Show i its it's a womans woman's Y g BY MARY LEE If you ou didn't dip lii into de- de last year chances are you ou will sill in 1969 At least the ancient art of decoupage c pronounced pronounced pronounced pro pro- day coo has become the latest rage with artistic homemakers The technique of applying a print to wood and varnishing it until a porcelain-like porcelain surface is achieved is a fa fascinating craft that goes back to earliest ti times flies Hundreds of years ears before paper existed in Europe Chinese Chinese Chi Chi- nese peasants cut intricate designs designs designs de de- de- de signs of animals fish landscapes land and and rubbed the wood to toa toa toa a rich gleam In century Italy a was known as the poor lOOr mans man's art and poo- poo eo- eo pie le who ho couldn't afford painted furniture achieved the same lavish effect with decoupage But it was the French who ho developed the art further and gave ave it its name in the century Applying it to screens boxes boxeR pictures became a fashionable fash lash iolla c h b r iii hi France and England during th the thc and centuries A difficult and tim cOn um ing procedure the art rt of do- do t Ft rb hir v. v Vp HI 1 v. v u 11 II print rint to wood and varnishing it as many ninny a as 25 times until the edges seemed to be part of the surface But today the miracle of plastic ha has simplified simpli simpli- fled fied th thc process One new technique called has been developed e with an acrylic polymer gos gloss and varnish I It t reduces the varnishing to about two coats and the drying time to about 24 hours Some of the handsome new wooden lunch boxes the gals are arc carrying carrying- for fOl handbags lately are arc reproduced by this craft f i P- P n r o 11 o h n v p s t. t tras ta r n v s. s 0 n. n wooden plaques are among other popular items turning turning- up in decoupage The designs can be almost anything anything- you like from reproductions of museum masterpieces to simple fl II- II nil ral patterns Sometimes the edges are arc g- g given gen en a distress or antique antique antique an an- tique look ook others are stained in natural natura or rich colors to give gin gina a simple modern feeling Whatever er you ou choose to make with decoupage it can be a highly hig satisfying ing craft for fOI those creative urges |