Fabric or paper gives cracked vases new life

Dear Sandi: I picked up an old glass vase at a yard sale last weekend. It has a fairly large crack on one side, but the glass is quite thick and the crack seems to just be ugly, not dangerous. I bought it because I like the shape. The crack is ugly, what can I do with it?
Milly S. B. Albany

Hi Millie: Yes, I have been known to do the same thing, and more than once too. The shape or patina of something will attract me more than the flaws will put me off. But you’re right, a large crack in the glass does not add to its ambiance.

My favorite trick for covering up a boo-boo like this, especially on glass, is to work with a very thin, almost translucent material and to apply it to the surface so that it almost looks like part of the original finish.

There are a number of different types of materials you can use for this, including some very thin fabrics, such as silk, or even a very filmy cheesecloth. Another very inexpensive alternative is to work with tissue paper. Personally I like to work with the very thin, transparent handmade papers since they will add a bit of texture and character of their own to the final result.

Decide on the colors that you want your glass vase to be. Regardless of the material you are going to use, you will want to work with two or three complimentary colors. If you are working with papers you will want to wrinkle and wad them up first because there is no way you are going to be able to apply them flat and smoothly, and you want this irregularity to be part of the planned finish. If you are working with fabric you will probably be able to lay it down without incurring the same frustrations that you would have with the paper if a smooth finish is your desired look.

Tear (do not cut) your materials into small, workable sizes. I like to work with pieces about 3-4” big and be sure when you tear them that you have a variety of shapes. This will be easier to achieve with paper than with the fabric. Fabric is going to give you a more geometric pattern than the papers will, so factor this into your choice of material.

There are all kinds of different adhesives you can use for this project, but by far the most easily accessible and inexpensive is plain old water soluble white glue, watered down about 20%. Your fabric pieces can be dipped into this, the excess glue allowed to drip off, then the pieces applied onto the vase, starting at the top and being sure to overlap your fabric at the vase’s rim. How far you want to extend the fabric (or paper) down the inside is a matter of personal taste, but remember that it will b difficult to make anything but an irregular edge, so unless you plan on adding a piece of trim inside, be sure to take this into your design plan.

Whether you're looking for handmade paper, furniture, fabric or accessories, you will find it at loose ends. If it is unusual, organic and fabulous, then loose ends is the place. Showroom hours are 8 am to 5 pm weekdays and the first Saturday of each month 10 am - 3pm at 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, or visit us online at www.looseends.com Questions? Give us a call at (503) 390-2348.

If, instead of fabric, you choose to work with paper, then your design will be much more flowing and organic, more closely resembling the way colors can meld and flow in blown glass pieces. Again, I still use the same glue/water mixture, but now when you dip your piece of paper into the mix you will find that the paper is going to fold, wrinkle, tear and bubble on you, and that is just exactly what you want it to do.

Apply the dripping paper to the glass surface and work it into the curves of the glass with your fingers. As you apply more pieces, allow them to overlap other pieces in a very irregular manner. Where two or even three pieces of paper come together the colors will be different, as will the transparency or “depth”. Keep doing this until the vase is entirely covered, being sure to wrap your paper (or fabric) under the edges of the vase bottom. (A tip – when you get to the bottom, place the vase on something stable and a bit smaller than your vase’s base. I find that food jars, anything from pickles to mayonnaise works well. This will allow you to tuck your materials under the edge. Make this your last step and then you can leave it elevated to dry overnight).

Sandi Reinke is an author, frequent television guest and lead designer for loose ends (www.loosends.com), a Salem-based interior décor, garden, and casual lifestyle company. To ask Reinke a decorating question, e-mail info@looseends.com or mail her at the showroom address, 2065 Madrona Ave. SE, Salem, OR 97302. Phone: 503-390-2348.

When the vase is completely dry, apply two or three coats of an acrylic sealer to the surface, letting the coats dry between each application. If you have worked with fabric your final finished piece will be relatively smooth, and the color patterns will be somewhat geometric, with the different layers more clearly delineated, but you will still probably have some trapped air bubbles to add a bit of texture. If you chose to work with paper your final result will be a melding of colors, shadows and light/dark areas, with many more air bubbles and wrinkles to add texture.

Regardless of whether you work with fabric or paper, I think you will be so pleased with your final product that you may find yourself looking for cracked glass, just to have an excuse to do this again!