patchwork - patchwork sewing
Textile dolls and toys

Knitting

Knitting- another one of the most widespread and ancient types of needlework, which is still very popular to this day. It seems to me that probably all the grandmothers in the world are fluent in this wonderful form of creativity. My beloved grandmother, for example, in addition to the usual warm things, ties chintz rafts with incredibly delicate lace. But not only grandmothers deftly handle knitting needles and hooks; the fair half of humanity of all ages enjoy knitting, and even some men are successful in this type of needlework.

By the way, my younger brother Once on March 8th he gave me a knitted red handbag, which he knitted himself)). This is probably the most unexpected, original and memorable gift.

Many people probably associate knitting with warm woolen socks or some plain sweaters. But in vain! Today, knitting manifests itself as an absolutely amazing type of needlework - they knit clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, toys, interior items and much more. Knitting can be very stylish, fashionable and relevant!

Embroidery

Embroidery – making an image or decorating it with all kinds of patterns on various materials using a needle and thread, as well as using various decorative materials. Today, embroidery is also performed on special embroidery machines.

The most common directions:

Thread embroidery - cross stitch, satin stitch, cutwork embroidery
Embroidery ribbons
Beadwork
Application

Modeling

Modeling- an absolutely stunning type of needlework. Well, perhaps I think so, because I myself sculpt from polymer clay and get incredible pleasure from it. We all sculpted from plasticine in childhood and from shapeless blocks we got cute little animals, wonderful plants, tiny dishes and fabulous buildings. Modeling for adults is an equally exciting process that allows you to show your imagination and create absolutely stunning products - jewelry, interior items, dishes and much more.

The most popular trends in sculpting:

Modeling from polymer clay, cold porcelain (jewelry, accessories, floristry, interior items)
Salt dough modeling
Ceramics

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking- an absolutely magical type of needlework, which consists of decorating photo albums, postcards, diaries using paper, stamps and various cute details - bows, stickers, lace, various rhinestones, buttons, beads, herbariums, fabric, etc. Scrapbooking style products just fascinate me. They are so fabulous, full of various charming details that you want to look at for a long time.

Beads

Beadwork and bead embroidery are an incredibly painstaking type of needlework that allows you to create stunningly beautiful paintings, jewelry, and accessories with the help of tiny beads. My beloved mother embroiders pictures with beads that you simply can’t take your eyes off.

Felting or wool felting

Felting is a very old craft, which today is gaining great popularity and is opening up in a completely new way. Using the technique of felting natural wool create clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, toys, interior items and much more.

Soap making. Natural cosmetic

I really love natural cosmetics, essential oils, I make my own shampoo, make soap and get great pleasure. Do-it-yourself cosmetics is an opportunity to make soap, shampoo, shower gel, creams and much more, taking into account your characteristics. you can use various oils, fragrances, herbs, natural scrubbing ingredients, vitamins - everything that will provide effective skin and hair care. The result of this wonderful handicraft is fragrant, healthy and natural cosmetics just for you.

Decoupage - decorating various surfaces with napkins with patterns and designs. Using this technique, you can decorate anything - furniture, boxes, telephones, dishes, wall clocks, mirrors, flower pots and much more. Decoupage transforms everyday things and also gives a second life to old items.

Quilling

Quilling is a very elegant craft that involves laying out a design or pattern from thinly cut colored paper strips. Using this technique, you can create various wall panels, postcards, and figures.

Kanzashi

The art of kanzashi came to us from Japan, which consists of making three-dimensional flowers, butterflies, and birds from silk. Using the kanzashi technique you can make various decorations and accessories.

Topiary

Topiary is an interior decoration in the form of a tree with a lush crown, usually in the shape of a ball. Such trees are also called the “Tree of Happiness” or the “European Tree”. Topiary – great alternative for those who don't like indoor plants. Original small trees are made from various materials in absolutely any color scheme and style, so you can create your own unique topiary for any interior.

One article would not be enough for me to tell in detail about each of the above areas and this, of course, is not a complete list of all types of needlework that exist. I have listed the most popular ones today. I myself cannot call myself a pro in any particular type of needlework, but I have experience in sewing, knitting (especially crocheting), modeling from polymer clay, beading, cross-stitching, and soap making. And it’s not enough for me!))

Perhaps this article will inspire someone to do a handicraft feat).

I wish you all a wonderful mood and inspiration for creative achievements!

Knitting

For a long time, trying to decorate their lives, people sought to use the simplest materials to combine simple forms and means with unpretentious patterns, while achieving high skill. Hand knitting initially appeared as a simple utilitarian necessity, later it turned into real art. Knitted products have always been highly valued. For example, in Europe, at first they could only be worn by very wealthy people. Knitted silk stockings were a gift even for kings! So, the Swedish king Eric IV ordered himself a pair of silk stockings. And they cost - the annual salary of a royal shoemaker...

It is very difficult to accurately establish the history of knitting, since threads and knitwear are difficult to preserve. But still, some evidence of this art has reached us in the form of images. In one of the Egyptian tombs (1900 BC) there is an image of a woman putting on socks. The imprint of a stocking was discovered in the solidified lava of Pompeii in 79 AD. Children's stockings III-IV centuries. AD found in Egypt. These stockings already took into account the shape of shoes, sandals with a strap after the big toe. The ancient Egyptians made a sock thumb knitted separately, like on mittens. Later, somewhere in the 9th-11th centuries, some skilled knitters even began to put texts on socks. The museums of Detroit and Badel contain such examples of ancient Egyptian knitting from cotton threads with ancient Arabic text.

In the 15th-16th centuries, knitting spread quite actively throughout Europe and turned into homework and into the profitable industry: they knit stockings, socks, gloves, hoods, sweaters and hats. It was then that the headdress appeared and became traditional for the Scots - knitted beret. Entire knitting workshops appeared. In 1589, Woolbridge curate William Leigh invented the knitting machine. But the more mass-produced machine-made products were produced, the more valuable hand-made products became, and especially crocheted products, because such products could not be replicated by machine. And there are still no knitting machines that could knit fabric similar to non-crocheted ones.

