Actually I’m thinking this should go under Materials but what the heck.
The setup: Upstairs bathroom has Black and White tiles (white octagon w/black diamonds) on the floor, in the entire shower and up to chairrail height. At the chairrail, I’ve got a gold swizzle stick sandwiched between 2 rows of square black tiles. The walls and ceiling are white primer.
The idea: I am thinking of painting the ceiling black and want to stencil or stamp stars in gold paint (maybe old gold w/shiny gold highlights). The walls will remain white. The ceiling is cathedral w/a skylight over the rescued clawfoot. The clawfoot has been painted black w/gold feet and a gold fleur de lis.
The questions:
What type of black paint should I be using? I’m looking for a velvety black, so I think eggshell would work. Does eggshell hold up to the moisture that a bathroom will generate?
I’m am having an EXTREMELY difficult time finding the gold star stamps that I’m looking for. Internet searching has NOT been helpful. I am actually looking for a stamp that was sold (at one point) thru a catalogue…Ballard Designs, I believe. There were 2 or 3 sizes and the stars had more than 8 points. It looked very round, almost like a Christmas ornament. The effect I’m thinking of is a sortof Vicorian deco.
The stars that I’m finding are 5 pointed (standard very flat looking), 8 pointed (better but not quite right), star of David (nope), star of the East (also not right) and so on. Anyone have any sources I should check out?
This jobless recovery has done more to promote the consumption of exquisite chocolate than the finest chocolatier. Cost be damned.
Replies
Plantlust, I used Eggshell in my bathroom two years ago and so far so good. I asked for mildew resistant paint when I bought it and that was the finish the paint store recommended.
When you say stamps, do you mean rubber stamps, like the ones that were all the rage with kids about three years ago? I have an art history friend who makes all her own notecards and uses impressive art-quality stamps. Her father is a commercial artist so I guess ordinary stationery is out of the question. Anyway, I'll ask her if she can suggest a stamp maker if that's what you want.
Would the star have straight points or wavy ones?
Something like this from http://www.stencilplanet.com/index.html ?
Sun printCode: 10031Price: $9.95 Quantity in Basket: none
Sun print in 1 layer. Design size: 5 in x 5 in (HXW).
"Free" samples of eggshell paint http://www.finepaints.com/html/products/samplepots_free.html
You know, when Plantlust said stamp, It never occurred to me to suggest a stencil. That's a great idea.
I use clear acetate sheets for my stencils, which I get at Plaza Artists' Supply. They are much cheaper than the sheets of translucent stencil plastic sold by the craft stores, and much easier to use. If you don't want to design your own stars, check Dover Books huge inventory of copy-right free designs. They probably have one of Victorian stars. They've got everything else.
With the clear acetate, you just secure your design to the acetate and trace with a narrow-tip permanent marker. Then remove the original design and cut with an X-acto knife. Stencils give you all kinds of freedom and possibility.
Here are a couple of my stencils:
Beautiful!
Wow, you are a wonderful artist!
Tish, those are lovely. I especially like the orchid. That is as beautiful compositionally as any stencil I have seen on the commericial market, and your shadings in the blooms give it wonderful depth. Excellent work!"Our whole American way of life is a great war of ideas, and librarians are the arms dealers selling weapons to both sides."-James Quinn
I thought about a stencil, but I am no Michelangelo. It would require taping the stencil on the ceiling and somehow laying face up. The prospect doesn't excite me nor is the Vatican funding my attempt. I "think" that I remember correctly that there were 2 or 3 different sizes and they were stamps.
If the correct design in stencil presented itself, I would suffer for art, tho.This jobless recovery has done more to promote the consumption of exquisite chocolate than the finest chocolatier. Cost be damned.
I hear ya' on the pianting the ceiling thing.
I'll ask my friend if she can suggest a source for the rubber stamps, and I second the people who are suggesting midnight blue. Theodora's imagery is wonderful, isn't it?
To all the very nice comments about my stencils: Thank you, every one. My sister teases me about my kitchen walls matching my clothing because I first designed and cut those stencils for fabric. So what? I'm in fashion with me, right?
lol Tish!
"...my home is going to sell within 30 days for a whole bunch over our asking price" (thats somewhere between asking price and fantasy island)
By the way, Full-fledged, this is totally off topic, but do you read The Onion? This weeks' "Opinion" is an article on Parrot care by a pirate. It's, um, it's, an interesting take on advice journalism.
Now, back to Plantlust's bathroom ceiling.
I will check it out Tish.
"...my home is going to sell within 30 days for a whole bunch over our asking price" (thats somewhere between asking price and fantasy island)
Tish, those are absolutely stunning!
Ruth Wells
"Gardening is the only unquestionably useful job." - G.B. Shaw
Wow, outstanding.
Nope. I've checked a couple of the larger stamp sites and haven't found it. The star arms (? for lack of a better word) were straight triangle types. The one that you posted looks too, um, flat...very one dimensional. What I saw looked 3 dimensional.
