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My sincerest apologies if you are in need of a restoration for a treasured object. My restoration business has always been a part time job for me, and I no longer have the time to dedicate to restoration in my busy life. Thank you to all my past patrons for your support. It has truly been a pleasure working for all of you.
There are many great restorationists throughout the country. If you are struggling to find one via the internet or near you, I recommend visiting local antique shops and asking around. Chances are that somebody knows someone who can give your object a loving restoration.
For those of you who think you might have the skill to tackle some restorations of your own, here are a few tips of the trade from me to you:
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Spackle is your friend. I recommend buying it in white, not the pink kind that dries white (it never loses all of that pink coloring). It is the perfect filler to fix plaster and chalkware. It also binds broken pieces better than glue. You can even shape it, sand it, and carve it to match your piece perfectly. This has been my go-to tool for many years.
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I have been asked many times what kind of paint that I use for restoration. I use acrylic. I prefer better quality paints such as Liquitex. You can buy it at almost any art supply store or craft store.
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There are very few instances when the paint that came straight out of the tube ever matched the color I needed to blend. I never fully repaint a surface unless it is my only option. Color matching is an art, and it isn’t easy if you have never done it before. Mix colors together until you get just the right match. If this is a struggle for you, I suggest enlisting an artisan or restorer who can handle the job.
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When it comes to repairing bisque (and sometimes pottery) my secret weapon is Sculpey III. This product is available at most art and craft stores and comes in a variety of colors. Just like paint, you can mix those colors to get the perfect color match. It bakes in the oven at a low temperature (275 degrees), so it doesn’t hurt the existing bisque or pottery to refire it in the oven at this low temperature. For bisque, it is often a perfect match for the texture of the bisque. You can even sculpt missing appendages directly onto your broken piece with it and get them to blend. While it can’t match pottery perfectly, it can give you a darker surface to glaze on top of if you have a piece of pottery with a dark color. This is better than working directly on white and will take less coats of glaze.