Over time, the work of masters becomes art, and knitted products end up in museums. For example, two 17th-century jackets are kept in Sweden - in the Nordic Museum in Stockholm and in the Historical Museum in Gothenburg. Usually in Europe, sweaters were knitted from single-color yarn, decorating the front fabric with purl loops, but the Arabs a couple of thousand years ago could make multi-colored complex patterns.

Nowadays, this art continues to develop, enriched with new motifs, compositional techniques, and modern materials. This activity requires knowledge of cutting and sewing knitwear, and working with crochet has a lot in common with embroidery and weaving. And all the same, hand knitting compares favorably with other types of needlework. It is especially attractive that the source material - yarn - can be used several times and without much loss. Hand knitting allows you to make unique, unique patterns. The hook's capabilities allow you to make various decorative things, such as lace, bedspreads, clothes, toys, jewelry. Indeed, nowadays it is very difficult to imagine our wardrobe without knitwear. Knitted products are comfortable and durable, practical and elegant, they are warm and cozy.

Hand knitting allows you to express your individuality and your intended image by choosing the texture and color of the yarn, its weave, design and style of products.

When knitting products, a close relationship between styles, patterns, combinations of knitting needles and crochet is acceptable. But we still recommend showing a sense of proportion, since every detail should be significant and in its place so that your models do not look ridiculous or sloppily made. With the help of exhibitions, magazines, model demonstrations, try to create your own unique image and mood.

Value materials and your time: create your own models, and our lessons will help you. After all, sometimes it happens that you like a model in a magazine, but it doesn’t look good in your version. This happens due to many reasons:

Error when choosing a pattern

The combination of different threads or colors is not taken into account

Calculation error

The parts are knitted very neatly, but the product is not processed well

Motifs of patterns, etc. are not taken into account.

But you don’t always have time to redo it, and there’s no longer any desire to do so... And after knitting, the yarn, at least a little, changes its qualities not for the better - some types of modern yarn cannot be knitted at all.

But very often it is enough just to use the texture of the yarn to create a beautiful, extraordinary thing. A practical person will be able to “fit” fashion into his wardrobe and extend the life of his products, while spending a minimum of time. Increasingly, lace and openwork collars are used in the manufacture of clothes - and your dress already looks more graceful, elegant, and feminine.

Hats and gloves are the most relevant addition to the costume. They cannot be repeated from fabric - but a shawl, crocheted will always be your unique thing. And in general, hats are special products; they are always in sight, attracting attention, unlike dresses, suits, blouses, which are often hidden by outerwear.

Fashion for knitwear is also a decoration of our interior. You can create a knitted lampshade or tablecloth, a napkin or a vase - and your home will acquire the coziness and warmth that is unique to you.

Many of the patterns themselves are not new, but the combinations of these patterns can be endless, and creative thought allows the creation of many forms.

Embroidery

The emergence of embroidery, one of the most widespread types of folk art, dates back to the era of primitive culture and is associated with the appearance of the first stitch when sewing clothes from animal skins. Embroidery is the decoration of products made from various materials with an ornamental pattern or a plot image made with threads and other materials manually using a needle or by machine. At different times, the material for embroidery was animal sinew, natural or dyed threads of flax, hemp, cotton, silk, wool, hair, as well as pearls and precious stones, beads and seed beads, sequins, shells, gold and copper plaques, and coins.

Embroidery is closely connected with life, work, nature and, thus, has always reflected artistic tastes and ideas, revealed the national identity and skill of each people. Having originated in ancient times, the art of decorative embroidery has been preserved for many centuries in the decoration of homes, clothing and various household items.

Luxurious embroidery reached high perfection already in despotism. ancient East, where they were used to decorate the vestments of rulers and priests, as well as palace and temple curtains, chariots of the nobility, etc. Embroidery is one of the oldest and very common ways to decorate fabric. A piece of fabric, thread, needle - that's all simple material for embroidery, so portable that every handicraft lover can always have it with her. Unlike woven and woven patterns, embroidery designs are applied to the finished surface of the fabric, just like painting and printing, differing from the latter only in the material and technique of execution.

Embroidery patterns are made with large and small stitches, the combinations of which form the so-called embroidery stitches. Embroidery methods and materials are very diverse. They embroider with linen, silk, wool, gilded and silver threads, often using beads, pearls, precious stones, metal plates of various shapes, colored and mirrored glass, cord, etc. The background for embroidery is linen, wool, silk, cotton fabrics, as well as leather, parchment and other materials. Embroidery threads are used in different thicknesses, which allows the embroiderer to diversify the embroidery pattern not only with stitches, colors, but also with relief. Embroidery is sometimes used to complement a woven or printed pattern in order to emphasize certain parts of it or the outline of the design. But most often embroidery is used as an independent decoration of fabric.

The Russian North is characterized by white stitching, while the Upper Volga region is characterized by colored stitching. In the Yaroslavl region, silk threads of delicate tones or woolen garus were selected for colored stitch embroidery. In the Olonets, Vologda and western parts of the Arkhangelsk region they embroidered mainly with a vestibule. White and colored satin stitch with plant motifs are characteristic of the Vladimir region, gold embroidery - for the Tver region, guipure - for the Gorky and Ivanovo regions. In northern embroidery patterns, plot motifs prevailed over geometric ones. The patterns were drawn on checkered paper and embroidered by counting the threads in the fabric. Complex compositions were made in outline, in one color, using one embroidery technique. The embroideries of Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Smolensk, Oryol and other Central Russian regions are multicolored. The ornament is geometric or geometrized. The most common method of embroidery is colored weave. Other seams were also used: cast-on, braid, goat, cross, counted satin stitch, hemstitch.

