varnish,” says Anne-Marie. “I know which ones have UV inhibitors, which ones will make colours run and which ones will alter over time. “Découpage used to be incredibly time-consuming because the varnishes had a huge drying time. But now technology has moved on and there are water-based varnishes that dry
The name Shabby Cow reflects the fact that everything has a vintage look and a lived-in feel in just two hours. This means I can complete in a day what would have taken several weeks just a few years ago.” The bedrock of the Shabby Cow business is a craft range that includes items such as heart garlands, trinket boxes and letter blocks which sell like hot cakes via craft fairs and their website. The images for these are mainly gleaned from preprinted découpage papers, which Anne-Marie sources in the States so she can be sure the look is fresh and unique. These pieces may be made in high numbers, but everything is still one-off and hand-made. The income from this side of the business allows AnneMarie and Alison to spend more time on special items such as dishes, mirrors and furniture that sell at a premium in local galleries and boutiques. These designs tend to be decorated
with period images from original publications, preferably ones from the same era as the item itself. “If you have a piece of furniture from the Thirties and decorate it with Thirties’ images, the aesthetics work much better and the piece becomes poignant and reminiscent of the time,” says Anne Marie. Part of the job involves attending auctions each week and buying anything that can be decorated, from old hand mirrors and picture frames to ceramics, suitcases and jewellery boxes. They also keep an eye out for old comics, magazines and illustrated books to supply the images. “We look out for anything that’s unloved and is destined to be thrown away. Staff at the salerooms know what we’re looking for so they will put aside boxes of ripped magazines or incomplete books especially for us.” Anne-Marie’s keen designer’s eye might lead them to decorate a battered old suitcase with maps, for example, or a toy box with comic strips. “I like the finished items to reflect the energy that’s gone into creating the images we apply; it’s a rare quality - one that you don’t want to lose,” she says. “I love the fact that we are preserving lovely objects and decorating them with wonderful images. That way they will all last forever and will be loved again.” CT Shabby Cow, tel. 01736 788161 or visit www.shabbycow.com See work for sale at Just Fine Art, 3-4 Market Square, St Just, Penzance TR19 7HF, tel. 01736 788869; and Space, 10 The Arcade, Market Jew Street, Penzance TR18 2HW, tel. 01736 368009
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