The Best In Craft....Stunning Painted Terracotta Pots

As we write this, the sun is shining its little heart out, the birds are singing and we feel summer has well and truly arrived. And where better to be than pottering around outside in this beautiful balmy heat.

We've rounded up some of the best painted plant pot ideas for you to look at, drool over and then, we hope, get out there and paint for yourselves!

Earthborn paints are ideal for this as you won't need to use a primer, meaning that you can get on with the fun bit of applying the stunning colours whenever the mood takes you. 

Although if you intend to use your pots outside, it's worth sealing the paint with a weatherproof finish, or try using Earthborn's Silicate Masonry Paint.

Taping off sections, or painting by hand gives a gorgeously graphic finish....

Try Earthborn Lido and Marbles for this two-tone treat...

...or Fresh Air and Gregory's Den if a muted finish is more your cup of tea...

We love this ombre effect. Within the seventy-two shades available, Earthborn have plenty of tonal variations to play with to make this look your own.

We're smitten by this next idea. Earthborn paints are absolutely 100% safe for children (certified as suitable for use on children's toys), meaning that there'll be no hidden nasties to worry about when applying the paint to your children's feet.

To create this upside down drip effect, first give your pot a coat or two of White, and then let Earthborn eggshell in Daisychain drip slowly down the sides.

Pick two of your Earthborn favourites, leaving the terracotta rims bare, for an instant summer display that will brighten up dull fences...

For summer holiday fun, get creative with your kids. How about these two adorable ideas for starters...

...or for something a little more adventurous, have another look at our pot-gilding ideas. Reading Room and Trilby would give a similar effect.

Earthborn Claypaint has an unbelievably matte finish and so is super-easy to write on, and acts as a good key for applying transfers....

Wouldn't this be a pretty outdoor display...

And now it's time for us to stop for this month and head outside into this glorious sunshine. Will you be joining us, paintbrush in one hand, plant pot in the other? Just don't forget the sunscreen!

Images ia Carolyn Roehm, webstagram, Earthborn, Relics of Witney, 2Modern, Cottage Living, Design Sponge, Kim's Kraziness, My Clever Nest, Surprise DIY, The Whoot, Relics of Witney, Nest Of Posies, Welke

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Earthborn Claypaints: Green And Gorgeous

Earthborn are the heroes of the green paint movement. 

There's no doubt about it. 

In fact, in honour of Earthborn, this month, we've restyled the window display at Relics of Witney. It now features lots of ideas to inspire you to get creative with this delicious paint.

Why do we love Earthborn paints so much? We're sure you don't need us to tell you that historically emulsions have contained VOCs but you may need your eyes opening to the fantastic range of truly stylish and environmentally friendly paints available, and that's where Relics of Witney can help.

The Earthborn Range Of Paints

VOC stands for 'Volatile Organic Compounds' which are emitted as gasses from some paints, not only when initially painting but in the weeks, months and years to come. We've been unintentionally contaminating our homes. All paint companies are moving away from using these nasty chemicals but Earthborn has taken an altogether different route.

Earthborn Button Tin, The Lido, Riverbank, Fuggles and Storybook

Earthborn come highly recommended by Relics of Witney for areas where walls need to 'breathe' because their Emulsions are clay-based, Eggshells oil- and acrylic-free and Woodstains water-based. You see, the water absorbed by old buildings needs to escape through its surfaces; if these are covered in non-permeable paint then you may end up with damp problems. Earthborn's gentle formula allows the moisture in older walls to evaporate freely.

Earthborn Vanilla

And there's more good news! Earthborn Claypaints have been created with an ultra-chalky finish that softens and enhances the light in your room. The thoughtfully put-together range of sixty colours allows these paints to be used right across the design spectrum. 

Earthborn Nellie

There's an Earthborn paint with your name on, whether your look is feminine....

Earthborn Lily Lily Rose, Cupcake and Eiderdown 

...country...

Earthborn Gregory's Den alongside Farrow and Ball Blue Gray

...contemporary...

Earthborn Muddy Boots

or coastal....

Earthborn Masonry Paint

Earthborn paints are fantastic for painting furniture. If you're looking for a paint that needs minimum prep work then have a look at Earthborn, as they are designed to be used with no primer at all. However, we do always recommend using primer for all brands because we believe more preparation means a better, more long-lasting finish. 

They can be combined with Osmo Oils for a really hard-wearing finish that's also good for your health.

Osmo Oils

Earthborn paints are the perfect excuse to let your creativity run wild. For example, we love the way they've been used on these tiles with stencils. The ultra-flat finish complements the matt-ness of the terracotta surface.

For more information that tailor-made to your needs, come and see us at Relics of Witmey, or visit our online store.

We've recently added these large wooden circles showing samples of Earthborn paints. Seeing is believing! 

