CART
Funny how we throw around the term “cut and paste” to save time on our laptops, hardly giving a thought to where the term originates. Mary Yanke dusted off the old craft of decoupage and the lusterous objects she creates with it helped us remember. From the French word decouper — to cut out — this art developed long ago as a way to decorate simple furniture or household items with favorite snippets of paper.
Mary has long been in love with paper and textile designs. She collects pretty, evocative, almost nostalgic images of birds’ nests, old maps, antique photos, fruit, flowers, old postcards and letters. She then carefully applies them to curved trays, platters, plates and coasters. Each piece is glazed over with the decoupage process and each seems to have a serene, peaceful quality with that patina of old age.
We think an arrangement of plates over a buffet or along a chair rail would be quite stunning. Plates and platters come with felt backing and gold trim. Some have an inspiration message, “Kindness begets kindness,” embedded in the design. What a different wedding/anniversary/birthday present!
We thank you, Mary, for showing us how beautiful cutting and pasting can be.
— Rita