I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. Note to self: No matter how poor you are, if you see something that strikes you BUY IT. You will kick yourself for numerous years thereafter because you will never see the same thing again. This jobless recovery has done more to promote the consumption of exquisite chocolate than the finest chocolatier. Cost be damned.
It seems to me the stamp would need more than one color/shade in order to mimic dimensions, but I've never used stamps except ink stamps.
The constellation effect sounds very nice.
How about overlapping the star stamp? I tried this with a five-star cookie cutter. (Use the sharper pointed metal cutters.) Stamp once, let it dry then come back and angle it between points, and stamp again, making a ten-point star. You could do this with one size stamp for a uniform star with lots of points, or you could use two different sized stars if you need alternating sized points on a star. I just tried one with the same sized cookie cutter (made a five point star and then placed that same star on top, but angled to the original) and came up with what you might need. Wow! I am really getting into this.
To give a star three dimensions, first cover the stamp entirely with the solid shiny, metallic gold paint (and stamp as described above, in two steps and let dry). Then, looking at the star as if they are made of triangles (which they are), paint the outer edges of each main triangle (with a thin line), drawing from point to point (continuing through the center of the whole star), with a darker paint (mix some black with the gold). How many stars are you going to do? You might have to outline by hand. I also extended the point a tad at each point of the first star (five extended points) to make them more precise and sharp, giving the star a shining look.
Jo's idea of midnight blue, Theodora's of the fading color to the edges, and using luminescent paint are all great ideas!
edited to clarify, or trying to, at least.
Edited 10/13/2003 12:39:58 PM ET by eroomgardener
Most excellent ideas! And, varying each star, double stamping slightly off the outlines of the first star, will give you a lightly blurred twinkle effect. Added dimension.
And Plantlust, don't forget a shooting star or two!"Our whole American way of life is a great war of ideas, and librarians are the arms dealers selling weapons to both sides."-James Quinn
If you can't find the stamp you want you can have one custom made:
http://www.stampin.com/online/custom.htm
Be sure to use a roller for a velvety look.
I know you didn't ask about black, but have you considered a midnight--I mean almost black, really--blue rather than black? black can look red or green even and grey. There's super-dark blue that Benjamin Moore makes.
You are not kidding about black. I stopped into Ace just to check out the paint area (gonna stop at Home Despot on my next days off) just to see what's available.
Holy COW! There's green/black, red/black, grey/black, black/black and what seems like an unlimited different assortment of shades of black.
AND to top it off, when I was looking for stars (stamps and stencils)...do you know they sell a stencil of the night sky you can paint w/luminescent paint so when the lights are off all the constellations show up? I am seriously, seriously tempted. The awesome thing would be that the Victorian gold stars would show up during the day and the luminescently painted constellations wouldn't show up until the lights are off. How cool is that?!?This jobless recovery has done more to promote the consumption of exquisite chocolate than the finest chocolatier. Cost be damned.
Imagine lying there in the bathtub, no light but candlelight, as the day fades away and turns to night, and your sky gradually morphs..........rather nice!
You know, instead of black I would do a deep blue that gradually faded to deep purples in the corners. Dusky type set up that would still look rather blackish at night. I am also fond of the vision of stars in different sizes. Maybe a few silverish ones there amongst the golds.
Can I come take a bath at your house?"Our whole American way of life is a great war of ideas, and librarians are the arms dealers selling weapons to both sides."-James Quinn
View Imagehttp://1001stamps.com/storegen/C213_31.html
View Imagehttp://1001stamps.com/storegen/C213_33.html
Hmmmmmm. If the center of those had a little more depth and you took the lines in between out....dunno. Tough call.
I knew I should have kept an old copy of the catalogue.This jobless recovery has done more to promote the consumption of exquisite chocolate than the finest chocolatier. Cost be damned.
How's the bathroom coming?
I am going to finish my bathroom this week. (I promise!)
I would love to see photos if you have any. I love the black/gold stars idea.
Speaking of black and gold.....
My guest bath is done in black, gold and white.
The inspiration went like this.
At the Horseshoe Casino in Shreveport.
Me:
Man, I really like this decor, so simple and greeky (I made up that word) Uncomplicated...hmmmmm..what else does this remind me of....the black and the gold....oh yeah...The New Orleans Saints.
Dear Hubby, you have these two choices....Horseshoe/Saints, they both have fleur de lis. Make your choice.
Well naturally it was The Saints. (uh oh)
Okay so, I sewed my own dam shower curtain, cuz there was no way some helmet was going up the shower. But I did find some fleur de lis shower hooks, hand towels, at Penny's.
I am just grateful it does not smell, look, or act like The New Orleans Saints.
Did I mention I am moving to Houston?
lol..........
Reality check.....30 days is up.Le Sigh