At present, few embroideries of artistic significance have survived, with the exception of folk embroideries, among which there are indeed excellent examples.

Beading

The history of beads goes back a long way. The material, magnificent in its decorative qualities, has attracted the attention of craftsmen since time immemorial.

Beads in antiquity

Glass beads, the immediate predecessors of beads, decorated the clothes of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. The nomadic tribes of the Sarmatians and Scythians, several centuries before the birth of Christ, wore clothes and shoes trimmed with beads. Small glass balls decorated the collars, sleeve edges and breasts of shirts, as well as trousers, belts and hats.

Beads in Rus'

Beads are also not ignored in Rus'. The first information about its use in clothing decoration dates back to the 9th-12th centuries. Burials in Latvia, in which fabric crowns decorated with bronze spirals and beads were found, also date back to the same period.

Beads in the Venetian Republic

For several centuries, the only center of bead production in Europe was the Venetian Republic. Before that, it was made in glass workshops in Germany and Gaul. from these places it migrated to Byzantium, and from Byzantium it came to Venice.

The island of Murano became the center of Venetian glass production. Various types of vessels (mostly inflatable), mirrors, beads, buttons, beads, etc. were made there. If on initial stage Since the creation of the craft, various types of glass products were made in workshops, but a little later they began to specialize in any one type of product. Venetian glass, including beads, brought enormous income to the republic. The countries of East Africa, European countries, and then America - this is the geography of trade in glass products.

It is interesting to note that the famous navigator Marco Polo was the son of a famous bead maker at that time. Returning home from his long journey, Marco Polo spoke about the great popularity of glass jewelry in overseas countries, which in turn contributed to the expansion of Venetian glass production.

The significant profits of the Venetian Republic, which was a monopolist in glassmaking, aroused the envy of residents of neighboring states who tried to find out the secrets of glass production. In an effort to maintain a monopoly in the glass trade, the government of the republic in 1275 issued a decree prohibiting the export of raw materials, unprocessed glass and even its fragments outside its borders. This was done so that competitors could not determine the composition of the glass mass. Severe punishment awaited the craftsmen who took the secrets of glass production abroad; they were declared traitors to the state, their relatives were taken hostage, they were killed in order to achieve the return of the fugitives.

But the government of the Venetian Republic sought to retain glassmakers not only by force. They were given an exceptional privilege: the daughters of masters could marry patricians. Moreover, the authorities turned a blind eye to the predatory morals that reigned in Murano. But glassmakers, in addition to their main profession, did not disdain robbery. In his Memoirs, D. Casanova recalled that visitors who spent the night in Murano could pay for such carelessness not only with their wallets, but also with their lives.

Macrame translated from Arabic means braid, lace, and from Turkish it means scarf, napkin with fringe. In any case, these are products made from knots. Knotted lace looks beautiful, and products made from it are durable. The history of knot weaving goes back to the distant past.

Back in the 9th century, sailors wove chains and talismans in their free time. IN Ancient Greece fractures were treated using knots. The Incas in Peru wove rosaries. In the 15th century, Italians began to use knotted lace to decorate clothes. In Rus', tying knots - “nauzit” meant “to cast a spell, cast a spell, cast a spell” - this is how V.I. Dal writes about it. Christianity in Rus' condemned the wearing of amulets. In the east, in ancient times, there was a knotted letter, thanks to which people collected and stored the necessary information. The heyday of macrame dates back to the 9th century BC. e. It is from this time that the origins of the creation of knotted weave products can be traced. The founders of macrame are considered to be sailors who, during leisure hours, wove chains, pendants, talismans and gave them to friends in distant countries.

In the 14th century, sailors introduced the art of weaving to the inhabitants of Spain, India, and China. In the Cathedral in Madrid, drawings of macrame patterns and knots from that time were found. At the same time, macrame became known and popular in Italy. Artists also reflected macrame products in their canvases. Sandro Botticelli was one of the first to do this. In the painting “The Adoration of the Magi” (1476-1477), one of the characters is wearing a macrame cap.

In the 17th century, macrame spread from Italy to Northern Europe and North America. Then it became very popular in England. No matter how long the art of weaving was forgotten, it was revived with renewed vigor and not only acquired new features, but also changed its name. At different times the art of weaving was called: square weave, knotted lace, knotted fringe. And only in the 19th century this type of needlework, craft and art began to be called macrame. Translated from Turkish, “macrama” is a scarf or napkin with fringe; translated from Arabic, “migramah” is a fringe or scarf decorated with woven lace.

A new wave of macrame revival began in the 19th century. The works of Baltic masters widely include wall panels, which mainly contain elements of geometric patterns. When creating their compositions, Baltic artists rely on folk art traditions. At the same time, when weaving, they prefer the natural color of hemp, and if they tint the material, then only in dull and pastel shades. When using macrame to make chest decorations, Baltic craftsmen often use amber.

The popularity of macrame can be easily explained. Products made using the macrame technique are distinguished not only by their durability, but also by their beauty and even elegance.

Lace

What can we understand by the word “lace”? It has two different meanings. One of them comes from the word “surround”; In Russia, they defined a variety of finishes in the form of cords on the hems, floors and sleeves of clothing. In another meaning, this word refers to a patterned openwork product - an independent type of decoration of clothing or furnishings, and it probably has the same root.

The concept of “lace” includes three different types of techniques: needle-sewn, woven with bobbins, and crocheted with rods. Only the first two can be considered lace - sewn and woven. The third represents another technical type - knitting, which only in some moments roughly imitates weaving. Needle stitched lace was not performed in Russia, but woven lace, on the contrary, achieved widespread development, turning into the new kind arts and crafts.

Lace is a European art. When did it appear? Without the use of metal pins, it is impossible to make complex and delicate products, and pins became known from the middle of the 16th century; probably, its appearance should be associated with this time. Numerous monuments of woven lace have been preserved from the second half of the 16th century. Then the term for lace appeared in languages different countries, which still dispute with each other to be called the birthplace of lace.

