Using Vintage Kitchen Tools And Collectibles In Your Art Or Craft Studio

Making Art With Thrifty, Nifty Vintage Kitchen Utensils And Tools

Have you ever considered using vintage kitchen tools and utensils for making art? I just bought a few more of these wonderful older housewares to use in my art studio. If you shop in art stores you know that tools and materials are very expensive.

Using Old Kitchen Tools For Art Projects

But here is a new idea....try working with old kitchen utensils when your are making art. Whether you work on paper or you sculpt with clay, there are so many different types of vintage kitchen-wares that can make you life easier.


Plastic Kitchen Carousel Works Well For Holding Paint Brushes And Art Supplies

On my work table right now, I have a wonder plastic utensil carousel with compartments that was intended for kitchen tools. I use it for paint brushes, palette knives, plastic stickes etc. It spins and it holds so many tools. I love it. I bout it for 50 cents at a church White Elephant sale.Old ceramic Lazy Susan's with compartments work great for organizing craft accessories.

Do You Own A Vintage Ice Pick?

I have several ice picks which serve many purposes. They make great tools for punching holes in objects. I also rely on my ice pick for taking out staple gun staples from projects mounted on the wall. And of course they are wonderful piercing tools when glue or paint tubes and containers are stuffed up.

Paint With A Vintage Pastry Spatula

You can get a lot of mileage out of vintage pastry spatulas. Narrow metal spatulas can be used as palette knives. I have used large old spoons to mix paints and gels. Nothing gets thrown out in my house or garage.

Slice Up Your Clay With An Old Hand Chopper

Slice up blocks of clay with the heavy blade of an old hand chopper. My dad always used his hand chopper to mince onions...now I use it for cutting clay. While I am on the subject of chopping...when your kitchen chopping boards get nasty, don't throw them away. They work wonders in an art studio or craft studio for lots of project that require cutting.

Don't Throw Out Your Beat Up Cookie And Baking Trays

Old tin cookie and baking trays (with sides) come in handy for many art projects as well.I have used them to hold shaving cream mixed with food coloring when making "marbleized paper". And enamel cooking trays are wonderful as palettes.

Printing Or Painting With A Turkey Baster

Oh my, I keep thinking of all my art projects and the kitchen tools I have used. I actually printed with the rubber end of a Turkey baster. I dipped the end into paint and stamped with it.
And I met an artist who used the Turkey baster to suck up paint which he than dripped and splattered onto a huge canvas.

Where to Find Vintage Kitchen Utensils

Vintage kitchen tools and utensils can be found at antique shops, tag sales, thrift stores, online auctions, mom's kitchen, grandma's drawers etc. Check out the Salvation Army stores or Goodwill first. These stores have lots of kitchen tools and gadgets for very low prices. Next time you are headed to the art store or hardware store for interesting tools, think about going vintage....it's a lot cheaper!

Some of the photos are courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/
Red handled tool photos courtesy of http://ludgera.blogspot.com/2011/02/red-things-i-like.html
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists