Marbling: Not Exactly Paint By Numbers

Nobody loves playing around with colour as much as the elves at The Wishing Chair. And this year, we’re giving the gift of oh-so-many memorable Christmases past!

Remember those days when gift-giving was a labour of love? Pressing flowers into cards for loved ones, or gift wrapping thoughtful little giveaways – a precious photograph that you had framed perhaps, or a box of cookies you baked from scratch – in homemade sheets? There’s all kinds of ways and we’re sure you’ve attempted them all too, but one our favourite times was when we discovered marbling. So elegant, so simple, each pattern and swirl as unique as the snowflakes we all long for – rather fitting for December we think.

All (He)art

Marbling involves printing multi-colored swirled or stone-like patterns on paper or fabric. The patterns are formed by first floating the colors on the surface of a liquid, and then laying the paper or fabric onto the colors to absorb them. As an art form, it goes back thousands of years. Europeans and Americans for instance, discovered beautiful variants of the form in Istanbul called ebru – but of course everything in Turkey is gorgeous, and a Japanese variant called Suminigashi meaning “floating ink” made it’s first appearance as far back as the 12th century!

And then there was us. Splashing bright inks and oil based colours into a shallow tray, manipulating the patterns either by blowing on them directly, through a straw, or fanning and stirring the colors with a single silken thread. Only this time, instead of making beautiful sheets of wrapping paper, we decided to craft something that was more for keeps.

Pit-a-Patter(n) Raindrops, A Pocketful of Sky

And look what we managed to create – this stunning glassware in Salmon and Turquoise. A beloved writer once said to us, “there's always a sunrise and always a sunset every single day, and it's up to you to choose to be there for it.” Inspired as much by the beauty of this sentiment, and reflecting a precious piece of sky at dawn and dusk, you’ll find that just like every fleeting moment passing us by, no two pieces are exactly ever the same.

And just in case, like us, you can’t get enough of these beauties, we’ve also got canisters for your kitchen – and they’re as delightfully dotty as Dobby, our supra-enthusiastic house elf, who got more than just a little carried away with the paints we handed him this Christmas.

Tis the season, lovebugs. Ho ho ho to you all, and may the coming year be a colourful one:)