It is with the development of bobbin lace that all the variety of types known from the places of their creation is associated: “Brussels”, “Malines”, “Valenciennes”. The creative discoveries of Russian craftswomen are so original that they have entered the general history of culture under the name “Russian lace”. Taken from Western Europe in the 17th century, Russian lace making not only preserved, but also developed the best traditions of craftswomen in European countries, and became a true national artistic phenomenon, the independence of which is expressed in the richness of color, variety of technical techniques and, mainly, in the figurative nature of the ornament, characteristic of all Russian folk art. In the 18th century, we can already talk about the manifestation of striking features characteristic of individual places of its production, such as Galich, Rostov Veliky, Kalyazin, Torzhok, Ryazan and Mikhailov, Balakhna, Orel and Yelets and others.

Origami

Origami means “folded paper” in Japanese. "Ori" means folding and "kami" means paper. Thus, origami is the ancient art of folding paper figures, paper plastic. Despite traditionally attributed Japanese roots, the art of origami goes back to ancient China, where paper was discovered.

Origami was originally used in religious rituals. For a long time, this type of art was accessible only to representatives of the upper classes, where mastery of paper folding techniques was a sign of good form. Only after the Second World War did origami go beyond the East and come to America and Europe, where it immediately found its fans.

Origami requires only a piece of paper, making it one of the most accessible arts. Any paper can be used for origami, but there is a certain standard for folding. Standard origami paper should be thin, durable, and should hold creases well. It is usually white on one side and colored on the other and has the shape of a square with a side of 15 cm (6 inches). Some origami artists also experiment with other materials, using cardboard, various types of fabric, wire mesh, metal sheets, and so on for folding.

The completed origami figure is called a model, the method of folding the model is called a project, and the drawn instructions for the model are called a set of diagrams.

There is a certain set of conventional signs necessary in order to sketch the folding diagram of even the most complex product. Most of the conventional signs were introduced into practice in the middle of the 20th century by the famous Japanese master Akira Yoshizawa, whose only student in Russia is Zoya Chashikhina, president of the Moscow Children's Center Origami.

Origamists love to fold models of animals, as well as all objects of wildlife. In addition to animal models, models of almost all physical objects have been created, including people, faces, plants, vehicles, buildings, etc.

Some origami artists fold abstract or mathematical shapes, while others specialize in modular origami, where many folded simple parts are assembled into large, complex structures.

Origami is used various groups of people. Artists use origami as a way to express themselves creatively. Scientists, architects and mathematicians explore origami geometry for beauty or for practical applications. Doctors and teachers use origami to help their patients recover from illness or for teaching purposes. And a huge number of people simply fold paper because it's fun.

Isothread

Thread graphics, isothread (image with thread), thread design is a graphic image made in a special way with threads on cardboard or other solid base. Thread graphics are also sometimes called isographics or embroidery on cardboard.

There are several other names thread graphics. You can also use velvet (velvet paper) or thick paper as a base. The threads can be ordinary sewing, wool, floss or others. You can also use colored silk threads. We know that a long time ago peasant women spun threads themselves, and then wove canvas from them on a wooden loom at home. Shirts, towels, aprons, hats and other things were sewn from this canvas, and then decorated with embroidery. Embroiderers, when composing the pattern, included various geometric shapes, figures of birds, animals, and people. Over time, embroidery became more diverse and interesting. Of course, it is difficult to immediately master even very simple embroidery, so first we made a drawing made with thread.

History of isothread

Thread graphics as an art form first appeared in England. English weavers came up with a special way of weaving threads. They drove nails into the boards and pulled threads onto them in a certain sequence. The result was openwork lace products that were used to decorate the home. Currently, the art of thread graphics is widely used for decorating products and household items, for interior decoration, and for making gifts and souvenirs.

Patchwork

The history of patchwork goes back to very distant times. Thus, in the Bulat Museum in Cairo, an example of an ornament dated back to 980 BC and made from pieces of gazelle skin of the same tone is exhibited. The Tokyo Costume Museum displays clothing from the Mayoma Edo period (15b9 - 1867), decorated with patterns of pieces various fabrics. B IV - IX centuries AD Pilgrims who climbed to the temple (the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, located on the ancient Silk Road) left pieces of their clothes there. From these numerous abandoned stones, the temple servants made a carpet, reminiscent of the pilgrimage of many people. This carpet was discovered only in 1920 by archaeologist Sir Arthur Stein.

An unusually beautiful decorative cover is kept in the Petsam Monastery (19th century), made in the soft colors of the East and mysterious Byzantium. In May 1540, Katherine Howard, one of the wives of Henry VD3 (of England), received 23 kilts from the royal wardrobe as a sign of the king's favor before the wedding.

The London Quilt Museum houses magnificent pieces made by the wives of the first settlers in America.

Very tenacious in the East, patchwork came to Europe, probably after the Crusades, when knights brought captured flags, banners, and carpets from Palestine, made in this technique and extremely beautiful.

But in Europe this technique spread very slowly and well justifies its etymology “made from pieces of fabric and ... labor.”

When emigrants from England, Holland and Germany began to arrive in North America in the 18th century, they found themselves in very dire straits upon arrival. There wasn't even enough money to buy new clothes or fabrics for it. It is worth remembering that in those distant times, traveling from the Old World to the New took quite a lot of time!

But the women found a way out. Good pieces of old clothes were put into bags, and later, gathered together, they were used to sew clothes, blankets, bedspreads, rugs, etc. This kind of work united people cut off from their native shelter, from their roots. And the resulting enthusiasm and inspiration made it possible to create true masterpieces. After all, the wives of the English Puritans who arrived on the shores of America brought with them not only a love of comfort and the skill of embroidery, known in England already in the 13th century, but also the ability to save money.

Here in America the “kilt” was born. Originally, this word meant a blanket made from shreds and quilted with an insulated lining. Then the word “kilt” began to be used to describe all products made using this technique.

Various traditions have been associated with the kilt. For example, a girl’s dowry had to include 12 items made using the “kilt” technique. The thirteenth product began to be made during the engagement, and was completed before the wedding. The star is made of 672 diamonds in eight colors and gives the impression of radiation (made in 1880).

People from Holland preferred a loose floral floral pattern. (Oh, these magnificent tulips!). Each county in the state of North Carolina has its own unique ornament - “Tulip*. And you won’t confuse the English pattern of hexagons with anything else, English technology connecting them into a single pattern. The Amish people, like the Menionites, preferred a natural and simple style. Their kilts feature energetic geometric designs in intense tones and are covered in a dense kilt net.

Gradually, patchwork becomes an expression of American folk art, different rules, models, types and methods. The traditions of patchwork not only did not sink into oblivion, but largely thanks to missionaries, they penetrated into Asia, Canada, Australia, India, Haiti, and Hawaii. However, everywhere it begins to acquire purely national features.

That's why we can talk about Hawaiian, Canadian, Australian, Italian, Indian, South American, etc. patchwork. Each of them has a special technique, rules and methods of execution.

The depression of the 30s in the United States did not contribute to the development of patchwork - quilting. There was no fabric during the Second World War, but food was sold in bags made of cotton fabric. The bags were opened and large pieces of fabric were obtained. From one such food bag it was possible to sew child dress, and of the two this is a dress for an adult. After the war, the art of patchwork began to fade. Thirty years ago, kilt clubs began to appear (before that, creativity was at the family level). These clubs (“swarm of bees”) became a special center of creativity, where good brotherly relations were fostered. As people prepared to celebrate the 200th anniversary of independence in 1976, they looked to their past. Researchers rushed to shake up the antiquities in attics and basements. Ancient, unusually beautiful kilts kept by families were discovered.

A new wave of interest in the patchwork quilting technique is also associated with the technological rise of the last three decades and the development of culture. Since 1970, patchwork has become popular in Britain and Europe. Patchwork requires creative approach and taste. Its production takes a lot of time. This is probably why it is the best antidote to the troubles that the outside world has in store for us. But let's not forget that this creativity, before it turned into leisure, was the best way to save money - using a wide variety of pieces of fabric to create products.

It takes a lot of patience to learn this creativity, you need to master many technical techniques. After all, no bright and varied pattern can hide a bad stitch or sloppy work. Only with experience comes mastery and harmony of drawing is achieved. Only by learning technical techniques will you gain true freedom of creative expression.

Straw weaving

Straw is the oldest material cultivated and processed by man. The hands that took the first ear and the first stem never left them, the eyes that saw the beauty of the filled ear and the golden stem could not turn away from them. This happened from generation to generation and was genetically passed on to modern masters.

History of straw weaving

This craft has thousands of years behind it. Its history dates back to ancient rituals associated with the cults of bread and straw. Our ancestors believed in the divine power of straw and grain, which preserved the viviparous power of nature and generously gave it not only to the stems and ears of the new harvest, but to everyone who, one way or another, came into contact with them. Therefore, the last sheaf, harvested from the field, which was kept in the house until the new harvest, was revered in this way. Peasants connected their future lives with straw, giving it the role of a fortuneteller in numerous carol fortune-telling. Grain was sprinkled on the newlyweds at the wedding, and the young woman was planted on straw so that the power of the plants would be transferred to the young family and their future children. There are countless beliefs and rituals associated with straw and bread. Despite the variability of the world, they came to us from distant pagan times and continue to live next to us in the form of works of masters. Straw "spiders", horses, birds, dolls - these are not just images, each of them is connected with the person who created it, came into contact with it, with invisible threads of hopes and aspirations that they symbolized.

Straw products

Straw "spiders" are one of the most ancient creations made from straw and, perhaps, the most mysterious. Their forms, built on the connection of many identical modules, amaze with their harmony. The chaos of many straw tubes in the hands of creative masters turns into cosmically ordered outlandish structures, as if the World is being created in the hands of a master. Modern research largely confirm this analogy. "Spiders" were hung in peasant families on New Year's Eve, in the most honorable place of the house - the Red Corner. Its strict harmony of forms and movements were designed to protect the house and its owners. By absorbing into the web of its design everything negative that could interfere with the happy flow of family life. Every year the cycle repeated itself. The old "spider" was burned and a new one was hung in its place. The "spider" was hung over the baby's cradle and over the heads of the newlyweds during the wedding. To protect, to bring happiness and at the same time to decorate, to give the opportunity to admire - this is the purpose of these amazing structures.

Horses, goats, birds, straw dolls are also deities and protectors: the horse is the hero of many beliefs and fairy tales, he always accompanied the man and was his friend, adviser, and protector; goat is a symbol of harvest and fertility; doll - Mother Progenitor, protector of women; birds are the souls of ancestors, protecting and helping those now living on Earth. Throughout the history of his existence, man could not do without hope for help and support from supernatural forces that he did not fully understand. He endowed them with images that accompanied him throughout his life. The figurines were given to newlyweds at a wedding, to each other on corresponding holidays, large images of Maslenitsa, Madder were made during mass rituals, sacrificed by burning or drowning.

The decline in straw weaving, after its rise in the 18th and early 19th centuries, began in the mid-19th century. Straw images of animals and birds lost their ritual significance and gradually became children's toys and trivial amusements, the time for making which was not always found in the difficult everyday life of peasants.

Straw products for household use

Straw household products for storing food and grain, which were indispensable in peasant life for many centuries, although slowly, also began to be replaced by more modern products. Although in terms of strength they could compete with any of them. Containers made using the spiral weaving technique had a wide variety of sizes and shapes and were widely used in households. The largest ones could contain tens of kilograms of grain. They were hygroscopic and mice did not chew them. These invaluable qualities of straw utensils made their life in a peasant environment longer than plastic ones. And even in the 1940-1950s, some peasants made such products for themselves.

From the mid-19th century, the production of clothing items from straw also began to decline. The most common of them were straw hats. Straw hat was an obligatory part of the folk summer men's suit. Gradually, rural residents began to prefer factory-made hats, and hats continued to be worn for protection from the sun while working in the fields or when herding livestock.

A new rise in the history of straw weaving began in the 1960s. Since that time, straw weaving began to be intensively enriched with new weaving techniques. The artistic side of straw products has developed especially brightly and diversely. The ancient customs of making ritual animals and dolls from straw have come into our lives. They have become a theme for the creativity of many modern masters and artists. Modern people have largely lost faith in the divinity of the images they create. However, the strength and power of folk traditions that have crossed centuries and continue to exist is surprising.

The amazing, seemingly incompatible qualities of straw: the inflexibility and resistance to any violence of straw stems and the incredible plasticity of braids and straw ribbons, opened up incredible scope for creativity for craftsmen who have comprehended the secrets of straw. They developed techniques and decor hitherto unknown in straw weaving.

Crackle

The crackle technique refers to the decoration of objects. Crackle is a pattern of thin cracks on the surface, created for the decorative effect of antiquity, using special means.

Varnishes for crackle

There are two types of crackle topcoats.

The first, so-called two-component crackle varnish from one manufacturer is applied in several layers. The initial layer must be applied with a synthetic brush or made from natural bristles even, thin layer. The first coat should dry to a "tack-free" state in about 35-40 minutes.

The second layer of varnish used for the crackle aging technique is applied using the same technology as the first. Make sure the coverage is even. The thicker the second layer, the more pronounced the cracks will be. As it dries, cracks characteristic of the crackle technique will appear on the surface. The surface can be dried with a hairdryer. After complete drying, the cracks are rubbed with special grouts: this can be gold powder, dark oil paint, bitumen - a patination agent, or dry pastel powder of various colors. Rub the cracks using ordinary rags rolled up with a tampon or a simple dishwashing sponge. Excess grout is removed with material impregnated with flax or sunflower oil, then wipe the surface dry with a cloth or rag. Due to the fragility of the resulting cracks, the surface should be secured and protected using a special fixative. You can use clear varnish for acrylic paints.

The second method is to use single-phase craquelure varnish. Contrasting paint colors are used to achieve a crackle effect. To use a single-phase crackle varnish, one of the paints is applied to the surface, then after the layer has dried, the crackle varnish is applied, as in the first method, it must dry to a “sticky non-stick” state, then a second layer of paint of a contrasting color is applied. In this case, the cracks appear immediately, so it is necessary to paint quickly, without creeping onto the previous stroke.

Some crackle tips:

* The varnish should never be shaken before use, otherwise the air bubbles formed after shaking will spoil the coating.

* The varnish should not stretch; if the varnish stretches, it is either damaged or not of very good quality. The varnish should be transparent and liquid.

* Before applying varnish, it is necessary to ventilate, vacuum, and best of all, carry out wet cleaning so that dust particles do not settle on the surface to be painted.

There are many techniques for aging and decorating furniture and interior items. To figure it out and learn how to make decorations for your home or make gifts for friends and family with your own hands, and as we all know, handmade valued most of all, you can go to decorating courses, where decorating classes are taught by experienced craftsmen.

wicker weaving

Wicker weaving is one of the most ancient crafts. It arose much earlier than pottery and occupied a significant place in the life of ancient man. Dwellings and outbuildings were built from the branches of woody plants, fences, children's cradles, sleigh and cart bodies, furniture, children's toys and dishes were made. And the most common products made from wicker were baskets.

History of wicker weaving (history of wicker weaving)

In Rus', basket weaving was quite common. Almost every peasant could weave a good basket if necessary. Well, basket makers wove them for every taste: small and large, round and rectangular, oval and conical, with simple and complex weaving, with and without lids. It was difficult to manage without baskets on the farm. They wore clothes to the river; taken on the road, setting off on a long journey; they harvested crops; We went mushroom hunting with them.

In modern life, baskets also find various uses, and it’s hard to imagine a real mushroom picker without them. And willow is best suited for mushrooms. The willow branches from which the basket is woven contain a large number of tannins. Thanks to them, the mushrooms do not spoil for a long time, and the air passing between the rods, as if through a filter, is cleaned of harmful microorganisms. In addition, willow twigs absorb excess moisture and, thanks to their thermal insulation properties, protect mushrooms from overheating. And, of course, a good basket is light, beautiful and convenient. Today you rarely see a real willow basket even at the market. Therefore, it is better to weave it yourself, to your taste.

Basics of wicker weaving. Preparation of rods for wicker weaving

First of all, you need to prepare high-quality raw materials. The twigs of many types of willows, after appropriate processing, are quite suitable for weaving. The exception is brittle willow and some other species. Most often, young shoots of willow, three-stamen and basket willow are harvested for weaving.

For weaving, rods aged from one to two years are usually used. For small, elegant weaving, annual shoots are taken, which in some species of willows are thin and long, like a cord; for weaving large items, as well as for making basket frames - two years. Willow rods intended for weaving must be long, thin, flexible, viscous, straight-layered and split well along the fibers. It is necessary to harvest only those rods whose surface looks glossy after removing the bark.

For baskets, try to prepare rods at least 60-70 cm long with a diameter at the butt (at the cut point) of 5-8 mm. Typically, willow shoots on one bush have approximately the same physical and mechanical properties. Therefore, before cutting twigs from a bush, first check the quality of one of them. If a willow branch has a core that is too large when cut, and even with a brownish-reddish tint, do not take twigs from such a bush - they, as a rule, are brittle. For our purposes, we need branches that have a small, barely visible core at the end of the cut. And of course, you need to choose fairly straight shoots, without growths, damage and knots.

