Materials Floorcloths from Angie's studio begin with heavy # 4( for the large pieces 5 x 7 or larger) or #8 cotton duck. #4 is the heaviest canvas available (24 oz.) and will hold up indefinitely with proper care. Prepackaged floorcloth canvas sold in craft shops are comparatively lighter and are similar in weight to artist's canvas. Priming is done with acrylic latex exterior paint. Both front and back receive 2 coats and are sanded smooth. The design colors are a combination of acrylic latex paints for the background and larger areas of color and artist acrylics for the details. The paints Angie uses are professional grades with a high volume of acrylic resin. This keeps the floorcloth flexible and expands and contracts with temperature changes. The hems are glued rather than sewn, with thick white glue. This takes longer to stick than other glues but again, it will expand and contract and stay together during temperature changes, making the life of her floorcloths much longer than others using inferior products and methods. Also, if the hems are not allowed to move a little they will buckle and never again lie flat. Angie uses a both the tucked hem and the mitred hem depending on the traffic level expected for the rug. Tucked hems are a process used by makers of long ago that keep the tips of the corners from unraveling as sometimes mitred hems will after years of use. It is not instantly as flat as the mitre but if you are using a pad beneath the hem there is no difference in appearance. Mitred hems became most popular for contemporary makers when appearance became more important than practicality. To finish the piece, 5 coats of acrylic sealant are applied to the front and 2 to the back if the floorcloth is to be used in high humidity areas, such as covered porches in the South and coastal homes. Angie sands between coats to keep the finish smooth and flexible. The finished product resembles leather in both weight and touch. Copyright © 2009 Free Rein Studio All rights reserved |
Free Rein Art & Design Hand Painted Floorcloths, Art & Accessories by Angie Nelson Specializing in, but not limited to, custom floorcloth designs Home About Floorcloths and Accessories Pet Portraits Ordering Contact Resources Blog |