Images via: Relics, Relics, Earthborn, Earthborn, Earthborn, Earthborn, Earthborn, Modern Country Style, Anna Starmer, Earthborn, Earthborn, Relics, Relics, 

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How To Paint A Swedish Style Chair Using Earthborn Paints (Part 2)

In our last post, we took you through the process of how to narrow down the huge amount of inspiration available to help you decide on the final look for your furniture.

 This time, let's focus on HOW to get that look using Earthborn's paint. We'll be walking you through the techniques we used to create our lovely Swedish-style chair.

For the project we're demonstrating, you will need:

a small paintbrush

a 750ml tin of both Earthborn Nellie and Earthborn Posset

sandpaper

Osmo Polyx Oil Tint

masking tape

The new 750ml size paint pots that Earthborn have released are perfectly suited to this type of small-scale furniture project. We used Nellie, a gentle grey-blue, and Posset, a soft, pure white.

The first step is to sand down your chair to remove any traces of varnish or layers of old paint. If you choose your project with care then this step needn't take too long but, to get a professional finish, it's worth taking the time to do it properly.

Next, apply your paint methodically, on one part of the chair at a time, using simple back-and-forth strokes with your paintbrush to ensure even, smooth coverage.

 This part requires a little bit of thought. Imagine the effect that you would like to end up with, and apply the layers of paint in reverse.

For example, on the main frame of the chair we've simply used Nellie and then sanded gently back in the areas that will receive most wear to reveal touches of the wood underneath.

On the arms and struts, we added a layer of Posset over the top of a dried layer Nellie, so that when we distressed the chair with our sandpaper, we were able to expose hints of the grey paint below.

And, in other places, we rubbed quite firmly with our sandpaper to reveal, not only the Nellie layer, but also the wood beneath.

By painting each part at a time, you'll be able to build up a picture of what you want to achieve more fully, adding more paint here, or sanding a little extra there.

Once you are completely happy with how your chair looks, then apply the protective finish you've chosen. We've used Osmo Polyx Oil Tint for depth and a slight sheen but it's perfectly possible to choose a glossy finish or utterly matte, depending on your preference. Do contact us for advice.

Breathing new life into old pieces of furniture is such a satisfying process. Quite the opposite of high-street buying; you'll end up with a piece that is uniquely yours, which should, by using the right products, last for years and years and years! What could be lovelier?

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Using Earthborn Claypaint For Furniture Painting - Part 1: Inspiration

We love stocking Earthborn paints at Relics of Witney. Their Claypaints, designed to be especially sound for the environment, won the House Beautiful Gold Award for Best Wall-Covering and its easy to see why.

The high clay content in Earthborn's Claypaint ensures a palette that is natural-looking, as well as being beautiful. The new range of 60 colours has been carefully chosen to produce a mellow and luxurious finish.

As long-time fans of Earthborn paints, we were thrilled to learn that Earthborn have introduced a new 750ml tin size, which makes a perfect purchase for furniture-painting.

At Relics of Witney, we never need an excuse to get stuck into painting but we know that, for many of you who long to be able to express your creativity in this way, it can be daunting. Let us take you through the process of how to narrow down the process to produce a piece that you can be really proud of for years to come.

Image via House To Home

Our first tip is to find, and stick to, your inspiration. For the piece we've chosen, which needs simple upholstery, our inspiration came in the form of fabric. The Earthborn Claypaint range complements this material perfectly. You can see how the common thread of clay gives a feeling of harmony to the different paint colours.

Secondly, practice makes perfect so try out your painting technique beforehand. Have a go at different ways of sanding and blending until you find a look you love.

We used a variety of colours to find the shade that best complemented our chosen fabric. If like us, you're a fan of Swedish-style grey-blues, then Earthborn's Nellie is the way to go.

Finally, it's really important to note that your choice of finish can significantly affect the colour of your chosen paint. Here's a board we prepared to demonstrate this:

If you're looking for a finish that simply protects your paint, and enhances its ultra-matt surface, rather than alters its colour, then consider using Osmo Raw Oil. For a muddier look, try Osmo 3062, or Black Bison Paste Wax in Neutral. 

We love the way Osmo 3040 (top left) gives depth to the Earthborn Claypaint, as well as a subtle sheen. To talk through the benefits of different finishes or technqiues then come into our Relics of Witney shop, or contact us directly. We can help you find a finish which appeals to your personal taste.

Earthborn Claypaints are a real pleasure to work with, and, now, to our delight, thanks to the new 750ml size availability, eminently suitable for painting furniture. The gorgeous gloopiness of the paint means that they adhere extremely well and just cry out for antiquing effects.....But more about that next month, when we'll be talking about our favourite part...let the painting begin!

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