It is possible to harvest vines for weaving baskets almost all year round. But most often, basket makers are engaged in harvesting in the spring and autumn. The bark of spring shoots can be easily removed without pre-treatment. If the twigs are cut at another time of the year, then in order to remove the bark, they need to be soaked or evaporated. IN summer time and in the fall the rods are soaked in running water from a river or stream; You can use it in a barrel or trough, but in this case you need to change the water every day. The harvested vine is tied into a bundle, a load - stones - is placed inside and immersed in water. Steel objects should not be used as a load - tannins contained in willow bark can color the wood in an undesirable color. To prevent the rods from being carried away by the current, they are tied with a rope to a peg driven into the bank. The rods are soaked for one to two weeks.

Instead of soaking, you can steam them - then the processing time will be reduced from one or two weeks to one or two hours. Place the rods in a tank or trough, fill with water and put on fire. Bring the water to a boil and boil the rods for one to two hours. Then take out the rods, wait until they cool, and remove the bark. To do this you will need a pincer.

There are many designs of pinch pins, but the simplest of them is a metal slingshot driven into a massive bench, table or log. The squeezer can be made from two metal rods. Hammer pointed rods (they can be two thick nails) of the same length side by side into a wooden base. Wrap them from below with thick wire, laying turn to turn, height 5 - 7 cm. Spread the free upper ends - you get a slingshot. To remove the bark from a twig, insert it with the thickened butt part into the pinch and, pressing the twig to the pinch with your left hand, pull it towards you with your right. If the bark is removed only from one side, pass the rod through the pinch again. Sort the cleaned rods by thickness.

If it was not possible to prepare thin rods, then split the thicker ones into strips of halves and quarters. Remember that wood that is too damp does not split well, so dry it indoors.

Coloring of rods

Etch or paint some of the rods intended for artistic weaving. A grayish-brown color is obtained if the rods are dipped in a solution of iron sulfate for a while; brown color - in a solution of potassium permanganate.

If you want to get bright colors, then use regular aniline dyes. For a bucket of hot water you need about four packets of aniline dyes. Add a few tablespoons of acetic acid to the paint solution. To ensure that the rods are well dyed, soak them in the dye for three hours, then rinse with clean water and dry at room temperature. Immediately before weaving, soak the rods in water.

Glass painting

Glass is a wonderful material that plays vital role in the interior of our homes. It can perform many functions and therefore appears in a variety of forms; accompanies us in everyday life, captivating us with its reflections, colors and exciting fragility. Even in ancient times, skilled craftsmen painted mirrors or glass cabinets and decorated many utensils, depicting scenes from life or floral and geometric patterns. They used paints that they expertly made themselves, mixing different types clays and natural vegetable oils. The pioneers of the “new decorative glass painting” improved the technique of using materials that appeared thanks to experiments recent years. The full range of paints for painting on glass - Vetro Color and Segamic Co1og - from Ferrario makes it possible to master simple rules, go exploring your creative ambitions.

Familiarization with technology

Let's set up a workplace. We will need:

A well-lit place (daylight or artificial light that does not distort color, such as a halogen lamp);

Ideally level (installed strictly horizontally) table;

Paints (very liquid). Once applied to the glass surface, they may flow off in an undesirable manner following the slope of the tabletop;

For sketches and drawings: thin paper for drawing; tracing paper; felt-tip pen with a fine tip; colour pencils; pencil eraser; ruler with millimeter divisions; a felt-tip pen with an ultra-fine tip for drawing on glass; paper adhesive tape; copy paper;

To apply lead: a tube of Piombo imitazione (Imitation Lead) contour paste from Ferrario; a pack of toothpicks; razor blade; plastic plates; pin;

For coloring: a set of round synthetic brushes “ARTI”; a set of transparent paints Vetro Co1og from Ferrario, including at least the basic colors: white, black, yellow, red, brown and azure; a set of Ceramic Co1og paints from Ferrario in the same basic colors; a bottle of colorless varnish from Ferrario; a bottle of colorless varnish Ceramic Co1og from Ferrario; a bottle of special Universal diluent; plastic saucers; several linen rags that do not leave lint; aluminum anodized hand guard from Ferrario;

For cleaning: glass degreasing composition; antistatic composition for cleaning plexiglass; a cotton cloth that does not leave lint. Glass painting is created, in fact, with two materials: contour paste, which imitates the effect of lead, and transparent paint - for glass and for cold painting of ceramics. Using a certain paint can even change the functionality of an item. Contour paste is produced in a tube, squeezed out through a nozzle, forming a contour on the glass, which, after hardening, will serve as a border for the paint and protect it from external influences. The paint, which will be applied with a brush, firmly adhering to the lead contour, will ensure a strong connection of both materials to the base. The lead outline is a visible and aesthetically significant element, well recognizable and typical; therefore, you need to choose drawings that were originally created in the style of this technique and, if possible, simplified.

After choosing a pattern, you need to clean the base with an antistatic agent to remove surface contaminants and ensure maximum adhesion strength to the lead.

How to use lead

) Let's start by preparing contour paste (produced by Ferrario different shades), which reproduces the effect of lead. Open the tube and, after making a hole, squeeze some lead onto a plastic plate to remove any excess air or oil that may have accumulated in the tube. Sometimes a little paste may harden in the nozzle, which will prevent further release of the composition. In this case, remove the hardened lead by unscrewing the nozzle and inserting a pin from the inside towards the exit hole.

2) Screw the nozzle again, repeat the first operation, squeezing out a little lead until a compact and uniform bead appears.

3) To ensure that the lead comes out of the tube evenly (without having to press hard with your finger, thereby straining your hand), twist the fold at the bottom of the tube, trying to always keep the tube under pressure. The lead is now ready to use. To get a good result, you need to learn how to organize the work correctly. The outline should not be too thin, nor flattened, nor intermittently broken. Thanks to the skill, you will create an outline from lead that looks like a round wire of medium thickness.

