Alyice on November 5th, 2008

19 Jars In Two Weeks

Over the past two weeks, I’ve plastered, glued, and painted 19 pieces of glass: Starbucks coffee bottles, beer bottles, soda bottles, and olive jars, turning them into beautiful altered vases. This week-end, I put the final glaze on each vase. I thought about taking pictures before I put on the glaze, to avoid the glare, but the glaze just makes the colors pop and come to life. Here are 12 of the finished pieces.

The vases below aren’t quite finished. I’m working on a technique to transfer images onto the four tall bottles and I’d like to add an embellishment to the shorter jars.

The jar below is a tribute to my mom. She enjoyed a nice, cold glass of Yoo-hoo® and even got my husband hooked on the stuff. While he doesn’t drink it on a regular basis, whenever he thinks about my mom or finds himself missing her (she passed away two years ago) he asks that I stop by Wal-Mart® and pick him up a six-pack.

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Comments (8)

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Barbara Roberts says:
I love the top set. So textural. You must share this technique with us! I love the one for your mom! How appropriate.
Barb
Posted at 10:49 pm November 5th, 2008
Alyice says:
Barbara,

To get the texture, use molding paste or plaster. Glop it on real heavy, move it into the shape you want using your fingers, let dry for 24 hours, then paint, decorate, and embellish. Let dry another 24 hours and follow up with a two thin coats of glaze, drying between each coat.
Posted at 10:57 pm November 5th, 2008
Christy says:
Love them! They are so cute. I am doing tins and boxes as gifts this year. I was intending to just collage on them, but you have really tempted me to give them some texture.
Posted at 12:08 am November 6th, 2008
Alyice says:
Christy,

I’m doing vases this year. And I’ve been wanting to find a way to mix collage and texture. I can’t wait to see some of your textured tins on your site. I bet they will be lovely.
Posted at 12:14 am November 6th, 2008
Lisa says:
I absolutely love your jars. The colors and textures are wonderful. I really want to try this sometime.
Posted at 1:50 am November 6th, 2008
Alyice says:
Thanks Lisa,

I find that creating the jars gives me peace of mind. They are totally therapeutic!

Have fun and don’t forget to post your attempts on your blog so I can see them.
Posted at 3:14 am November 6th, 2008
Nicki says:
Alyice - These are beautiful pieces of art. I am going to make a couple from some plastic bottles I have saved (plastic will work, right?) Your mother would be very proud and honored by your art inspired by her.
Posted at 8:24 pm November 7th, 2008
Alyice says:
Nicki,

I’m not fond of plastic bottles, but I think it’s a great way to recycle and save the planet! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Posted at 8:48 pm November 7th, 2008