4) Correct position of the tube in the hand: horizontal on the middle finger to the bend of the hand between the index and thumb. Hold it with your index finger to prevent it from falling. Actually, the thumb will work, regulating the lead output with pressure.

5) To prevent the hand from shaking, and the wrist and arm muscles from straining, you should lean on the table with the entire edge of the hand and the forearm up to the elbow, so that you get a single lever that moves, sliding along the working plane.

Carefully examine the prepared drawing. It is logical to start applying the outline from left to right and from top to bottom, so as not to put your brush or hand on the area where the lead has already been applied. It is better to start with one of the outer lines of the drawing.

6) Now you need to remove the cap from the tube and use the fingertip of your other hand to clean the tip of the nozzle, which must always remain completely clean, otherwise the remaining lead may change the direction of the coming out material

7) Determine the point where you want to start. Hold the tube slightly elevated above the glass and begin to gently press it, squeezing out the lead so that it rests on top, and at the same time move the brush and hand, trying to cover the line of the design with the paste. When you need to stop, stop squeezing the tube a moment before reaching the selected point so that the last piece of lead remaining in the nozzle rests on the glass.

If you want to continue working and close the outline of the drawing, start pressing the tube again, lowering the beginning of the lead roller to the end of the outline. This way you will get a uniform contour without wasting material. If the result is a “lead” of lead, take a toothpick and carefully spread it into the different sides excess material until the “flow” disappears. If the lead is not on the line, use the toothpicks again to adjust the outline, moving it to the desired line.

This operation should be performed immediately, because after 5 minutes the lead will begin to harden and after that it cannot be corrected, except by completely removing the incorrect part of the contour (using a blade) and redoing it again. While working, it is important not to rush: the slower the hand moves, the more accurate the contour line will be. If you act quickly or harshly, the roller will become uneven and will not be able to form the necessary barrier to contain the paint.

Finish the outline of the drawing, working calmly and easily, without making sudden movements, without twisting your wrist or arm.

When the outline covers the entire drawing, leave the work for 5-6 hours, no less, so that the lead hardens sufficiently. Only after this can you start filling the composition with color.

Before you start coloring the glass, you need to do some color tests on the sketch using colored pencils. After all, in order to determine what our drawing will look like, we must know what kind of relief it is desirable to give it.

How to use clear glass paint

The Vetro Color series of transparent paints includes 16 shades that mix well with each other, and one clear varnish that increases the transparency of paints for obtaining light shades.

To color a drawing with already applied contours and lead, we place several jars with transparent paints for glass on the desktop. In addition, you will need a jar of clear glass varnish and several brushes. Now let's pour the Universal thinner into a brush bowl, which we will keep at hand, and finally we can get to work.

1. Pour a little degreasing compound onto the surface of the glass.

2. Wipe it with a dry cloth that does not leave lint.

3. To get a color transition visible on both sides of the glass, we first prepare the colors we will work with. If you need a lighter shade, add a little colorless varnish to the paint (about half the volume). We pour each color into a separate container.

4. Thoroughly mix the color with a brush until a uniform shade is obtained, then leave for a few minutes so that the air bubbles that formed during mixing disappear.

5. Dip the tip of the brush and test the paint on a test piece of glass to check whether the required intensity is obtained. If the color shade is suitable, we can begin work.

6. Having dipped the brush in the paint and twisted it to bring the hairs together, take a little paint on the tip and apply it to the glass so that the color begins to spread from the edge of the lead line. We work carefully, the brush should barely touch the surface.

7. To convey color transitions, we take several paints at the same time, applying them side by side one after another and carefully blurring with a brush the transition points between different colors, to nullify the boundary and obtain their interpenetration.

8. If after applying the paint an air bubble appears on its surface, remove it with a toothpick or the tip of a completely clean brush.

9. Now you need to lift the glass, holding it horizontally, to check through the light to see if there are any “empty” areas left somewhere. To ensure the perfect strength of the design, we must apply the paint so that it is completely adjacent to the lead line. After about two days, the paint will dry completely, and the work can be inserted into a suitable frame.

How to use paint for cold painting of ceramics

Using glass paints, we have hitherto painted an object using only different gradations of the same color, or by placing different chromatic tones next to each other to obtain chiaroscuro.

Now we will use a palette of enamels that will allow us to paint in a classic manner, with the effects of natural color transitions.

Paints for cold painting of ceramics Ceramic-Color are glossy enamels of rich and bright tone created to provide a covering effect. The series consists of 19 tones that can be mixed with each other, and one colorless varnish, a liquid that, when mixed with enamel, makes it completely or partially transparent.

These are paints dual use: they are visible as coverts in the absence of illumination, as transparent - when illuminated from behind.

For painting we will use ARTI round brushes made of synthetic hair and Universal thinner to soften and clean the brushes. When we start working with these enamels, we use a pattern whose outline is outlined with lead. Just like in glass paints, we prepare colors for light shades by adding up to 50% colorless varnish. Mix thoroughly with a large brush No. 06 and leave to settle until air bubbles disappear.

A. We make a test of two colors in the corner of the plate, then lift it and look at the light, checking that the paints have the same degree of transparency. Before starting, clean the glass with a degreaser.

B. To paint small elements, we take a very thin brush No. 00 or 01. Naturally, from time to time you need to lift the glass, each time in a horizontal position, to check for light whether there are any “empty” areas left somewhere, especially near the lead contours . B. To give fragments of the painting a certain texture, for example, the effect of bird plumage or the fur of a bear cub, you need to wait 5-7 minutes, then work with the enamel again, applying quick short strokes with the tip of brush No. 01.

We must remember when we use white or their mixtures with other paints: in order to get approximately the same transparency (as with paint without white), you need to add twice as much colorless varnish to the color. Finished work Before placing it vertically, it should be kept in a horizontal position for at least two hours. Complete drying will take two days, after which the painting can be inserted into the frame. It will take approximately 20 days for the enamel to transform into a glassy, exceptionally hard state.